A Photo Tells a Thousand Stories...

Since moving to Surrey, I have been getting more and more into the world of amateur photography.  I don't have any plans to go pro, as accountancy pays way better right now, but it is something I am looking at taking more seriously.

It started back in Devon, taking pictures of Rockbeare Rangers FC with my then-new toy, a Fujifilm Finepix S7000.  Although only 6 megapixel (only 1MP better than my mobile phone) it had a pretty good lens and a nice optical zoom on it.  The auto mode for Sports Photography did a reasonable job of capturing the action at matches, and my pictures have long graced the (now defunct) Rangers website (I do have plans to go to a game and get some of my work on the new Rooks' site!).

I also took the S7000 to my brother's wedding.  They had a professional photographer, at a cost, but upon seeing the two hundred half decent shots I got, they preferred a lot of mine to the official guy's work!  Again, I was using the automatic settings... barely photography at all, just a point and a click!

When I moved to the Surrey/Hampshire border, I was provided with a wealth of new scenery.  Ever since my Valentine's Day trip to Lydford Gorge with Phee in 2007, when I captured a curious robin, I have loved taking pictures of nature and natural landscapes.  I have always loved the great outdoors, which isn't surprising given I grew up in Devon!  But being able to capture it's beauty (and use it as a computer wallpaper!) has made me appreciate my surroundings even more.

I started taking photos when I went to the Kings Pond in Alton to feed the ducks after dropping Phee at work.  What had started as a quiet way to relax, during my most anxiety ridden times, turned into many a photo opportunity!  Indeed, I have quite the catalogue of the three (originally six) cygnets' life!

To show off my work, I have started an Artbreak account (see the right hand bar) and signed up to various other websites and forums, including the Digital Photography School site and forum (for tips and hints) and NetModel (in case I want to take portraits).  I've uploaded a few of my better photos to the Artbreak site, but new photos get added infrequently; I only want the very best of my photographs added!  Adding photos the DPS and having them critiqued helps too... a fantastic way to learn (who needs a photography degree, eh?!)

So, getting into it more, I sold my S7000 to my Mum and upgraded to a Fuji S200EXR.  This still isn't a Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) camera, but it does take some good pictures!  It's a superzoom bridge camera with 12 megapixels, reducing the need to zoom in too much.  I've been learning about such things as aperture and noise, although it's all very difficult to get your head around when you're only a starting amateur!

I'm having a little trouble with the settings on this new piece of kit.  With no designated sports mode, I'm having to use the shutter speed setting to get the best shots, without being too dark or blurry!  My portrait pictures seem to be okay, but I've not been able to take very many so far.  Should get Phee modelling for me more!

Most of my portrait and people pictures will be the normal posed or candid shots, but I do intend to be good at the art-nude type shots made famous by Petter Hegre, husband of Luba, and friends (as seen in the free galleries at the very NSFW Coolios site).  They will only ever be of my better half, unless it's a well paid job(!), so will not make it to my Artbreak site - unlucky!  So for now, at the very least, you'll have to entertain yourselves with those I do upload there!