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Creative Live Give Back To The Photography Community

Amanda — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 15:00:47 +0000

Have you heard of Jasmine Star? Jasmine is a super talented wedding photographer who shoots gorgeously lavish and beautiful weddings in California. There is something really special about her photography and it’s not only the materials that go into how she creates a photograph, but more what she pulls out of her models and how she makes them shine. Jasmine is quite the personality and she uses that to her advantage to get something really special out of her models. Take a look at her work and you will see this confidence and beauty in every bride she shoots. This comes not from her choosing overly confident brides, but her ability to make ordinary women feel beautiful and strong.

Over the weekend, the team at Creative Live broadcast a 2 day workshop with Jasmine sharing how she does business live to the internet for free. Yes, for free. To take part in a 2 day workshop, all you had to do was log on to the Creative Live site and you got to sit in on an amazing 2 days of education. And this wasn’t the first time they’ve done it. Creative Live have free photography workshops happening all the time and it’s such an extraordinary and powerful way of thinking. The people behind Creative Live are giving back to the community with no strings attached and it’s such an incredible resource. Last year, Jasmine also did a marvelous 3 day workshop on shooting a wedding. The cameras actually followed her around for an entire day as she shot a wedding. Talk about stressful! She was amazing and I knew I couldn’t miss out on her next workshop. Jasmine’s personality is infectious and her message and teaching is so inspiring, no matter what kind of a photographer you are.

Of course, if you miss the free workshops, they replay them later that night and they are also available to buy so you can watch them at your own leisure. The next course that I am looking forward to is Food and Culture Photography with Penny De Los Santos.

Another website that also offers an incredible insight into the lives of photographers is Framed. Every Tuesday a new show is posted on the site which showcases one photographer and how they shoot. One of my favourites was the recent episode with Lisa Warninger, Urban Weeds street style shooter. Lisa also has been interviewed here on Mocking Bird for my What’s In Your Kit series. Check out Lisa in action on a shoot ( with a guest appearance by the lovely Chelsea Fuss of frolic) and as she encounters her “weeds” on the street.

Both Framed and Creative Live are brilliant websites that are really giving back to the photography community with such a wealth of information. I love that there are photography leaders who are offering their knowledge to those who are willing to learn. It’s such a new and fresh attitude towards supporting one another and building community. I urge you to take part in these wonderful productions if you haven’t already! Those of you that have watched either productions, what do you think?

Twelve: April

Amanda — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 00:09:16 +0000

Hello Twelvers! Another month is almost over and onwards we dive into a new theme for the Twelve project.

April’s theme is going to be a little different as I want to incorporate our changing seasons. The reason it is different is because this is an international project and therefore there are 2 different seasons going on across the globe. So for all the Northern Hemispherians, the theme is Spring and for the Southern Hemispherians, the theme is Autumn/Fall!

I didn’t want to exclude anyone by choosing one season to focus on however if you are Down Under and you want to shoot some flowers, then go ahead and shoot them as they will still fit the Spring theme happening up here. Choose whichever side you like and shoot it however you want to interpret it.

The theme for April is: Our Changing Seasons

April Colour Inspiration: Bright Spring colours/Autumn Oranges and Reds

Wherever you are in the world think flowers, gardens and new seasonal fruits…or Autumn leaves falling, backyards being raked, and pies in the oven. Of course, Easter is happening all over the world, so feel free to incorporate a little Easter into the theme too.

Remember that the project is about getting out there and shooting new photographs and building on your beautiful portfolios. I can’t wait to see some Spring and Autumn photographs in the pool! Get snappin’ and happy April!

New to Twelve? Find out all about it here.

Street Cred 2011!

Amanda — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:01:07 +0000

Lately there’s been a lot of talk in blogging and photography circles about crediting photographers and artists for the images we use on blogs. Grace and her team at Design Sponge wrote a wonderful series of posts about online ethics and Chelsea followed it up with her post on image use on frolic! Both posts prompted some amazing discussion on the topic and raised awareness about an ethical issue. I don’t need to re-state what they’ve already said. Check out their awesome posts.

After much discussion, the talented Pia Jane Bijkerk and Erin Loechner of Design for Mankind made up this gorgeous graphic poster for us to use. Yvette van Boven kindly allowed them to use her beautiful hand made fonts. So chic! Feel free to use this graphic on your own blogs to spread the word about giving credit where credit is due.

As a photographer, I think it’s really important to know your rights. If you put your art out there like I do, it is important to know about copyright laws. As a photographer I am protected under Australian copyright laws which state that I, as the photographer, own the rights to all my photographs. This can change once you start shooting for commercial clients but the ownership is always discussed and worked out under contract.

For your own work:

I am basing this on Australian copyright laws, but they are similar in most countries. If you are a photographer or artist, I urge you to read about your rights. Copyright is automatic and free and therefore you as an artist, can claim copyright on your work. You do not need to have the copyright symbol © attached to your work but it can be added to let others know that you are aware of the copyright laws. See, I have a little copyright notice over there in the right sidebar on my site. I also have it at the bottom of my blog and have always had it on all my websites.

I think this issue comes down to being aware and being courteous. As I see it, the blogging community is one that encourages and celebrates the creativity in others. I personally don’t mind if people use my images on their blogs, in fact, I love it. I think a lot of photographers are like me and are happy when people feature their work when credited. I love this blogging community and am so happy to be a part of it. Let’s all join in Erin’s idea of hugs and graciousness. Hurrah for crediting and hugging!

Thank you to Pia Jane Bijkerk, Grace Bonney, Chelsea Fuss, Erin Loechner, Nichole Robertson , Yvette van Boven and Lisa Warninger for all the planning on this little Street Cred production.

2011, A Year Of Focus

8 Photoblog Faves

Amanda — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 23:24:26 +0000

These are topping my list of favourite photoblogs at the moment:

Jonathan Canlas: I’m a long time fan of the man behind the famous Film Is Not Dead workshops but lately he’s just been hitting it out of the park with a new book and his always informative formspring which he uses to answer photography questions. He has also been sharing gorgeous work with the brand new Kodak Portra 160 film which is not yet available.

London Vs Paris: A new blog sharing a view of the same theme, one in London and one in Paris. I absolutely love this concept and am so thrilled that Irene and Xanthe are bringing London and Paris to us in this way.

Olga Bennett: Her Hasselblad work is stunning and each time I see more of her photography, I covet a Hassy even more.

Kiss The Groom: I’m such an Elizabeth Messina fan girl but I can’t not list her here. Her work always leaves me speechless.

Coquelicot: Sweet medium format from Japan.

That’s Just It Photo: Every day photographs by Tim Robison. Always a delight.

Honorary mentions have to go to these lovely little ladies and their gorgeous new blogs ~ Talented Adie shoots instant on Adie Loves Polly and her stylish sister Ayla Eve shares her fashion stylings on All About Eve.

Please check them all out for some serious photography love. Are there any photoblogs you’re loving at the moment?

Some Of My Favourite Photoblogs

The Sea

Amanda — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 20:34:53 +0000

My ole Yashica can be pretty messed up at times. The light meter in this camera is not the best and sometimes gives me wonky exposures and colours but I often enjoy the crazy that comes because of it.

Polaroid Afternoons

Sunlight Shimmer

Amanda — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 22:09:10 +0000

I don’t know what made me post a love letter to Japan this week. My thoughts and prayers are with all our friends in Japan.

Conversation Starters

Amanda — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 16:00:32 +0000

Whilst sitting in a cafe last weekend, an older man in an adjacent booth, called out to me to inquire about my camera. He wanted to know if it was a manual Nikon as he had suspected. “No, it’s a Yashica.”, I replied, “My Nikon is at home.” He then launched into a conversation about old film cameras and we speculated over my camera’s age. I realised that I actually didn’t know how old my camera was (which made me feel silly) but he assured me that it must have been from the ’70s. I had thought it was more likely a later model from the ’80s. He seemed quite delighted that I was using something he remembered from his past. Conversation about cameras continued on with my new friend until my lunch arrived and he proclaimed, “Yes, I told my wife that that lady really knows her photography. She is using film.”

That sweet man was not the first to strike up conversation about my cameras. I have been stopped many times by strangers and never have they posed me questions of why. They’ve all greeted me with smiles and discussions of once owning similar cameras. Most of them walk away with a happy memory in their head. Experiencing these little interactions with strangers is just another reason why being a film camera user is so heart warming. Have you ever had these kinds of conversations with strangers?

p.s. I’ve since learned that my Yashica is from the mid 1980s.

Twelve- A Photography Project For You

Amanda — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 15:00:34 +0000

Start the year with Twelve!

Twelve is a photography project I have created with you in mind. For the next 12 months, I am going to host a photography project based on a monthly word/theme. This is not a project for me, but for you, my lovely readers. I encourage you to join me in a monthly photography project with a twist.

What Do You Need To Do?

Sign up for a flickr account (if you don’t have one already) and join the group, Twelve. At the beginning of each month, I will post a theme or word for you to explore throughout that month. Along with the theme word, I will also provide you with colour inspiration for that month. You can shoot the theme alone or the theme with the colour inspiration included in your photograph. For example, if the theme word is ‘grow’ and the colour inspiration ‘green’, you can shoot your photographs around the theme of ‘grow’ or you can shoot a range of photographs incorporating both the theme and the colour green.

I challenge you to take at least 3 to 6 photographs per month. The idea is to take the theme and interpret it in a number of different ways. I encourage you to shoot more than one image to try and stretch your range and scope. You could shoot the same subject 5 different ways or shoot 5 separate subjects. If you would like to shoot more than the advised 4-6, go for it! Feel free to shoot any medium- digital or film.

Once you have shot your images, you can share them in the flickr pool and add them to your blog. You may want to create a special set just for your Twelve project photographs on flickr. Come back here and leave a link to your images on the appropriate monthly Twelve post to share with others. I may share some of the monthly images here on Mocking Bird.

I encourage you to look at other people’s images and comment on their work as well as sharing your own. Building a community of photographers can only help to make you a more aware and thoughtful photographer.

The theme for January is: Wish- Hold your breath, dream big, look forward, with open arms, take a leap…

January Colour Inspiration: violet, white

I am excited to get started with Twelve and I hope you will join me in this project for 2011. Would you like to join me? Get snapping!

Something Missing

Amanda — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 14:00:31 +0000

Lately I’ve been feeling that there is something missing, something just not right. I’ve just moved into a new place, I’m in the middle of writing and shooting a book, decorating, discovering new local haunts and in that time something has been not quite right.

In all the craziness, I have neglected to take my camera out as I normally would. Even when I have taken my camera with me, my mind has been so filled with apartments, writing, decorating and career moves that I haven’t been free to shoot.

That concept doesn’t seem too tough, does it? Being free to shoot. I’m not really talking about finding time to shoot either. I’m talking about being free with my thoughts and free with my inspiration. My mind has been so full that my normal shooting habits have been awry.

I need to take some of my own advice that I’m always banging on about here and free up some space in this dizzying head of mine.

No inspiration, no photography project joining, just simple shooting. Come late this afternoon, my little camera and I have a date. Simple, simple, simple.

I Have A Camera Confession

Amanda — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:52:52 +0000

Now do I go tell my sins in the confessional box or just whisper them here to you instead? Oh, OK, you twisted my arm.

I have been shooting and playing with cameras since I was a wee one. I played around with Mum and Dad’s automatic 35mm cameras when I was little, was given my first camera when I was around 9 (it was long, skinny and hot pink) and taught myself with my first SLR in my teens. I didn’t start using digital cameras till much later, so one would think that I would know my way around an old school film camera.

My Yashica FX3 is one manual camera that I use to shoot a lot of my film shots you see here. I found it in a second hand camera store in Seattle about 5 years ago. For 5 years I have been using it without a light meter. Because of it’s age, I assumed the light meter was just broken.

Here is my confession: It only dawned on me recently that maybe it wasn’t broken. Maybe there was a dead battery inside and maybe if I changed that dead battery, it might miraculously work. Battery bought…battery inserted…light flashes inside viewfinder…would that be my light meter indicator working for the first time? AHERM.

So for the first time in 5 years, I’ve actually been shooting my manual camera with a working light meter. And before you ask me how I managed to use my camera and get photos exposed properly? It was a lot of guessing and sometimes referring to the digital camera as a light meter, but mostly guessing. Even with all the guessing, they still mostly turned out, so no harm done, other than me feeling like a fool!

So now it’s your turn. Have you ever had a little moment when a light when on and you discovered something new about your cameras or photography? Here is your chance to get it off your chest…or you can just have a chuckle at my expense. Hell, if you don’t have a camera confession but just want to confess something completely unrelated, go right ahead.