Week 01 - A Self Portrait

Hi, I am Christina B

I am a wife of many years, a mother to two and grandmother to four very beautiful kids (I know everyone says that but it’s true!)

I “retired” early from my day job to follow my passion – photography (people photography)

And as a people photographer, babies, families and weddings are my joy.

But this year challenges have been huge and opportunities few.

My photography has been in the doldrums for a while.

And I’ve done a lot of reading!!

The 52 Week Challenge 2021 is not intended to be a competition more a support group to drive ourselves to shoot, create, develop and learn.

 And I am excited to be a part of it and to getting started.

Let’s hope 2021 brings a new start and a much better year for us all.

WHAT I’VE LEARNED THIS WEEK: I understand why people say they don’t like having their picture taken!

Week 02 - A Rainbow of Front Doors

Okay, first problem – what do I shoot this week? 

All the things I naturally gravitate towards  - people, events, social -  are all out of bounds right now. 

Actually that is the reason my friends and I began the challenge! So we have something photographic each week to get our teeth into. 

So I sat and asked myself “What is it I’m drawn to – besides people!” And the answer is “BRIGHT BOLD COLOUR!” 

Okay so that’s a start. But it’s January in the UK and there’s not a lot of natural bright colour around at the moment. 

My husband and I walk everyday but have started to avoid the local parks and open land areas near to where we live as they are much busier than usual and not everyone appears to be as conscious of 2 metres as I am!! 

So we have started walking our local residential streets. Much less populated right now. 

We’ve always been interested in property – or NOSEY! And love property programmes on the telly. And I began to notice that front doors come in a variety of colours and designs. 

So that is what I have chosen for my project this week – A Rainbow of Front Doors!

Week 03 - Britten’s Pond Actual and Abstract

Brittens Pond, Guildford is a good place for a lockdown walk with just a few people out with their dogs and a couple of anglers braving the very cold day for the love of their sport!

It is was very cold but it was a calm day and the water, being very still, gave good reflections despite the rather dull flat light.

So I began with a few documentary pictures (the Actual) but wanted to try something different - ICM (intentional camera movement – the Abstract).

About 18 months ago I attended a camera club ICM workshop but hadn’t tried it since, so had no idea what I’d end up with.

And I’m sure those who are talented and experienced with this genre would do better, but I was pleasantly surprised and quite happy with the abstract images I achieved. I love the colours and tones and find them rather calming. How do they make you feel?

The main point for doing the 52 Week Challenge 2021 is to push myself to do different types of photography and to hopefully learn loads along the way.

I am a Adobe Lightroom user and have struggled to get to grips with Photoshop but this week I learned how to do a little bit more in Photoshop, so happy with that.

And I will definitely try ICM again.

Week 04 - Baby Photoshoot Props

At the weekend I decided it was time I had a good tidy session in my studio (spare bedroom!), in particular the prop cupboard where I keep all the things I use for newborn / baby photoshoots.

Things like fluffy blankets, cute baby clothes and lovely soft teddies and toys.

During this lockdown period we are all missing different things but, for me, people photography, especially babies is up there near the top of my list.

So inspiration for this week’s challenge came from that. Putting together images using all the baby photoshoot props.

And for a while the studio got in more of a mess than it started out while I put these images together but I really enjoyed myself (and I tidied the cupboard once I’d finished!!).

Putting the panel together took me a while as I’m a novice with Photoshop, but again this week, I learned a couple of new tricks!

I hope you like the pics.

Week 05 - Dandelion Seeds in Colour

Sometime ago I bought a macro lens - Nikon AF-S VR Micro NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G – principally for wedding detail shots and newborn close-ups of little fingers and toes, cute lashes and lips and tiny button noses! IF ONLY!

But I have used it less than expected and recently, not at all!

So, as I have a little more time available than usual I thought I might try a little indoor macro practice.

During one of the lovely country walks with my photography friends last summer we came across some beautiful giant dandelion clocks. I cut a few and took them home but did little with them. However, one is still intact and, although rather dried out and having lost it’s white fluffiness, it is still very pretty and, I think, rather photogenic.

I have spent quite a bit of time on YouTube watching Creatives create and picked up a couple of ideas from two guys who produce some fabulous macro photography.  If these type of images appeal do check out the YouTube channels of Stewart Wood and Lee Hall.

As I say, I got some great tips from watching these videos. It was quite a fiddly process and a bit frustrating at times but I got totally absorbed in the process and lost myself for several hours! Although the end results aren’t up to Stewart and Lee’s standard, I was rather pleased with the images I ended up with!

I think it depends on your personal preference for colour but I hope some of them appeal to you.