I am looking for a casual mentor

01/13/2005 06:03:23 AM · #26

Hey Jon,
I've been thinking about getting in touch with the picture editor at The Guardian, but I've been putting it off until I feel I have enough excellent photos taken with a good quality camera (I've only had a DSLR for a couple of weeks!).
What did the guy at News International say to you?
In your opinion, should I set up a meeting with someone at the Guardian now, or wait until I've improved my portfolio?
It's frustrating, as I have a commission from The Guardian Online to shoot Glastonbury... but I don't want to shoot myself in the foot by being too eager before I'm ready with regards to the main paper.

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

01/13/2005 06:23:37 AM · #27

Originally posted by BobsterLobster:

I would wait until you have done Glastonbury for sure. That way when you go in and met him you can back track and say you have produced work for the Online side of the Guardian which will make you look good!

As for the portfolio, not really in a position to judge as you know, but I would tone down the PS saturation you have in your images, I know it's style (as I said yesterday) but papers don't always like that effect.

Incidentally I am only saying this as that was the one piece of advice I received from the News International photographer which was 3 or so years ago.

That aside, getting into any papers list of shooters is notoriously hard. I know a few people at the Express Group (Express, Sunday Express, The Daily Star, OK! Magazine) who work with photographers closely and they get thousands of portfolios in.

It's more who you know than what you can do as there are just so many able photographers out there.

Just before Christmas I was offered a job to shoot Jodie Marsh, suffice to say i didn't take it - just a little out of my league!

Konador

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

01/13/2005 06:46:49 AM · #28

Originally posted by jonpink:

Just before Christmas I was offered a job to shoot Jodie Marsh, suffice to say i didn't take it - just a little out of my league!

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

01/13/2005 06:49:15 AM · #29

Originally posted by Konador:

Originally posted by jonpink:
Just before Christmas I was offered a job to shoot Jodie Marsh, suffice to say i didn't take it - just a little out of my league!

Would have been good for the DPC entry though :D

Konador

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

01/13/2005 06:50:20 AM · #30

Originally posted by jonpink:

Originally posted by Konador:

Originally posted by jonpink:
Just before Christmas I was offered a job to shoot Jodie Marsh, suffice to say i didn't take it - just a little out of my league!

Would have been good for the DPC entry though :D

Show DrJones a thing or 2 :P

01/13/2005 06:52:10 AM · #31

Thanks for passing that on... very useful.
Didn't you at least want to give the photoshoot a go? Pshh!
I'm aiming at specialising in gig and festival photography for all the papers mentioned so far... it may take time but I'll do it!
My action plan is to take photos of every gig I can in Huddersfield for the next year, and get myself firmly in the scene. I'm off to a pretty good start on this one. Next year, I'll branch out to Leeds and get myself known there. After that, it's world domination! I'm aware that although I'm a really impatient person, my best approach here is a lot of preparation and patience. I want to be DAMN good before I try to approach the people that really matter at the top. Hopefully, this way I'll be learning from past mistakes in other areas!
I have the enthusiasm, I hopefully have the talent, I have a good attitude, and I'm slowly building up my contacts. I'm now a regular contributor to a local magazine with both articles and photos, and am being given regular assignments. I just have to take my time.

01/13/2005 06:58:23 AM · #32

Originally posted by BobsterLobster:

Thanks for passing that on... very useful.
Didn't you at least want to give the photoshoot a go? Pshh!
I'm aiming at specializing in gig and festival photography for all the papers mentioned so far... it may take time but I'll do it!
My action plan is to take photos of every gig I can in Huddersfield for the next year, and get myself firmly in the scene. I'm off to a pretty good start on this one. Next year, I'll branch out to Leeds and get myself known there. After that, it's world domination! I'm aware that although I'm a really impatient person, my best approach here is a lot of preparation and patience. I want to be DAMN good before I try to approach the people that really matter at the top. Hopefully, this way I'll be learning from past mistakes in other areas!
I have the enthusiasm, I hopefully have the talent, I have a good attitude, and I'm slowly building up my contacts. I'm now a regular contributor to a local magazine with both articles and photos, and am being given regular assignments. I just have to take my time.

A good thing to do is to go to [b[all[/b] the events around - with emphasis on the larger ones like V and Glastonbury etc and talk to the photographers there.

Buy them a few beers in return for half an hour of questioning. If you make a good impression and exchange business cards that's the quickest and most trusted method of getting your foot in.

Looking at your band pics and knowing your passion for that photography I am sure it won't be long! Best of luck to ya!

Ps: Jodie Marsh - I would have turned up with a full lighting rig waiting and not have known what the hell do do with it lol

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

01/13/2005 07:30:57 AM · #33

Thanks!
I was a bit shy at last year's festivals, so I didn't chat to photographers although I was stood right next to many of them. Pah. I don't have that problem now, photography has been a great reason to stop being so scared of people, especially when taking candids! My latest and not very artistic assignment last night was taking photos of as many drunk people in pubs as I could for a montage of 'people about town'. Good practice for getting photos of revellers at festivals.

tolovemoon

Canon EOS Rebel SL1

01/13/2005 07:46:24 AM · #34

Photo Friends

Just wondering if anyone has looked at this?

I dont have a lot of new gadgets and I may not have the best camera. I may not even be good at taken photos with my camera but I do have a desire and a passion for photography as well as the ability to learn. I have learned many things from reading, the web,DPC,well known photographers history, and from being an artist at heart. I have goals that are reachable and plenty of sources to use. But in any case I can be a friend too :)

01/13/2005 07:47:18 AM · #35

Originally posted by BobsterLobster:

Aye! Walk into a bar with a big camera and it's instant attraction for the ladies :D They swoon like eagles looking for prey.

Last year I went on an assignment with a leading womens glossy mag (no names mentioned!) because I knew the organizer.

All the photographer had to do was go into 3 bars and get 5 shots in each bar of women holding a drink. No lights no setup just on-board flash and snapshots.

They did this in 9 cities and he charged Â£1000 per city. That's 9k for 9 nights work.

So there is money there..and it's not always hard to do.