Sunday 19 May 2013

tutorial: how to make a 360 degree planet panorama



So I've made quite a few of these little planets lately and thought a tutorial would be a good idea for you lot! I hope it's okay to follow, it's a technique that you will improve on each time you make one, so if your first planet doesn't quite work out - don't worry just have another go! Feel free to ask any questions at all!

interview: taya iv

So I was lucky enough to be able to interview the absolutely wonderful Taya Iv! Taya is a young portrait photographer and her photography is just beautiful, so I was very excited about doing this little interview! You can find her on flickr to keep up to date with her work!







Hello Taya! Thank you for aggreeing to do this little interview. So, Taya where are you from?

I am from Russia


How long have you been photographing? Have you always been a creative person?

I've been photographing for 4 years now. I was an avid little creator since a very young age but at 12 I finally was able to discover photography and all of its wonders as well as the fantastic community behind it.


Where do you get your inspiration from and which photographer(s) would you say most influence your photography?

Nature inspires me most of all. Sometimes all you need is a little stroll in a forest or even your backyard to feel the wind and hear the trees and regain all the energy you need to continue on doing what you love.


What music do you like to listen to? Any favorite musicians?

I listen to all types of music according to my mood and surroundings. These days I have been enjoying upbeat music but most days I settle with alternative. My favourites musicians are Angus & Julia Stone, Bastille and Hammock.


Tell us about your favorite place.

My current favourite place (which is temporary because my favourite places change so often) is the path away from the garden towards the street. I often take photographs there and even though it may be insignificant to others I find it quite fascinating. It has been soothing me with its rustling bright green leaves for years and the light during golden hour is just perfect to make someone's day better. I really do love it.


A lot of your photography is self portraits, tell us about your set ups for these. You are incredibly skilled at taking these self portraits, they portray such beautiful emotion - do you find it difficult playing both the photographer and the model?

Thank you so much! My self-portraiture process is incredibly simple. I often just use a tripod to hold my camera and a remote to handle long-distance shots instead of a timer. 2 seconds after pressing the button and you get a new photograph - effective and tolerable! :) I like searching for new locations for my photographs and it's always a delight whenever inspiration leads me to a new area where I can create something unusual and creative.
It can be difficult always being the model as some days I pretty much look like a mess even though my mind is spinning with new ideas. Sometimes I prefer shooting new faces and locations but self-portraiture has taught me to stay confident in myself and always go out the moment I have a new idea in mind, no matter how I look or how I feel. One disadvantage for me is that my tripod is not the sturdiest and when I want to take a shot from an unusual angle I have to struggle to get the camera there. Challenges are great though!

What lighting do you best enjoy using and why?

Natural lighting is my favourite.....because it's natural! I especially love golden hour when the sun creates an exotic mood to any location. I love nature and I also love using the light it provides to create something that comes from my heart.

Also, any counteries/cities you want to visit one day?

My top 5 dream locations are France, Australia, New York, Iceland and Japan. I would, of course, love to travel the world one day and experience all sorts of various cultures and communities.


And finally - your hair! I think your hair is the most beautiful hair I have seen, how long has it taken to grow so long?

I'm so glad you think so! I have never cut it - only occasional trimming - so it has been growing for 16 years.



x


Saturday 11 May 2013

dandelion








My final part for my photography A Level coursework, deadline of which is tomorrow. I seem to always go back to nature macro photography with each project. I don't know if this is good or bad, but I know that I want to push myself out of my comfort zone more than I am and explore other sides of photography. Abstract and surreal photography has always interested me. I want to experiment more. When my A Levels are finally over and I've passed my driving test I should have more time to be able to go out and about and explore a little more and push myself further. I have also been thinking about starting a 365 project again. I only got about a third of the way last time, so if I were to do it again I would have to complete it, I couldn't fail twice. I'd also like to make a short film. My camera has HD video recording and I feel like I haven't really made as much use of this as I could have.

I also have two rolls of film from my trip to Paris from February sitting on my desk waiting to be developed, but I'll try and get it done soon.

Hope you're all well!

x

refraction






Refractions with flowers, for a photography project for college. I used glycerine for the droplets, which is SO much easier to work with than water for this kind of thing, it's nice and gloopy and they stay put for ages and make nice large droplets! Used my macro filters here, (x10 and x4) one day I'll get a proper macro lens haha, but need to save up first!

My photography coursework deadline is on Monday, still a lot to do...