Anne Staub Photography

2012-02-29T13:07:00.000Z

Trees and ideas

2012-01-29T11:24:00.000Z

Trees not only keep on inspiring me but are ideal for many techniques whether in-camera or post processing. Their changing shapes, lines and textures very much inspire me to create new images.

Images on this page show works with added texture, in-camera impressionism (long exposure and camera movement), minimalism, macro, abstract realism and multi shots layered.

At the time of composition when shooting, often with most subjects but specially with trees, I no longer see a tree or trees, but just see shapes, lines, contrast, texture often "silhouettes" representing nature, reminding us of its strength, beauty, longevity, its power to adapt and renew.

From this portfolio

Impressionist photography

2011-12-30T09:45:00.000Z

Impressionist photography achieved using traditional in camera techniques such as low light, multi exposures, slow shutter speeds, long exposures, movement, panning. I intend to experiment a lot more with long exposures and movement and also experiment further with multiple exposures.

So far these are a selection of images produced using the above techniques.

Some are available to purchase on large canvas, choice of one or several panels, click here and some are available to purchase as cards, prints, framed prints, smaller canvas, poster here

Cats

2011-12-28T12:05:00.005Z

Several of these images are available for licensing for cards, calendar, products and book use, get in touch if interested at avsfr@hotmail.com

They can be purchased directly as cards and prints from this portfolio

Last images for 2011 & Merry Christmas!

2011-12-17T16:20:00.003Z

Merry Christmas! and many wishes for a prosperous and creative year 2012 to all! thank you for your ongoing support following my work on various sites.

Anne

A selection of my favourite quotes:

"I want to express my feelings rather than illustrate them." Jackson Pollock

“Photography deals exquisitely with appearances,
but nothing is what it appears to be.”
Duane Michals

Some see things the way they are and ask, “Why?” I dream things that never were, and ask “Why not?” George Bernard Shaw

“Anyone who considers protocol unimportant has never dealt with a cat.” Robert A. Heinlein

“A story should have a beginning, a middle, and an end... but not necessarily in that order.” Jean-Luc Godard

“I don't paint things. I only paint the difference between things.” Henri Matisse

"It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation." Herman Melville

"Photography, as we all know, is not real at all. It is an illusion of reality with which we create our own private world." Arnold Newman

"To see a world in a grain of sand, And a heaven in a wild flower, Hold infinity in the palm of your hand, And eternity in an hour."
William Blake

New images

2011-11-05T15:47:00.005Z

Portfolios - click here

New works

2011-10-20T14:24:00.000+01:00

Cards, calendars, prints, framed prints, canvas

Wall Art - customizable

Modern Mural

2011-10-12T09:40:00.002+01:00

Some of my works shown here as sold by Modern Mural

Click here to view my portfolio on Modern Mural

Autumn and new works

2011-10-04T11:03:00.001+01:00

Portfolio

Large modern customizable canvas

Recent works

2011-09-11T11:15:00.000+01:00

Recent works below

Next post in few weeks time will be about various perspectives of Autumn.

Click here to view my online portfolios

New

2011-08-12T12:47:00.002+01:00

View my portfolios here

or categories below

Flowers

Kittens

Paris

More categories

Flowers using various depth of field

2011-08-03T16:42:00.001+01:00

More flowers - click here

New calendar from my Nature in black and white series

Calendars

2011-07-30T17:42:00.002+01:00

I must admit that, not long ago, I would never have thought that I'll ever produce calendars of dogs or cats.....

We recently got two beautiful cross Russian Blue. The Russian Blue is a naturally occurring breed that originated in the port of Arkhangelsk, Russia. They are also sometimes called Archangel Blues. Beau is also a cross, bearded and border collie.

You can view all images of Beau here and images of the kittens here

These calendars are obviously a wonderful collection for us of our much loved dog and cats but remember that (click on the calendar you're interested in) you can then select the starting month, after clicking on buy/preview button once on the site. The starting month can be matched to someone's birthday.

If you have no interest in dogs or cats and are still reading this :) I will, in the next few weeks, produce other calendars, using my work from various categories: black & white, macro, abstract, minimalism ....

I have been using these calendars for several years now, and the quality is excellent, printed on 200gsm satin art paper, A3 (297x420mm, 11.69x16.54") and are ready to hang.

and if you have no interest in calendars :) all my images from here are also available as cards, framed prints and posters.

If you are based in the UK, I recommend this site

Recent works and portfolios

2011-07-15T08:56:00.007+01:00

Worlwide deliveries - click here

Other portfolios - click here

Positive and negative and framing, and more....

2011-07-10T11:56:00.004+01:00

I have wondered at times if I pay more attention to negative space (empty space around a subject) than positive space (the subject itself). I certainly at the time of shooting try to emphasise not only the subject, using space, but the space itself. I find space beautiful in many ways and for many different reasons. Negative space is also the most important when composing, placing your subject in various part (rule of thirds is used as to ensure the surrounding space around the subject is maximised) is basic composition. I also like to break rules (see purity - macro droplet below). Often, the use of negative and positive space, will work when symetrical or when a balance is reach between the two. Use of colours and shape/s of the subject and contrast will also further enhance surrounding space.

Images below are show a variety of uses of negative space and different perspectives.

I think it's important to ensure that the use of space is constantly explored, taking in consideration colours, contrast, textures and shapes of the subject or it's surroundings. Creating space and sometimes breaking rules is also ideal to experiment with framing negative and positive space.

Below, images (macro and close up) where the frame is filled using positive space only.

An update on my current equipment:

Fujifilm X100

Canon 50D

Canon macro EF-S 60mm

Canon EF-S 55-250 mm IS

More works have been added to my portfolio on Modern Mural

One of my favourite black and white "Mother and child", my son and I shot several years ago. Slightly cropped but was shot filling up the frame as to capture our closeness, I was also after a different perspective for a mother and child portrait, focusing on the eyes and retaining some "privacy".

Recent works - Black and white

2011-07-03T10:52:00.009+01:00

Portfolio

UK Portfolio

Fuji x100 in Christchurch, Dorset, UK.

2011-06-19T18:27:00.002+01:00

Today, in between two heavy showers, we managed to go to Christchurch. I took the X100 with me.

Some are in-camera black and white, others were converted in post processing.

Black and white - click here

Fujifilm X100

2011-06-18T19:12:00.001+01:00

I can safely say that both Beau and I are very pleased with my new compact camera. I have purchased a Fujifilm X100 hybrid viewfinder...... and I just love it..... I actually feel like I'm "starting from scratch" with photography all again. This is such a different feel, use and results.... I mostly used in the last few years a Canon DSLR with a macro lens EF-S 60mm and a EF-S IS 55-250 mm - I also had various compact cameras, usually Canon.

The X100 has a fixed lens and surprisingly, because for many years I was more than happy to be at a certain distance from my subjects, I just love the fix lens, I have always found the zoom in previously owned compacts combined with the live view quite often irritating as I need the view finder to compose and preferably with a true reflection of what I see. And would rather use my 55-250mm for any closer composition.

I love the feel of the camera and it's no gimmick design, I use the macro setting for anything close which is instantly accessible. I love the feel of it and have still to experience it in more depths.

Below are some shots with various bw film settings and various apertures.

I also love the non-intrusive design of this camera. The retro build and it's quick access to manual settings.

I was in Paris last week and so regret not having the x100 with me then, as I just got it a couple of days ago, no doubt I'll be in Paris again soon to visit my family. I find the black and white portraits in various apertures very interesting whether with much contrast or softer. I have a sudden interest in portraits and candid shots :) - I've always loved black & white photography and can't wait to add more to this category

So not much so far, a wonderful mild and wet "October" day today ..... again ... and my Canon 50D and lenses will still be very much in use, but I'm looking forward to having this compact with me at all times and experiment lots with it.

I very much feel that this is the compact for me - I have gone though a certain amount, 4 .... which were all resold as new and in excellent condition, as all were very recent and hardly used, apart from my first one which was the G9 which drowned while kayaking :) ...... not that I kayak a lot but the next one after that was (strangely and far too late) a waterproof one :)) which I never used. I was reluctant to get a bridge so got another compact but it still didn't stop me from carrying my much heavier 50D most of the time, again as I favourited the viewfinder use and exact composition. I am happy now that I can build a long term "relationship" with the fixed lens X100 as very excited at discovering a way to photograph which feels like a new experience (getting close to my subject/s among many other things) and that I never encountered before with any other compact. Also, many added settings that I never used on the usual compact, face recognition, etc.. as I mostly shoot manual when I can or semi - aperture or shutter speed priority, aren't there which I very much welcome! You don't need what you don't use.... :)

Recent works - shown here as cards

2011-06-16T11:43:00.000+01:00

annestaub@hotmail.co.uk

Scannography and other recent works

2011-06-09T11:32:00.000+01:00

Available from the following portfolios:

UK - Photo4me

US - ModernMural

US - Bluecanvas

Worldwide delivery - RB

Scannography

2011-05-23T19:12:00.003+01:00

I am now the proud owner of a small scanner (Canon lide 210).... who would have thought that scanning would be so much fun.... and quite a lot of work too ..... multi-media images using also various layers of texture shots ..... I have done several (many gone to my agent) and few uploaded on blue canvas.

Even though the process can be time consuming, especially with "cleaning up" (I used to get much dust when doing Impressionist Photography - long exposure + camera movement) on my images as, as soon as you start moving your camera, dust would appear from hidden places. Now bits of whatever appearing on a scanner mainly from what you're scanning is incomparable to the small amount I had with camera movement :)

I have a lot more ideas I want to try out and still learning to use the scanner in different ways. Also as you can see layering different papers in the background, use of extra light and trying not to scan my own hands is slowly coming along ...... :) this scanner also allows you to scan upright or on it's side.....

I love the dimensions it gives, click on images below then click on them individually to view them, they seem to be coming out or sinking down into the texture.... as always intrigued and amazed by nature's details, scanning offers yet another angle and views of nature's creations.

If you have an interest in scannography - visit this site - I have many of my own ideas to try out but will certainly try painting on scanner (see the site), a very creative idea which I really want to try out at some point.

Taking my son very early this morning to his work experience, I ended up stopping twice on the way back just spotting some texture which had to go on the scanner, more plants that I would have previously ignored for macros for instance, scanning has open yet another dimension in the small world of textures and shapes.... lucky enough my son made his own way back, flying, running, catching boats, buses and trains and jumping as he does and as agreed :) as I am truly very pleased that my creativity and curiosity is taking me into new creative experiments... another lift early tomorrow morning, who knows what I'll find on the way back :))

I don't expect to have my camera with me when out for some time until I've scanned all :)) new textures and shapes which in my opinion are more suited or more "revealed" by scanning than macro photography. I will instead need a basket :)

Do check the site above, it's very well made and offers views, perspective and experiments from various passionate scannographers! :)

Update

2011-05-20T16:48:00.005+01:00

I have currently stopped uploading on the various print on demand sites that I have my work on. I have yet to decide which ones I will keep up to date but for the time being I will just monitor them for the next few months. I have also in the last few weeks mainly created files to go directly to my agent.

Sites where you can view and purchase my work as framed prints, cards, canvas, posters and prints:

Bluecanvas
Redbubble
FineArt
ImageKind
Photo4me

ModernMural

Sites with a selection of my work on display:

Flickr
Saatchi

New book:

Blurb

Some of my work has been sold for use on products and licensed for greeting cards to publishers, if interested or to view more of my work, contact me at:

annestaub@hotmail.co.uk

As mentioned above I am currently prioritising expanding my portfolio with my agent and also looking to create images using a scanner - any recommendation of types and make of scanner are most welcomed!

Anne

Spread love not hate....

2011-05-10T16:21:00.003+01:00

I have been working with textures again recently:

and also made more cards with text/greeting cards - click here - and instead of going to my agent only, they are also posted in a couple of my portfolios.

If you are also on Saatchi - click here

and more shots of Beau :) - click here to view the collection so far ....

New Works

2011-05-05T09:46:00.001+01:00

New works available on Modern Mural - click here

With a choice of sizes and designs for all works - US deliveries often free of charge on several designs.

Click here to view all my work on MM

American Greetings is purchasing the following two images:

And these are recent works:

All my works can be seen here and also here

Feature - Sybille Sterk

2011-05-01T13:13:00.002+01:00

Sybille is one of the most versatile and imaginative artist I came across online, in her own words:

"I am a very creative person and it’s may way of dealing with the world, inside and out. I am only happy when I am making things – from knitting to crochet, (needle) felting to beading, from wire to yarn, silk to merino wool, from semi precious beads to polymer clay to silver, copper and brass, from hemp to jelly yarn, I have to play with it all. And that’s not even including my painting and writing. There are just not enough hours in the day….The inspiration for all my art is often nature (flowers, birds and insects in particular), fairy tales and soul searching."

Sybille lives in Cambridge with her partner, son and 2 cats and used to work as a technical author.

"I’ve never been able to decide if I was a writer or an artist. It’s always been both for me right from the start – even as a kid I was always writing things down or sketching or painting or whatever else I could lay my hands on. For a long time I couldn’t decide on a medium either, however, nowadays I mostly work on the computer, although I do wire sculptures, knitting, crochet and jewelery as well."

"Ever since I discovered photo manipulation (which wasn’t that long ago – March 2010) I’ve not been able to stop. The truth is, everything excites me. My main thing about being an artist is the ‘seeing’. I look around and I see things and I want to understand them. These ‘things’ can be anything from people and their behaviour to nature to something technical, e.g. a new technique or an engine, and to philosophical questions."

"My favourite artist is Leonardo da Vinci. Not so much because his art is what I aspire to, but his inspiration and reasons for creating art are how I feel about art, too. For me art is about understanding what’s going on around me and to tell stories. Maybe that last bit is me more than Leonardo."

"All my art is about understanding and story telling. Either I try to understand something that’s puzzling me or I am telling a story. Both are either about working out what goes on in my head (which is a lot even at the best of times, at worst it’s so busy I can’t hear myself think) or about getting a grip on the world around me and making sense of it. I also like using nature in my images – often butterflies and dragonflies for their metamorphic abilities, but also birds (especially from the raven family for their mythical background); a lot of my art is emotional and therefore I feel the need to use symbolic imagery."

Sybille also digitally paints using Corel Painter:

Her work is available from deviantArt - click here

and also from here, where you will find her poems and her beautiful calendars

Art, craft and poetry by Sybille Sterk (blog) - click here

Visit the blog for Sybille's beautiful handmade jewelery.

Originally, I was going to feature Sybille's self-portraits only and then I realised that it wouldn't be enough as to show Sybille's talent and creativity. I wanted to show more works from her wonderful portfolio.

Cards with text and canvas Giclée produced in the US

2011-04-30T12:20:00.001+01:00

My cards with text/Greetings Cards are now available from FineArtAmerica

I keep these cards, simple with an alternative style. When ordering cards from FAA you have the option to write your inside message, if you wish to, at the time of ordering. It will then come printed in the card, they also offer a discount on multiple purchases:

a single card $5.45
pack of 10 for $3.20/card
pack of 25 cards for $2.50/card

Some recent comments received on various sites where my cards are uploaded:

Awesome work …simple yet so powerful !
So emotive, perfectly reflected here
Very harmonious composition!
Exquisite handling of this Anne- lovely!
Just love the beautiful delicacy of this!
a beauty Anne and it’s so delicate :)
So simple and elegant

I'm so pleased that my aim to keep them simple, using a short and often discreet text combined with my photography which is often minimalist is proving to be popular. I have already sold several on one site but not yet on FAA, you could be the first buyer of these cards :)) they have also been sent to my agent and we will see which ones get to be of interest to publishers. If you have an interest in my cards for your shop or are a specialist card publisher/agent, get in touch:annestaub@hotmail.co.uk

Click here to view the cards

Currently uploaded are:

Mother's Day Cards
Father's Day Cards
Birthdays Cards
Alternative Seasonal Greetings Cards
Love Cards
Support Cards
Friendship Cards
Thinking of You Cards
Humour Cards
Missing You Cards
Thank you Cards
Get well soon Cards

Another American company is Modern Mural - a selection of my work is available as canvas Giclée mounted and print only.

They offer a very good choice of designs as shown below:

Click here to view my portfolio on Modern Mural

Recently.....

2011-04-27T18:37:00.002+01:00

An addition to my Project ~ People, click here to view them all

New greetings cards/cards with text

Click here to view them all

New image with Beau

And new triptych

Saatchi....

Mother and Child (long exposure and camera movement) did very well at the last Saatchi showdown as it hovered between the top 200 and 500 until from the top 300 it failed at 340 so didn't make it to the next round but still out of 5786 entries, it was good to see it in the top few hundreds. Along with Deep in the Forest, these are my favourite impressionist photography works.

Textured work

Series

I now have 70 works on Modern Mural - click here to view them

and

Stuart has now a selection of his photography for sale on the Saatchi sit e

You can view my new book here

I plan on adding more works to my People project along with more macro photography using extension tubes in addition to my macro lens.

Click here to view some of my macro/close up work

Greetings cards and postcards

2011-04-19T10:26:00.002+01:00

Click here to view them all

8 greeting cards - 20% discount
16 greeting cards - 30% discount

There is an option to have them individually wrapped in cellophane sleeves. The cards are left blank inside and are available as greetings cards in two sizes:

100mm x 150mm Card and 125mm x 190mm Card

And also as postcards:

Surprise feature of Justart.... Sylvia Tax

2011-04-15T10:38:00.001+01:00

A surprise feature of the very talented Sylvia - She is passionate about flowers, nature, abstract and colours, and since a young age, has always been creative in photography, art, floristry and fashion.

I have been following Sylvia's work for some time, 3/4 years and I never cease to be amazed... I love her abstract works and love her ideas.

Sylivia lives in the Netherlands, works, and regularly creates wonderful photography, interior furnishings designs, t-shirts, cards and a lot more.....

And in addition to the above, she is very supportive to so many on various sites. I am rather lazy as I would rather favourite works than post comments. Sylvia makes the time to comment on many work and follow so many... I don't know how she does it! :)

I don't think a day passes without seeing in one of my feeds that Sylvia's work has been featured or sold or both. Her passion and kindness is seen at all times.

Sylvia is on several sites offering different products, I have listed them at the end of this post.

Below are three of my favourites

Sylvia's products on Mandellia.fr

Her wonderful abstract works on MM

Photography and t-shirts on RB

Floral cards on CU

Sylvia's portfolio on zazzle

Sylvia has also made stunning videos showing her work - click here

New works, competition and book

2011-04-13T17:32:00.004+01:00

Recent works

Book

I have spent the last two days, putting a book together using Blurb. I am now waiting for my copy before promoting it.

The book has 50 pages showing images using various apertures and shutter speeds. All EXIF information (focal length, aperture, shutter speed and ISO) for all images are given.

The book is not intended to be a tutorial book but possibly to inspire anyone to take up photography or experiment further with various in-camera techniques.

Watch this space for more info and direct link coming soon!

I know have 70 works on MM - click here to view them

Pet portraits/photography

2011-04-07T17:28:00.005+01:00

If you like my work and would like some photography and images produced of your pet/s, get in touch annestaub@hotmail.co.uk. All images above can be seen larger by clicking on them.

New works and competitions

2011-04-05T12:54:00.007+01:00

Recent works

Below a selection of works posted on Saatchi Online.

A competition I entered last year - where "Purity" was one of the Nature Nominees :) click here to view

Cards from RB from my "Collage, triptychs.." category:

Click here to view the category

Spring is here.....

2011-03-24T12:02:00.005Z

Spring is here .... at last..... best time for macro outdoor shots (and long walks with the dog). I found myself recently, depending on the light available, switching from shutter priority for impressionist photography as for the tulips and trees below to various aperture priority as to both isolate my subject and also create boheh and blurry abstract backgrounds which I love.

Focusing mainly on various in-camera techniques, I haven't done much textured work recently but these are past work and the most popular:

Project - People

2011-03-19T11:36:00.004Z

This is an ongoing new project/series..... as I go along more will be added to the series....

All of them are originally shot using the "Impressionist" photography technique, which is long exposure combined with camera movement - to view some of my "Impressionist Photography" - click here - I added a very light "cut out" effect and texture.

I have added a new category for this. "Project - People" which can be seen here

Also some new work have been added to my "Macro & close up" category, here

New work on ModernMural

2011-03-17T09:20:00.002Z

Click here to view my portfolio available on ModernMural

ModernMural currently only delivers to the US and Canada. I am currently looking for a UK based company offering similar options in styles and sizes.

Large canvas and Calendars

2011-03-12T09:12:00.000Z

Reflection from Nature, Beach Huts and Man in the red top are now available on Modern Mural. Click here to view all my work available in various styles and sizes.

New Calendars also available - these are ideal gifts anytime of year, as after clicking on "buy/preview" you can select any starting month.

Click below to view all calendars

Abstract, long exposure, camera movement

2011-03-08T11:09:00.009Z

Beautiful Blur recent post - click here

I have been experimenting more with long exposure and camera movement, I always loved abstract/abstract realism and love the creative possibilities coming with "Impressionist" camera techniques.

Click here to view my Impressionist photography category

Click here to view my Abstract category

These top three are straight from the camera with slight contrast adjustments.

1/13 F8

1/5 F32 for both Spring Dream and Woods

Several people following my work have contacted me as to how to start to produce these shots. I referred them to the Impressionist Camera Techniques book mentioned in the Beautiful blur post on this blog as it's full of ideas and very well written. But truly the best is to practice lots, soon you realise the amount and placement of light you need. Start at around 1/13-20 for bright light and depending on how much background you want showing behind and around your subject, check your screen and adjust accordingly. Speed of movement and panning will also have to be experimented with for each subjects until you

reach the effect you are after. It's not easy to get the "perfect" blur depending on the subject but I certainly enjoy the technical and creative challenge coming with it.

1/5 F32

Fire and Thistle in blue had colours alterations and/or were emphasised

All these are straight from the camera with slight adjustments in contrast.

1/15 F32

1/13 F32

1/10 F8

1/15 F32

1/10 F8

1/15 F32

I think I'll end up removing several from my portfolio as I experiment more but I enjoy the creative possibilities and abstract feel of these long exposure and camera movement images.

Portfolio and categories

2011-03-07T09:28:00.001Z

Diptychs, Triptychs, collage, storyboards

Impressionist photography (framed)

Flowers

Trees (shown as canvas)

Abstract and abstract realism

Pastel, vintage and cream (shown as mounted prints)

Minimalist (framed)

Black and white (framed)

Macro and close up

Textured works (canvas)

People (framed)

Yellow category (shown as cards)

Pink and purple category (shown in various products, posters, framed, cards, ...)

Blue category (shown as mounted prints)

Brown and orange (different products)

Nature

Own favourite

Feedback welcome, these are new categories and re-organisation of this portfolio.

Photographer Feature - Annie J Lemay

2011-02-28T13:12:00.003Z

This is my second Photographer Feature, this time a feature about the photographer Annie J. Lemay.

I started "watching" Annie's works, several months ago, on a site we both upload our work to. My feeds on there show new works from Annie and anyone else I'm watching. I tend to always recognise her work.

What I like the most is probably her composition and use of space, she also works with textures and colours and I always find these to be in perfect harmony, beautifully combined together. Her work often shows minimalism, abstract realism and beautiful vintage colours and moods.

What Annie said about herself and her photography:

"I am self/taught photographer from Mission, BC, Canada.

I was born in Quebec in 1962 and have lived in East and West Africa, Chicago, Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary and Seattle. I have also travelled extensively throughout Europe with my family (2 sisters and 1 brother) and my parents. All this travelling has had a great effect on how I see the world and the people that live in it…

I was always interested in photography, right back to when my family had a pawn shop in Mission BC. There were always cameras in the shop of every type and value. I always got to use the best of the equipment so I count myself really lucky for that opportunity. However, photography was absent from my life for 20 years, until 2008.
I worked in a reputable customs lab/studio in Alberta and saw some of the finest art come through those doors. It was so inspirational to see and made me want to go out and aspire to what I’d seen.

In 1975 I was given a print of some trees by the legend that is Ansel Adams. I really love his art and it fascinated me just wondering how he got such fantastic art. It was then I thought, “could I do work like that?” I set out to try and emulate a master of his art and am still aspiring to do just that. His art is a benchmark to us all, a true genius.

My interest in photography started first started back in 1975 when my late father who passed away in 2007 gave me my first 110 format camera. My father had a massive influence on my life and this new camera made me look at the world in a different way. It opened up so many doors as to how I wanted to depict what I saw. I was on the road to a life of taking pictures. I didn’t know it would be another 30 years before I would take it up seriously.
It’s moved my photography on to a higher level and learning all the different techniques has been fascinating to say the least. My options with a camera like this are endless and take my imagination where I want it to go. There is so much beauty out there and I’m always on the lookout for the smallest as well as the biggest flower, even weeds are beautiful.
I was asked by “Konica Canada” to volunteer at the Calgary Stampede in 1985. I knew I wanted this in my life.

Photography takes away the stresses of life; it’s an escape in many ways. There’s not a day goes by when I don’t want to take a picture. I mainly take shots when out walking my dog Gizmo. He’s my friend and companion he’s always by my side.

I look forward to the great images I’ll take in the future whatever they may be. The art of photography is part of me now just as it has been for the last 30 years. I feel I’ll never stop learning and guess I never will.
Photography is a gift of freedom, which allows me to fly. Join me on this journey….watch me fly."

Click here to view Annie's wonderful portfolio

Modern Mural - large canvas

2011-02-26T14:44:00.001Z

If you are based in the US or Canada, Modern Mural offers a very good range of quality large murals, ready to hang at home, office, restaurant, waiting room,.... in different styles.

Below are some of my works in various styles they offer.

New works available on MM. Click here to view

Click here to view my portfolio on Modern Mural

Recent works and two cameras.....

2011-02-25T19:15:00.008Z

These are recent works shot using my Canon 50D and my Canon IS 55-250 mm lens

I experimented more with long exposures and camera movements, close to where I live, here at Hengistbury Head.

These were shot with the same lens at Stanpit Marsh Local Nature Reserve in Christchurch, my idea when shooting was to use different depths of field and angles and show different perspectives. I added a vintage colour theme to them.

(I am now the proud owner of a homemade wooden light box (not yet used), thanks to my son for thinking of making it for his mum and "starting" building it and thank you to my partner Stuart for actually making the box and finishing it :) it has a built-in see-through hard plastic panel. I also have several types of paper to place over it.... watch this space, for some shots using the box soon...)

This tulip macro was shot using the 50D with my Canon 60mm lens, this was shot indoors with natural light in the background.

We were in London recently, and I decided not to bring my 50D but my Canon Powershot SX210 IS instead - fits perfectly in my handbag and I wanted to experiment more with this camera. Set to shutter speed priority and mostly on or around 1/13, while in Hyde Park, I thought I would experiment more with various in-camera techniques. With the following three shots which possibly could be re-titled "the man with the red top" I, II and III, I mainly used long exposures but not much movement (apart from the subjects themselves) as opposed to my previous "impressionist shots" - see Beautiful Blur II

This was shot in Notting Hill.

This is Kensington Church. Apart from the fact that the SX210 is ideal for me to have all the time when not using the 50D, I love the possibilities of wide angles this camera offers. I will certainly be experimenting more with this type of shot.

More works shot in London using various techniques will be uploaded in my portfolios, online, soon. You can access my portfolios using the links on the right.

Next week, I'll be posting my second Photographer Feature.

Use of Space

2011-02-21T11:39:00.005Z

My favourites works are always the ones with much space around the subject. I love to compose images putting subject near the sides, top or bottom, corners, using space as much as possible. Space often emphasizes simplicity, purity, peace and tranquility and also the subject/message itself.

Rule of thirds is ideal as to maximise space and "compose negative space" around the subject but be creative too and break rules :)

I'm now using C A T has an avatar for my online portfolios which you can access from here or using the links on the right.

Favourite Quotes

2011-02-16T19:15:00.005Z

“A story should have a beginning, a middle, and an end... but not necessarily in that order.” Jean-Luc Godard

"Photography, is a powerful medium of expression and communication, offers an infinite variety of perception, interpretation and execution." Ansel Adams

You must have your own too :)

"Photography is an ongoing, learning, creative and passionate journey." Anne Staub

"It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation." Herman Melville

"Photography, as we all know, is not real at all. It is an illusion of reality with which we create our own private world." Arnold Newman

"I want to express my feelings rather than illustrate them." Jackson Pollock

“I don't paint things. I only paint the difference between things.” Henri Matisse

"“The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera.”
Dorthea Lange

Some see things the way they are and ask, “Why?” I dream things that never were, and ask “Why not?” George Bernard Shaw

“If you take photographs, don’t speak, don’t write, don’t analyse yourself, and don’t answer any questions.” Robert Doisneau

"It is through the magic of photography that light becomes the subject matter with colours, forms, space, and time relationships that express my deepest feelings and beliefs." Wynn Bullock

“Photography deals exquisitely with appearances, but nothing is what it appears to be.”
Duane Michals

"Those who don't believe in magic will never find it." Roald Dahl

it is an illusion that photos are made with the camera… they are made with the eye, heart and head. - Henri Cartier-Bresson

Click here to view my latest work

What is your favourite quote?

Beautiful Blur II

2011-02-12T18:38:00.013Z

This post is a follow up to Beautiful Blur I

RE: (Eva Polak - Impressionist Photography Techniques).

This book is wonderfully made, you will find in there a step-by-step guide to creating images using long exposure and panning/camera movement. Full of ideas, technical EXIF data to try in various light conditions and subjects along with Eva Polak's beautiful work.

Just to name a few, the book covers the following subjects: city lights, people/animals in movement, birds in flight, moving leaves, waves, trees (lines)....

I had already tried long exposure and panning on trees/woods:

I tried the following images recently using one of the book's techniques, all shot indoors. Beau (the dog) and tulips.

The following were shot today at the beach. Below are different shots, using different exposure and camera movement, resulting in different strength of blur...

I quite like the "mother and child" and the "surfer". I also very much like how impressionist/abstract photography respect subjects' privacy. I have always liked silhouettes, abstract human shapes/forms. I am certainly going to experiment a lot more and when in the right places, I will now switch my settings to shutter priority mode more often.

I recommend Eva Polak's book to anyone interested in abstract photography and also as a gift to someone in need of inspiration. It's not easy to get the perfect blur, shoot lots, try different settings, have fun, I hope to recognise with plenty more experiments in various conditions, the ideal exposures for the subjects, movements and light achieving the effect and style that I'm interested in.

New images: