Expired Portraits

These are two from my first shoot in my Documentary Portrait series surrounding remote control enthusiasts. It was my first 'tester' shoot, and due to a delayed delivery of Colour negative, I only had with me a single role of expired colour positive. I took some portraits, and arranged a time to come back. It was a horrible rainy day, with constant light changing conditions, so I struggled with exposures without an assistant to take the light meter readings for me. Every time I ran back to my spot, the light seemed to change. I am happy with the beginning of my project though. It's something to build on.

Remote Controlled Landscapes

My current work in progress is a documentary landscape/portrait project based around Remote Control Enthusiasts in Cornwall. For this project I have been experimenting with different mediums, Digital and 120 colour film in square format.

Falmouth Model Boat Club at Swanpool

Camborne Pondhoppers Model Boat Club at Helston

West Cornwall Radio Control Car Club at Barripper

Remote Control Flyers at Perranporth

Cornwall Model Racing Club at Perranporth

The Summer Impact

The Summer has had a huge impact on my photography, or lack of it should I say. I've found myself working hard to try and pay my rent over the summer, repair some of the damage done to my bank balance. Often working 12hour days in a very busy bar & restaurant, photography has taken second place, and most days I am left so exhausted from work, photography & the editing process is the last thing on my mind, instead I crave relaxation before the next long day.

I've also found myself finding the fast paced press events less enjoyable to work. It all feels too rushed.  I'm not living in a dream world where I think I will be able to survive off documentary work alone. I know I will be forced to take press or commercial jobs if I want to earn some pennies to support documentary work, but I havn't been enjoying press jobs recently, and I dont want photography to become a chore to me. For this reason I still haven't edited my images I took at the start of June at Peugeot & Citroen. Every time I try I just don't know where to begin, get frustrated and get nowhere. I need time, without worries, stress and tiredness from work, and the help of a couple of my close friends to edit the images.

I did dust off my camera when I went up to London last week, I wanted to be able to just enjoy photography again. I'm not fond of London, or cities in general for that matter having grown up in the countryside, but i thought with some fresh surroundings I could really get into shooting away. I struggled, I often felt like a stereotypical tourist walking around with my Nikon and rarely wanted to bring the camera to my eye. 19 frames in 3 hours and I tucked my camera away in my camera bag feeling a little dejected by my own lack of enthusiasm.

'The Long Water, Hampton Court Palace, London, 7th August 2012.'
f.22 1/100
 ©Patrick Campbell

Olympic Torch through Bridport, Dorset

The Olympic torch passed through my hometown of Bridport, Dorset on Thursday 12th July, 2012, a soaking wet rainy day. I was actually on shift at my work at The Stable (http://thestabledorset.co.uk/), but was allowed out for 10 minutes to photograph as the Torch came through.

I ran out with my d7000, and tried to very quickly run up and down the street looking for some images. The light was horrible, it was so dark, the rain was so hard and kept covering my lens, and then any lights (from the police cars) just glared out in the images. Safe to say I was not Prepared.

These are 5 Images from the day. I really don't like these, and they arn't a touch on the ones I shot in Falmouth, but that goes to show how much preparation for an event comes through.
I particulary don't like the 4th Image down because of the lighting, however I could imagine this frame being perfect had it been a nice sunny day and I captured the light correctly. So I put it up here anyway as a reminder of the mistakes I still make.

All Images taken along South Street, Bridport, 12th July 2012.

Joshua Campbell - 6 months have passed

On my way over to France for a very exciting shoot, I saw an opportunity to stop off and visit my Nephew.  Last time I took a portrait of him he was 3 weeks, now he is 6 months! 

"Never work with children or animals" - W.C Fields
I've had a challenging habit of working with both over the last year.

Hasselblad

Billy O'S Ollies a gap, 31st May 2012, Tremough Campus, Falmouth, United Kingdom

I attended digital hasselblad induction today, we were asked in groups to produce an image containing 3 items from a list. In our image we needed to include a domestic appliance, a cuddly toy and a hat. Luckily one of the photographers on L1 Press & Editorial Photography is a GNARLY BRO. Job done.

This image was made with the combination of efforts from Myself, Sam Barnes, Billy O'Shaughnessy and Connor Young. Artur Melez Tixiliski was with us earlier in the shoot, but had to bolt for a job. Credit to him and his lighting knowledge.

Self directed assignment

My Self directed assignment took a change after the results of Tuesdays shoot. When going to photograph the Cornish Sea Salt factory I expected to find a busy factory, with lots of workers and lots going on. On arrival I found a small factory, with machines that are monitored every half an hour by one man. I changed the direction of my story to represent this. The image below is my favourite image from my time there, although a few of my peers have suggested I cut it from my final edit of 6 images I don't feel I can. I love how bleak it is, and is a nice representation of how I often felt. Constantly looking out the windows to the beautiful scenery outside.

Binoculars, Cornish Sea Salt Co, Cornwall, 2012

Cartel Gallery

I Now have my own Gallery album on the Cartel Photos agency. It's official! It's a brilliant feeling to be part of an exhibition, an online publication which has had thousands of hits in only a couple of days, and now to have my work displayed with a photo agency who has major links with Panos pictures.

 I'm incredibly proud.

http://cartelphotos.photoshelter.com/gallery/The-story-of-St-Pirans-Patrick-Campbell/G0000Hnndexs3Um0/

InDesign Headache V2.0

Headache v.2.0

Indesign Headache

For our 'PEP160' Unit we were required to make our own mock up magazine spread using stories that we had previously shot. The first page must include an establishing image and headline etc, with further continuation of the story on the next page.
Now I don't like using InDesign at the best of times, I'm not particularly confident on the program. We have had fortnightly training sessions on the program however I have found these completely irrelevant due to the combination of a Indesign tutor that doesn't seem to like people, and a hot stuffy room which makes concentration impossible.
The lessons with Dave White have been much more useful, gaining inspiration from sites like Issuu, however this doesn't help with the technical side of things.
Add this to the fact I am as about a good graphic designer as I am dancer and you get one unhappy Campbell.

Anyway this is what I have produced today.

Lambs.

At the beginning of the easter break, I went to a farm to document the lambing process for my 5 picture story brief and the word 'Fragile'. My original idea for the 'Fragile' brief was to document how the Schmallenberg Virus can affect farms during the lambing season. 

This was the first shoot I used digital for since being at University, I have to say I still do enjoy the results of film more than digital and I think I still need a lot more practice with colour, and digital editing however here are the results. I now need to take these images down to 5 that gives the best story.

These lambs were segregated and put under a heat lamp when it was realised they were ill, however unfortunately they did not survive. 

More segregated lambs that were suffering from illness.

A Ewe is given orphaned or rejected lambs to feed. Its head is placed between the bars so that it cannot push the lambs away.

A Ewe is given an anti-biotics injection

A Natural birth.

Ali, one of the shepherds moves lambs from the pens to a larger one outside.

Marking the lambs

A lamb is given an anti-biotics injection.

Whilst giving birth to its second lamb there was a complication which meant the Shepherd had to intervine, pulling the lamb out by the ankles insuring safe delivery.

Jen, who came to work at this farm especially for the lambing period.

Cartel Photos

This explains what Cartel Photos is all about.
I'm proud to be a part of this.
And they used one of my images in the video.
Awesome.

Panos & Cartel

Taken from the Panos Blog....

Panos collaborates with University College Falmouth’s Cartel Photos agency

Cartel Photos is a new, specialised photography agency which aims to support students of University College Falmouth beyond education and into the professional world. Cartel Photos launched in October 2011 with the help of various funding sources from the university and the EU.

While Cartel is able to give students support at the beginning of their professional careers, Panos Pictures has now teamed up with the new agency in a mentoring capacity, bringing 4 interns over the 2012 academic year to come and work with staff and photographers at the Panos office in London. This will allow the students at the college now working to build up Cartel Photos to gain invaluable insight in the workings of the editorial, corporate and non-profit sectors.

Mal Stone, from University College Falmouth, says: “This link with Panos Pictures is a fantastic opportunity for Cartel Photos to enter the high level professional stage. The Cartel offers young photographers a stepping stone experience from photographic education in to the real world and is the first initiative of it’s kind.”

Update

So, I have been a horribly unproductive and lazy man recently, Especially within updating my blog, I feel it has gone to waste a bit. Since being back in Bridport (my home town) for Easter I have been giving myself a bit of a break. Catching up with old friends and family has taken a bit of a front seat. I have done one shoot since I've been back. Although its giving me a little head ache editing the images down.

I think I will do a major update when I am back in my new home of Falmouth and I can fully plunge myself back into photography.

So anyway, as I havnt put an image up for such a long time. Here is an old image from the St Pirans day shoot. Because I was so pleased with my film images I forgot all about my digital ones from that day.

The story of St Piran

People march for St Pirans Day on the sand dunes of Perranporth for St Pirans Day.

Part of three-act play produced by the St Piran Trust. Actors present St Piran’s life from his birth in Ireland, his arrival in Cornwall and the discovery of tin.

The discovery of tin, Part of three-act play produced by the St Piran Trust. Actors present St Piran’s life from his birth in Ireland, his arrival in Cornwall and the discovery of tin.

On Sunday 4th March, hundreds of people attended a march, followed by a three-act play, produced by the St Piran Trust. Actors present St Piran’s life from his birth in Ireland, his arrival in Cornwall and the discovery of tin.

The Event is held in Perranporth on the nearest Sunday to St Piran's Day, March 5th, as this is where according to legend St Piran washed up on a millstone from Ireland in the 5th Century AD.

I am really pleased with this set of images, Especially the first image on my blog. When I first developed the negatives and printed up the contact sheets I was disappointed with the shoot. I didn't think I had anything, but then after my tutors picked out the top image as a really nice shot, and asked me to Scan it and FTP it to Cartel Photos so they could put it up on the front page I looked harder and saw the images in a completely different light. I made an edit (the pictures above) and have sent them to the Cartel so hopefully I will have my first complete set of images up there!

I'm so happy with how my photography has developed over this Relationships brief and how much my work has improved from last term. The ideas are still taking time to come through however I am not making as many technical mistakes as I did first term and I am producing much better Images.

As Always,
patricksimoncampbell@hotmail.com

Two more from Chyan

Just for your enjoyment.

Relationships 2

I took these images during the day of CSM vs RSM sports, firstly at the football and then at the rugby, the last two images were taken at the end of the 'tunnel', the show of respect rugby players give each other after each match where the teams walk through a tunnel made up by the opposite players shaking hands.
I have mixed feels about these images, I like the first two images, I feel like they are a very truthful portrayal of the CSM crowd that day. I especially the second image. I like the last two images due to the fact they are much closer and you feel apart of it more.
My reasoning behind the mixed feelings behind the images is purely down to the success of my first shoot. My first shoot went perfectly, and I produced a set of images which I think are possibly my best ever. I dont feel these are as good as my first shoot by any means, but the brief is that I have to submit three singular Relationship photographs from Three different shoots. I think I will have to find a subject, a group of people as nice as those at Chyan and feel as comfortable in the shoot to produce images to that quality again. Chyan was special circumstances, circumstances that are not easy to replicate when you have other briefs and heavy workload ontop of a taxing relationships brief.

What I am trying to say is Do I use one of these Images as a Relationships Image, leaving myself with 1 shoot to go for Relationships, or Do I scrap it and find something new?
All opinions would be gratefully received.
patricksimoncampbell@hotmail.com