JinkyArt workshop/ North Herts portrait photographer

 

In a weeks time I will be driving down to Sussex to join 14 fellow photographers from across Europe to meet one of the Worlds best photographers, Barb Uil of JinkyArt. She is on a 2012 World tour and will not be heading this way at all for the foreseeable future.

I booked the workshop, as something for me to look forward to during my rehab from my spine operation. I don’t really know what I was thinking. It is an expensive course , so it attracted only professional photographers, and not serious hobbyists like me. I am the only one who is really new to it all. So I am more than a little bit nervous.  Add to the mix, I am staying away at a B & B separate to all the other attendees. That’s a typical me ! Ending up on my own , miles away from the group,  feeling left out !

Plus, our food is being provided for the three days. This adds more problems to the mix for me, with my weird Selective Eating Disorder. I doubt there will be anything for me to eat, at any of the meals. I don’t eat sandwiches, salads, vegetables or fruit. And more! Buffets are always a trial for me and I normally end up with just some crisps. Not a huge problem when it’s one meal, but over three days, a big hungry problem.

Anyway, we have been set some homework. I completed my self portrait and told the group about the “real me”.

I also had to make a collage of some of my best work or photos that represented my style. I went with an A4 collage with just 5 images. Some of the girls have had the same size printed, with 16 images !

I went with this simple mix. It shows , hopefully a good variation of my true style.

Essentially my first love is a close up with SHARP eyes and shining catchlights.

I think this image of Luke, I took for his 21st Birthday is by far my favourite image I have ever taken.

Weirdly, another favourite image of mine is of my Niece, Jade and it was taken in the exact same spot.

My classic headshot style also went in the mix.

Then I made some collages to showcase some of my shoots.

I have a few more 8 x10s all ready for my 1-1 with Barb. I also have to write some answers, to some deep probing questions, to talk to Barb about. But I am leaving those for the moment.

So my list making has started. I have printed my route maps out. It’s just a slow, nail biting wait until next week now.

It will be interesting to see , what I feel like when I return from the Workshop. Buzzing and inspired, or overwhelmed. I think it will be a mix.

One thing for certain, I bet I will get serious camera envy, when I am up against all those full frame camera bodies, with their L lenses.

North Herts Photographer

The day before I left for Chicago I had a quick photo-shoot with a pregnant friend. She was due to give birth whilst I was away. I have previously done photo shoots with her two other children, Jack and Amy, here.

I find it very weird that you would know the exact day you are going to give birth, let alone what sex you are going to have !

I made the little tag, with some of my scrap supplies.

We had planned to take some pictures in the Rapeseed fields, but the heavens opened just as she arrived. So I set up  a corner of my bedroom to shoot in.

Andrea went on to have Chloe the following week and is recovering at home. Hopefully I will get to share baby, Chloe with you soon.

Chicago icons.

The weather was very changeable in Chicago. But at least it wasn’t as bad as it was in the UK. It rained the entire time I was away.

Originally it was forecast to be the warmest day, in the week I was there. But at the last minute the rain came in. I had already decided to take the CTA train into downtown Chicago. I wanted to see some of the famous sculptures that I had always missed out on.

The Picasso sculpture in The Daley Plaza.

I popped into the Magnolia Bakery to try out their cupcakes.

From there it was just a short walk to the Millennium Park. It was lovely and empty, due to the rain. I also started to walk towards the cancer survivors gardens in Grant Park. I had been told it was a place worth visiting by some of the other students on Karen Russell's Workshop. But as I walked over the BP twisting walkway. I realised I was all on my own, with a man walking behind me. So I stopped and walked back to where all the people were. I didn’t want to risk it. I’ll see it another day.

The Cloud Gate sculpture is one of the most famous icons of Chicago.

I also popped into the Cultural Centre to see the largest Tiffany glass dome.

Then it was back to the hotel, to find Hubby had bought some of my parcels home. The majority of the items were freebies. You would never get the offers here in the UK. I only had to pay for the shipping, which again is dirt cheap in the States.

I also bought some more bits to fill our suitcases. I had wanted a Smash book for ages. But as I haven’t been to any scrapbook shops in ages, I had never seen any here in the UK. It took me over an hour to decide which versions to go for.

I have bought one to put some of my photo-shoot work in to show prospective clients, and the other will be perfect as a mini album for my India trip later in the year.

We had a great week, catching up with friends and stuffing ourselves with all the beautiful food Chicago has to offer.