Nights At The Movies...

If you are like me, you love the thrill of going to the cinema. I look forward to losing myself in a film; its a great way of stepping out of everything for a few hours and cheap therapy too!

I have always wanted to tell stories with my photography; one shot is never enough for me I have to take enough to get over the meaning. So I decided to try something a little different; Movie Posters.

This is the first one, is based on the movie Murder.com. I haven't seen the film, but I was bowled over by the poster, I just had to have a go at recreating it for a fictional film called 'A Different Kind Of Tension'.

A different Kind Of Tension,

the finished poster

There are four shots in this poster, of the models, Annie and Elan.

Annie

I originally shot this photograph of Annie with a burlesque theme in mind. I had previously played around with the shot using a technique that Corey Barker set out in his book Photoshop Down and Dirty tricks for Designers. This is a great book, do not hesitate to buy it!

 

Annie and Elan

The next shot was again a burlesque type shot in a sort of Jack Vettriano style. (Vettriano is a fantastic artist, his paintings are full of drama and often a bit risque!) This formed the main shot.

Elan and Annie

We then have the two head shots at the side. All the shots were done in studio against a white background that has come out grey because of the way the lighting was arranged. This made it easier to remove the background later. This was part of the #curryclub shoot in December last year, and while I didn't shoot it with this poster idea particularly in mind, I knew I was going to use the shots together somehow or other.

None of this would have been possible had I not been badgered, cajoled and all but threatened with grievous bodily harm by my good friends Dave Clayton, and Glyn Dewis who finally coerced into joining NAPP, the national Association of Photoshop Professionals. For $99, about £65 you get a years membership, an amazing magazine (I think its 10 a year) and access to amazing learning in the members section of the NAPP website. Click on the link below for more information. There are also lots of deals on, I chose the bonus of all the back issues of the magazine for 2010. Bargain. I haven't regretted it for a minute.

Variations on a Theme...

This is Annie, a fantastic burlesque model from our last #CurryClub shoot just before Christmas... is it that long ago already?! Time flies! Anyway, we had a great time and Annie was a great sport, and a very experienced model.

So, while January is the time for new year resolutions, I needed to come up with a new project; Variations on a theme was born! The goal is simple; I am going to take one shot a month and apply as much creativity to it as possible and see what variations I come up with. I am hoping to stretch my new NAPP (National Association of Photoshop Professionals) membership as far as it will go and be on the look out for inspiration where ever I can find it.

Part of the inspiration for this idea came from my good friend Glyn Dewis, you can check out his blog here. In a recent post he talked about reading book, practising techniques and setting shooting goals. Well, that's what I am going to do, I am going to take a shoot or series of shots and work on variations on a theme. Well see how it goes, stay tuned!

What are your photographic goals for the new year? Do you set yourself any challenges? Drop me a line, I'd love to hear what sort of ambitions you have this year. For me I am hoping, and shall be working towards making the #CurryClub an even bigger success this year, both the social and photographic side of it.

'You!... you're one of us!'

Well, my good friend Dave, known to countless millions as Nappmember UK, please visit the website here... well he finally got me to join NAPP, The National Association of Photoshop Professionals. Its been a few weeks now and I can honestly say that I haven't looked back since. At the moment there a a number of deals to be had for joining. I took the one that gave me all the back issues of Photoshop User magazine for 2010. A great bargain, but there a other deals available, check out the website above for a number of them, Dave always keeps the website up to date.

The amount of learning that is on the NAPP website is phenomenal. There are instructional videos, walkthroughs, a forum for photoshop chat, and, as you would expect in the photography world, everyone is extremely friendly and wants to help. The NAPP home page is here; it is a Kelby Media Group enterprise, and again, when Scott Kelby gets involved gets involved you know it is going to be good.

Thanks to Dave Clayton for finally twisting my arm, I should have joined years ago! and to Glyn Dewis for al the photoshop help and encouragement. So if you use photoshop, are a photographer, then give NAPP a look, you will not be disappointed.

This year has been a joining year for me; the #curryclub is going from strength to strength, we are having a great laugh there! But one other place I have become hooked on is 500px. 500px is a website for photographers best photographs. As my good friend Glyn Dewis puts it; if flickr is a place for people to appreciate your photographs and give you a hug, then 500px is about your best photographs with other photographers best photographs, and then some, and feedback from each other. The photographs are all amazing.

You can have a free account, but I was lucky enough to upgrade to an 'awesome' account on Black Friday, where those lovely people at 500px gave a whopping 50% discount. Check their website out here. Do check out my portfolio, and have a browse at the amazing photos that are on the site, but be warned... Its addictive, you will find hours pass away.



That's it for now, enjoy the run up to the festivities, and have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

All the best,

Noel