February 2018

B330 – DAY TWO AND STILL IN BED

February 28, 2018February 28, 2018 joshfspear4 Comments

Day two of virus: I think its fair to say that the virus I have caught must be something never discovered before because im pretty much knocked out, Ive slept for 25 hours of the past 30 hours with only the fair few emergency bathroom breaks. Im supposed to be going in to work today but with the snow, minus 10 temperature I dont think im going to make it. my plan is to see how I feel in a few hours and then make a call about it.

its definitely days like today where keeping up with this blogging life style is nearly impossible, but with just over a month togo I cant cave in now. for those of you that are new to this website Ill explain a little bit about what im doing here, my plan from April last year was to post three photos a day for a whole year and to go along with that I have to write 300 words, the idea behind this is to improve my photography skills and to also hopefully to improve my writing skills (Which I kind of think Ive managed todo).

when I first started I didn’t realise how much is was going to become part of my daily life and to be honest the idea of skipping a day or just giving up and quitting has been pretty strong but I’m refusing to give in and like to think that i can make it and then in a few years time Ill be able to look back and know exactly what I did on possibly one of the busiest years of my life so far.

So again I think I need to apologies for the lack of photo content these past few days, I know its snowing in london and that can make for some great photos and I wish I could get out there but I need to kick this illness first!

Heres some shots from my flat windows!

B330-1-2 — – A view from the spare bedroom, I cant wait till this room has been finished so we can spend more time in here –

B330-1 — – yep we still have our christmas tree, the plan is to hold onto it till next year, thats what takes up this foreground shot – –

B330-1-3 — – I went out last night to get fresh air and some bread, this shot is from inside the apartment complex –

B329 – NEED TO ORGANISE YOUR PHOTOS AND VIDEOS? HERES SOME TIPS!

February 27, 2018February 26, 2018 joshfspear4 Comments

So I have some news, Im pretty sure that im Ill but not like normal man flu ill. I feel like death. Right now its all about survival and my body has decided that its probably best to shut up shop and get some good sleep. so thats what im going todo. Its pretty Ironic that I thought the last push when i passed the 300 day mark would be a walk in the park, oh how I was wrong. Im pretty sure that the next 46 days are going to be full on and pretty difficult to take three photos each day but im determined to power on and somehow make it to the end, right now though its all about just kicking this virus.

So the plan for today post Im going to dive deep into my photo archive and see what I can pull up from my early photography days, lets see what there is… my top tip is to archive everything, keep it logged because these photos and video are important content and some day youll want to look at it back and think about those cool moments. My photo archive is still pretty much all over the place but it is getting better, I have a rough understanding of where everything is and for me that is perfect. You dont need an excel spread sheet or anything too crazy. The secrete top tip is just to dump everything in files, you can call it anything you like. from “Birthday Party 2016” to “summer 2017 shots” and back them up onto two separate drives, keep everything in two places and youll be fine. Media Management is important and as long as you can figure your system out then that all that matters.

If your someone out there who knows that your media storage is terrible and all over the place drop me an email to joshfspear@icloud.com and lets come up with a way to organise it all and keep your files safe! trust me you will thank me later! no money needed just good Karma!

B329-1-2 — this sheep looks how I wish I felt – 5 Aug’16 in the Lake District

B329-1-3 — because everyone love Holland – 28th Sep 2016 at the Hague

B329-1 — – and this place because I dont think anyone could sit here and not appreciate that window – Prada Museum -17 July 2016 – Province of Novara – Milan

B328 – CHESSINGTON WORLD OF ADVENTURES HOTEL ROOM REVIEW

February 26, 2018February 25, 2018 joshfspearLeave a comment

Last night I slept in a bunkbed. I had the choice of a double bed but I chose the bunkbed all for the content of this post, tonight Im staying at Chessington World of Adventures and its pretty cool. Not only do they have Bunk beds but they also have a Lizzard in the reception and the lifts look like your in a hot air ballon. If I was a kid this would be where I would want to stay.

I suppose this post is my kind of review of this hotel and straight of the bat it gets a 6.5/10, I would give it higher but then thats probably unfair to all the 5 star hotels out there, but if I was coming to the theme park of a day out then yea I probably would stay here first and make life easier. For in room entertainment I feel a bit let down, no nice tv and the themed rooms aren’t that themed im in the jungle room and it doesnt feel too much like a jungle. chuck some themed wallpaper up and make it feel like im in the Lion king. There are two pats to this hotel so may be the other half is more themed. One major flaw is the temperature of my room, i would have to say its probably the same temperature as the Sun or maybe a big bon fire it just wont go colder. Climate control in a hotel room is the difference between a good nights sleep and a few hours broken kip. not that Im complaining or anything because there is a lizard in reception!

If we were to judge the food here I would probably give it a 5/10, my reason for a kind of low number is because I didn’t order an adult meal, Danny (this guy I work with) and I went half on the kids menu, we literally ordered everything they had on that menu and at one point it was hard to tell the fish fingers from the chicken dippers so not great and the beer here, not a massive choice and premium prices which you just have to accept at hotels.

This place is perfect if you want to pack a full day of Chessington in and dont feel like an early start but maybe a night or two would be enough, anymore and I would probably think about going somewhere else. but the bunk bed is comfy and the rooms are a nice size, I also apparently have a few of the animals but its dark now and Im leaving the room before it gets light so Ill just have to take their word on that.

Heres my photos.

B328-1-2 — – this is the cool reception, i would take a photo of the lizzard but it was asleep and I couldnt get a good photo of it –

B328-1-3 — – the room and my bunk bed for the night –

B328-1-4 — – the kids meals were actually a good shout £18 for four kids meals, cant really beat that –

B327 – CLAPHAM?

February 25, 2018 joshfspear1 Comment

As most of you know today is Sunday and that means that about 60 percent of the nation are waking up today with a hangover and I think I speak for both Amy and myself when I say we are part of that 60%. Last night was an experience, Clapham is probably a place I wouldnt go to again, for those of you that dont know London, theres is part of South London called Clapham, its a great place to watch rugby or football but when it comes to a night out, Claphams a bit weird. Sorry to the people of Clapham, but its not you its me.

So after a few bars around the infamous Clapham Common, we decided it was best to head to a safe bet and jump on the DLR over to Peckham and see what the Bussy Building was all about. I wont go into too much detail about the night because I think everyone would start to think of me in a different light. Its all good now thought because we’ve woken up at my parents and after a bacon sandwich everyone is ready to attack this day and watch as much TV and eat as much food as possible.

I think theres a plan or something to get up and go for an early lunch and then head back home, its fair to say i am in full Sunday mode, which is probably the best kind of mode. its kind of annoying though because I really need to get off the sofa and get dressed but right now I just cant be bothered, if only someone could invent a shower that you could use of the sofa. Maybe thats what my next project should be, a shower that you can use anywhere.

Anyway heres some photos from yesterday. I hope you like them.

B327-1-2 — – Amy giving it some sass last night at Bussy –

B327-1 — – dinner in Clapham is something I would definitely do again –

B327-1-3 — – driving to Clapham last night, Anders your a legend –

B326 – HOW HAS THIS DAY DISAPPEARED

February 24, 2018 joshfspearLeave a comment

First of all, sorry if you’ve all been sitting there refreshing my website waiting for my post to go up but today I just haven’t had time to sit down and get it done. I’ve spent the day fighting with an Ikea Wardrobe and I can now proudly say that I won the battle and the war, at one point it was a close war when I realised that I had put the main panel in wrong and as a result couldnt finish putting it together and had to slowly start taking it apart to fix my teething problem. but its not done and Im sat on the sofa enjoying a beer and writing this.

I must also apologise for not taking any fresh photos yesterday, Ive had to reuse some from a few weeks back when I went and explored the cannel near work. they are still probably some of my favourite photos from the past month or so and every time I look at them I really wish I had a Leica because these kind of shots are where the Leica really shows its strength, I think its time I went into super saving mode to make sure that I can get one as soon as possible.

The plan now for the rest of today is to get dressed probably and then head over to Clapham and meet some of my mates for a good old drink up, it feels like ages since ive seen most of them so we are definitely due a good night out, Im also going to back to my parents house tonight so I’m sure you’ll get some see some good photos of the country side tomorrow.

Sorry again for the late and post, I just really don’t have a lot of time today, some how its already 5pm and Ive not even touched half the things Ive needed too.

Heres my photos enjoy!

B311-1-9 — – I really love black and white photos, I think there going to make a come back –

B311-1-5 — under a bridge and along a cannel –

B302-1-4 — – Shoreditch during rush hour –

B325 – 70 HOURS A WEEK

February 23, 2018February 22, 2018 joshfspear1 Comment

Theres a few things that for me a blog post should consist of, they should be something thats easy to read, enjoyable and probably include some sort of useful advise and like a lot of posts that people read online, they are. they are normally full of facts, great pictures of the weather and someone fashionable standing in the foreground, looking like they’re drifting through life going from designer shops to first Class lounges, week after week.

If only I could tell that story, I wish this was a place where I could show on a off my life and keep the content factor at its best but I suppose that in a normal life and in a blog thats posted everyday, something you just have to expect defeat and move on. today is that day, I have had another early start and hadnt really stopped to think about this blog until I was stood in Tescos looking at the fridge section trying to decide if I was going to have chicken or fish for dinner. So I did what any other normal person would do and heeaded straight for the wine section, after a long day everything is better with a good bottle of wine. Thats when it came to me, why dont I just show all those amazing Bloggers and Vloggers out there, what working 70 hour weeks looks like and yes in one of my photos you can see a hole in my sock emerging. I suppose im like the working class blogger of the internet, and thats kind of something Im pretty proud of, Ive managed to somehow fit this posts into my day and to be honest Im not really sure how Ive managed to do it.

Well for all of you out there, I would of shown you a picture of how my dinner turned out, but I really want to get to bed and im sorry but right now thats my priority. please dont hate and and please come and visit again, your all amazing for even reading this far!

Heres my photos I hope you like them!

B325-1-3 — – this is me with my feet up on the sofa, watching TV as I write this post –

B325-1 — – I came home from work to see Amy powering through with work too. There must be something wrong with us, because we dont seem to stop –

B325-1-2 — – Dinner is served, just add some Paprika, Cumming and thyme and your sorted –

B324 – I WILL BE BACK BUT THIS TIME WITH MY CAMERA – NEW FORMAT

February 22, 2018February 22, 2018 joshfspear3 Comments

Right now is a pretty busy time for me, yesterday ended up being about a 14 hour working day, with a fair few other things that made it a bit more of a tough day. but that is all in the past now, its now Thursday and Ive woken up a bit earlier to get this post done. The only issue with that is, I dont think Ive woken up early enough, I think maybe I got my timings for this morning a little bit wrong. So the plan is now to type as quick as I can and make some time back up.

Yesterday started off a really cool location, we were over in Essex on a shoot in a Dock yard, obviously doing something that I can really talk about, the whole day has given me so many ideas for future shoots that I would love todo. I feel like places in the UK like Dock Yards are held in a really cool ere in the UK, they all have that cool working mans vibe, where sons follow dads and dad follow Grandads down to the docks and to keep the UK stocked up with supplies. I would love to come back to this place and just take portraits of the people working here, I bet all of them have a story from the docks.

If your looks at my photos my photos today and thinking that Ive filmed in the a weird frame, then thats because I have. from now on I think my plan on really busy days is going to post photos that I put on my instagram story. for two reasons really, firstly on those busy days if you can be bothered to read through my paragraphs of grammar mistakes then just head over to @joshfspear and look at those photos stress free and also I think that its easy to take good portrait mode photos on the insta story and they are really easily transferable to WordPress and sometimes with this blog taking the easy root is the difference between an extra 45 minutes in bed.

Here are my photos from yesterday, much love! and please let me know what you think of these photos, its a new idea for me to use not everyday but maybe every now and again.

B324-1 — – I wish I could of gone on a ship, they are pretty impressive –

B324-1-2 — – even the stair cases have the work mens vibe. I will be back to the docks with my camera in hand to photograph it more –

B324-1-3 — – dont those tall machines look like something out of starwars –

B324-1-4 — – this is me, looking all professional –

B323 – MY HOTEL ROOM – 7/10

February 21, 2018February 20, 2018 joshfspearLeave a comment

So tonight im staying in a Premier Inn somewhere in Essex for a shoot tomorrow. I also know what most people are saying about the fact that im spending my night in a premier inn and to be honest they couldnt be further from the truth. For me a Premier inn is perfect, they have all the requirements I need for a short 10 hour stay. I have a nice sized room, clean bed, safe room and best of all a shower that gives me no only hot water but cold aswell.

For most of you that read pages like like these you are probably used to reading about 5 start hotels and villas in Mexico, all I can offer you is the concept that Premier Inns do the job required and dont leave you with that felling where you want to sleep in your clothes. these places are actually safe havens for people like me, where the idea of short work trips normally involve cheap hotels and uneatable breakfast options. We see a premier Inn on the call sheet and instantly feel relieved that its not a holiday inn or worst an independent holiday chain, that has a name like “Sunshine Inn” or something just as misleading.

for me the proof is in the shower, if its a good hotel then both the hot and cold water will run an even speeds, giving you a solid mid water temp and nothing too freighting and this Premier Inn is no exception. that have managed to get that situation just right. meaning that tomorrow at 5am, i will be about to have a full and near perfect shower. I don’t need luxury just the chance to sleep a stressfree few hours and include a 3o minute shower in the morning.

Here are my pictures of the Premier Inn room im currently staying in, for me its a solid 7 out of 10.

B323-1 — – clean bedsheets make all the difference –

B323-1-2 — – a good size room is also the difference between a good nights sleep and a bad one –

B323-1-3 — – the shower head isnt too impressive but lets the water temp is consistant –

B322 – YOU HAVE FOOLED THE NATION. GRANDE BIG MAC.

February 20, 2018February 19, 2018 joshfspearLeave a comment

Since the whole Brexit thing began and whether your pro Brexit or against the whole situation or maybe your confused, theres one question we can all ask. Is the Grande Big Mac actually worth it? Ive heard a lot of people complain about bread to meat ratio and size and now I’m confused but rather than make a irrational decision, i thought I would investigate.

Ive decided that I would take this into my own hands and find out if its something I would buy or avoid. My plan is judge the whole process. And first off theres the counter, you arrive and your met by this massive picture of a grand burger and your eyes that you down to the boxes sitting in the heat self, the boxes are pretty much the same size as a size 11 shoe box. No joke they are gigantic. Excitement has started to kick in and now all I want todo is sit down and enjoy this box of pure joy.

So now I have the burger in my hands and its time to dig in, but first we need to put a story to bed, is the actual meat in the burger the same size as the other burgers or has Maccy Dees properly upped the game…

I can tell you with a heavy heart that the burger meat inside is no different, what Mcdonalds have done is just make a bigger bun and sell the country a lie. for me a burger cannot be judged on its size, but rather the contents and favour. If your going to sell me a “grand Big Mac” and call it your extra large burger then please give me the burger to match.

As far as a burger at Mcdonalds goes, a Large Big Mac meal is £5.09 and a Grand Big Mac is £5.49. Thats a hole extra 40p and for that you get more bread. Im not going to talk about health facts or calorie count, because you can eat what you want but in proportion in my eyes. I can tell you now that Im sat on the sofa and my stomach feels like its going to explode.

Congratulations Mcdonalds on a really smart publicity stunt to apparently celebrate 50 years of the Big Mac and that seems to have worked for the first few weeks but now your plan has been uncovered and the people aren’t being fooled. I think we should name your Grand Big Mac, MacBrexit. We understand that they never look like they do on the adverts but this is a step too far, You may fool the people once, but you will not fool them again. (hopefully).

But on the other hand, Junior Big Mac. That is a great idea, people love your Big Mac Sauce and everyone loves a cheese burger, on that front you have given the people what they want and combined the two and for that Ronald Mcdonald, I thank you.

B322-1 — – As we can see, this burger box is pretty much taller than the fries box

B322-1-3 — – the area of bread is impressive, its basically a mini loaf –

B322-1-2 — – I made this picture black and white to help you compare the size of the actual burgers. please, make your own decisions. the Grand is on the Left, Junior on the right –

B321 – HYDE PARK IN THE MORNING, NOTHING BEATS IT.

February 19, 2018February 18, 2018 joshfspearLeave a comment

So today Im at the Baftas working not partying I should mention, my plan was probably to show you some photos from before my day, during it and after. but then something happened that I really didnt expect, it was my walk to work. I did what I always do when im at the Royal Albert Hall, I get off at Lancaster Gate and walk through Hyde Park to the stage door. Nothing crazy.

Well this morning as I got off at Lancaster Gate and noticed that the sun was just coming up, it was roughly 7:35 or something (My call time was 7:30 so I was running a but late) As I entered into Hyde park it was unbelievable, the sun was hitting the sides of everything and the water was still, it was literally magical. I felt like I had just walked onto a set of a feature film which was going to win a BAFTA for its lighting, I instantly when for my 5d and then realised I had left my beautiful camera at home, my only choice was to pull out the iphone, and my god Im happy i did. For some reason it just feels right that I took these photos on my Iphone, it gives the photos a feel of just an average londoner walking through the park if that makes any sense. No special lens used, no expensive camera, just amazing light and a bog standard 29mm f2.9 iphone lens. Im definetly a fan of mobile phone cameras and the photography they are capable of.

If I was to give people one top tip about using a phone to get good shots, it would be not to worry about how good the Iphone X is and how amazing the camera is, Im pretty happy with my Iphone 6s right now and definitely don’t think that for an extra £50 a month the Iphone x will improve my photos that much. If you was to buy an Iphone X on an £80 a month contract, then over the course of 24 months you would spend an extra £1200 on the phone, that means that for the same price you could get a Sony RX100 or Fuji X100f and still have cash left over, now trust me they are some powerful pocket rockets. I personally think Iphone X is over rated, its good but its not life changing. With camera sensors I just think that each sensor model creates its own feel and vibe, at the moment I love the iphone 6s picture quality, thats not to say in a few months or years ill be in love with the iphone X, because I probably will be.

its now coming to the end of my dinner break at work, so Ill stop the rant and if you were hoping to see a photo of my at the BAFTA’s heres one from a few years ago.

Heres my photos from today.