Category: Camera’s

B301 – MONDAY NIGHT FOOD

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So yesterday was my first day of work and as a result I did the same thing as everyone else in London. I stopped off at Sainsburys and starred at the oven pizzas thinking that because its Monday I might as well go for it, well that maybe something I would have done in 2017 but its now 2018 and Im determined to cook as much as possible, nothing to crazy each night, not like some weird roast beef with home made horse radish, more like the dish I went for last night which was actually really easy and cheap.

for those of you at Ive talked to about cooking, you probably know that Ive been using the Yummly app, which is basically somewhere I am getting all my recipes from and last night was no exception. The meal I decided to cook was called “Summer In Winter Chicken” I like to call it – Pesto Creamy Chicken. And its actually really straight forward.

the ingredients were:

1 tablespoon olive oil

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts

200 grams cherry tomatoes (pack)

3 tablespoons pesto

3 tablespoons crème fraîche (half fat is fine)

fresh basil (if you have it)

and then you literally just follow these simple steps and your done:

  1. Heat the oil in a frying pan, preferably non-stick. Add the chicken and fry without moving it until it takes on a bit of colour. Turn the chicken and cook on the other side. Continue cooking for 12-15 mins until the chicken is cooked through. Season all over with a little salt and pepper.
  2. Halve the tomatoes and throw them into the pan, stirring them around for a couple of minutes until they start to soften. Reduce the heat and stir in the pesto and crème fraîche until it makes a sauce. Scatter with a few basil leaves if you have them, then serve with rice and salad or mash and broccoli.

I left out the Broccoli, because I forgot and decided that I would have it wish some mash potato, which was just because I had some potatos in the fridge. If you cant be bothered to cook one night, give this dish a try.

Its now Tuesday morning and Im just getting ready for work and about to attack this day, I forgot how hard it is to photograph during the day when your working so maybe Ill just have todo loads more of my favourite food recipes, otherwise we could start to run into some stressful evening chucking fairy lights round Amys check and taking some photos of her.

Heres my photos from yesterday. Enjoy

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– the walk to works isnt that bad really –
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– this is mid cook, pesto and creme freche now involved –
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– doesnt look that good, but it did the job –

B300 – I CANT BELIEVE I MADE IT THIS FAR!!

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Its a bit of a special day today, this is post 300! that means Ive posted photos everyday for the past 300 days, so heres some rough stats. thats about 90,000 words and 900 pictures, which is about the say about 8,800 words a months. for some people thats not that much but for someone like me, thats more words Ive written in the past 300 days than for probably my whole school career. See most of my classes were about me colouring in between the lines and then ticking the correct answer, everyone I think realised early on that essays where not going to be my strong point.

As this was a big day for the blog I was thinking I should post some cool photos to celebrate, but then nothing was coming to mind and then I decided why have a celebration for 300 when 365 is just round the corner now, so I should really just plan something big for that number.

Yesterday was still a pretty cool day, it was spent with some good chum, Amy, Jacob and Sophie having a look at some cameras at wex photography, Ive now fallen in love with a fujifilm x-pro2. that now holds my heart, but I suppose Ill just have to wait a bit and get it later on in the year, after that we took a trip to one of the coolest places in London, The Tate. That place is massive and so overlooked, its true what people say, one day is not enough time, you could spent a week in there and probably just about see everything. we managed to get through, the first half and then two floors of the new building. its given me some cool ideas and stuff that I wouldn’t mind trying out with my camera, its not me copying an artist its interruption right?

Anyway, today is now my first day of work for 2018! so not only is it a big day for the blog, its also my first day for work!! what a great Monday!

Enjoy these photos!

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– Amy loves having her photo taken, can you tell? –
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– Jacob looking at getting a new camera, do it! –
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– I saw some photos like this in the tate and I really want to copy them –
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– Jacob going looking like hes going at 100 mph –
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– took this on the tube and I quite like it! –

 

B299 – FOOD ENVY?!!? IS IT A REAL THING?

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Yesterday was a proper good little Saturday, it was one of those days which is kind of full of stuff, after a good meeting in Richmond yesterday morning, i was then back to where I belong in lovely east London, to get ready for a kind of date night with the bird (Amy).

When you have to travel across London only using public transport you start to see how cool looking the underground actually is, when I used to think of things I would like to photograph and places, I would always think of places like New Yorks Subway or some weird jungle in Asia. but really if you just look around London and your kind of immediate environment then there is actually quite a lot to photograph. I dont have to travel 5000 miles to find something cool, I mean I wouldn’t mind travelling 5000 miles to take some photographs, but Im also happy to explore London more and get photos of things I use everyday. Thats a kind of insight into my thinking this morning, tomorrow it will probably change, but for now thats whats going through my head.

I have to say as well, date night was a success. We went for a meal at Burger and Lobster, which is kind of this chain restaurant in London, I definitely had food envy over Amy. I always seem to get food envy on date night, its like I just always order wrong. Amy had the lobster roll and I went for the Lobster Burger and it just wasn’t in the same league as Amy’s Lobster roll. does anyone know if Food envy is a psychological thing or if some times we just order wrong? that is my 2018 question.

After a really fun meal, we then went on to meet her brother and brothers girl friend for a drink before we ended up in some Gay club in Soho, not too sure what happened there, but those were the cards we were dealt so we just had to go with it and boogie on down!

Its now sunday and by far the best day of the week, theres quite a lot planned today so looking forward to seeing how the day pans out!

here are my photos from yesterday, enjoy.

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– I really wish Maplin’s was still open, could of done with getting a few things –
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– I just like this photo, taken on Brick Lane, one of the coolest streets in London
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– stopping to take a photo on the underground is something I havent really done before. Normally I just try to get through those places as quick as possible –

 

B294 – WHAT TODO NEXT?

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So I’ve got to get up pretty early tomorrow, so my plan is to get this post done the night before. Im also most certain if I leave it up to tomorrow morning then I guarantee that I wont get it done in time. The photos I took today were all about Landscape, I had to take the dog for a walk up to the local pet shop so decided that we would take a bit of extra time and get some photos from the top of the grove looking down on where my parents live. Whats so good about this time of year is the way that all the colours look faded and its just as if every where is kind of getting ready for the summer, its crazy that in a month this will all be green and summer will be round the corner. but this season is just as good as the summer season.

What ive realised about doing something like this is that everything is getting easier, I’m finding enough topics to photograph and the writing is definitely getting better. you guys probably cant see my writing improving as its still pretty terrible, but 294 days ago we would have been lucky if I could spell my full name correct on the first attempt.

As im getting closer to that big 300 day mark, Im starting to think about what I was like on day one and where I am today and how my camera the Canon 5d II has really been the best thing Ive ever brought, its not the newest camera out there but for a camera thats got over 110,000 shutter count it just refuses to give in and still surprises me how good it is, the cameras been knocked about, how with me on drunken pub crawls and had its fair share of close encounters with the floor. and yet it hasn’t let me down once, If you are thinking about learning with a camera, go about buy a 5d II, it wont let you down and has enough settings to help you to always improve as a photographer.

And now Ive reached that point where im starting to think about my next camera and what I should go for, as some of you are aware im on the waiting list of the new Leica, but theres a few other cameras that I cant decide between. I want a camera that I can film slow mo on just as well as I can take photos with, so maybe the Leica isnt my best option, maybe its time I got a Sony A7R or something. I suppose I wont know until im in the shop and have the cash.

Anyway, here are my photos from today. Enjoy

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– the colours this time of year are so fun to photograph –
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– looking down on the Grove –
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– right place at the right time, the sun was breaking through the clouds just as I got there –

B293 – I NEED TODO BETTER

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Having a bit of a lazy Monday morning today, its like 12 O’ clock and I’m still in bed. I am doing work but I’m still holed up refusing to get up. I think this kind of behaviour is fine as long as I’m still getting stuff done, you don’t need to be out of bed at 7am and cracking on right? some days you can do what needs to be done laying flat in a warm bed, I put it down to the perks of Freelance life.

Today I’m going back to some thing I haven’t done for like 100 days, that is the Iphone challenge, what i do it look through my Iphone to see what photos I might have on there that I can use for todays post, I also try to see a good photo and then just take it on my Iphone quickly to store it up for when I have days like these. As Im still at my parents house I want to try and get out later and give mooney (my dog) a good old walk, go out into the country side and see whats going on. maybe try and get some cool landscape photos, I know that its better to get up really early for that kind of thing, but I’ve missed the boat on that one now, so I suppose Ill just have to go this afternoon before it gets dark.

I think how I have to move forward with this blog is the day before I need to give my self a goal for the next day, like right tomorrow I’m going to photograph people or tomorrow is all about Landscape. that is probably the best way to move forward, so each day Ive got the goals and I know what i need todo, because right now Im not thinking about the next day till it gets here and I realise Ive missed an opportunity or something. Maybe Im getting to complacent, time I stepped my game up a bit more.

Thats my conclusion from today, here are my photos, enjoy!

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– this is a photo of the long walk ways at Bank station, its like human rabbit holes down there –
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– bristol train station at the beginning of the year –
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– that time I was at the British Library –

 

B292 – SHES DREAMING OF THE SOFA

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Yep this post is late and I should probably have been more prepared this morning, but its just kind of disappeared. Same excuse was for me not really taking any photos yesterday, I literally spent the whole day playing around with a GoPro and completely forgot to take photos, that was all apart for a really good 30th birthday part I went too in the evening but I kind of feel like those photos should go to Rachel (the Birthday girl) and my sister first, so what im going todo is spend the next few hours editing those photos and send them across for them to see first.

I did how ever wake up this morning and take my dog for a walk while it was snowing, which I definitely think I enjoyed it way more than she did. i just wish that we had at least a few inches so I could go sledging. right now though I feel like I need another coffee and some breakfast. Last nights party has taken it out of me, it was really good to see some old faces and have some good catch ups. its always good when you don’t come home that often and then when you do see everyone have a good old party. Thank you Rachel for throwing a good evening.

My plan for today is to try and have a proper Sunday, maybe try do some exercise, see how my leg holds up. As Ive probably said before Im doing a lot with GoPros at the moment trying to get better at using them so Ill probably make like a little video on that and then spend the evening editing. Im really trying to stay as productive as possible when I’m not working, its like the only way I can keep my brain ticking over, is by filling my days with a massive todo list and then its just a case of living in a state of constant mayhem that I actually quite enjoy in a weird way.

Heres my photos from the dog walk this morning.

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– in this photo Mooney is dreaming of the sofa –
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– getting out and getting some fresh air first thing in the morning is what the country side is all about –
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– once you get far enough away from the house, she starts to get into the swing of things –

B291 – LUMIERE LONDON 2018

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Every now and again something happens and you quickly realise that you haven’t or cant do a job or an idea half as good as you would like to, basically missed an opportunity. Thats literally how I feel about my photos yesterday.

Basically this all started when i walked out of Oxford Street Tube station on my way to a pub in Soho. When I came out of the exit I was met by this like of 40ft multi coloured moon type art installation, it was the Lumiere London Festival. This is basically a free festival around London where at night these crazy art installations are set up that basically help people to get through the hardest month of the year, January. Seeing the captial lite up by neon lights and crazy ideas is a dream and a perfect scenario for someone like me how enjoys taking photos.

well obviously the weekend that they decided to do this was the one time I had left the house without a camera and then the next day leaving London, so the only photos I managed to take were on my Iphone. Ive now spent the morning looking through instagram at all the cool installations that people have seen and jealous that I haven’t used this kind of thing to my advantage! I suppose Ill just have to wait till next year!

It does make me think though how cool is London that they just decide to throw out some cool free festival that adds a sense of humour and art to this city. Well done Mr Sadiq Khan, I think this kind of stuff should happen 365 days a year.

In other news Im still backing up hard drives to a master drive, it appears Ive got a lot of photos and videos that are spread across 4 hard drives, so now I’m trying to consolidate all that down to a RAID. this is what Saturday mornings are about!

Heres my photos from the installation at Oxford street yesterday.

If you are in London this weekend and want to know more about this, check out the link below it will explain all!

http://www.cityam.com/278942/lumiere-london-everything-you-need-know-weekends-festival

There is also an App which will help you track down the right places to go and see.  https://www.visitlondon.com/lumiere/plan-your-visit/app#YGvDj81UcOWc6fMx.97

Im jealous of everyone who goes and gets involved!

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– this thing should be here all year round –
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– I wish I had my 5d, could of taken some really cool shots –
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– my attempted to photograph people taking a photo of the moon –

 

 

B289 – AM I A FRAUD?

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Im not too sure on something, if I take photos on a digital camera and then edit them on Photoshop to make them look vintage is that being a bit of a fraud? I’ve just learnt this new technique and Im not sure if it makes me look like my film photo skills are better than they are, because as a lot of people know my 35mm skills are terrible. it probably doesn’t matter, because well I suppose I can do what I like.

The other day I took a trip over the Ridely Road Market to have a bit of a walk around and take some photos, shooting in places like this can be really hard because no one there wants to have there photo taken, so if they see my with my camera walking around taking photos they start to get a bit edgy, so the plan is to walk around quickly and just snap and move.

Ridley road market is a pretty cool place to go though because its like one of the last really working class markets that i can think of which is kind of central, that and Peticoat lane market, that place is on my list so maybe Ill have a little trip over there and take some photos. the only problem is that my camera is maybe a bit too big to take to these place, it maybe draws to much attention, what I might do is just go with my iphone and do like some iphone photos. I haven’t really done that in a while so maybe its time to get the phone out again.

got a pretty fun Thursday, meeting someone to talk through some ideas I have for a video thats going to get made later in the year and off to my mates house for a three course meal, hes trying to up his cooking skills so going to cook me some Pork belly. Should be a fun Thursday. Still going strong on Dry January!!!

 

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– that vintage look is something I really like at the moment –
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– maybe I just need to bite the bullet and buy a film camera –
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– it definitely adds some effect to this daily blog –

B288 – A NEW BAND AND A NEW STYLE

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A few days a go someone told me about this new technique people are using to add something else to their photos, its a preset that gives you the option to add a kind of vintage film look to their photos, im not sure what the app is called but I thought it looked sick. I’ve been thinking about giving it ago but instead of using a preset on my phone I wanted to give it a try on Photoshop, it might surprise you guys but I don’t actually know photoshop as well as I maybe should know it. This became the perfect way to improve my photoshop skills and pick up a new style for my photos.

Last night there was a gig at possibly one of my favourite east london pubs, The Shacklewell Arms in Dalston, its got to be one of the best free gig venues I know of in London, every week it has some kind of cool unknown band playing even on a Tuesday like last night. My goal was to get there for the start of The Leeches and then watch them and the next band The Dolce Vita, well I was kind of late to the party and only caught the end of The Leeches, which was really annoying, it was still good to catch the ending of them but next up at 10:10pm was The Dolce Vita, a band that ive heard a bit about the past few months, I would say they are just on the limit of rock music and kind of hitting those punk rock vibes in a way.

they’re both currently on tour with each other, ill link their tour dates below so if they are in an area near you, then it could be a fun evening.

Heres my photos from the gig and also the little new technique I picked up. I hope you like it.

tour dates: https://www.facebook.com/LEECHES/app/123966167614127/

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– trying technique one and my first time –
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– this style at first wasn’t really something I had liked but its kind of growing on me
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– it definitely adds something to a gig –

B287 – TESTING SHOOTING A BRILLITANT IDEA

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Yesterday I came up with a little idea to incorporate fairy lights into some photos, im still not really too sure what how I plan on using them exactly or what sort of topic im going to go for but the plan was just to experiment with them a bit and see what I could come up with. so when Amy was back from work it was time for us to give it a go and see if we could kind of replicate what I had pictured in my head. We kind of did what I imagined but I definitely think we need to use a lot of more lights maybe some longer and smaller lights and then shoot from a bit further way maybe.

I really liked the colour that we ended up capturing in these shots and definitely like the way it looks, I’ve woken up this morning with a few ideas on how I can improve these photos so maybe its just a case of me going out and getting what it is that I need and just start shooting.

My biggest problem in life is that I think up so many ideas that I try and do a small bit of each idea and not concentrate 100 percent on an idea till its done, I try and do like 5 other ideas all at once. which just means I end up in complete chaos. I might spend this morning writing down like my top three ideas for the next month and then spend time soley working on those and figure out a kind of time table of when I can work on certain projects, then its just about me sticking to that timing and making sure I get what I need to done by a certain time. Then I basically have no excuses.

Heres some of the test shots from yesterday, Bon appetit!

and obviously thank you amy for letting me take photos again!!

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– I hope you can see what we were trying todo –
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– does it just look like amys got a bit tangled up in the christmas lights? –
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– we used this alley way near the flat and I kind of like the colours that it give off –