Into the Woods...

A little peek behind-the-scenes at this year's Christmas promotional photo-shoot and where my inspiration came from.

I wanted to do something a little different for my Christmas window display, so this year I have gained some inspiration from the Pre-Raphaelite artists. You may recognise Jemima, the lovely model I've chosen from the meadow photo-shoot back in the summer, her fair complexion and long wavy reddish-brown hair suited the overall look I was aiming for.

The shoot took place late on an autumnal afternoon, it didn't take long to find the perfect spot to set up a makeshift studio with my trusted lighting technician, armed with a variety of lights and reflectors to choose from.

For those of you who want to know, the lens I'm using is my favourite 70-200mm f2.8, I tend to shoot on a low ISO and slow shutter speed, to allow for a mix of ambient light and continuous or flashlight.

To view the final photograph on display, please visit us on Thursday 16 November for the Grand Window Reveal for some of Oxted's festive window displays, and for the town's official Christmas Lights switch on at 7pm - with late night shopping too!

Photographs of loved ones make ideal and original Christmas gifts - to book your studio or location photo-shoot, or to place an order for a personalised gift voucher, please call the studio on 01883 722282 - thank you.

Stella

Choosing a Camera

I'm frequently asked, "Which camera do you suggest I buy?"

Now, this is a tricky one as there are so many to choose from - compact, DSLR, bridge, film, digital, big, small you name it - it's so confusing! Often cameras are bought on price and are rarely used to their full potential, frequently discarded in frustration and replaced with something more readily available like the smartphone!

Nowadays smartphones are so brilliant and accessible that they have become the camera of choice and for so many understandable reasons, ease of use, convenience, social media sharing and practicality. I love the fact that I can grab a moment and share on Instagram, or send an image to loved ones in an instance, or be on the receiving end of this piece of magnificent technology is nothing but pure genius, creating a feeling of connectedness. 

But, and it's a big BUT, what if you want more from your camera and don't want to feel a deep obligation to share for all and sundry to see your world. This is where the humble camera takes pride of place in all its glory, below I've listed a few things to consider before you part with your hard-earned money; like any other purchase I suggest you shop around, these are just a few pointers for any budget and worth researching first.

All recommendations are my own, I'm not sponsored by any brand, enjoy the experience and do what makes you happy :)

So What's On Offer?

Point-and-Shoot and Bridge
Canon, Nikon, Sony, Samsung, Panasonic, Fuji, Olympus

Easy to carry, ideal if you don’t have a big budget to spend on a camera and are not too concerned about the optimum image quality.

Pros:-

• The fixed lens has a great range from wide angle to telephoto

• No interchangeable lenses to worry about

• Easy to use for novices in auto mode

• Wide range of easy to use settings

• Can take video as well

• Most have written tips to help you get the best out of using your camera

• Special effects like panoramic feature

• Built-in flash

• Shoot in live view

• Bridge cameras have viewfinders and are a good transition to DSLR

• Pocket size

Cons:-

• No viewfinder (except with Bridge cameras) and hard to see image on the back of the camera in bright sunlight

• Can be too small to handle and fiddly to use the buttons (Bridge cameras are larger than point-and-shoot)

• Not easy to use in manual control

• Sound and image on video can be poor

• Not good in low lighting conditions

• No option to use a flashlight accessory

DSLR  
Nikon, Canon, Fuji, Samsung, Panasonic

Digital Single Lens Reflex means the subject is viewed via a mirror through the viewfinder to the lens - ideal if you want to control the camera in manual mode to achieve optimum results. A bigger budget is needed to get one of these, ideal for the serious photographer who cares about quality, results, and wants to learn to progress.

Pros:-

• Superior image quality

• Can be used in manual mode with complete control over settings

• Wide selection of interchangeable lenses

• Large image sensor for optimum quality

• Ideal for shooting in low lighting conditions

• Option to assign programmable functions to buttons

• Higher resale value than point and shoots

• The body can be purchased separately to the lens

• Full frame 35mm image sensor on professional options

• Cropped sensor will give the lens 50% more distance on the focal length

• Written information viewed on screen of camera to help you understand the controls and settings

Cons:-

• Big and bulky and a variety of lenses will fill your camera bag

• Lots to learn because of the vast options to control the end result

• Steep learning curve

• There are no special effect options in camera

• Cropped sensor will give the lens 50% more distance on the focal length (potential disadvantage if shooting wide-angle)

EVIL or Mirrorless
Fuji, Sony, Olympus

Electronic Viewfinder with Interchangeable Lenses
These cameras are sometimes used by professionals as an easy to use option when the occasion arises and in addition to DSLR's.
Mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras (MILC)
Or Compact Systems Camera (CSCs)
A reasonable price range between a point and shoot and DSLR

Pros:-

• Provides excellent image quality on par with entry level DSLR

• Portable

• Better manual controls

• Easy to use and understand controls

• Shoot in live view

• Interchangeable lenses

• Good in low lighting

• Good for beginners to learn to progress to DSLR

• Good video results

• Panoramic special effects

• Reasonable resale value

Cons:-

• No proper viewfinder

• Limited lens selection using adaptors means loss of automatic use

• Can sometimes work out more expensive than DSLR’s once you add on the accessories like flashes and viewfinders

• Not pocket size

I hope this has helped to choose your next, or the first camera, please feel free to share with anyone who asks the question, "Which camera do you suggest I buy?"

Enjoy!

with love
Stella
and the SMS Creative Photography Family

'Celebrating 20 Years In Oxted Town'

You're invited to join us for a glass of bubbly

on

 Saturday 11 February 12pm - 3pm

at

SMS Creative Photography

I can't believe how fast the years have flown by, sometimes I have to stop and think how it all began, from an early age I always wanted my own business.

 In 1984 at the age of 24 I got married, however at the age of 34 with 3 small children in tow I found myself newly single, homeless, jobless and penniless. This was my PERFECT opportunity to pave the way to create a business to provide for myself and children. 

With absolutely nothing to lose and having worked in the photographic industry, a photography studio seemed the natural choice. Fast forward 3 years to February 10 1997 - my 4th child SMS Creative Photography was born.

My philosophy was, and still remains, to offer quality with a first class personal service photographing local families and beyond. 

Over the years commissions have taken me far and wide, covering the World Cruise on the QE2; photographing Boyzone and Cher opening the Harrods sales; the infamous Jeremy Clarkson for an exclusive book on Ferrari; Metallica and Iron Maiden at the Sonisphere Festival and most recently the ITV newscaster Alastair Stewart as Patron of the Brooke Charity.

I've loved meeting so many families and being part of the community.
A very big thank you for trusting my team and I with the preservation of your family history, we have enjoyed sharing the evolution of photography with you.

Look forward to seeing you soon.

Bye for now, with love

Stella

and the SMS Creative Photography Family

From Camera to Wall - Part One - Framing and Hanging

In the modern day, the perception of a photograph has changed with the advent of the life altering device that lives in all of our pockets, the mobile phone. With the benefits of a sense of consistent connection to all, but more appropriately the speed and ease of photography. Photographs now have a very different meaning, or do they?

We can all still admire the end result of a professional photograph hanging on a wall, but do we really know what it takes to get to this stage? I'm unsure we do, let me take this opportunity to unveil just what this process entails.

Starting in reverse order, with the final stage first - Framing and Hanging - part one in a series of six fortnightly newsletters. Over the coming weeks, demystifying the steps we take from 'Camera to Wall’.

Framing

Once you have selected the frame you'd like to showcase your photograph in, we work closely with master craftsmen we trust to achieve first class results. The wooden mouldings are made in England and Italy in a wide range of finishes. Each photograph is dry mounted to keep flat with an overlay mount if preferred, then sealed in the frame to prevent moisture and dust from seeping in.

We recommend using Art Glass, to cut reflection by 99% and to reveal the true colours of the photograph that ordinary glass doesn't. For work that is being transported abroad, acrylic instead of glass is a must, it's lightweight and shatter proof.

Nothing passes quality control until every join and cut is inspected to pass our strict attention to detail. We even make sure each piece has it's own certificate of authenticity added to the back, this shows which frame and mount card was used and the date the photograph was taken on, just to remind you in years to come.

Hanging

We also offer a service to deliver to your home or work premises, and to hang your photographs, so easy to get this part wrong. I oversee the hanging process using a trusted gallerist, who comes equipped with the correct tools for the job, including a laser line level, so vertically and horizontally everything is spot on, no more left a bit down a bit! Always a pleasure to see the end result and happy customers.

Please join me in two weeks time for Part Two - Meeting the Customer and Planning the Shoot.

Bye for now.

Stella

London Classic Car Show 2016

I was delighted to have been given the opportunity to photograph the Preview Evening of The London Classic Car Show on Thursday 18th February, having photographed the first show last year I was keen to see what was in store for 2016.

Guests included Jenson Button, Gordon Murray, Ari Vatanen, Bruno Senna, Jodie Kidd, Tom Ford, Jonny Smith and the evening was hosted by Suzi Perry.

One of the show’s main events was the Classic Six Nations Cup in which teams of ten iconic classic cars from the six leading car-producing nations vied for votes from visitors.

And when all the votes had been counted, the UK team – which included such varied machines at the original Mini, the Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, Le Mans Bentley, McLaren F1 supercar, Aston Martin DB5, Land Rover and Graham Hill’s 1968 title winning Lotus 49 Grand Prix car – narrowly beat an Italian team full of Ferraris, Maseratis and Lamborghinis. 

Below are my highlights of The London Classic Car Show 2016 Preview Evening.

Jenson Button, the 2009 Formula One World Champion, made an impressive entrance driving a McLaren F1 – the supercar was celebrated at the show in a special display curated by its designer Gordon Murray.

Suzi Perry, Jensen Button and Jodie Kidd with the McLaren F1.

Classic car dealers crammed the halls with impressive displays of rare and valuable classic cars, many with six figure price tags. By the end of the show they delightedly reported sales of many millions of pounds.

A quote from the Event Director Bas Bungish:-
“If we were delighted by how the first London Classic Car Show was received in 2015, we were blown away by the response to the 2016 edition. From the moment the show opened right until the final curtain each day, the halls were buzzing with visitors. They loved the special displays and really got involved with the show: more than 9,000 for example, voted in the Classic Six Nations Cup.

“And the really good news is that we are already starting work to make the 2017 London Classic Car Show even better. Make a note in your diaries now: 23-26 February 2017,” said Bungish.

That's a date in my diary I don't want to miss!

Thanks for reading, I'll be back once a month with updates.

Stella

How To Get The Best Out Of Your Camera This Autumn

Autumn is such a colourful time of year and an ideal time to get out with your camera and get the creative juices flowing. I'd like to give you a few tips on how to get the most out of your camera, simple techniques can make all the difference. You may think you need a sunny day to capture the colours, this is only the case when it's early morning or late afternoon when the sun is low and the rays are shining through the trees, the examples above and below show how you can use this to your advantage. I've taken all the photographs in this newsletter with my Nikon D700 body and Nikon 24-120mm lens. The photograph above, which featured on SMS Creative Photography's Christmas card last year, was taken at the bottom of Merle Common Road as you join Red Lane, Oxted. Camera set at 200 ISO, shutter speed 1/100s aperture f5.6.

The above photograph was exposed at 200 ISO, shutter speed 1/200s and aperture F9.

HDR

The above photograph was taken using the HDR technique which I explained in this newsletter. I took 3 images at different exposures which were spliced together to give an even exposure, showing depth and detail, which otherwise would have been lost. You will always need a tripod for HDR. Cloudy Day Sometimes it's best to avoid shooting on a sunny day, the light can be too harsh, burning out the detail, a grey sky means you can make the most of the day with the soft light and more saturated colours. The example below shows how the grey sky lends itself to a wider range of autumn colours. This photograph was exposed at 1600 ISO 1/320s f18.

Frosty Morning

A crisp frosty morning is also a good opportunity, especially if it's a little misty too, it can add mood and atmosphere and soften colours, creating mystery. Think about how you would like to take the photograph, you don't have to take everything at eye level, squat down and use any pathways to take the viewers eyes into the photograph, it makes more of a story. Exposed at 1600 ISO 1/500s f8. I recommend you push the ISO so you can maintain a shallow depth of field.

Close Up

Get closer to the subject to pick up the texture and shape, this photograph was exposed at 800 ISO 1/200s at f5.6.

I hope this has inspired you to experiment with your camera this autumn, remember the clocks go back 1 hour this Sunday morning 25th October, an ideal opportunity to get out to capture the early morning sun and mist.

Thanks for reading I'll be back in two weeks time with more news.

Bye for now, enjoy the weekend.

Stella