Photography 101

Over the summer Heather and I (Danielle) took a photography class at the Manhattan Beach Art Department to refresh our skills. We went once a week for 8 weeks and learned some valuable lessons from our teacher Brian, who happens to be a very experienced and famous toy photographer. 

The casual environment made it a relaxed and comfortable learning experience, which we loved! Over 8 weeks, with our digital cameras set to manual, we learned how to:

1. Explore depth of field using aperture/f-stop (shallow vs. deep)

2. Use shutter speed to control light and introduce blur 

3. Adjust ISO settings

4. Read and measure light

5. Shoot with strobe and flash

6. Determine color/white balance (shooting in artificial light, daylight, tungsten, etc.)

Meet our teacher, Brian. See his work here

Shallow Depth of Field Exercise - Inside Classroom vs. Outside

Practicing the "panning technique" - We chased each other around the classroom
for about 30 minutes! 

Over Exposed Heather vs. Under Exposed Heather - I adjusted my strobe settings 

to get the perfect exposure.

Experimenting with Studio Lights

A-Z | Hobby on a Film Set

The late Oscar winning actor Yul Brynner is better known for his roles in movies such as The King & I (1956) and The Magnificent Seven (1960).  However, an exhibition at The Little Black Gallery, London highlighted a little known talent for photography which Brynner honed during long idle periods on film sets.

His candid, personal shots of some of Hollywood's brightest stars reveal subjects relaxed and at ease in his company, happy for him to view them through his trusty Leica.

Brynner amassed more than 8000 photos before he died in 1985,  from which his daughter Victoria selected and curated the show.

 

Audrey Hepburn was a close personal friend of
Brynner's, this shot was taken in Venice, 1965Robert Mitchum takes a break from playing a mercenary on the set of Villa Rides. 1956 

The enigmatic Frank Sinatra emerges from a helicopter, tumbler of whisky in hand. 1964 

Ingrid Bergman shows her playful side while filming Goodbye Again 1961 Sophia Loren in a moment of concentration, House Boat 1957 

Elizabeth Taylor plays with her daughter Liza Todd Burton at her Hollywood home 1959 

Grace Kelly in 1966 

These unique portraits are an enticing glimpse of life behind the celebrity facade, from a time when celebrity still retained a certain mystique.

photos-  http://www.thelittleblackgallery.com/shows/yul-brynner-a-photographic-journey

A-Z | Prairie Style Architecture

Frank Lloyd Wright was an American Architect born in 1867 and a pioneer of the prairie school of architecture. He was a strong believer in bringing the outside in and designed buildings which he felt were sympathetic to their surroundings in harmony with nature. 

 Frank Lloyd Wright's home and Studio, Oak Park, Illinois - http://gowright.org/home-and-studio.html

A-Z | PARTY!!!!!

Just before Christmas all at P&W set off for the Christmas party (bar Jess swanning off to Paris and Akiko on Business in Japan). This was no ordinary party, it involved a 3 course cookery class at L'atelier des chefs. A challenge for beginners and accomplished cooks alike.

I decided that I wanted to experiment with a new Lomography camera which meant you could create a whole roll of continuous images as a panorama. Which was perfect for this event.  

(Sections of the rolls above and joined below)

A-Z | Lomography

Our very own Nicola is an avid lomographer in her spare time, so we thought it was suitable for to write a piece for “L”.

Lomography began with a fateful encounter in the early 1990s. Igniting a new style of artistic experimental photography that we now know as Lomography! http://www.lomography.com

Since getting my first camera a Holga 120CFN Medium format camera back in 2009, my collection has rapidly grown to about 16, you could say that I’m hooked! 

Making the most of my creativity outside of work has broadened my horizons, I’ve started to see things differently and it’s really inspired me. When taking a photograph I want it to be impactful and have a meaning behind it. It’s so easy nowadays to snap away on your digital camera or iphone (as that’s now the no1 choice of camera on flickr!). Bring back the experimentation of film, the excitement of not seeing your what you’ve taken straight away, waiting for your developed films to come back, and even more for me...scanning each one in myself. 

Earlier this year I had a whirlwind 24h trip to Paris, I had one mission, to take as many photos as possible, and look at Paris in a different way, taking iconic landmarks and putting my spin on them...

Then back in May I was lucky enough to go on a once in a lifetime fly drive to Florida, taking in a 800 mile trip including St Petes, Key West and Miami, oh and a sneaky trip to New York... it had to be done.

These are one of a kind, can never be replicated shots.... that’s what I love about lomography, and I hope to inspire you. I’ve also started a monthly free online mag book for avid lomography fans if you fancy checking it out lomolovers vol.1

And for more of my work click on the link http://www.flickr.com/photos/kenickie56/

P&W Los Angeles | Lomography

After hearing all about the London studio’s Lomography workshop and seeing their fantastic shots, we eagerly awaited our turn at the Los Angeles Lomography gallery in West Hollywood.

We signed up for the ‘lubitel lovers’ workshop, little did we know that this is the most advanced and most expensive piece of Lomography kit. It’s twin lens, fully manual, manual focus, exposures and apertures, with a waist level view finder and can shoot flexible 120 or 35mm format.

We were briefed on the basics and the features and off we went walking the streets of West Hollywood. Part of our shooting was the busy streets of Santa Monica Boulevard and part venturing into the quieter residential neighborhoods. The double exposure feature was our favorite.

Our anticipation built before seeing the results once our film was developed.......let us know what you think of our efforts.

This style of photography is so different to our digital age and is wildly fun, not knowing what you will end up getting when the film is developed is strangely wonderful! Not being able to use any special digital color or light effects gives you an uneasy feeling but also pumps you full of creative ideas, its just a good old glass camera lens working hard for you.

A manual for the manual camera would have been nice, I don’t know if I used any of the settings correctly? I don’t think any of us did.

But that’s what Lomography is all about ... NO RULES, NO GUIDELINES TO FOLLOW, NO WRONG AND NO RIGHT, right?

*Just a hunch, but I think the LA shots might have a bit more SUNLIGHT in them, and might be great as a slide show streaming to the song “California Girls” by Katy Perry. :) 

Lubitel Ladies - lubitel-workshop

Lyndsay's 120 format shots

Heather's 120 format shots

Danielle's 35mm format shots (with exposed sprockets)

Lomo-lunch

Our resident Lomography nuts, Nicola and Jamie, have often been overheard excitedly discussing fish eye lenses, vignetting, and multiple exposures, whilst the rest of us were left wondering what all the fuss was about.

All that changed when the studio attended a Lomography workshop as part of our creative lunch series, where we were introduced to the wonderful world of Dianas and Holgas (names of their most popular cameras not some foreign exchange students!).

After a brief introduction to the basics, we donned our toy-like cameras and ventured out into the streets of London. The brief was simple: shoot anything you like - just have fun! This seems to be the essence of Lomography as it's not at all a precise science, and encourages shooting from the hip and spontaneity. Also, the fact you're shooting on film (remember those days?) means you can't review what you've just shot, which at first seems frustrating compared to the modern style of photography we are all so accustomed to now, but is actually quite liberating as you don't waste time deliberating over details. You shoot, you move on. Simple.

With the films developed, we held our own private view down the local pub, with a judging panel formed by those who were unable to attend the workshop. So, along with Paul and Jess, Michaila (our self-decreed chief judge!) decided the winners. Drum roll please...

Mel's winning duel-frame multiple-exposure of Carnaby Street (groovy, man).

Sam's 2nd prize theatrical multiple-exposure.

Vicky's 3rd prize multi-layered multiple-exposure

(have you spotted the general theme yet?!).

Mark's abstract comment on the fall of Western society.....or just a pretty picture of a Coke can?

Jamie seemed to know exactly where in Soho to get this great shot!

Phil's homage (or should that be Lom-age) to Martin Parr.

A Wes-eyed view of London street life.