think knit

This is the blog I have created as a result of my elective - Recycling & Sustainability.

I have concentrated on sustainability and clothing.

www.think-knit.blogspot.com

Any feedback/comments welcome!

Birthday!

Spent my birthday weekend back in Suffolk, and it was b-e-a-u-tiful. Thank you everyone :)

Danwildetree! moment

Hussein Chalayan

One of my lovely birthday presents was to be whisked away to London for the day and taken a mystery tour. First stop the Design Museum to see Hussein Chalayan's exhibition.

A very eerie, but well put together exhibition, combining models with moving image on various screens. I was pleased they included footage of some of his more well known catwalks such as the Spring/Summer 07 One Hundred and Eleven Show. I've admired his work for a number of years, but only ever seen it featured in fashion magazines. Although I love his designs and vision, I think my favourite fashion exhibition has to be Viktor & Rolf at The Barbican last year - a giant dolls house with various rooms and floors packed with models and show reels and adverts. 

The Design Museum itself is always very worthwhile checking out. Currently its Brit Insurance Designs of The Year 2009 - lots of innovative and varied stuff. The last time I visited, Matthew Williamson was exhibiting as well as Zaha Hadid. 

To top the day off, I was taken to see Romeo & Juliet at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre!

Blackpool Holga Style

Also took my Holga with me, 

1 because I love it and its a good excuse, 

2 it fits the lo-fi approach and, 

3 Sigur Ros frequently use it, and you can't argue with that.

Blackpool PhotoShoot

Today was the photo shoot in Blackpool, and also the first time I met Dan. Was a little nervous driving over, but Dan was so easy going that it was fine. We listened to some of his new recordings to work out parts for when he comes over to Leeds again to record and I talked to him about the CD cover and how its shaping up. He really liked the direction I am taking the artwork and also showed me examples of CD covers he likes. Most were by John Frusciante, and a lot had the hand-rendered lo-fi approach I'm going for.

The photoshoot went well, the weather was perfect blue skies. Not knowing Blackpool was a little difficult as we had to wander around for me to get ideas of backdrops. I moved away from the 'Portrait' menu and used the Aperture priority most, but forgot to light Dan's eyes with the flash quite often, as I was taught in my mini photography lesson. Oops! Took 200 odd photos, but I don't like uploading photos of people without their permission, so here's some scenic ones..

 

Park

Yesterday I fainted and smacked my head on a wall once, and then again on a door post, before passing out on the floor, and then was lovingly nursed back to health. When I was feeling better, aforementioned nurse took me for a picnic to Roundhay Park, only on the way we passed a much prettier park...we went back to investigate and stayed all afternoon soaking up the sunshine and exploring.

Can't take the credit for this one...

Wasn't till we left I realised we were in Chapeltown! 

Full of surprises, Leeds.

Canon's First Day Trip

Today I went to the reception venue for the wedding I will be photographing. It is in such a beautiful little village, Nayland, in the middle of nowhere. To get there you have to go through a village which is literally just a single track road amongst some houses and you also pass the Copella orchards! Anyway, it is so beautiful around there, I fell in love with Suffolk again. Will be there during the summer me thinks with the camera in tow and more time. 

Here are some of the more successful shots. (first half of the scouting around was spent with the lens zoomed right out - I couldn't work out why I had to stand so far back...!)

This was a danwildetree! moment.

Straight after getting home, popped over the road to see a family friend and long time professional photographer. We discussed the shots I need for the Dan Wilde project, to be taken in Blackpool and he recommended learning Aperture, especially for portraiture. So 'Av' it is. We also talked in length about the wedding shots, he had a lot of helpful tips and taught me a great deal, having done many weddings in the past. He also agreed to lend me his superduper Canon lens, oooh! Experimented with the lens and moving the subject away from the background and using aperture and different speeds etc. 

All in all a very productive day!

Bag Fo' Life

Today I made this bag, well, I ironed the plastic bags over the past few weeks, but today I stitched it all together, hurrah!

(Again, as part of my elective)

To find out more about how to make yer own, go here - think-knit (shameless self promotion? Why yes). Blog should be finished soon.

First Photos

These are the first photos I have taken with the Canon. Really impressed with how the shots came out, despite using the basic lens. Got some nice portraiture, with really vivid colours in the garden. Everyone looked nice and relaxed in front of the lens which is good, and lends itself to good family shots! Got some nice macro photos of some of beautiful flowers in the garden too.

With Canon You Can

After months of deliberation and price hunting I have finally bought a DSLR, and here it is -

  the EOS 450D. 

I'm really happy with it and what it can do, just need to learn how to use it properly! 

First major use will be my friend's wedding in July, when I will be doing all the formal photography. (There will be another photographer doing the roaming shots). This will be a good test of photography know-how and also how to direct and encourage people. Will be a challenge, but I'm looking forward to it!

First, I'm going to do some family shots for my boyfriend's father's 60th birthday, which will be a nice easy introduction to directing people hopefully.

FMP

For my final major project I am creating promotional materials for the very talented singer songwriter Dan Wilde. This involves photos for myspace and promo use, a CD cover, A3 poster and press pack.

I am starting out by researching current artwork for musicians within the same genre. At the moment I seem to keep photographing texture found in nature.