Stacey Able Photography

Stacy Able Photography is modern boutique photographer based in Columbus, Indiana.

I very much like the photography work of Stacey Able – whist looking through her work I noticed that every photograph captures a moment of emotion whether it be laughter, love or happiness. Her photographs are narrative and tell the story of a wedding with a selection of photographs of guests, family, best man, bride’s maids and friends. Often the bride and groom don’t see a lot of there day, therefore wedding photography is very important and often what they relay on to get an insight of there day from a guests perspective. I find Stacey Able’s inspiring because I particularly like the contempary continues style she uses. Her framing in photographs to me is perfect, not to close to the face showing background and the wedding location but close enough to capture the joy and happiness emotions. I also like the way she manipulates her photographs – there not over powering or heavily made up but subtly manipulated giving a professional finish.

The ‘photograph is still, first and foremost for me a means of expression.’ Jean Moir  ‘Another Way of Telling’  John Berger – Chapter 2 ‘Appearances’

Shoot 3 - Tom and Laura say 'I Do'

 ‘Time will never stand still and those moments that bring us such joy become memories in an instant. To capture such a moment and record it forever is truly monumental.’ - Joshua Atticks

As part of my assignment ‘Research Blog’ I have decided to base one of my projects on a Family Wedding I am to shoot. It is an occasion I have been asked to photograph. The wedding is at The Church of St John Evangelist, a beautiful church with gardens, the photographic opportunity is endless.

To research my project, as the photographer of the wedding I intend to visit the church and look for areas where I’ll be photographing. On the day there will be pressure and there is no time for test shoots, so when asked to do a wedding I always visit the location and somebody to photograph – sometimes more than once. I’ll be looking at the entrance of the Church and working out where would be best to stand to photograph, I’ll be looking at the where the ceremony will take place. It’s important to know and have a plan in your head so you know where you need to be to get the best photographs for the family you are photographing, after all it is their day to remember and their ideas and wishes are paramount. I’ll also walk around the gardens and beautiful setting to see where would be best to capture the Bride, Groom and Guests.

To continue my research further I will also be undertaking a variety of research into various Wedding Photographers, this will help me learn and inspire me in so many ways. New photographers are always creating websites and personal blogs and I’ve found through personal research of my own and through assignment research you can always learn a lot from them. I’ll especially be looking at camera angles, lighting, ways of manipulation and different ways of which to photograph a Bride and Groom.

My cousin, the Bride to be and her husband have stated to me that they want natural unconstructed Photographs taken; they don’t want to be ‘over posed’ or acting for the camera. Wedding days are one of the most natural, happy days in the world spent with the ones you love and I for one believe that wedding photography should reflect that naturally. Their valuable day should not be taken up with roll calls and staged situations. Instead, I want to blend a combiation of happiness with a classic style to create an entirely natural, unique series of photographs that tell the complete story of their wedding day. 

Photographs according to Berger capture the present moment – so as viewers we are always looking at the past. A photograph shows ‘an instant of the past arrested’ ‘Another Way of Telling’  John Berger – Chapter 2 ‘Appearances’ page 86.

I intend be with the family and guests throughout their special day and capture every moment of it; from the bride getting ready before the ceremony, to the wedding car driving away after the reception and right up until the first dance of the evening. My aim is to please my family and especially my cousin the groom. All the things that make their day special will be captured and timelessly preserved.

Annie's Shoot - Photographs

As I now have an idea for my Portrait shoot, a location and model I have decided to research portraits once again using Flickr. One of the reasons I use Flickr as part of my research is because I especially enjoy viewing other photographers work as it gives me a better understanding of contempary ideas and it is a good source of inspiration or a starting point for my own work.

I came across the work of ‘Lighthack’ Unfortunately the name of the photographer remains anonymous without a blog, website or facebook page – however I find his work remarkable. Lighthack has written ‘I am a self-proclaimed photography hack. I'm not a pro, I've never taken any lessons and I haven't been taking pictures with a DSLR very long (about a year), but I really enjoy taking pictures, so I hope that my enjoyment comes through in my photos.’ When looking through Lighthack’s work I see the emotions captures, the photographs I have chosen to feature in my blog show confidence, personality, individuality all of which I intend to try and convey in photographs I am to take. I especially love the way Lighthack has edited his photographs – the contrast with focus of the subject and blur in the background gives of such a sticking effect. I especially like the colours within the photographs, as he has subtly changed them giving a ‘vintage washed out’ look yet contempary finish which works really well. Its something I have never done yet will do, experimenting on Photoshop using ‘Curves and Selective Colour’.

Jan Kocoviski

After a lot of thought and consideration I decided that for my subject matter I want to develop my idea focusing on capturing Personality and Identity through Portraiture style. I intend to communicate personality as the main focus. Therefore I have chosen to photograph my friend Annie Keating, a performer and dancer. I have photographed Annie before and found her wonderful to work with, because of her performing background Annie is aware of the camera and very confident resulting in good photographs. I want Annie to pose for the camera in order to communicate personality and individuality.

For my shoot after a lot of planning and thought, I have decided my location will be Walton Hall and Gardens which is a beautiful outdoor park with gardens and walk paths set in the Cheshire countryside. The photographic opportunity is endless and I am very excited.

I particularly like to work and photograph outdoors, however even with outdoor lighting, shadow can be a problem when capturing portraits. To modify or improve available light sources I will use my reflector. I’d never used a reflector before until last year on shoot and was very pleased with the outcomes from such a relatively simple low tech device so much so, every portrait shoot I now do – my reflector comes with me.

Continuously throughout the shoot I used the reflector to control the light source, either block light creating shadows on the face or to enhance the natural day light reflecting on the subjects face. In the future I will continue when necessary to use a reflector to enhance or improve the final outcome.

Jan Kocoviski

Jan Kocoviski's photography - insperation found on Flickr.

Jan Kocoviski

‘I am not a photographer by profession, but a photographer by passion.’ - Jan Kocoviski.

Jan Kocoviski is a creative commercial, beauty, portrait and fashion photographer working close to Frankfurt/Main Germany. His professional work is strongly affected by a combination of personal approach and delivering a highly professional product at the same time.

“Every shot conveys a style, an emotion, a passion. Jan and his team create a whole new story, almost ethereal air of life spiced with simplicity and ease. Special care is given to digital manipulation for an effortless look of luxury and sophistication.” - Jan Kocoviski. http://www.flickr.com/photos/jankocovski/with/4048790527/