Tag: Outdoor

by David Burgess on May 8, 2018 0

An Art Fair Primer

Some Basic Information To Get You Started Doing Art/Craft Fairs And Festivals

This lens was created to provide information to those thinking of getting into the art fair circuit. It is designed to cover the fundamentals and the many challenges of doing this kind of event.

I am a working artist who has been marketing my art through art fair venues for over 15 years. I can honestly say that art fairs are what has taken my art from a hobby into a thriving art business.

5 best things that I like about art fairs.
1. Being out in beautiful weather
2. The hauling and toting keeps me in shape (sort of)
3. The positive feedback and high sales (Okay maybe money should have been 1.)
4. Travel. I go to places that I otherwise would not.
5. People. Not only meeting animal people and hearing their stories but also making new artist friends.

Anyone who has read my blog Fur In The Paint has heard me go on and on about the difficulties I face doing the art fair circuit every year. I have been rained on, rained out, hailed on, and once even snowed on! There have been tornadoes. I have suffered from heat exhaustion, freezing temperatures, cranky customers, unprofessional art fair management and the list of atrocities doesn’t end there. This all culminates in the fact that the older I get, the less I like all the hauling and toting as we pack around 1,500 lbs of artwork, displays and tents (yes, we take more than 1 tent.)

5 Worst things about art fairs.
1. Inclement weather
2. All that hauling and toting
3. Emotionally crushing low sales
4. Sales tax collection
5. Obnoxious or rude people

So if your pondering doing fairs and festivals read on as this will give you some idea of what’s in store and how best to handle it.

All copyrights are retained by the artist,
Mona Majorowicz of Wild Faces Gallery.

The artwork or content in this lens may not be used or reproduced, either
in part or in whole, without the express written consent from the artist.
Brookings Summer Art Festival

Finding An Art Fair Venue That’s Right For You

Sorting Through The Sea Of Art Fair Events To FInd A Good Fit For You and Your Work
Okiboji 2009 There are plenty of events out there to choose from and most every small town town has at least one. Small events are good for testing the waters and getting the hang of what actually goes into a successful fair for you. But the real money comes from doing larger events.

Here are some rules of thumb I use for choosing events.
To be clear it doesn’t mean that an event that falls into these rules can’t still be successful, it’s just a whole lot less likely.

* Must have an attendance of at least 30,000 people for the event. Ideally 75,000 to 150,000 is good.

* Event has been running for at least 5 years. Usually new events struggle to advertise adequately. It takes time for a good event to build a client base. That doesn’t mean I don’t do new event, especially if they are local. But I go into it with the thought that I am helping the event take off, not that the event will make me money.

* It’s specifically an art event. Meaning it’s not Apple Days Festival, or Antique Tractor Days or something similar where the main draw is something else and they just are happening to have an art event at the same time. This is true even for things which you might think fit your niche perfectly. Most often when people are attending for something other than buying art, they usually don’t buy. There are some exceptions to this rule, but they are very few.

* Outdoor events make more money than indoor events I know it sounds crazy and messed up, but it’s so true.

Resources For Finding Quality Art Fairs

I have used all of these at one time or another and all provide excellent information. But perhaps the best option is to go to the events you are interested in and talk with exhibiting artists.

The Art Fair Application

Why Submitting Quality Images is Important To The Art Fair Apllication Process
actual application for art fair

So what are the two most important thoughts (as in: what will get me approved) in regards to filling out art fair applications?

1. Submit good images. Scratch that. Submit the best darn images you can create, both artistically and in the reproducing true to the original.

2. Words have power. Be able to write a personal statement intelligently and succinctly, as well as you describe your work to its best advantage.

That’s it. By doing these two little things well, your chances for acceptance just went way up.

Submit quality images

By entering quality images you show the jury that you are a professional and care about your art. You may well say to yourself “This is good enough to give them an idea of my work. Sure it’s a little blurry, but surely they can see that I have talent.”

While this may be true, you are competing against other artists who are submitting great images representative of their work. In the end, the jury will go with the ones who put in the effort.

It is understandable if creating good digital images is not your thing. But if you want to get into bigger and better events you need to either take on the challenge and learn it, or hire a good photographer. Showing your work to it’s best advantage speaks to your professionalism.

What constitutes a good quality image.

1. Clarity. No fuzziness or blurry areas. Also no shadows or glare.
2. Color is true to the original. Too light or dark is not acceptable.
3. Image Only. No framing, matting, glazing, or fingers, grass, carpeting. You get the idea.The nice thing about digital files is this is easy to crop out.
4. Image is square. This means the image is not crooked or fading off into the distance on one end.
5.Your best work only. You will be judged on your weakest work guaranteed. Most applications take 3-4 images. If you have 3 outstanding pieces and one so-so piece. It is the so-so piece that will determine your entrance into the event.

Art Fair Applications: Words Have Power

Knowing The Best Way To Describe Yourself On An Art Fair Application May Mean The Difference Between Getting In And Not

The written word
It is important to be able to write (in brevity) a description of your work. The events I have applied to have requested this supporting information anywhere from under 100 words to just 3 words. (In case your curious “Equestrian & Wildlife Artist”) Something this brief is generally for inside the catalog or map information. Anywhere from 7-25 words is often read to the jury while viewing your work.

Perceptions of Art or Craft
There is usually a great debate around what should be considered “art.” Umm . . . I am definitely not going there. Instead I’ll comment on how the word “art” is perceived differently from the word “craft” and why that may be important to you when filling out applications.The way you describe your artwork has a great impact on how it is perceived

The first thing is to be aware of what the connotations of the word “craft” are. In the December 08 issue of Art Calendar Magazine the article Art or Craft what’s in a name states that in their survey 87.2% felt that a finished creation was perceived as more valuable when classified as “art” rather than “craft.” 68.4% perceived “art” as having superior quality to that of a “craft.”

The magazine suggests the word craft should be avoided completely except when talking about

The word craft should be avoided completely except when talking about “craftmanship.”With the application process how you describe yourself plays an important role in how a jury perceives you. In the same article it tells how many artists are using broader words like “objects,” “creations” or “works” to replace more traditional descriptors like ceramics and sculptures.

A Brief Word About Using Zapp For Art Fair Applications

Also Known As Zapplication: Automated Art Fair Application System
Lately many events have been switching their application process over to Zapplication

This is a pretty straight forward application to use and it does make it easier in some significant ways. But being a bit of an old dog. I’m not fond of learning new things. So Zapp wasn’t exactly embraced by me with open arms.

Also there has been more than one occasion that for some reason rejection notices were sent when they shouldn’t have been. I imagine this could happen in the old way using snail mail as well. But perhaps things being sent out instantaneously isn’t always the best idea.

Things I like About Zapplication
* Relatively easy to set up an account.
* Once an image is uploaded it is archived.
* No messing around trying to get good quality slides.
* You can check out criteria for other shows.
* It allows you to find shows you may not have had access to before.

Things I don’t Like About Zapplication.
* You need to have a good quality digital image.
* Computer monitors color gamut varies. Hard to say what your image will “really” look like to the jury.
* Some shows require payment by credit card. Personally, I don’t like using credit cards for this.
* Events that have switched to Zapp now have way more (as in doubled or tripled) the number of artists applying.
Loring Park Art Fair, St. Paul MN 2009

5 Ways To Know If That Art Fair You Signed Up For Is Really A Craft Fair.

And why it’s important to know the difference.
Riverrsance Festival Of The Arts If want to preface this by saying, I am not an art snob. The reason it’s important to know the difference between being in a craft fair instead of an art fair, is it attracts a totally different set of buyers. Besides doing Art Fairs I have done Art & Craft events as well as just Craft events. But knowing what they “really” were allowed me to pack appropriately, (like lower ticket items for when I do craft events.) In the end, what’s important to me is that I make a certain amount of money. It is usually irrelevant whether I get there by selling original art or by selling notecards.

Initially a way to determine if an event is one or the other is by how the declare themselves and whether they jury. To be clear, Just because an event calls itself an “art fair” doesn’t mean it can’t be crafty. They can and often are. Or that a craft event can’t have great art. They do. This is just another reason that whenever possible you should attend the event as a patron before committing your cash for a booth.

Art Fair Vs. Craft Fair

And The 5 Signs Your In A Craft Fair Are . . .

1. It has the word craft in the title. Okay, so that sounds a lot like an obvious answer. But soooo many artists think that if it is called an Art & Craft Fair that means there will actually be some art available for sale. This is rarely the case. Generally if the word craft is used the event will lean heavily in this direction.

2. “Stuff” on a stick. This in general means yard baubles on a stick. (weather vanes, water gauges, those glass ball sphere thingys.) Though you’d be surprised how well anything sells when attached to a stick.

3. There are far more stock trailers than vans. Huge stock sized trailers often mean metal yard art, though indicates anything bulky. If you’ve got a parking lot filled with big trailers, your at a craft event. For the most part, only crafters can sell a stock trailer full of stuff.

Personally I gotta admire their sales juju. I mean seriously, to know with certainty that you can sell that much of “any” product takes a large set of salesman stones. Don’t you think?

4. Buy/Sell This is where someone purchases something in bulk and then may or may not alter it slightly, and then resell it. This kind of thing is the bane of most art events and perfectly acceptable in a craft event. Even really good art events can take in something like this from time to time. However if the event is heavy in this . . . you are at a craft fair.

5. And finally People ask you where the birdhouses are. Yes this has happened to me. One event the lady was complaining there was just “too much art” and all she wanted was a new birdhouse.

Omaha Summer Art Festival

Artist Vehicles

Passenger Vans vs. Cargo Vans For Hauling Art Fair Equipment
Our Art Fair Vehicle For those of you thinking about getting into doing art fairs, the vehicle you drive is critically important. The exclusion to this is jewelers. They can show up in a compact, if they know how to pack it.

This is our van. Isn’t she a sexy beast. Okay, okay it’s a land whale but here’s why it’s the vehicle of choice for us. This is actually a passenger van that we took the seats out of. Why did we go with a passenger van over a cargo van? Read on.

Cargo Vans
Our van is essentially the same as a cargo van with some important, comfort related distinctions.

Cargo van are often an empty shell on the inside. Literally the raw metal of the vehicle make up the interior. This means the van gets colder in the winter and hotter in the summer. Many artists custom build in an interior for comfort.

Also often cargo tend to have few features Often they don’t usually come with air conditioning (and possibly cruise control) standard. Be sure to check that out if your looking at one.

And lastly most cargo vans have very few windows. This may not be a big deal if you pack it to the ceiling. We pack most of the time so we can see out our windows. This really helps when driving in unfamiliar cities.

How To Choose The Right Van For Traveling The Art Fair Circuit

When It Comes To Hauling Your Artwork To Art Fairs Size Matters

Here’s a few pointers for choosing the right vehicle.

Square is good. The boxier the better. The reason for this is you can pack more stuff in square than you can in a round type of curvy van.

Tinted Windows are nice. They not only keep the interior cooler, but they also kinda hide the fact that your vehicle is packed with “stuff.” Unfortunately this van does not have that feature

Measure your interior and the space between your wheel wells. This is really most important when it comes to your display panels. Most pre-made panels run approximately 3 foot x 6 foot. Display panels are really the most difficult object to pack and make fit.

Note the doors that fully extend open allowing you the maximum space to put large objects inside.

Bigger is better. Our previous van was a Safari which was considerably smaller. We got almost as much in it as our current one but we had to pack it in a specific order to get it all to fit. Which meant we generally had to tear everything completely down so we could put our tents in the bottom, then the display, then artwork, totes, etc. If the weather is nice, this is no big deal. However, if it is driving rain and lightening, having to pack in this way, becomes a noticeably a bigger pain in the arse. Also with the larger size van, we can now do two booths at an event with plenty of inventory for both.

Artist Display Panel Options

The Importance Of Looking Professional At Art Fairs
Armstong Panels So now you’ve got your tent you need something to display your work.. As with all things there are many companies which makes units to fill this function but here are the four most used by the professionals that I know.

All pretty much the same thing which is panels that can be joined to together to form a gallery-like look in your booth. Some are carpet covered which come in a variety of colors. While others are fabric or wire mesh. Most companies offer various accessories like display print bins, shelves, height extenders, half walls and podiums.

The carpeted version really pulls off a gallery look which is pretty amazing when your in the middle of a parking lot.

Pro Panels Probably the most used company. among artists.

Armstrong Panels Pretty much the same thing as Pro Panels but they offer a wire mesh version which is the one I use.

Graphic Display This is the more economy minded version which only comes as a wire grid system.

The Flourish Company They make the non-rigid fabric mesh panels that require little space for storage.

Why I Prefer The Mesh Walls For Outdoor Art Fairs

Mesh panel system I prefer the wire mesh to the carpeted panels for outdoor events because it lets the tent breathe.

* On windy days the wind just rushes through them while it pushes on the carpeted panel walls in some cases tipping them.

* Also for the completely windless days it allows what little breeze to stir through the tents while the carpeted paneled tents are stifling.

What To Pack: Art Fair Essentials

For Indoor Art Fair Events
1. Lights. This has to do with the “S Rule” (Shiny Stuff Sells) The more light the better.
2. Extension cords.
3. Tables with cloths and covers.
4. A rug for the floor is a really nice touch.

Outdoor Art Fair Events
1. Weights and stakes
2. Clamps (An absolute minimum of 10 – preferably 30)
3. Tie downs and Cambuckles
4. Tarps
5. Ice and something cold to drink.
6. Snacks
7. Tents. (of course)
8. Sunscreen, hats or umbrellas for your chairs.

For Either Type Of Art Fair
1 Calculators (at least 2 preferably 3) Heat and cold will fry them.
2. Change. This includes bills. I usually take around $400 worth of 1, 5′s and 10′s.
3. Totes (for storage)
4. Pens, receipt books and bags.
5. Comfortable chairs
6. Guest book to collect names for mailing list.
7. Breath mints preferable to gum because you’re not chewing while talking with patrons.
8. Comfortable Shoes
9. A change of clothing in case you get wet.
10. Display Units, baskets etc.
11. Plenty of Inventory. Nothing torks me off more than running out of something.
12. Zip Ties Excellent for everything from securing your display to binding lighting wires together.
13. Counterfeit money detector pen

A Few Things That Are Nice To Have But Are Not Essential
1. Small broom for sweeping outdoor booth space
2. Blankets
3. Extra tarps
4. Tool Kit complete with zip ties
5. Shims for uneven or not level surfaces

A Word Or Two About Fair Or festival Tents And Canopies

Types Of Art Fair Or Festival Tents
Since Outdoor events almost always have better sales than indoor events, I thought I’d cover the topic of tents and weights.

When choosing a tent you should get only a white tent. It allows in the most light and shows your work to it’s best advantage. Colored tent cast a glow onto the work and at dusk turn your booth into a cave.

Most art fair canopies come in two main types.
1. Craft Hut type (Dome or Hoop top.) Trimline and Lightdome
2. EZ-Up type (pointy top) Other brands are KD Canopy, First Up and Caravan.

The Craft Hut Type tend to be much sturdier and water proof. They are not nearly as easy to assemble and cost between $800-1500 depending on brand, model and features. If they get damaged your parts cost will be high as will your replacement cost.

EZ Up Typeis the most common of its type because it is the easiest to buy as it is available at Sam’s Club for around $200. These tents tend to be very light weight, not all that sturdy and often in a heavy downpour they’re not water proof. (You can buy a water proof spray coat and take care of that yourself.

On the other hand they are quick to set up, though still much easier with two people despite what the box says. And if they do get trashed they are easy and cheap to replace. EZ-Up tents work just fine if you know how to use them. But since often it is newbies who buy them, they often come crashing down.

An Art Fair Tale Of Woe

A Personal Story Detailing The Devastation Left In The Wake Of A Storm
The spot where my both was. See that big barren spot in the foreground where the people are standing? Well that is where my booth was located just one short hour before this photo was taken.

Omaha Summer Arts Festival 2008
Even though it was sunny, clouds could be seen rolling in from the west. I began getting antsy and went over to the artist information booth and asked what the weather was going to do. They promised it was going to miss us but perhaps we may graze the edge and get some rain out of it. They were so very wrong.

By the time the tornado sirens went off we had already begun packing things away because I had a bad feeling about it.. We got all the originals and large framed prints indoors (with help from some of the volunteers.) There wasn’t enough time to get it all so everything else was put into totes and we zippered down and secured the tent as best we could. I was told several times to get inside by the time I was actually heading indoors.

As I was walking to the Landmark Building it was eerily still and stifling but I could feel the change in the atmosphere. I heard the roar of the wind before I felt it or seen the trees move. Once inside we were in the basement for around an hour.

When we finally came up it was shocking to see the mess. Booths were completely gone. My totes had literally blown down the street. Most had their lids popped off and were filled with water. Nearly everything that had been left outside was destroyed. An artist friend of mine who was farther down the street and in a more sheltered location was in good shape. She stayed with me until the wee hours sorting through the wreckage to salvage what we could. (Big Hug! Thank you Belinda!) While Mike was dismantling the tent parts and doing general cleanup.

Our neighbor did silk clothing and their clothes were scattered all over. Their daughter was crying. They packed up that night and left. Of the 135 artists, less than 20 left. All others, even some who lost their tents (including us) carried on. In the end I lost a little over $10,000 worth of inventory and equipment. It could have been much worse. Some artists lost as much as $30,000 and most had no insurance. Fortunately we had insurance since I have an actual gallery. It only covers replacement costs but that is better than nothing.

The Storm
We didn’t actually have a tornado on site, (though there were some in the area) but had anywhere from 80-120 mile winds. That was enough power to move a food tent that had over 2000 pounds of weights over to wipe out 3 other booths. A window of the landmark building was damaged by flying debris. In parts of Omaha they had quarter sized hail and semi trucks and cranes were toppled by the wind. And of course it rained with considerable flooding.

Note: We had over 500 pounds on our tent. This is a ridiculously high amount for any other event. We normally have 300 pounds at all other events, which is far more than most artists use. The art fair actually has an architect and a engineer inspect every artist’s tent to make sure it has sufficient weight on it. The art fair also supplies free sandbags for any artist wishing to add more. This is the only event that does this. It’s the little things like this that show that they really do care about the success of their artists.

Disaster Relief For Artists

And now for some good news.
For any artist that has losses severe enough to be considered career-threatening, you can contact the Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF). While CERF generally cannot respond to all weather related claims at outdoor shows, they will certainly consider applications from those most severely hit by the storm. Please contact CERF directly at (802) 229-2306 or at Craft Emergency Relief Fund for more information.

More Information Regarding Art Fairs

Covering everything you’ll need to know about doing art fairs successfully.
So if my story of tragedy and woe at an art fair hasn’t yet put you off to the idea of doing art and craft events as a way to make a little extra cash, then check out my other art fair lenses for even more information on the the how to and why you should consider doing art fairs.

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by David Burgess on May 7, 2018 0

Fun at the Drive-In Theater

The Classic Drive-In Movie Theater

Enjoy the nostalgia of a drive-in movie theater. Do you remember those days?

Maybe you have heard your parents or grandparents talking about how they would go to an outdoor theater. Here the latest featured movies would be on a giant outdoor screen that stood larger then life in front of many carloads of families. Double features were the norm. Although at times one could see a triple movie feature.

Back in time as late as the 1970’s, it was common to see two and sometimes three movies in even the walk-in movie theaters.

Present time, there is one movie for the walk-in theaters for one large price, though up to a few dollars cheaper if you go to the matinee show. However, if you happen to live close enough to go to an outdoor drive-in theater (yes, they still exist), then you can see two movies for the price of one matinee ticket.

Theatre or Theater

The first drive-in opened in New Jersey on June 6, 1933. The American name is theater. Though many drive-ins located in America have theatre within the name.

Drive-in Theaters: A History from Their Inception in 1933 [Paperback]

Learn the history
Drive-in Theaters: A History from Their Inception in 1933 Available in paperback, hardcover and Kindle Edition.

Look inside before you buy. Many books on Amazon have this option. It gives the customer the chance to see what is in store in a particular book before they decide to purchase it.
Along with history of the drive-in theater are historical photos that you will enjoy to look at as much as read the book!

Do you know the history of the drive-in theater?

This book will enlighten you with how Richard M. Hollingshead, Jr. came up with the idea of an outdoor movie. How he started this with test in his home driveway with a 1928 Kodak projector.

This is not a picture book with light information. This is for the research enthusiasts. It goes deep into the history of the outdoor theater. The book takes you through the golden years and the decline to near extinction of this entertainment pastime of a great movie watching experience.

Drive-In Theater Poster

Our Hometown Theater History

In our hometown we had two outdoor movie theaters until the early 1980’s. One being on the west side and the other one on the east side of town. But then the times had changed and the theaters closed down to make room for apartment buildings.

This is the common scenario across America. The outdoor drive-in theaters were disappearing. It looked as though this would soon be a thing of the past. This is something that you would tell your grand kids about, “When I was your age, we would load up the car with snacks and blankets. See not one, but two movies outdoors. It was a lot of fun.” And if the grand kids are teenagers, you may not want to mention in detail all of the fun that you had at the drive-in.

There is a smaller percentage of drive-in theaters presently then back in the good o’ days. Though many places are revitalizing this historical treasure and bringing back the outdoor theaters.

As for where I live, we have three outdoors, with the furthest being in Door County at 1 1/2 hours away. To the closest, at a little more then a half hour drive.

Two of the three allow you to bring in your own food and beverages. However they encourage you to order from their snack bar. We do bring our own snacks but we usually end up ordering nachos and sometimes a pizza.

Drive-In Movie Theater Wall Art Snack Metal Signs

Best part of the movie

Often the best part of the movie is the old time commercials for the snack counter. It would be so disappointing if these weren’t shown before the movie.

At the same time it is a bit eerie thinking that the food and beverages are alive with hands, feet and faces.

Things to Bring to the Drive-in Theater

Besides yourself and children

What I love about going to the drive-in is that all the family is included. Even our dog Buddy. For the price of an afternoon matinee, you can watch two movies at the outdoor. We find it fun sitting outdoors getting fresh air and wrapped up in blankets, while watching a great movie.

Note: Links are included to take you to the items you will need.

Bring the dog along. Be sure to bring the leash, water and a dog blanket.
Outdoor folding chairs
If planning on laying on the ground. Be sure to have an outdoor blanket that is water resistant.
Sitting in your folding chair, you will want a nice warm fleece blanket to wrap up with. The temperatures do drop and the night can get cold.
Bring a cooler for those beverages and snacks that need to stay cold.
Make sure to have mosquito repellent. You may be there to enjoy the movies. But the mosquitoes are there to enjoy you.
A rechargeable portable radio is good to have if there is no movie speakers. Some theaters have them and some do not. Plus if you plan on sitting outside, a portable radio is ideal to have.

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by David Burgess on April 26, 2018 0

The Story of Dragon and Angel – My Photographs of Two Contrasting Beauties

The Story of a Dragon Princess and an Angel

In this article, I would like to tell a story of my third photo shoot project in India titled “The Story of Dragon and Angel”. I did this work just a month after I published my photography work titled “The Dragon Princess”. This is a sequel of my previous work, and my main idea was to expose two different types of beauties those are contrasting each other.

Compared to the previous photo shoot, I felt that the photos I created are more satisfying. I tried different techniques that I’ve never tried before and went a little bit more extreme in post-processing the images. Besides the photographs, I also want to talk about my concepts and preparation of this photo shoot. I am looking forward for your feedback and comments, as always.

The concept

A little story behind the photo shoot
The Story of Dragon and Angel After publishing my first photography work titled “The Dragon Princess”, I felt that I wanted to create something more impressive. Thus, I came with the concept of juxtaposing two different kinds of beauty; the traditional and the modern style. However, I still wanted this work to have relation with my previous work because I felt there was something “unfinished” from the story of The Dragon Princess.

Thus, I contacted Pema, my classmate from Bhutan who is also the model of the previous photo shoot. I explained about her concept, and asked her whether she has a friend who is suitable with my concept. Then she introduced me to her friend, Disket, Disket is a lovely young lady from Ladakh, a region in the northern part of India. At that time she was still studying in of one of the most famous law schools in Hyderabad.

I talked to Disket about my plan. At that time, three of us were in the middle of our final year examinations, each of us planned to leave Hyderabad right after finishing our exam. Tbus, finding the date for the photo shoot was a little bit difficult as we have very limited time. After long discussion and considering various options, we decided to do the photo shoot in between our exams.

Technically, I didn’t do much preparation for this photo shoot. I just made sure that the battery was fully charged, and focused more on finding good references for an outdoor photo shoot with two models. Besides my favorite Canon EOS 550D, I also brought the Sony NEX-3 as I wanted to compare the image quality of those camera.

The Photo Shoot

It was an extremely hot day
The Story of Dragon and Angel

I arrived at the location of the photo shoot on 3.30 PM after a long drive from my place. It was a very hot day, approximately around 36 degree Celsius, not the best weather for an outdoor photo shoot. It was difficult to us to perform at our best due to the hot weather, especially Pema because she had to wore very thick Kira (a set of Bhutanese traditional dress).

I started by taking photos of each of the model individually in various poses. As I did two previous photo shoots with Pema, it wasn’t so difficult for us to work together. Surprisingly, I didn’t have any problem working with Disket at all, as she looked very photogenic and comfortable in front of the camera. After finishing with the individual photos, I moved to the next stage : posing the models together. I found that it was very difficult for an amateur like me to be able to create a good composition with two main subjects on the screen, and the most difficult thing was to determine the good focus point.

As I explained before, I wanted to juxtapose two completely different styles of beauties. So, I projected Pema with her traditional green-colored Kira to be the one that looks tougher and more dominant, beautiful but and has special power, just as the most oriental princesses in the TV dramas. On the other hand, Disket with her white dress should be more feminine and angelic; just as the characteristics of the most Western princesses in a story.

We tried different poses of the model, with flowers, apples, knife, and blue colored liquid in a glass. I tried to create various metaphors with those properties, and compile a story from those photos. We finished taking all of the pictures in three hours, and it took about three days for me to do the post processing of the image before publishing them online.

Tips for doing an outdoor photo shoot on a hot day

Here are some things that I learned as an amateur from doing a photo shoot on a very hot day. Hopefully they are useful for you.

1. If you are not working with professional models, make sure they know each other well
I was lucky because Pema and Disket are good friends, thus they could be more relaxed during the photo shoot. Because they were good friend, the pressures due to the various uncomfortable cirumstances (including the hot weather) became less because they can freely laugh and express their opinion to each other.

2. Bring your portable devices filled with references photos in case you ran out of idea in the middle of the photo shoot
Especially if you are working alone and doesn’t have style director or assistant during the photo shoot. Try to save all of the references photos that you find online a day before the photo shoot in a device that can be easily carried and viewed. For me, I stored those photos in my iPad. Whenever I feel I run out of idea, I just take my iPad out and refer to the images. Note down also various poses that you want to take.

3. Watch the ISO level
In a bright, sunny day, be sure to set the ISO level as low as possible to reduce the image noise. Always set your ISO manually, and I believe you don’t need to go higher than 200 in a hot day. Also try to use light meter to determine the best level of exposure in your camera.

4. Don’t forget to carry a towel and a bottle of water, for you and the model
You will be surprised to know that you require a lot of energy to take photos. You need to move a lot, and this make you would sweat a lot. A towel and a bottle of water could keep you away from dehidration so you would able to work at your best performance.

5. Take rests
No need to be hurry. If the weather is extremely hot, take 10 minutes a break every half an hour or so, to keep you and your model away from exhaustion. Use the resting period to look for the references, review your photos, and talk to the models to make them feel more comfortable working with you.

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by David Burgess on April 26, 2018 0

The Shadow Princess – My Black and White Fashion Photography in Thailand

My Photography Work in Thailand.

The photos in this article were taken during my photography project in Thailand. An art gallery sent me there to do a photo shoot with “Oriental Princess” as a theme. I asked one of my model friend from Bhutan to come along with mein order to accomplish this project. We went there for four night and five days in two different city, Pattaya and Bangkok. I created two series of photo shoot, the first titled “The Empress of Light”, consists of color photographs. The second album, which I want to share in this article is called “The Shadow Princess”, where the photos are darker and were taken in monochrome. Unfortunately, I can’t publish the best photos in this article because they have been published by my sponsor for an art magazine, and should not be published anywhere else. Thus, I could only present some of the photos that weren’t selected by the magazine. Hopefully you like them, and I’m looking forward to your feedback.

The Idea, Planning, and Creating the Concept

My Experience Working in Thailand

We were given only four effective days to work, and as an amateur photographer I found the time limit was very strict. Based on my plan, we had to do the photo shoot in eight different location in two cities, including on the beach and in a popular tourist spot.

We didn’t waste any time as we immediately departed to Pattaya as soon as we landed in Bangkok international airport. The journey took about ninety minutes by taxi. I had to say that Thailand has a very impressive transportation system, broad highway that allows the cab to drive in maximum speed without endangering the life of the driver and passenger. As soon as we reach Pattaya, we did our first photo shoot in the hotel. Based on my plan, I would do “The Empress of Light” photoshoot in the morning and afternoon, meanwhile “The Shadow Princess” would be done in the evening, where natural light were no longer exist.

The concept of this album was to present a beautiful, good looking oriental princess with her royal dress. Although the princess is very beautiful, she is also very cold, kind of cruel, and very proud with her royal blood. She is also very smart, emotionless, and can take important decision only based on her logic for the sake of her own kingdom.

It wasn’t very hard to get the concept correctly, as physically the model has a kind of face that fits with my concept perfectly. She named Pema, and we previously had been working on three different photo shoot. She brought her tradtional dress from her country, Bhutan. The dress was very great, beautifully created, and very lavish. It reflects perfectly the royal dress of an oriental princess.

The execution of the photo shoot

We spent the first night at Pattaya in the Southern Beach. To be honest, the beach was not very impressive compared to Bali, Indonesia or Goa, India. The beaches of Pattaya appear to be wilder and more dangerous compared to the other beaches I have visited before. Somehow, the beach perfectly reflects the personality of the shadow princess that I wanted to present in my photographs. The weather on that night was very friendly, and everything seemed to work properly. Thus, I could finish the shoot in less than an hour.
We spent the next day photo shoot in the hotel garden. It was much more easier compared to the photo shoot on the beach, as I had more freedom to experiment with the surrounding lights. I took about sixty pictures to complete the session.

The next morning, we immediately headed to Bangkok for the “real work”. I have visited Bangkok many times, but I felt this time the city was not as friendly as usual to me. The weather was incredibly hot, even at night. It was very difficult for the model to stay in the mood while wearing such a thick dresses in a hot night. The first night where we did an outdoor shoot was very hard, and took about three hours to get the images I really wanted. Thus, in second and third photo shoots I decided to spend more time indoor, in an air conditioned room.

We completed all of our work in our fourth day, then we had one free day to explore Bangkok before returning to Hyderabad.

Some tips based on my experience

Don’t be afraid to take a close-up image
Your photos would be more interesting if you take a close-up shoot of your subject. Don’t be afraid to put your camera in front of your subject’s nose for an extremely close-up result. Black and white photos always have more impact when the viewers feel that there is only small distance between them and the subjects. However, it is recommended using lens that is not wider than fifty millimeters to avoid distortion.

Focus on the eyes
It’s a classic rule that should be understood by any photographer. Any time you take a photo of a person, be sure that the focus of your camera is on her eyes. When you get it right, the photo will look great.

In the low light, most of the time viewing from LCD is more accurate than from viewfinder
For me, I prefer to put the camera on a tripod and view it from the LCD whenever I have to shoot in a low light condition. It is easier to get the focus by looking at the LCD, because there is a magnifying facility to check whether you really get the perfect focus or not.

It’s all about the subject’s expression
Black and white photos would leave more impact to the viewer if the subject shows a strong expression. Whether it is an anger, a cold stare, a wide smile, or tearful face; try to involve a strong facial expression whenever you take a close-up black and white photographs.

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by David Burgess on April 26, 2018 0

The Mystique of Love – My Photography Class Project

My Experience Doing Outdoor Photoshoot at Night

I joined a photography class for beginner in June 2012 to learn the basic knowledge of this art. At the end of two months course, they gave an assignment to make a photography album consists of at least ten photos. There should be a meaningful story in the album, and the theme of the story is about Indian culture. There is no restriction for the subject of the photos and we should be able to finish this project within one week.

Thus, I decided to do this work, titled “The Mystique of Love”. I worked with two models (actually, they are my friends) to create a story about Indian culture. In this article, I wanted to share some of the photographs for this assignment. I am looking forward to your comments, feedback, and opinions.

The Preparation and Concept

It’s should be about “India”

Creating a photo shoot with a specific theme is not an easy work. You need to allocate a lot of time to do proper research, planning the costumes, locations, and poses. Moreover, I only had one week before the date line of this project. So, I contacted Nooreen and Varsha, two of my friends from Mauritius whom I worked with in a previous photo shoot titled “The Night Song”. I requested their help to participate in this project as models, and luckily both of them had completed their exams, so they could help me.

The story of these photos was created based on a traditional Indian folklore, about a painter who brings her subject to life with a magic power. For this project, I wanted to combine the modern as well as the traditional aspects of Indian culture. Thus, one of the model would wear a modern shirt, symbolizing a modern, liberal woman in the society; and one of the model would wear a traditional “saree”. I also wanted to capture both of the models in a frame, but they should not be aware of other’s existence. There should be no direct contact between the model, just as they live in different dimensions.

The Execution of the Concept

It’s more challenging than my other photo shoots.

To be honest, the pressure to do this work was much higher compared to my other works. It was because a requirement to get at least “B” for this assignment, otherwise I won’t be qualified to get the certificate. I was forced to think some very different concept that I have never done before, and this one should be better than my previous works.

I decided to do something different by doing an outdoor photo shoot at night. We went to Landscape Garden in Osmania University to get the “forest look” for these photos. Unfortunately, we had only less than an hour to complete the work because the garden were closed on 7 PM. I worked in a rush to complete my plan, before moving to another location.

The next location was just outside the garden, near a small tree. I wanted to create some “mythical” and “dream-like” environment without having to work with Adobe Photoshop. So, a tree under the orange bright light of street lamp would be suitable for this concept. Everything seemed well until a group of man who live in that area came and approached me. They watched from faraway, whistled to the models, said something in their local language, and laughed. Thankfully, me and the models did not understand their language, so we could carry on. Nonetheless, it wasn’t the most comfortable condition to work, for both the photographer and the models. Thus, I had to finish the photo shoot as soon as possible to avoid worse situation. Fortunately, we could finish our work in forty five minutes.

I submitted my photos the next morning, and I was very happy to know that they met the requirements of the course. I got a good mark, and happily received my certificate,

Tips to do an outdoor photo shoot at night

If you are a beginner photographer, try to avoid it
Technically, doing an outdoor photo shoot at night is a very difficult thing, especially for newbie. You will need a very good digital camera that enables you to shoot in high ISO without too much noise in the photo. Sometimes you will also need a very good lighting, as the default camera flash is not good enough for any serious photography work. So, if you can find another theme, just avoid to take photo in this condition.

Tripod is a must
You need to make the camera to be stable because small shakes can make your images to be blurry and out of focus. Even with a tripod, this happens a lot. So, tripod is a compulsory thing for any low-light photography.

Think about the environment
Be sure that the place you are going to do the photoshoot is a safe place. Try to do it in a family garden, tourist spot, or university park. Never try to do this kind of work in an unknown place, where you don’t know exactly who is its owner. Always have an assistant, and it would be better if the assistant is the local resident where you do the photo shoot.

Always set your camera to the best image quality
It is recommended taking the pictures in RAW format, so that later you have more freedom to work with the exposure. Post-processing is a vital work whenever you take photos in the dark. You might want to crop, desaturate, or highlight them. Thus, you should always select the highest resolution and highest image detail.

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