Sam

Canon 5D mkii - 50mm 1.4
Canon AE1 - 50mm 1.4
Mamiya 645 super - 80mm 2.8

I have always been intrigued by culture and the way people live, and probably more importantly how I end up meeting these people.
Sam Sho Turner, born in Malaysia, to and English Father and Japanese Mother, originally raised in Japan before moving to Spain and over the last 18 months living in the United Kingdom.
Over his time in the UK I have grown to know Sam well and often spend time talking about his family, his lifestyle, his parents, his upbringing and what he foresees in the future for himself.
Having grown up in the same small town since birth, I find it so interesting that others have such a completely different style of upbringing and how this can impact their views, opinions and general outlook.
I want to continue to document Sam over the next 6 months, hoping to gain a real, yet raw understanding of who he is and hopefully be able to give the viewer a understanding of this too.

I have been experimenting with portraiture more and more, really starting to enjoy it, as I have exploring media. Shooting a range of film and digital is allowing me to really capture and build an idea of how I see this project finishing. I have personally really enjoyed "getting my hands dirty" again in the darkroom, developing my own black and white films and pushing myself to practice my own printing.

Keep your eyes pealed if you're into portraiture, I'm hoping to end this project with something of value.

Studio

Canon 5D mkii
24-70 2.8
50 1.4

I don't work a lot with portraiture and fashion, I have never felt that it is a strength of mine, but I am working on it and making sure that I push myself to learn more about how to achieve the results that I desire, how to best work with the environment and get the best from the equipment at hand.
For this shoot I wanted to capture a simple look, avoiding the cliche of high key, venture style, portraiture while focusing a little on their outfits.
As with my other work, I like to discuss the stories of the people and places I visit, throughout these shots I feel that this is starting to come through.

Really enjoyed this shoot, felt very natural and is encouraging me to continue working within this style. Roll on the next one!!

Nan

Canon FT - 50mm 1.8
AGFA 200
Home Developed Film

Spending time with my nan has always been something I have treasured having lost all my other grandparents. Sat with my nan, hearing the same stories over and over has never bothered me and I find it quite endearing that the same things have the same importance no matter how many times she has told them, or who she is telling them to.
Her health has been deteriorating rapidly over the last few months and as we were talking, the pauses increased, I sensed a feeling uneasiness and worry that I have not known before, we sat without conversation for about 5 minutes. I noticed her transfixed look, picked up my camera and shot without thought or care for settings or composition, I just had to capture this moment.
 

Tingewick

Canon A1 - 50mm 1.4
Fujifilm - Superia X-Tra 400

Tingewick, Buckingshire.

After a long relationship with Kodak Portra, I made the decision to experiment with my film choice. As many avid film users can tell you, once you find a film that works for you, which you understand and can connect with, getting the desired results its a massive deal to up and change.
I had heard really positive things about Superia and saw it at a really good price, and thought it was time to experiment with it.
So, the results, the colouration/saturation is pretty immaculate, but I don't feel that it has the same depth to it as the Portra, something is missing. I am going to try with portraiture to see how it stands the test.

For the time being, onwards with "Who Am I With."

Stoke Woods

Stoke Woods

I have been out with my Canon FT shooting in the local wooded area, popular with dog walkers and families out for the day.
Still working on the theme/title of "Who Am I With" but this time trying my hand at some black & white photography.
I am a bit of a purist and don't enjoy editing my images other than minimal tweeks where absolutely needed.
I've really got back into shooting in film again of late and the whole process feels a lot more fulfilling and honest. This shoot was shot on Ilford HP5. I find this film so easy to use and is almost impossible to go wrong with. This was home developed, I always find that home developed film is cleaner. Maybe this is just me, but I care so much for my film that the smallest scratch or stain is a massive deal for me so treat it with the up most care, the kind of care that a machine couldn't offer!
Here's a couple of images from this shoot.

Hayling Island

Hayling Island 

I visited Hayling Island recently with the planned intention of working on a photographic project that I have been thinking about over the last few months, "Who Am I with". I don't want to give too much away at this point but as this project (&blog) evolves, I hope that you will be able to start seeing where I am heading with it.

I have also recently bought a Canon A-1 and needed to test this camera to make sure that it was working. I shot on Kodak Portra 400, one of my favourite films to use, love the tonality of this film and use it on a regular basis. I used my favourite lens, 50mm prime, 1.4.

Logo

HeyAll,
I've been really busy shooting recently to get more motivated and start moving forward with my photography.
I've started developing in my photography over the last year and need to start pushing it and getting it out there.
Below is the first attempt at a logo!

Keep coming back for regular updates of my photography, ideas and any adventures that I have been on.

Peace. x