A few brief thoughts on portraiture...

Stepping in front of a camera is but a small part of a journey. As the shutter clicks it freezes a part of us. It may be carefully constructed, or it may be totally unrehearsed. Of course it might be unheeded by ourselves as we form a part of the background in someone else's snapshot.

Portraits are very much a part of the constructed view of ourselves. To a greater or lesser degree we prepare ourselves for the camera. This preparation is important as through it we are approving how the world will see us. in portraits there has to be a benchmark or certain level of approval to the image.

Preparation comes at many levels. Choice of location, clothes, make up, accessories are all important in the realisation of the portrait. How these are used in the picture is as important as the decision to include them in the first place. Most of this is subjective to the sitter. It's up to the photographer to arrange the elements of the picture to match the importance of each to the subject. All this of course, cannot be done without another vital element in the preparation - communication. The photographer needs to understand the person of whom they are taking a portrait.

Such carefully constructed portraits are intended to last. Ultimately they may well be hung on a wall or placed in a treasured album. The intention may be that in the future the person in the portrait can look back or show family friends and explain in some way who they once were, what they thought, what was important to them. The photograph might also express the status that person once held.

For many a portrait is not only about who they are at the time it was taken. It is also about aspiration. The portrait can be used to express our dreams and our vision of who we would like to be or how we would like to be seen.

I will come back to many of the points above in due course in future blogs, and to the issue of the unrehearsed portrait. This entry was intended to begin the process of explaining some of my work. 2014 will be seeing a lot more portraiture from me and hopefully I'll be using my trusty Bronica and Autocord film cameras. I'll be posting the results on here and talking about the photographs if you care to call back. Alternatively drop by my website. i t would be great to see you there.

http://alanrtaylorphotography.co.uk/

Ceroc Winter Wonderland

Well Nantwich Civic Hall was certainly a hot place to be last Saturday as the Ceroc addiction team returned for the new year. The winter Wonderland Ball saw a dance floor heaving with rhythm. There is always an intense energy at a Saturday night dance. Dance is energy and I am always in awe of those who can dance. All I can do is try to capture some of that energy as well as the subtle expressions of the dancers.

I've worked for many years with dancers, from beginners through to school and college productions through to members of professional dance companies. I never grow tired of watching dance, whatever the genre. I've been working with Ceroc Addiction for nearly a year now. In time I will show some more of my dance work, but for now I'm helping Ceroc to celebrate the start of 2013 with these images. More are available at Ceroc Winter Wonderland.

And yes, I have had some lessons. Interrupted by other commitments I'm afraid, but hopefully to begin anew before too long. I want some of that fun too!

Ceroc Dance, Nantwich, Cheshire

Ceroc Dance, Nantwich, Cheshire

Ceroc Dance, Nantwich, Cheshire

Folksy

There are many places in which photographers, artists and craftworkers can seek to sell their work, especially online. I was recently made aware of one such market called Folksy. For a relativley small submission fee and commission on sales, you can list your work for sale and be paid through PayPal. Seems good to me. So today I listed a photograph and am now in the process of sorting some more work to put in my new shop. By the way, you can find the shop at Alan R Taylor Photography. Please visit and book mark it! There will be more work going in there soon and no doubt some bargains to be had...

Vintage Landscape.

Moreton Corbet, Shropshire

I've always had a deep fascination for Victorian, pictorial images of the English landscape. Within a few years of the development of photography, people were out there recording the natural and the built environment. It's the views of romantic ruins that particularly attract me, their ivy clad presence contrasting with their stripped back, conservation led image of today. The ruins and stately homes that we are becoming familiar with because of their starring roles in films and TV blockbusters are impressive, I love them. But much more, I love the quiet almost forgotten gems scattered across our counties. What better way to photograph them than in a style inspired by the gum bichromate process?

Website content

For those of you who have had your photograph taken by us at an event recently, you might like to know that we will be removing the Christmas and longer standing galleries by the end of January. If you want to order any further copies please do so by visiting out site where you will be able to make secure online payments using PayPal.

Alan R Taylor Photography

A Sense of History...

As a result of years of being interested in history and of course having spent so much time actually working as an historian, its only natural to expect that I like to visit historical sites and absorb the atmosphere of living history events. I can't help but admire the dedication of the re-enactors who provide the entertainment and the education at such events. Talking to them, they will discuss the smallest details of their costume, armour, weaponry, vehicles, crafts or whatever. And they will do this rain or shine. I've attended medieval battle re-enactments in heavy rain in which the combatants have been in danger of sinking in the mud.

Many of the re-enactors have been interested in my work, especially if I can recreate a style of photography from the past. Even soldiers from the Wars of the Roses have wanted their photograph taking! And interesting portraits they make!

Battle of Blore Heath, Staffordshire

Battle of Blore Heath, Staffordshire

With this in mind, I'm hoping to attend many more themed historical events this year. If you are organising one, I'd be delighted to talk over with you the possibilities of working with you to capture the characters and atmosphere of your event. Call me on 07932 194779. I look forward to hearing from you

Rediscovering what is important....

Those of you who know me will know I spent many years working in museums up and down the country, eventually settling as the curator of local and social history in a large regional museum with collections of national significance. During my time there I created a niche for myself working with collections of historic photographs as well as creating exhibitions of the work of contemporary, internationally known photojournalists.

When I ended that career to pursue my passion in photography, which goes way back to my childhood,  I became a player in the digital age, adapting to using the latest cameras, software and computer technology to meet the demands of my customers. Over the last few years however, I have rekindled my passion for film based photography and love taking my medium format gear out and about with me. I've also re-awakened my interests in early photographic processes and how these might be imitated using the computer.

Some of the art photography you will see me posting on here and on my website will be experiments as I strive to recreate these processes. The images will be increasingly originated on film, but of course in this day and age digital capture will still feature strongly. A good proportion of the work will also be in preparation for my forthcoming exhibition, more details of which will appear in later blogs. In the meantime I hope you enjoy this photograph of trees in woodland near to Shawbury in Shropshire.

Shropshire Woodland