"You have a way with words" is quite possibly the highest compliment a professional writer can ever receive, and yesterday's Times piece (which you can read here) resulted in quite a few of those reassuring comments that remind me why it is I chose to do the precarious job that I do.
However, while I don't have to worry so much about my words, it's a completely different story when it comes to taking pictures.
I used to love taking pictures. I used to take them all the time. My university photos are full of the most random, mundane photos taken on "nothing" days on which there wasn't even a reason to pose. Even when we weren't going anywhere, the camera would still get pulled out. I swear I have a picture of an old housemate brushing her teeth. Exactly. No need.
I couldn't stop taking photos in those days, and as a result have ended up with massive box files of pictures ("....and here we are again.... this time in the garden..."), only one of which I've managed to go through and compact into a memory book of sorts.
And so then there was Paris...
...Oh Paris. And again, I took my camera everywhere. It was in my bag as if it were just as important as my lipbalm, water, book and phone (the contents of my handbag, prioritised). I took photos like the one above - which I distinctly remember took me ages, because I specifically wanted to capture the mannequin in the mirror, without me being in the mirror too. See how I at least tried to be creative?
But then I came back to London, and life became, well, normal and flat; nothing moved me enough to want to capture it. Work sent me abroad to amazing places across Europe, sometimes further; gorgeous glossy-magazine hotels in fabulous cities. Friends and family would want to see, and when they'd ask to see pictures, I'd say I didn't have anyway: "Why would I take pictures when I'm there on work, alone?" Who was there, what was there, to remember?
It's now got to the point that I can't remember where my camera is, let alone when the last time I used it was. My blog food pics are embarassingly poor (I know, I know) and never mind my yield over words - if a picture paints a thousand words, then I've got a huge wordcount to make up.
People say "I love your blog!" (which is nice) but followed closely by "But, seriously, who takes your pictures?" with a slightly worried look on their faces when I admit that, yes, sometimes, sometimes I might just resort to taking crappy photos on my iPhone. Sacrilege, I know. (In case you're confused, the pictures that accompanied the blog post below were taken by a professional photographer for The Times, hence the shiny clarity!) I know, I know, my photo taking skills are rubbish!
I am very aware that a blogger doesn't just blog words, they blog photos too, so I am going to learn how to recapture that love for constantly wanting to remember every detail of even the most mundane of days via a photograph. They say practice makes perfect, after all.
Lynne at Tea for Joy has done a very good thing, which is to take a photography course. Luckily, my friend Sarah, who took all the gorgeous food photos for the Her Little Place cookie shop, has offered to spend a few days teaching me, both with my point and shoot (when I ever find it) and also one of her own old cameras which she swears I'll be able to handle. Sarah's photos are so understatedly simple and lovely (she's also taking the photos for my sister-in-law's new clothing line - for which you'll have to watch this space until the website is launched) that I can't think of a better teacher. And now, you need not be offended by my really, really rubbish pictures. Thank you, Sarah (and happy birthday).
I couldn't stop taking photos in those days, and as a result have ended up with massive box files of pictures ("....and here we are again.... this time in the garden..."), only one of which I've managed to go through and compact into a memory book of sorts.
...Oh Paris. And again, I took my camera everywhere. It was in my bag as if it were just as important as my lipbalm, water, book and phone (the contents of my handbag, prioritised). I took photos like the one above - which I distinctly remember took me ages, because I specifically wanted to capture the mannequin in the mirror, without me being in the mirror too. See how I at least tried to be creative?
But then I came back to London, and life became, well, normal and flat; nothing moved me enough to want to capture it. Work sent me abroad to amazing places across Europe, sometimes further; gorgeous glossy-magazine hotels in fabulous cities. Friends and family would want to see, and when they'd ask to see pictures, I'd say I didn't have anyway: "Why would I take pictures when I'm there on work, alone?" Who was there, what was there, to remember?
It's now got to the point that I can't remember where my camera is, let alone when the last time I used it was. My blog food pics are embarassingly poor (I know, I know) and never mind my yield over words - if a picture paints a thousand words, then I've got a huge wordcount to make up.
People say "I love your blog!" (which is nice) but followed closely by "But, seriously, who takes your pictures?" with a slightly worried look on their faces when I admit that, yes, sometimes, sometimes I might just resort to taking crappy photos on my iPhone. Sacrilege, I know. (In case you're confused, the pictures that accompanied the blog post below were taken by a professional photographer for The Times, hence the shiny clarity!) I know, I know, my photo taking skills are rubbish!
I am very aware that a blogger doesn't just blog words, they blog photos too, so I am going to learn how to recapture that love for constantly wanting to remember every detail of even the most mundane of days via a photograph. They say practice makes perfect, after all.
Lynne at Tea for Joy has done a very good thing, which is to take a photography course. Luckily, my friend Sarah, who took all the gorgeous food photos for the Her Little Place cookie shop, has offered to spend a few days teaching me, both with my point and shoot (when I ever find it) and also one of her own old cameras which she swears I'll be able to handle. Sarah's photos are so understatedly simple and lovely (she's also taking the photos for my sister-in-law's new clothing line - for which you'll have to watch this space until the website is launched) that I can't think of a better teacher. And now, you need not be offended by my really, really rubbish pictures. Thank you, Sarah (and happy birthday).
5 comments
Thanks for the mention - it really helped, BUT I don't know how to get the lighting right (esp) for still life, so I'm not necessarily any further along. You're lucky you had a friend to help take the photos for your shop - it's a huge expense for me which is why I need to learn! Look forward to seeing your improved photos!
Believe me, I have a long, long way to go yet! Still, your pics taken in the tea parlour were still something special I have to say - blogging is harder than most people think I think!
Yes, take pics. It's half the fun of blogging.
Huma- your blog is really beautifully designed- the header in particular. I take photos for my blog with a point and shoot, and only now am I trading up and buying a dSLR, it's a natural progression. My cousin; your friend- she takes gorgeous photos with a point-and-shoot, I think it's all about the photographer and not only the camera. The lavender cake ones were very nice- you took them with your iphone? Am sure we'll be seeing dSLR-type photos on your blog very soon! x shayma
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