I've been trawling through my inbox answering email interviews for mags
and dissertations which is cause for reflection with regards to the
blog. I also had a bit of a storming argument with Style Salvage Steve this morning
about my inability to use the DSLR camera properly and he said
something that has given me even more cause to ponder: "Everyone's
pictures are SO bloody good!". By everyone, he's referring to the blogosphere
which is a skewed vision in any case but hey, in a blogger couple
house, 'everyone' refers to an RSS feed. The 'good' of course is due to a combination of the following… their DSLR's, their 50mm
lenses, their patient photographers slash boyfriends, their amazing
tripod/remote wielding skills, their beautiful settings, hair and
make-up consideration and of course, the subjects themselves, their eye for perfect composition,
judgement of light and all of that.
Rewind back to 2006 and it was just a crappy digital camera sans
patient boyfriend and maybe a tripod if I was bothered. I'm still
happy to use that battered up digi camera (no lie, there are two
plasters strapped across the battery slot giving it somewhat a 'Nelly'
look) and actually I'm personally incredibly unfussed when it comes to images so
long as I can get my point across with the clothes, the accessories or
whatever it is I'm banging on about in a post which is why my images are on the one-dimensional side of things. Even with a new camera,
my images still err on the side of being demonstrative rather than being
well-composed images. It's Steve that has more of a fixation on
beautiful imagery, which sadly I don't have an aptitude for.
So when I walked past Liberty's today to see SHOWstudio's camera set-up in the window as part of their 'Taking More Libertys' project, where passers-by are asked to press a button on the window with about five seconds to set yourself up in front to get a good mug/outfit shot, it reminded me sorely of those 2006 tripod/digi cam days. The camera is a vid camera taking stills so they've come out looking a little like surveillance camera images but these will suffice for Gareth Pugh to trawl through the images and pick the person with the best outfit who will win £300 Liberty vouchers. And why shouldn't they suffice? A unique sense of personal style will come across in this set-up just as well as the photographer/DSLR/cute backdrop formula.
This could well be a bit of post-argument smarting and of course I'm not condoning this heightened, professional attitude towards blog photography because I am a fan of eye candy. I'm just playing devil's advocate with my temporary yearning for simpler times when one didn't need to consider DOF and sun movements.
Oh and my first attempts at the machine are most definitely NOT making the Gareth Pugh cut… please do have a go though if you're walking about this part of town as I think a lot of peeps having their pics taken aren't exactly aware of the whole gist of the set-up and that their pics will be up for style scrutiny…
this made me LOL hahaha
especially the photo in the center. when there’s a camera around, count on us asians to make a peace sign 😀
I am a terrible boyfriend.
Amazing. You two are so sweet too 🙂 Xxxc
I think your photographs are great now. Much better taken outside even, on your balcony. Mine is still 90% in front of my grey living room wall! DULL!
Yes Steve you are a BAD boyfriend – leave her alone!
Loved the beginning of this post, I’m like you circa 2006 and wish I knew more about photo-editing but really I just want to get my point across. I’ve had my camera for 2 years, in that time it’s been dropped, chucked, fixed, stolen, found by police and it’s only now that it seems to be a bit temperamental. I’m going to invest in a new point and shoot, purely because DSLR’s confuse me, and I want to figure out the settings on that first. This Liberty thing sounds fun, I love how all these interactive events are happening in London.
I love a good bit of photographic eye candy as well, but I would take some thoughtful content over a gorgeously shot pic any day. I can go to mags for pretty pics, I come to blogs to see new stuff I can’t see in my own city, hear about fun adventures, see great DIYs, share in the excitement over new purchases and generally just enjoy the human level fun of being obsessed with fashion. And this is exactly what I get from your blog, and why you need not worry.
It’s always great to work on improving things, but don’t stress over it. If the pics improve, they improve and it will happen naturally and because you have decided it’s something you want to work on. If not, I’ll still be here reading anyways!
i think your photos are great by the way. don’t be too hard on yourself!
You’re a terrific and interesting writer…I enjoyed seeing your point of view!
I totally agree with you. I don’t give a rats ass about how clear or artsy your photos are! I want to see the clothes and that’s it.
What an amazing idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Awesome
Ruth @ Matches
That reference to Nelly, aout your cameras looks, was well funny.
Interesting project Liberty is doing, and myself, I just use the photo booth.
That is one awesome marketing strategy! I want to go and get an outfit shot there now.
I’m laughing at Steve’s comment!
Had I know I’d have got the petit garcon snapped as we past by on Monday – he was very dressed up and styled.
Ha, Nelly! I totally forgot about him, you made me laugh 😀
I like looking at pretty photographs but I can do that in a museum too, I come here to see your outfits and don’t really care about settings etc so all is fine by me.
That liberty picture of the gran is great. And she’s got great glasses!
Don’t worry about your photos, Susie. They are great and your outfits need no further styling or editing for them to work.
-meream
hehe… everyone in my rss feed is doing it!
love it!
but yes, i can relate, though going back to my old canon coolpix with the timer is not my idea of a good time. i hated that timer!
yay for shitty camera pictures! i believe we have the same crappy ‘cheapest one in the john lewis tech department’ camera xx
what timing with this post, as i was just browsing dSLR cameras last night, thinking it’s time to upgrade past my point-and-shoot in order to keep up with other bloggers!
i really do miss the days a few years ago where an outfit photo for MyStyleDiary or some such site was usually snapped in the mirror with one’s camera held over his/her face, and that was it.
now there’s more pressure to have 5 perfect shots of the same outfit- it takes a lot of planning and time! and on some days i wish the quick and dirty mirror or tripod shot would suffice.
Haha yes! As much as I enjoy pretty pictures they start to feel quite impersonal after a while.
i’ve been reading your blog for three years and i really couldn’t care less about the blah blah blah and yaddayaddayadda of your photos, your brilliant words and outfits are why i’ve been reading for so long.
OOh! Such fun!
Oh, and yes, the pressure of good blogger pics…I’m afraid I don’t have a boyfriend/hubby photographer who takes pictures of me (am too awkward in front of the camera anyway). But love your pics!!!
xx
I think your last sentence is food for thought. To me, the fashion blogger landscape has changed. Those who once blogged for personal enjoyment, are now overshadowed by those who blog for personal fame and recognition. The later audience, would naturally appreciate nicer quality photos or even just…
i’m into real & raw but then when i do it, i can never really see my outfit. so i go for stifling attempts at perfection! hmmm. i love outdoor shots but i do look so bad in them always it seems.
THIS. IS. AMAZING! I love the idea, and that you did it 🙂 hehe
Your photos are great 😀
Also, I think photos that are super creative and beautifully executed usually completely lack personality, and it’s the personality of the blogger that makes me visit, not the stunning photos. If I want editorial style photos I’ll read a magazine. You smile, you’re not scared to look goofy, and you can actually see the clothes in your photos!
Bottom left pic… aren’t those The Mazilli’s of Voyage fame.
this photo post is so awesome!
http://www.jetblackdye.blogspot.com
Thank you for taking a photo of the window at Liberty. I’ve seen all the photos at showstudio, read about the set-up but never saw a pic of the camera in the window with instructions on the how to. That project is all about capturing the essence of street style with a digi camera. You get what you need to get with your camera, sans heavy camera strap dent in your shoulder.
Thanks for the encouragement on the photos guys…. it’s something that doesn’t really bother me but it is interesting to see how bloggers’ landscape has change and what ‘expectations’ are upon a fashion blogger photography-wise… I wonder how many bloggers have had to adapt to this by getting on the DSLR train, teaching themselves how to use it etc…