Exciting news – I’ve starting contributing to Digital Photographer magazine. My first feature for them, in issue 121 – in the shops now, sees me demystify copyright for photographers and all of its trappings. If you want to know how to control the use of your images have a read.
A while ago I was commissioned by Future Publishing to write 4-page feature on taking great photos for eBay, for one of their computing bookazines. This has since been published in one of their craft bookazines too – after all, everyone wants to improve their chances of a profitable auction with great-looking images, right? Click the images below for a better look.
Make your own light tent
If you’re interested in taking better product shots, why not make your own light tent, from a cardborad box? Just follow my step-by-step instructions below:
You will need: Cardboard box / White material / White paper / White card / Glue /Tape measure or long ruler / Tape /Marker pen
Step 1: Measure & mark
With your ruler measure and mark two inches from the side of the box, on all four edges, so you’ve effectively drawn a neat square/rectangle in the centre of the box, with a two inch boarder. Do this on all four sides of the box, but leave the top and bottom alone.
Step 2: Cut it out
Cut out the squares that you previously marked in step 1 – this is a little tricky so go slowly and be careful. You also need to cut the flaps off the top of the box, so that there is no longer a lid on the structure. Leave the bottom alone.
Step 3: Get it white
The inside of your structure needs to be bright white. Cut out 16 strips which are two inches wide (length will vary depending on your box) and then glue onto the inside – make sure they are a perfect fit before you get the glue out.
Step 4: Material magic
Take your piece of white cotton (an old pillowcase works well) and cut three pieces to cover the holes you’ve made in the sides of the structure. Tape these so the join of the material to the structure is on the outside of the box. Leave one side empty.
Step 5: Build a backdrop
The side of the box which is opposite the one side without material, is where you need to install a backdrop. Cut your card so it fits the side of box and along the bottom, making a nice curved bend. You’ll display your eBay items against this.
Step 6: Top it off
Cover the top of your structure with cotton, in the same way as before. Now its ready to use – shine a desk lamp over the top of the structure and shoot your items against the backdrop, with your camera on a tripod, poking through the one free side of your light box.
From decadent and daring forehead bands to ethereal flower crowns, headpieces make an exciting addition to your wedding gown. So, in this feature written for WED magazine, I explore all the different headpieces available to the modern bride and give advice on choosing something to fit your face shape too. Issue 21 marks the magazine’s fifth anniversary and is avaliable to buy here.
You’ll have to buy the magazine for my definitive guide to tiaras, flower crowns, garlands, fascinators, forehead bands, flapper bands, headbands and combs, but here’s my guide to choosing something to flatter:
Oval – Perfectly in proportion, oval faces are egg-shaped with forehead and jaw the same width.
Choose: Almost any style will look good on this perfect face shape.
Avoid: Heavy fringes and styles that push a lot of hair onto your face.
Round – Circular faces without height on top or a protruding chin.
Choose: Side partings and styles with height at the crown. Go for an up-do or half-up.
Avoid: Styles with fullness at the sides and fringes in general.
Oblong – High foreheads and long chins: oblong faces are longer than they are wide.
Choose: Wear you hair down, with fullness at the sides – waves and curls look great.
Avoid: Adding any extra height on top and center partings.
Heart – Although wide at the forehead, heart-shaped faces narrow to a point at the jawline.
Choose: Hair down, or half-up, with a side parting or gentle fringe.
Avoid: Height at the crown and severe up-dos.
Square – Angular looking faces with both a strong forehead and jawline.
Choose: Romantic waves and curls – wear your hair down or half-up. Consider a soft fringe.
Avoid: Polka straight hair and severe up-dos.
Spring has settled in and summer is definitely on it’s merry way – it’s festival season! And the sunny South West is certainly the best place to live in to enjoy it…This month’s 247 Magazine features a 20-page festival is bursting full of homegrown festivals, as well as a few worth travelling for, if you’re so inclined. From independent festivals like Leopallooza and Beautiful Days through to big shebangs like Boardmasters and local one-days we’ve got it all covered. Grab a beer and a red pen and decide which ones you’re up for! Strapped for cash? Read our guide to doing festivals for free and enter all the ticket comps we’re running at www.247magazine.co.uk. Read the April edition online here.
Ever wonder how much influence your social media input has? Find out with Klout, a free tool that measures your online power and even rewards you.
While we’ve always had the power to influence other people, that power, which is being democratised, is much easier to harness with new social media tools. But how much influence do you have over others? Do your Facebook ‘likes’, retweets, posts and comments go unnoticed, or are you an online mover and shaker? This is where Klout comes in, measuring your influence based on your ability to drive action in social networks, and providing you with an updated Klout Score each morning.
Klout provides insights to help you better understand your own power – whether others trust your opinions online, what topics are you the most influential on and how you compare with your friends. Your Klout Score measures your online influence on a scale of 1 to 100, but the average Klout Score is 20, not 50 – bear that in mind when you get yours.
In this tutorial for Windows: The Official Magazine I show you how to get started with Klout.
If, like me, you find it difficult to keep your receipts together, with the pesky paper ones always getting lost and the digital ones waiting to be accidentally deleted from your inbox, you’ll love OneReceipt. It keeps paper and digital receipts in one place.
Indexing your spending records might sound like heavy work, but OneReceipt has made the process easy. The software will sync to Google and Gmail accounts, automatically pulling receipts into your personal space. Use a different email address? Simply forward your receipts to OneReceipt. Paper receipts are dealt with most impressively – simply take a picture with your phone and email it. The software does the rest.
Organising your receipts is child’s play with OneReceipt’s easy-to-use categorising and tagging system, and its filter search function makes it easy to find things, too. Plus it’s free. In this feature for Windows: The Official Magazine I show you how to get the most from it.
Today you need a password for pretty much everything. You need one for Windows Live ID, another for your email address, one for each of your social networking accounts and then there are all your banking logons… The list goes on. Hopefully you already know that you should have a different password for each account. If not, a single mistake can leave all your accounts vulnerable to attack.
But although they’re safe, and preferable to using a single insecure password for everything, multiple strong passwords can be difficult to remember and keep track of. That’s why I love KeePass, a free open source password manager that helps you create strong passwords without the need to memorise them all. You put all of your passwords into one database, which is locked with a master key, so you only have to remember one set of login details. In this tutorial for Windows: The Official Magazine I show you how.
Tony Howell is a professional landscape photographer, based in Somerset, with over thirty years experience in the field. His love of the natural world is evident in his uncluttered compositions and the feeling of peace they convey. This month I was lucky enough to go on a photoshoot with him, to find out what being a pro landscape photographer is really like and how Tony creates his tranquil images. This feature has been published in the March issue of Photography Monthly.
From better deals to the hottest hotels and made-to-order travel itineraries, your computer holds the secret to happy holidays. In this feature published in Windows: The Official Magazine I share my top ten ways to organise your best ever holiday.
Modest guestlists lend themselves to unusual and exceptional venues. Be inspired by my top 5 venues for small and chic weddings in the UK, which you can read in this month’s Perfect Wedding magazine.
Here are my top five:
1. Temple of Apollo, Stourhead, Wiltshire
Who for: Romantic couples who want a beautiful, classic and intimate ceremony. The garden temple will seat 30 guests to witness your wedding.
What: A tranquil paradise. Situated in one of the finest landscape gardens in the world, the stone built Temple of Apollo, built in 1765, is truly stunning. Looks familiar? You may well have seen it in the proposal seen in remake of Pride and Prejudice. If it’s good enough for Keira Knightley Matthew MacFadyen…
Why: It’s timelessly beautiful and will provide a magnificent backdrop for your photographs.
Marriage license: Yes
Website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk
2. Millbrook Estate, High Bickington, Devon
Who for: Nature lovers who want to be married hidden away, in a breath taking valley. Millbrook specialises in weddings for up to 20 guests, they also do ‘Runaway Weddings’ for less than four guests…
Why: Stunning and very private, Millbrook is set within a valley location of 32 acres of beautiful countryside with lakes, wild flower meadows and mature woodland. Marry in the extremely intimate secret garden conservatory or in the summerhouse, which has enormous folding doors to let the outside in, and a huge fireplace for roaring log fires in the winter months. The venue even offers private dinning for true romantics.
Marriage license: Yes
Website: http://www.millbrookestate.co.uk
3.Forter Castle, Perthshire, Scotland
Who for: The Bride and Groom who want a venue fit for a King and Queen. The castle can accommodate 16 for a sit down meal or up to 24 for a buffet and sleeps up to 12.
What: This16th century fortified tower is like something from a fairytale – it’s been lovingly restored from a ruin to retain it’s original character and charm, but with opulent modern-day comforts and even boasts its very own chapel. The surrounding highlands are unspoilt and sure to impress.
Why: It’s dramatic and intimate at the same time.
Marriage license: Yes
Website: http://www.fortercastle.com
4. Nash Point Lighthouse, Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales
Who for: Quirky couples looking for a unique place to tie the knot. The spectacular Lighthouse can hold 25 guests, over two floors.
What: One of the few operational lighthouses where you can get married, beautiful Nash Point Lighthouse is situated on one of the cleanest, sandy coastlines in South Wales and noted for its variety and birdlife. You’ll be treated to a spectacular view while you say ‘I do’ – a great choice for those with an affinity with the sea.
Why: It’s a deliciously different option and a real statement about who you are as a couple.
Website: www.trinityhouse.co.uk
5. Tunnels Beaches, Ilfracombe, Devon
Who for: Couples who want to a beautiful, informal ceremony at the beach. Tunnels Beaches encourage weddings for up to 60-70 people, with the option of more even guests.
What: A network of hand carved tunnels lead you to a tidal Victorian bathing pool and stunning sheltered beaches, where this chic, contemporary venue lies. Get married in the Thatched Gazebo overlooking the sea, with a sublime view of the rugged coastline and the sound of the sea.
Why: It’s a stunning yet understated choice and the scenery will look fantastic in your photos.
Marriage license: Yes
Website: http://www.tunnelsbeaches.co.uk
FREELANCE CONTENT CREATIVE 