PLAYFULNESS + CURIOSITY Page 11 of 16

Roadtrip #1: For the love of travel

 Roadtrip #1: For the love of travel mirror1Love the ‘beware of moose’ sign at the side of the road – we don’t get those in England!

For the past 2-3 weeks I have been on the road around the Eastern part of the US and up into Canada with my man.  We travelled 1800 km (a third of the flying distance from here in Yorkshire to Boston!) exploring cities and small towns, mountains and forests, national parks and water parks!  We delved a little into history, and delved a lot into the local cuisine.  We sang along to road trip tunes, watched out for bears and became experts at identifying good service stations.  We were surprised and delighted, afraid and exhilarated.  But most of all, we had fun!

We went out for a friend’s wedding and decided to make a trip of it.  Not knowing much about the region, and not doing a lot of planning ahead, we just bought a map, drew some lines on it and followed them!  Sometimes we deviated, sometimes we changed our course, but generally we plodded along, enjoying the view and soaking up New England, Quebec and New York State in the summer.

Over the next week or so I am going to share some stories from the road – we saw so much and brought back many memories to treasure.  Some time back I wrote a guest post on Crescendoh.com about travel being a form of beauty gathering.  This time I definitely came back with a suitcase full of colour and inspiration, and I can’t wait to spill out the contents and share them with you!

Have you been travelling lately?

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PS I discovered this very cool website where you can map your journeys, add images and video and then share them on Facebook: https://www.travellerspoint.com/

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Are you ready for your own adventure?

Life-changing”, “Revolutionary”, “Awe-inspiring”, “Transformative – just a few of the ways former participants have described the Do What You Love e-course.

Do you fancy some of that in your life? Do you want to get closer to identifying your true passion and finding a way to do what you love, for life? Then this is for you!

The Do What You Love e-course is open for registration now. The adventure begins on September 26 but places are limited so book now to secure your place. This is the last time it will run this year.

This is your chance to join a global tribe of like-minded people who will support and encourage you to find your way.

It could be the most influential six weeks of your life… Join now!

Photography Fortnight roundup

 Photography Fortnight roundup cameracloseup

Thank you for joining me for Photography Fortnight, and for sharing your own thoughts and tips.  If you missed any of the posts, here are the links…

Tips for taking better photos

Tip 1: Rule of Thirds (the classic!)

Tip 2: Take part

Tip 3: Seek out colours you dislike

Tip 4:  Look up 

Tip 5: Look down

Tip 6: Rock the diagonal 

Tip 7: Shapes

Tip 8: Up close and personal 

Tip 9: Colour in shadows 

Tip 10: Experiment  

PLUS:

Interview with photographers Christine Boyd and Xander Neal of Navy Blur

Interview with photographer and conflict management professional Roxanne Krystalli

Photographers I love

Shared Story from photographers Catherine Just

Happy snapping!

PS If you want to get more adventurous with your camera why not join the Do What You Love e-course?  There are a number of photography exercises featured in the course to help you identify your passion and do what you love, for life.  More info below…

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Life-changing”, “Revolutionary”, “Awe-inspiring”, “Transformative – just a few of the ways former participants have described the Do What You Love e-course.

Do you fancy some of that in your life? Do you want to get closer to identifying your true passion and finding a way to do what you love, for life? Then this is for you!

The Do What You Love e-course is open for registration now. The adventure begins on September 26 but places are limited so book now to secure your place. This is the last time it will run this year.

This is your chance to join a global tribe of like-minded people who will support and encourage you to find your way.

It could be the most influential six weeks of your life…

Join now!

Photography Fortnight: Photographers I love

Photography Fortnight: Photographers I love camera5

Before I wrap up Photography Fortnight I wanted to share links to a few of my favourite photographers. Flickr is an endless source of inspiration and a brilliant way to discover new talent – and get noticed yourself.  Use Flickr’s powerful search tool and you are likely to fall down the rabbit hole into a warren of fascinating images…

Specific photographic crushes of mine (some professional photographers, some not) include:

Pia Jane Bijkerk

Jen Altman (Nectar and Light)

DJ Pettit

Beatrice Peltre (La Tartine Gourmande)

Andrea Jenkins (Hula Seventy)

Denise Andrade (Boho Girl)

Christina Rosalie

Vivienne McMaster

Ree Drummond (Pioneer Woman)

Susannah Conway

& My Dad!

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So that’s it for Photography Fortnight!  Hope it has helped inspire you to go out and take more photos!

Photography Tip #10: Experiment

Photography Tip 10

Trying new things is the best way to get better! New subjects, new places, at different times of day, or even with a different camera.  I absolutely love the Hipstamatic app for the iPhone – it is only £1.99 and can produce stunning photos.  Look what it did with this dripping water (above)!  Due it being made to replicate the feel of the old Hipstamatic, the viewfinder does not actually show you exactly what comes out in the picture, so there is always an element of guesswork – which can lead to interesting surprises…  Why not try something new with your camera – or try a new type of camera today?

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So that’s all my top ten tips.  What is your best tip for taking better photographs?  Please feel free to share in the comments below.

Tomorrow I will share links to some of the photographers who inspire me.  It will be the last post in Photography Fortnight – hope you have enjoyed it!

 

Photography Fortnight Tip #9: Colour in shadows

Photography Fortnight Tip #9 cupcake

By ‘colour in shadows’ I mean capturing how the contrast of bright light and shadows can project many shades of a colour onto and around an object.  Shades of grey can be good!

How closely have you examined the shadows around you?

Come back tomorrow when photographer Catherine Just shares her story, and then on Monday for the final tip of Photography Fortnight.

Photography Fortnight Tip #8: Up close and personal

Beth with camera

This is the one drummed into me by my Dad, and oh so important.

However close you are, you could probably be closer.

Look at the difference between these shots – closest doesn’t always mean best, but it is always good to try it out:

Photography Fortnight Tip #8: Up close and personal camera

Photography Fortnight Tip #8: Up close and personal camera2 Photography Fortnight Tip #8: Up close and personal cameracloseup Photography Fortnight Tip #8: Up close and personal cameracloseup2

How close do you dare to go?

Come back tomorrow for more tips!

Photography Fortnight Tip#7: Shapes

We are surrounded by shapes – in nature, and in the man-made world.  If you choose a shape and make a point of seeking it out, it is amazing where it turns up…

Photography Fortnight Tip 7

What shape are you going to look for?

Come back tomorrow for more tips!

Photography Fortnight Tip#6: Rock the diagonal

Photography Fortnight Tip#6This is a tip I learnt from the super-talented Susannah Conway.  I didn’t realise how much difference it can make when you just turn a vertical or horizontal line into a diagonal – and now I do it all the time.

Photography Fortnight Tip#6: Rock the diagonal diagonal5

Photography Fortnight Tip#6: Rock the diagonal diagonal1

Photography Fortnight Tip#6: Rock the diagonal diagonal7

Why not start looking for diagonal lines in your world!

Come back tomorrow for an interview with photographers Christine Boyd and Xander Neal of Northern Ireland-based photography studio navyblur (and then back for more tips on Friday!)

 

Photography Fortnight Tip #5: Look down

Photography Fortnight Tip #5: Look down look down

How often do you check in with where you connect with the earth?  We walk over hundreds of different surfaces every day which, paired with an interesting pair of shoes, can make a thoughtful image

Photography Fortnight Tip #5: Look down diagonal6

Where have your feet taken you today?

Come back tomorrow for more tips!

Photography Fortnight Tip #4: Look up

Photography Fortnight Tip #4: Look up look up1

The sky offers so many surprises – but sometimes we are so busy we forget to look up

Look up when you are out and about today – what do you see?

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Tomorrow 17-year old photographer Ffion Atkinson shares her story. More tips throughout the week!