Publicity and Products

I am attending many meetings in the next few weeks so I thought I would spend the day preparing products for sale and creating some new publicity.

Finally got to use my special hole punch to create these - such fun

I wanted to create a leaflet that looked like a strip of film. I had a lot of fun creating these and getting everything just where I needed it. I am rather proud of them - they will stand out on a table of leaflets - which is their task.

Making sure I have at least one of each of my notelet packs - some missing 

I have been selling quite a few of my notelet packs recently so I though it was time for a stock check and see which ones had run out. Seems I need to create 5 more packs just so that I have one of each - they have been selling well. I also decided to created a couple of new packs in the Small World series: one called 'Sunset' and the other 'Planes and Gulls'. Let's see how these sell over the next few weeks.

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The moment I made a child cry

Had great fun yesterday capturing another class of 4 year olds for their year end class photograph celebrating the Jubilee. I am not quite accomplished at dealing with children - I tend to treat them as little adults and forget that innocuous things can upset them.

To get them all paying attention to me I gave them some instructions on what I wanted them to do. I asked them to look at the camera. Saying look into the lens would be meaningless so I said "look into the circle - the dark circle. Or look at my hair bobble - which resembles a spider" - whoops.

Whoops - note to self: do not mention spiders in front of children

Poor sweetheart started crying. I knew instantly I should not have said spider and saying look into the deep dark circle might have been a little scary too. Never mind I soon had her smiling again and got the final shot I was after.

The final image ready for printing

Prints are being created and I will deliver early next week. Apart from the little crying hiccup I did rather enjoy capturing these class photographs.

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Anxiety Levels

Exhibition goes up in Burton Town Hall on 18th June - I have asked for prices on the options I want to investigate for framing my 3 pieces. With a deadline of 15th June I thought asking for prices on 31st May would be a timely thing to do.

It seems that because I am asking for so many different options I have over faced the guys and am still waiting for a quote. I would like floating frames but if I cant afford that I need to see how much the other options are.

After ringing for the second time I am assured that I will get my work by the 15th but that they haven't had time to sort out a quote for me yet!

eeeeeeeeeeeek

I like things to be done and things to be in the bag - this is a great company and I totally trust them - but it does nothing to allay the anxiety that will fester until I receive the quote and send off the images to them.

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Time-Lapse Madness

Well I did it. Two cameras set up to capture the happiness and joy, fun and frivolity of the Jubilee Street Party in Market Street, Ashby.

One camera was safely locked away in an office, clicking and capturing a narrow view of about 9 tables from a first floor window; the second at street level near the pelican crossing at the Town Hall Market. The other cameras were used for various stills and mini time-lapses. I had enjoyed capturing one with the Fuji point and shoot, so I mounted it onto my new tiny tripod and got some candid shoots of peoples feet, rubbish, balloons and children having fun.

My favourite image of the day

It's hard work being a photographer!

There were occasional drizzling moments so I sent my sister off to get me a plastic bag. As long as the parts of the camera containing all the electronics were covered I didn't mind. The lens was well protected and it didn't matter if a few spots got onto the glass.

It was a lovely day. We were all putting on and taking off our coats as the sun came and went. There was a brass band, a choir, a horse and a fun fair.

Home to undertake a mammoth downloading session - approx 2800 images. The time-lapse was set to capture one image every 15 seconds and I stayed for 5 hours. Phew!

The office window view

Market Street before everyone arrived

The street level set up

The next 5 days will see me creating a movie out of these images and when I'm happy with it I'll post something here to show you.

Thanks go to Ashby Town Council who gave me permission to do this and found ways for it to work for me - Karen Edwards. Thanks to the new town mayor Geriant Jones - for his generous offers of hospitality. Thanks to Prescient Power (Karl) who let me set up a camera in his offices in amongst the Ashby Art Festival.

And of course the day would have been a lot more difficult without the help and entertainment provided by my two assistants: Marie Mayes and Bruce Crawford.

My sister trying her best to create a red, white and blue tongue!

My plan for this work is to hand it over to Ashby Town Council for their use and to the Ashby Museum. My take on a tiny piece of a lovely day.

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Day off?

I found I had a couple of days with no appointments so instead of settling down to do some admin I decided to give myself a couple of days R&R.

What to do, what to do.

I phoned a friend and invited myself round. I packed up Justin. Many of you will have met Justin - Justin Case!

Couldn't resist popping my Fuji point and shoot into my case. Living in an apartment overlooking the canal offers photographic opportunities, even on a grey overcast day. Decided to capture a mini time-lapse (inspired by Amos Poe) of the activity in the Wharf.

Sherborne Wharf with sunken narrow boat

Time-lapse with a point and shoot is a painful operation. Holding and operating the camera involves sitting perfectly still in the same position. This is why it is a mini time-lapse. Pins and needles stopped the shoot!

I will process this later today and post a link. I need a small time-lapse project to undertake to get my eye back in as I need to create three or four big movies ready for the exhibition showreel.

A year ago I had a black eye received from my iPad falling onto my face! My two days R&R has also resulted in bruises but this time for all the right reasons.

Right I need to go and do some admin!

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