Capture the flow, freeze the dynamic - Tennis

A true photograph need not be explained, nor can it be contained in words.


And it's certainly true when I first opened the recent photography book a friend lent me to look through. The impact of the first photograph that I saw when I opened the book made me take a second look at it. Maybe part of it was casting me back to my childhood as the subject was Michael Chang at the French Open in 1994, but I like to think that the image held a moment in time for me and completely transported me to Roland Garros at that moment.

Michael Chang at French Open 1994 - Photograph by Clive Brunskill

This is that image! Shot in 1994 on the Suzanne Lenglen Stadium at Roland Garros. In 1989, ChangCap played one of the most memorable matches in tennis history, beating Stefan Edberg in five sets in the French Open final to win his first grand slam at just 17 years old. I watched that match when I was 9 and this photograph, even though it was from 1994, brought that memory right back.


This book quite simply reminded me why we take photographs. They're a moment in time; a memory. And it's up to us to make them as full of emotion and atmosphere as we can. 


I felt I had to share the images in the book so recorded a short video sharing my thoughts and feelings about where sports and in particular tennis, photography has come from and some tips and ambitions from me.

Please feel free to leave your questions or comments below and I really look forward to hearing from you your thoughts either on this book or other books that you may own right now.


Please subscribe on the right hand side, have a great weekend, and I'll see you anon.

Blending Air and Fuel - Blending Light and Dark

So it turns out that a carburettor, by definition, is close to that of a camera.


One creates art from blending light and dark and the other creates art (yes, it does, really it does! Have you not heard a V8?) by blending air and fuel.


Today was just a grotty, rainy, miserable, cold, wet and grey day so I took the opportunity to strip and clean the two carburettors off of my Fugitive sandrail; one was in desperate need of a clean out.


As is usually the case when I'm stripping engine components I just cannot resist a photo opportunity and Jared Polin's weekend theme on his forum added some inspiration for the shoot. The theme was Direction and I thought the main jets would make for an interesting photograph if I could show all the different angles the jets work at.


Unfortunately I don't have a speedlight yet so it was a case of getting as many lamps as I could as close as I could to maximise the light and shoot with a high shutter speed rather than a fast flash duration.

This is probably one of my favourite from the collection, along with this one too but didn't really show the direction I was envisioning. The setup was adjusted, camera was lifted and lights were dropped in behind.

Have a watch of the video to see the setup and see why I'm scouring every auction site I can and asking every photographer I know to get my hands on an SB900. It's turning up more and more in my thoughts and plans now that I need to have one in my arsenal. Then it'll just be a case of... playtime!

Thanks guys, please subscribe on the right hand side. Don't miss that shot, and I'll see you anon!

Chris

Chronological Chaos - A photo project for those who can't count

Not that you need to count to take photographs, although it does help to know how much change from £5,000 you'll get if you buy the new Nikon D4 I guess.


The idea behind this project was partly inspired by a good friend Ingrid Spangler over in New York, New York. She has a fantastic and thought provoking set of photos that you can see here, which has recently been included in a gallery in New York. It's a photoset that highlights some of the strange words, phrases and sayings you see littered around town either on signs, graffiti or, in one extreme case, scratched into fresh cement.


I found this set a very thought provoking idea; in itself a study of scribblings that may otherwise be missed in the hustle and bustle of everyday life but also that it could give some interest to any and every random walk.


I had to find an idea with which to indulge my random wanderings and add just that little bit of intrique to a walk.


Numbers have always been far more appealing to my nature than words. Right back to school I loved the black and white nature of maths and hated the 'what does this poem tell you about how Mortianna is feeling' load of rubbish that I could never seem to write what the teacher wanted from me that you find in English Literature. The idea was brought to the fore of my mind when during a trademark random wandering to the shops – where I walked a massive detour 'just to see what was there' – I noticed a cool looking number branded into a telegraph pole and snapped an image.

The theme and project was set and over the last few weeks I've been doing my best to spot not only numbers, but numbers that are out of the ordinary.

First and foremost, I made one rule or guideline. Absolutely NO house numbers. Far too easy. As you will hopefully see in a second the numbers I've been capturing are very much more unique and individual in their standing. 

The challenge, is to then make as good an image as you can from just a simple number 18, 284, or... 88292. 

Anyway, I'll post the rest of the images I have here, and also the FlickR link with the rest of the set for you to keep tabs on in the coming week. I'm hoping to get 20 images, so I'm just over half way. 

Quite proud that I found number 1. That was underneath a railway bridge!

To have a look at the rest of the set, check out this link and leave any comments or questions below.


Chronological Chaos Photo Set on FlickR


I'd love to hear from you if you decide to start a similar project. It will be interesting to see how creative you can get with these style of photo sets.


Take care, please subscribe to my blog on the right hand side, and I'll see you anon!

Chris