Remember the camera is only a box

It is you who is the artist ,it is within us all we just have to be brave enough to let the artist out.

The past masters created images on negatives that were taken on camera systems very different from what we use ,yet they achieved wonderful results. Can you image what the likes of William Mortenson would have achieved in today's Photoshop when you see what he created in the 1930's . How would Edward Weston nudes be like or even his famous Pepper the mind boggles.Photography is about your vision dont let technique dominate your artistic voice, it is all about YOU. These are two images who have never seen the light of day they are still on the canvas but I though I would throw them out for you to see?

So here we are again on the trails less travelled, what has happened to you today, I spent a little time storyboarding a shoot I hope to try in Nov when I run my next workshop on the coast. I carry my  IPOD with me now & write down my ideas as they come into my head, some might never see the light of day but I enjoy the challenge of trying to get all the parts of the motion still image done if only on paper it is a great brain exercise, how do I want the final image to look , how do I want the lighting to be, what do I want the model to wear, how do I want her  or him to act, the list goes on but it is no different from a big motion film you have to work all these parts out. These images are exactly that I totally set this up even to directing the scene totally to get my idea. The tattoos are real, great make up artist got the detail as I had envisaged it. This was a storyboard shoot that went exactly to plan.

Storyboarding

“Love & Protection a Still movie”

This is a concept that is very important in the movie industry, but I believe it is just as important in the world of still photography. It is about directing your shot, getting the lighting right, what do you want in the image, what is the story going to be about, what are YOU trying to say by taking this image.

This image of the Monkeys I had Previsualise to some degree at home. I knew the look I wanted to capture. I had to get into the right position to get the lighting in the right place, then most important I had to be patient & wait for the two Monkeys to play the scene in my still movie. It didn’t take too long, about an hour waiting & watching to get this scene right, but I love it. The connection between the adult & the juvenile is as loving & protective as I had hoped for. This is the story “love & protection”.

So  we are on a journey, perhaps it is like a train journey, we pass different stations along the way, sometimes we get off & stay in this station for a while then when we get bored or need more inspiration we hop back on the train.

It is good to keep pushing your skill level by doing things you are not comfortable with, this could be a piece of equipment or a technique, but we should try you never no you might find your next level of inspiration?
Always make you the weak link in your photography not your gear.

I love photographing people I just never get enough time to do it.

What it's all about

What it’s all about.

For me Photography is about telling a story, putting emotion into an image. To do this you have to think before you press the shutter, think about it like poetry telling a visual poem. They say a picture speaks a thousand words, the greatest of these move us the way the photographer was moved when they pressed the shutter.

SO, how do we achieve this, we need education & inspiration we need to seek out people who can take us to the next stage of our journey, remember that there is no destination, only the journey.

Over the last 4 years I have competed Internationally, as I wanted to know where my level of Photography stood in the International circuit, I have achieved a lot over this time, over 500 awards with 120 different images. By following a simple formula, the 5 questions I ask myself before I take an image. I covered this in my post-dated August the First 2012.

I am offering a creative photography workshop in an environment that is unique & inspirational to help you travel on your journey to another space by visiting history dating back to 1859. We will live on the station in rustic spacious accommodation, we will be feed well; you will each get your own room, maybe your own building. I will inspire you to try new techniques to enhance your voice in your images. We will tell stories through our lenses that say who we are & where we have been. I will tell you my secrets to my success by showing you how I compose my images by storyboarding. Creating that visual poem.

Remember that photography is about Poetry, Visual poetry, your voice is the most important part of your image. Dont let the technique get in the way of what you are trying to say. Gesture ,Emotion & Feeling are the most important part of how you tell the story. Wither it is a self portrait nude on the end of the Pier or a composite with a HDR image, you are letting your soul out into the world just like a great Poet?????

Long time no write

Sorry people I have been so busy it has been hard for me to get to you, but that is about to change, I need to let you know what Scott Fowler is up too. Well I have started offering photographic workshops to the general public, well photographers who want to learn how I do what I do, well how I have been so successful in the last few years. Come with me to Otematata station & I will show you what I know.