Martyn Pearson's Blog

March 5, 2010

Urban Landscapes in Manchester

A few weeks ago I had the delightful opportunity of nipping into Manchester city centre with a couple of good friends of mine, Shaun Mcallister, who is the course leader of the National Diploma in photography at Blackburn college, and what a superb chap he is too. Also along for the ride was my mate Carlton Watt. one of the finest photographers I’ve ever met, almost as talented as yours truly. As an obsessive, I couldn’t help but take photographs throughout the day. For the photographers amongst you I used a Contax rangefinder with a Carl Zeiss lens. Blinding.

Superb light down an alley, just off St Annes Square, Manchester

 

After a great lunch and a pint or two in Sam’s Chop House we went to Manchester Art Gallery – http://www.manchestergalleries.org/. This is always worth a visit. We had a look at “Facing East – Recent Works from China, India and Japan from the Frank Cohen Collection”. Also, like the naughty schoolboys that we are, we had a quiet giggle at Ron Mueck’s highly detailed surreal, out of scale sculptures. If you have children these two shows are a must and are on until mid april. Check-out the their website for details.

Chinese herbal medicines

 

A small scale pub crawl ensued.  A stroll through China Town brought us to my favourite pub of the night ‘The Circus Tavern’. Now I’m in no way a real ale fan. More of a lager boy me. All British beers that I have tried have tasted like fairy liquid, ugh. But this place is a real gem. This is what Camra say about it:

The Circus Tavern 
86 Portland Street, Manchester. Tel: 0161-236 5818. 
Reputedly, this is the smallest pub in Manchester, and has one of the smallest bars in Britain. Small, unsophisticated, little changed since its earliest days. Built around 1790, when Portland Street attracted performers, travelling entertainers and artists due to the nearby Circus at Chatham Street – hence the name of the pub. No food or music. An authentic “old” early 19th century pub, where atmosphere, good ales and conversation are the order of the day.

 

The Circus Tavern. Warm inside, cold and wet out.

 

From there we went for a curry, home by train…. Sore head by morning.

February 28, 2010

Nikon Nikkor 24mm f1.4 Lens

 

The new Nikkor AFS 24mm f1.4 G ED lens

 

I was pleased to hear Nikon announcing the release of their 24mm f1.4 wide angle lens. Does this mean they will now produce a range of fast lenses? Nikon’s main competitor produce some really wide aperture lenses, such as the auto-focus 50mm f1.2 and the 85mm f1.2. Although in my opinion these two lenses are poor performers at maximum aperture.

For many years now I have regularly used the Nikon 85mm f1.4 AIS (manual focus) as I love the creamy out of focus quality of images produced by this lens. It’s rare that I use this lens at a smaller aperture than f1.4 and have always been pleased with the superb control of contrast, vignetting and corner sharpness.

Much of my imagery is created using available light, and fast lenses are vital at allowing more shooting opportunities without compromise. I can use lower iso settings and achieve the shallow depth of field that I almost always aim for, especially in portraiture. Many Nikon lenses have a maximum aperture of F2.8 and these can out perform most other SLR competitor lenses. I often hear that f2.8 is a large aperture, it is not. A fast aperture is at least f1.4. This and larger is, for a professional very important.

Optically, the best lenses out there are Zeiss. Many of these are made with little compromise. Luckily Zeiss manufacture a range of manual focus lenses that will fit Nikon cameras. Much of my personal work is produced using a Carl Zeiss lens and this is on a Contax camera. Now there was a company that could make great equipment. Never bettered for optics and arguably rangefinder cameras.

What Nikon professional photographers now need is auto-focus f1.2, 50mm and 85mm lenses. Nikon make the most useful DSLR cameras out there. Nikon make the best strobe system and some of the most useful lenses. Please, if you are listening, add to this some truly fast optics.

February 18, 2010

Photography Exhibition Reminder

The National Portrait Gallery are presently holding an exhibition of portraiture by Irving Penn. If you are in London between the 18th Feb and the 6th June I highly recommend you go and see it. If I get the opportunity I certainly shall. Penn, who died last year was a major figure in photography producing a huge body of diverse work from still-life to portraiture.

This exhibition draws together 120 prints from to 1940’s onwards, and is in the words of the NPG “a glorious celebration of his work in this genre”. See the NPG’s website for more details – www.npg.org.uk.

On a much, much smaller scale my own exhibition commences on the 3rd March with a private view at 7pm. Invite only I’m afraid. But if you wish to email me, I shall send you one. There are only a few left I’m afraid, so it’s first come first served. However here is a taster of what to expect.

 

The dunes at St Annes

The dunes at St Annes

 

Carpenter's window, Venice

Carpenter's window, Venice

February 17, 2010

Photography Tips and Advice by Martyn Pearson

On Monday evening, 8th Feb, I gave a presentation and talk to the photographers at the South Manchester Camera Club, Didsbury. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there, even though I’d just completed a tiring, full day, studio lighting workshop in Blackburn. Also the tea (Yorkshire, I’m sure) and biscuits were very welcome. Part of my presentation covered photography training courses and how effective they can be when properly delivered by a well qualified trainer.

Many students of many levels and ages have benefited from my mentoring. I have run masterclasses in landscape photography, portraiture, darkroom practice, digital imaging etc, to students and hobbyists aged from 14, to as young as 85 years. It is great fun for the students and myself working in small groups, large groups and individuals.

For years I have helped photographers achieve greater satisfaction and pleasure using their cameras and also in achieving their Royal Photographic Society qualifications. I have taught photography to higher education students, many of whom have gone on to have successful careers in specialisms such as fashion photography, music photography and as picture editors. You could call me well qualified and hugely experienced.

I am now using this blog as a forum, offering feedback to photographers on their work. You may email me your images, low resolution only please. Resize your image files to 550 ppi longest side, at 72 dpi. The image files will be published on this blog along with any feedback to help improve your photography.

You may also send me questions on a range of photography subjects. From; “I’m going on holiday and need to know how to get the best from my compact camera”, to; “how can I get an out of focus background in my portraits”. To what photographers, historical and contemporary, should be researched if you are writing an academic essay. There are few photographic subjects that I can’t give advice on.

It would be like having a professional look over your shoulder when you take that photograph, giving you tips and friendly advice. If you are a professional and you need advice on an area of photography you are unsure about, please get in touch.

Email: info@martynpearson.com

January 29, 2010

Independent Booksellers and Shellfish Farming

 

It’s not often that I get the chance to relax on a Sunday morning, what with getting the viewing room ready for client meetings, or processing images or getting ready for a morning portrait shoot. Sometimes I feel I could meet myself coming back. Anyway, on a Sunday morning recently, I found time to cook eggs, smoked bacon, sausages (tomato and basil, my favourite), fried bread and all the trimmings, all from Boothes in Lytham. Count those calories baby!

Sitting down to eat the best meal of the day and wash it down with mugs of tea. Got to be Yorkshire tea, aah, best drink of the day. In the India Knight column of The Sunday Times I discover that the huge chain of book shops, Waterstones is having difficulties. Perhaps everybody now uses the web to access literature. It’s fast, it’s cheap, it’s open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I hate the type of verbal shorthand that results in twentfour seven. How many seconds of your life do you save by saying 24 7, and what are you going to do with them?

Large, out of town chain stores, supermarkets, hypermarkets all can buy large volumes and because of this, hammer the costs down. This then enables them to sell for less than smaller retail operations. We all know this. Waterstones have put paid to many small independent book sellers only to find themselves falling victim to those that can slash costs.

It’s not just this of course. I teach photography to young people and often ask them which books they read. I find it horrifying that the majority have never read a book, ever. Whoever the parent’s of these young people are, shame on you. Read to your children, from a book. Enid Blyton, Laurie Lee, J. D. Sallinger, whoever. People of independent thought, creative thinkers, intelligent individuals need to feed the machine of the intellect.

There is a whole universe out there in books. Buy books, read them and feed your intellect. Or just read for entertainment. Don’t watch those appalling soap operas or even worse, those brain shrinking X Factors and Big Brothers of this world. No wonder we are becoming a nation of stupid people. 

However, there are still good independent book shops out there on the high street. Where you can smell the paper and the glue that binds the paper to the cover. Where you can order a book long out of print, where the staff will contact you when it arrives. Often we will buy a quantity of books for family and friends as Christmas gifts. We order them and the bookseller will collect them together, even wrap them. This book shop is Plackitt and Booth in Lytham. Alison and Pat run the place and do a wonderful job. Don’t allow shops like this die just because you can buy a best seller for a pound or two less at Tescos.

Plackitt and Booth are on Clifton Street, pop in or give them a call – 01253 796958. Treat yourself or somebody close to a real book and support a local business.

Last weekend the Fylde coast was treated to a few foggy days. The light was soft, noises were dulled. It seemed we were cocooned in a blanket of cotton wool. I had been seated at my computer for a few hours and felt more than a little bored with the tasks in hand. Also after such a huge breakfast, I needed a walk. So I went down to a local beauty spot, my intention being to make some photographs. Granny’s Bay, near Fairhaven Lake is an area of Lytham that has great panoramic views, lovely light and as usual for the Fylde, big skys. I’ve posted some of the results here. If anybody out there knows what the metal frameworks are, then please contact me. They could be something to do shellfish cultivation or farming, I’m not sure.

 

Shellfish farming?

Shellfish farming?

 

Shrimping perhaps?

Shrimping perhaps?

January 15, 2010

Wheelchair Rugby with West Coast Crash

My eldest boy is, as some of you may know, sport mad. Don’t know why or how as I have two left feet and will fall over as soon as I go faster than a gentle stroll. In fact during the dad’s race at my son’s primary school, I was the dad who tripped over my own feet and took a huge, humiliating, tumble.  I don’t know my Manchester Rangers from my Chelsea Athletics.

Getting back to Myles. He was born disabled. When he popped into the world he was like a screwed-up dishcloth. All of his joints were affected. Anyway to cut a long story short and after much surgery, physiotherapy and many visits to those superb people at Sheffield Children’s Hospital he has grown into a lovable, grumpy, bright, teenager. And sport mad.

After trying to play for Bolton Wanderers disabled team, he had to stop playing as his splints caused his legs to rub raw and bleed. This caused tears and huge disappointment as all he wanted to do was play team sports with his mates. His able bodied chums all left him behind of course. They, having better and more important things to do than stick by a pal and at least involve him sometimes. This also led to tears.

Myles is a superb young man (I know, I know. Most dads would say the same of their offspring) and I sometimes look on in wonder at his strength of character. Anyway he’s taken up wheelchair tennis and did very well, very quickly. But he has had a deep desire to play team sports. So, since November 2008 he has taken up with the wheelchair rugby team, West Coast Crash. I’ve added a few pictures from their first tournament from last year. The team were soundly thrashed but that is secondary to the fact that a great big hole has been filled in Myles’s life and he is happier and more fulfilled for it. Also the team will flourish and get stronger and Myles will get the opportunity to play at higher and higher levels.

For the photographers amongst you, I have admired the images of bullfighting made by Earnst Haas for a long time. His use of long exposures and camera movement seemed appropriate for this subject matter.

My boy Myles

My boy Myles

 

Neville, who is a Great Britain Team player in action for the Marauders.

Neville, who is a Great Britain Team player in action for the Marauders.

 

West Coast Crash go for the ball

West Coast Crash go for the ball

 

Anthony Cotterill for West Coast Crash

Anthony Cotterill for West Coast Crash

A Good Eye

Photography is a hugely demanding occupation if one wants to produce work of any merit. There is no such thing as a born photographer. Real photographers will practice their craft regularly and intensively. It is often said out of ignorance or by second rate photographers that you must be born with a “good eye” to create good images. This is utter rubbish. To become accomplished in any field, be it ballet dancing, playing the violin, kicking a football or producing photographs, the practitioner must practice, practice, practice, then practice some more. And when not practicing making images, the photographer should be thinking about making images.

Talking with students of photography (is any photographer anything other than a student of photography)? I am amazed at how little picture making goes on and their expectation is that one or two shots are enough for any subject. The greatest battle of wills is over quantity and quality. Students should be prolific in quantity, so few are and work hard at producing quality and so few are capable because the quantity is insufficient.

I suppose my message here is that care and intelligence should be used in subject selection. That a large quantity, and a broad range of imagery should be made. The quality of the final imagery will be achieved by careful editing.

 

Places 41

Places 42

No individual is born with a talent for any specific occupation. Quite often as a child or a young, developing person, somebody will offer encouragement and praise at the right moment. These positive comments will spur on the young person in their endeavours and more practice will be undertaken. This practice will set the individual onto the path of success. Our society and culture today is built upon the concept of instant success and instant gratification. There is little appreciation of continued hard work and development leading to real achievement.

When I feel that I am spending too little time practicing my craft, I pick up a camera and make photographs. Recently I have been enjoying the extreme weather conditions by getting out there and making images to flex my photographic muscles and to further develop my picture making abilities. The location is a copse of trees near King Edward’s and Queen Mary’s school, St. Annes. I see these trees often and like the wind blown angles that they sit at. Also as the copse is on a bend by the roadside, the lean of the trees coupled with the curve of the street lights makes an interesting marriage of compositional elements. Aside from this, the strength of making these images lies in the practice I have been given.

January 9, 2010

Exhibition dates

Filed under: News — Tags: , , , , — Martyn Pearson @ 2:31 pm

As promised, I have finally got the dates for my one man exhibition. The show will run from the 4th March, with the private view on the evening of 3rd March. If you are a past client of mine and I have up to date contact details, you should be receiving your invitation to the private view in due course. If your details have change then email me so I can update them. Or if you want an invite anyway, get in touch, you never know.

The show is on at Sides Art and Frames Gallery, Lytham for a month. Also there is a planned open day on one of the Saturdays. I will be in attendance all day to answer questions about my work.

There is still much image selection and printing to be done over the next few weeks so I feel as though I have hit the floor running for 2010. Now there’s a thing. Do we say ‘two ten’ or ‘two thousand and ten’? I know where I stand on the subject. For me it’s the latter. I shall leave the ‘toot hens’ to the ’strickly’ viewers. Since when did ‘Strictly’ become ’strickly’?

January 5, 2010

When the weather outside is frightful…

Today I should mostly be teaching. Mondays and Tuesdays is Studio lighting workshops to my full-time students. But getting to Blackburn college in blizzard conditions was awful. In the end I gave up, and with great care returned home, down the M55 in what I thought were treacherous conditions. A few other drivers obviously thought it safe to drive fast, far too fast for the weather. Usually in white vans or boy/girl racer type tin cans – utter cretins the lot of them.

At least it has given me the opportunity to catch up with a spot of printing for my up coming March exhibition at Sides gallery in Lytham. This is now imminent and if you are on my database or are a regular reader will be notified of the dates very soon.

Living on the coast it is rare to witness real snow. For those of you living in sunnier climes, this year we have been treated (if that’s the word) to a proper winter. Cold crisp days and snow flakes as big as your thumb nail. More to come too if the met office are reading their runes correctly. Anyway my students are resting – again – and I’m able to play catch-up.

I’ve been scanning many negatives recently, paying specific attention to some past projects. A few years ago I created a photo essay looking at the Kurds living in this country. Many of my subjects were refugees, escaping the cruel regime in Iraq at the time. I listened to tales of torture and murder and also tales of redemption and renewal of faith. I have included two images from a set of portraits produced as part of this project.

Perhaps tomorrow I shall produce some snowy landscapes. Minimal, quiet and contemplative.

 

Hoping for refugee status

Hoping for refugee status

 

Poet and musician looking to Christ for support.

Poet and musician looking to Christ for support.

December 6, 2009

Les Darlow, Artist at Work

Filed under: News — Tags: , , , , , , — Martyn Pearson @ 6:12 am

Yesterday I had the opportunity of photographing Les Darlow, artist and graphic designer in Lytham. What a great chap. He creates lovely pastel landscapes and seascapes, very Turneresque. Pop along to ‘Sides Art and Frames’, also in Lytham to view some of his work. I’ve included here some of my photographs of him working. I was quite taken by the artist’s tools and the rich colours of the pastels themselves

Les working on one of his seascapes

Les working on one of his seascapes

 

An Artist's hands are covered in the pastel colours as he works

An Artist's hands are covered in the pastel colours as he works

 

When not in use, the pastels are kept in a case containing grains of rice. The rice absorbs the pastel dust.

When not in use, the pastels are kept in a case containing grains of rice. The rice absorbs the pastel dust.

 

A detail of the artist's easel.

A detail of the artist's easel.

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