Picture Maker Manifesto

Once a upon a time there was a Manifesto of a Picture Maker

• Photographers are picture makers.  Picture makers are story tellers.
• Take your time, observe and record.
• A picture needs to speak to the observer, capture the emotional.
• The world is your canvas.  Start with your little corner of the world first.
• There should always be a fire inside of you and if it goes dim change what you are doing.
• Explore the unknown to keep the fire alive.
• The camera is not only your eyes, it is the paint and the picture is your voice.
• Rules are like tools, and tools can be broken.  But if you break them without reason or thought, then you are best to throw them out.
• You can never stage a missed event; it would be a lie if you did.
• A picture lacking technical skill is like ironing starch on your flannelette pj’s.
• A picture that is too technically correct is also like ironing starch on your flannelette pj’s.
• You may only have one shot at it, paint it carefully in your mind and perform with your eyes through the camera.
• Treat every moment like you are getting paid.  Be professional, but have fun too.
• Perform like you are getting paid top dollar even if you are not, dream a little, and pretend you are on a top model set.
• There may not always be a happy ending, not everyone will get your story.  Don’t let this discourage you, only you can create a happy ending for yourself!  Believe in yourself!

© Melissa Thorburn Photography 2011, All rights reserved.

Time

Well, today is my 10th year Wedding Anniversary, so Hubby and I had to stop off the see the church where our beautiful ceremony was held.

Well 10yrs on, it is standing proud as ever. We have since our big day there, attended many weddings and I have photographed many two. Each time with tears of joy in my eyes. 

So, to family and friends that have shared our day and been in our lives since, Thank you for being here. Here's to another 10 years xxxxxxxxxx

What have I been up to lately?

Versatile Jasmine

Hi everyone,  I am so sorry for I have not blogged for a few weeks.  I have been a wee busy with family, work, study, more work and business building and of course play time in the big smoke of Auckland.  Special thanks to couples that have booked weddings with me, I feel so honoured!  Next weekend I be photographing Simon and Megan's wedding, I'm so looking forward to capturing their special day. 

Recently I had two portrait sessions with two very athletic beauties.  Jasmine came to me to  help build her portfolio, which I was honoured to do.  It was a fun session with many quick changes, we shot 7 different outfits and I'm so pleased with the results.  For her first photo shoot, Jasmine did not show any nerves and was very confident in front of a camera.  Thanks to Jasmine and her friend Fleur for being there to help out and support Jasmine through this experience.    

Secondly was Cherry Boomb, I hadn't worked with Cherry before.  We had been trying to tee up a session for awhile.  Cherry is a treat to work with, her suitcase of clothing and accessories was bottomless!  Cherry has an alternative edge and yet she is still very versatile to deliver any look from contemporary, burlesque, conservative to steampunk and more .        

So I now have many images to help build my own portfolio.  Which is thankfully growing fast and with each shoot I do I feel my skills are growing as I explore new techniques.   With digital files and photoshop I tend to push an image as far as I can take it.  The in camera image often doesn't need touching up, if I have the studio lighting set up right!  Studio lighting sculpts beautifully.  However I thought I would show the progression in images below of Steampunk Cherry.       

Image on the left is as shot.  Image on right is with tones and exposure adjusted, fill light increased, saturated and vibrancy increased slightly.  I also added a skin softening effect, which is a pre set I have made to blur the skin slightly.  I love this finished image, especially how it has a metallic satin glow.  But even still I wanted a bit of an aged effect.

So I added an old paper effect (ok this is a filter effect), quite mechanical really and it's an effect that I am yet to teach myself.  Plus so dark vignetting to draw you in more.  

Please let me know what you think of the progression, what image do you like the best?  

This weekend I have invested time and money into more training with the notable photographer Sue Bryce, through CreativeLIVE :   http://www.creativelive.com/courses/glamour-photography-sue-bryce

WOW is all what is on my mind right now.  Sue is an amazing photographer and so pleased that she is sharing her skills and advice this way.  

From what I am learning from Sue so far is that I am on the right track re my eye lines, which is great!   But also learning amazing posing tips to accentuate the beauty of the human form.  And trusting my intuition which is something you can not buy, it's something that comes with experience.  

So I will leave you all now and hope you are enjoying the weekend.  The weather bomb has past the Hawke's Bay and sun is kind of out again, though not sure for how long. I hope that where ever you are that the weather has been kind to you and your love ones. I'm hoping to get out later to get some more landscape images for an assignment.  

Toodles, Mel.

  

    

Time for a new hobby or perfect an old one?

I have never been much of a sewer.  Always had sewing disasters; breaking needles, loosing patience, blowing up machines.  All which is rather sad considering my Mum is an ace at it.  My Mum mostly, but also with my Aunty, Nana and my eldest Sister helping made my gorgeous wedding outfit.  A four piece golden satin and silk number.  I'm feeling nostalgic as it was nearly 10 years ago, so I must post some wedding pic's.  Photography by Mark at Joshua Corporation, March 2002.  

If only sewing was a talent you instantly inherit.   But you know what I would take up sewing if I had this gorgeous machine like the new limited edition 160 Singer.  But I could also do with a new camera equipment as well.   

Knitting, on the other hand was something that did gel when I was younger.  I managed to knit myself a cabled cricket jersey, crochet pillow covers and blankets.  Fairly basic things, but still fun.  Though of lately with working, young children, writing, internet and blogging zapping my time, I haven't knitted since my children were little and I wonder if I would still remember how to cast on?  

Crafts such as these are such a precious thing, often taught by Mums and Grandmothers.  Have you thought about this too in the past?  I'm feeling the need to get back to my roots and brush up on some skills so I can pass them onto my children and their children.

  

To my Daughter Amber..."I will make your cake and decorate it, but just please don't ask me to make your wedding gown!"        

A Tribute

Day 34-366

A tribute to the 1931 Hawke's Bay Earthquake

Hastings City Centre 3rd February 2012

Today, 81 years ago at 10.47am a 2 & a 1/2 minute 7.8 magnitude earthquake shook Hawke's Bay.  The earthquake and fires to follow  without remorse took the lives of 256 people, with thousands injured.  Hastings and Napier cities were hit the most, both cities were almost levelled.   

There is so much more to tell about this earthquake, many of you know so much already.  My Nana has shared her tragic memories with me of the quake, to endure such a thing as a young school child would have been horrific.

Today in the centre of Hastings City there was a tribute, I was unable to attend due to work commitments, however upon taking my son into town after school we were able to site the tribute "HB Tribune Ltd" papers hanging up.  Lovely to see and read some pages quickly.  I will go back to read some more.

I hope to photograph some more of Hawke's Bays building's too over the next year,  Art Deco and Spanish Mission architecture is a love of mine.  With being a born and breed Hastings girl, there is plenty of it here to amuse me, thanks to the rebuild.   

Sadly earthquakes are much to common in New Zealand and in the Pacific Ring of Fire.  Often I wonder why we live here,  yes it's a beautiful to be and we are very lucky to be here.  But we can't live in fear. 

Years pass, People grow stronger cities rebuild, some a little faster than others.  I constantly think of Christchurch and my friends there.  Those Southerners are a hardy lot and I wish them much love and support!  I wonder what Christchurch architecture will be like when they are able to rebuild.  Will it be a themed style, eco friendly, Advant Guarde or plain Jane Modern and up most safe?  

       

  

Shoe's

Day 21-366 Red Shoes

Oh gosh, it has been a week since I have blogged.  It has been a busy week of looking after my sick hubby,  birthday's, organising my son's holiday social life, work and play.  Please forgive me my kind readers.  

I am not a huge shoe fan, I don't have a fetish and a closet full of shoes.  Personally I would rather buy a few really good quality shoes that are guaranteed to last a number of years, like my Doc Martens boots that I bought in pre veg days. I guess what my Mum said many years ago has stuck "You wont get rich by buying shoes all the time".   

I have been a vegetarian off and on for the past 12 years.  For the past four years I have been a full vegetarian and will not buy leather or animal based shoes (including the glue).  How is this story vintage you might be asking.  Here I go again gambling on.  But this afternoon I was wondering what to shoot for my vintage inspired photo a day project.  When I stumbled onto a Vegan Friendly Store website that sells shoes, not just any shoes though, these are vintage inspired and gorgeous! Here's the link: Vegan vintage inspired woman's shoes.  I love the Brogues and T Bars.  There are Men's shoes also.  Please have a look, the store is in Victoria, Australia, so maybe some day I will get to visit them.  But the postage costs shouldn't rock the boat too much either when I do decide to buy a pair.  Might need to start saving!

So my photo today is a pair of vintage styled shoes (man made materials too thankfully, although I am dubious about the glue used) I bought for an Art Deco outing.  Cost me $12 at the Salvation Store and they were particularly brand new!  Unfortunately these are a mere prop now as the metal stopper bit (or whatever it's called) fell off one of the heals, so one day I should investigate if it can be fixed.  

If you are into vintage costume's etcetera, I would love to hear about your lucky finds.  Please share in the comments,  post your blog or website should you have one.

Toodles,

Mel.        

"Sunday Driver" a vintage inspired band

Sunday Driver's album cover for In the city of dreadful night 

click here for the: Sunday Driver Album Download

Over the next couple of hours you can download this album for free or a named price, 

so what have you got to lose.

Have a sample listen from the link above or from the sidebar on the right.

They are a 7 piece acoustic band from Cambridge, UK.  Their genre is world music.  

Their music is a gorgeous complimentary blend of European and Eastern influences.     

Easy listening vintage inspired and big in the Steampunk scene.  

One of the singers reminds me a lot of Kate Bush, kind of folk like in a way and whimsical story telling lyrics.  

I like them.