Definetly a first blogging and editing pictures on a train. Done it on a plane, ferry, car and mostly while stationary at a desk of sorts. Trains are definitely not my favourite mode of transport, but the Dutch rail system is fantastic. Those weren't quite my first impressions after I got on the wrong train 3 times on my way out of Schiphol. I thought there was a major flaw in the system and the nincompoop that designed it should have all his dope smoking and soccer viewing rights stripped immediately. Because I am the leading authority on modern rail transport in Europe and thats the end of it.
Im on way to Eindhoven from Groningen with my long lost cousin Sabine. The plan is to meet her dog, crash on the couch and wake up and get my flight back to Trondheim tomorrow. Thats the plan at least. About halfway through the 3 and a bit hour journey and I felt the creative juices manifest in fingers, so why not right? One thing that is niggling me a bit right now is this: I bought a really cool T-shirt yesterday, which is white. I don't usually wear white because I'm very messy and they usually end up a pale shade of yellow within a few hours. But despite my common sense telling me not to buy a designer white t-shirt, my fashion sense told me that this new addition to me already bursting at the seams wardrobe would greatly increase my quality of life and amount of interest shown from the opposite sex. Seems pretty logical huh? Thats what I thought too, but for some reason, literally every time I look down I find a new stain or smudge of something on my new babe magnet of a t-shirt. Not only is this irritating as it further proves the point of common sense that I should just not wear white ever, but it is alarming to think of all the potential women that have been turned away because they can clearly see the off coloured eye-sores that are scattered down the front of me. Thank the washing machine I haven't been near a mirror, I dare to see what the back of this thing looks like now. In these trying times of being young and single, what is a bachelor to do? This current state of panic has left me with very few options, either just put on my coat and hide the grease rag that I adorn with shame and disgust, or just keep on truckin'? Either way, I don't think the chances of meeting the next Mrs Schwerdtfeger are very high on a train across Holland on a Sunday night. But being aware never hurt.
All the travelling in the last couple months has definitely done something to me. Im constantly seeing new things, new faces, new ideas, new places, new styles. Im really feeling like this could be just what I need at the moment. Work, take pictures, network, travel. Bit of sleeping and eating in between there every now and then and I could be peachy. I wish there was a way to make money form travelling…. I know there is, but thats not real money that now unfortunately I have become used to. Im torn apart with this catch 22 of buying an apartment in Norway and building a studio and building up my business from there and hustling in all directions and progressing upward. Or being young and free and travelling and seeing the beauty of the things that are just a stone throw away from me. Bring inspired is so important to me and I guess to everyone that is creating or making things that have a personal touch. I went through a phase a while ago, where I was more interested in inverse square law and technical mish mash of lighting than actually taking pictures. I didn't shoot for at least 6 weeks and felt horrible. I had nothing around me that I was able to draw any incentive from to go out and shoot, even if they were shitty pictures. Right now though I feel like Im on fire though. I have so many ideas and so many concepts that are starting to take shape and form, that Im really struggling to find enough time in the day to plan everything out and make things happen. A balance between the two would be nice though. As with everything balance is essential, I would love to be shooting two or three small productions over a two week period, once a month shooting something big, and in between doing all the bits and pieces needed to string everything together. I would also love a digital medium format camera, a wireless Profoto battery aggregate, and a big studio to chuck it all in. Donations are accepted. Life goes on without the niceties and the wish list continues to grow.
The balance of things has been present in my thoughts more often than ever in last couple of months. Balancing myself, balancing my pictures, balancing my book, and the ever important balancing of the bank statements at the end of the month. I sent my book into a publishing group in Oslo a while ago, just asking for some feedback and constructive criticism on what I'm doing at the moment. I got both and a bit more than I bargained for in back. The one comment that I received and some thing I have been told by my peers as well is that I don't shoot enough guys. My book right now is filled with beautiful women between 20 and 30. Thats great for me, as I love shooting beautiful women, but as a photographer I need to show that I can do both. The publishing house told me to expand my range, shoot men, shoot grandparents, shoot kids, shoot couples, and shoot more guys in general. I haven't really listened. I however do have a number of shoots lined up over the next month that feature one guy, two guys and a boy + girl. That should even things out a bit. Another thing that I personally noticed is that all my head shots are being done against 255 white. (255 white is pure white on the colour saturation chart) This is because I know it and can pretty much do it blindfolded, shoot a key light with a soft modifier at 45 degrees in to subject, over-expose the background by an evaluative 3 stops with a slave light and there you go. I have got that down, but it is also a bit of a one trick pony. Its my go to with anything that involves people. As soon as I get more space and bigger lights I will be doing full length shots like this too. The one one thing this type of shot has in its defence is that it is timeless. It will never be a dated shot. Its clean, its elegant and minimalist. These are three things that I love to get the viewer of the photo to note. Now, my next session, which should be on Tuesday or Wednesday week I will break out of this box. Im going to do something different, convey mood with use of lighting not only on subject but on the background and foreground too. Im excited now!
Almost in Eindhoven now, so here is something visual instead of me rambling on for the remainder of this post. Have a great week out there. Do something differently, do something you wouldn't usually, be daring, be adventurous, be alive. But most importantly, take it easy. N
