Sarah-Jane's photographs caught my eye a while back. Her work has a unique style - and that style is engaging, enticing and full of joy. Her images make me smile and brighten my day. Be sure and follow the links at the bottom of this post to her photography sites and leave comments letting her know how much you enjoyed her guest post.
Now I'll turn it over to Sarah-Jane:
Can I do that? WOW she’s asking me! OMG! Panic!
You see I’ve only recently started a photography diploma so my confidence in my ability is still a bit shaky. I’ve always loved snapping away and I see things that I think would make a great picture but I was never really any good, I tend to cut off people’s heads or focus on the wrong thing. Nowadays I do cut off their heads but it’s more structured and seems to work better. I had a point and shoot camera and after a little mishap with a bathtub if was never quite the same.
At Christmas, Michael (my lovely patient partner) bought me a DSLR, it was the ideal present and one that I had absolutely no idea how to use it. As soon as I opened it I was photographing everything from buttons to random passers by and I was in heaven but I wanted to be able to do more.
I had no idea about focus or aperture and shutter speed to me was how fast I could pull my curtains. People like Mari inspire me - I see what she creates and I really want to be able to do that myself. There was one snag to that theory - Mari is amazingly talented and I didn’t have a clue what I was doing (I may have a little bit of a better clue but I still have a long way to go.)
I love to be creative with my photographs and you could say I’m still finding my style but I see something and I want to capture it. I have a moment, a memory and I’m aware that age isn’t being favourable to me so I want to have something that really signifies that moment, something I can keep.
Portraiture is supposed to be posed but to me when I’m taking photo’s it’s a mixture of candid moments, you could call mine candid portraits (I’ve probably just made a 1000 photographers want to gun me down, or I’ve just guessed at something that is an actual style of photography - who knows but realistically if it’s candid (naturally/unposed) or its portraiture (framed/posed) classically, I think it probably has to be one or the other).
This one here looks like a candid photo but Samuel (my son) was well aware I was taking it and just refused to look at the camera because he was enjoying his ice cream too much:
My favourite subject is Samuel, children have such a way of not letting the camera affect them, whereas adults tend to either over play or become overly conscious as soon as a camera points in their direction.
This was on the way to the park, we must of passed this wall a hundred times without so much of a second glance but once I had camera fever it became the backdrop of a 5 minute photo shoot. I love how the surroundings we pass by everyday can create something so fun or even magical:
For my friends they have to put up with it, if they are anywhere in the vicinity, my camera will soon be there in their face. As annoying as I am they love me really! (I love how Vickie was trying to whip off the hat before I snapped her but she wasn’t quite quick enough):
Sometimes I find I have two photo’s (without realising it) that compliment each other, so I’ll combine them into a template. I love this one of Samuel and his Dad, although you can’t see Samuel in the left one properly, you can see him in his Dad’s sunglasses and I love the way they are looking at each other. This isn’t just for me, they only see each other every other weekend so this is also for them:
A few months ago I never thought I would be able to produce anything I was proud of. I’m only a quarter of the way through the course and I’m looking forward to the next year when I (fingers crossed) complete it. Samuel is nearly a teenager now and I really wish I had done this course a lot sooner.
My advice to anyone who thinks they can’t, you can! Sometimes you just need a little help and advice to point you in the right direction. I didn’t have a camera when he was young so my pictures are from a disposable. I guess that’s why as he’s now getting older, every chance I get I take a picture, some will be portraits:
but I’m saving up ammunition for when he really annoys me at 17+.
Sarah-Jane, thank you so much for brightening our day with your post and photography. As you've discovered, it's never to late to start photographing the things you love with style and pizzazz! Sarah-Jane's work is a real inspiration for us all.
We will be watching your blog and website for more of your images.
Here's links to Sarah-Jane, be sure and visit, comment and follow:
Samuel Michaels Photography
Samuel Michaels Photography on Facebook
Please also leave comments for her below.
