Update 29 April (2)

Have been using time between courses developing a series of images for an exhibition in St James's Wine Vaults Bath. Have learnt a lot doing this not least why it is a good idea to continut to do OCA digitally - the extra work in printing, mounting (and framing but not required for OCA) etc is not to be understimated, as well as space considerations - what do you do with all the prints when done?

Have 21 framed images and have added notes for each one. Space does not permit to give details on blog but here are four examples of images and accompanying notes:

 

Sunset over the Veldt

Canon EOS 450D with EF70-200mm f/4L USM .  f11; 1/350; ISO 200; focal length 98mm

This sunset scene was taken in Addo Elephant Park, near Port Elizabeth, South Africa. I was struck by the rich colours and the graduated toning that resulted from the undulating landscape.

 Violet

Canon EOS 450D with EF-S10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM. f4.5; 1/90; ISO 800 focal length 22mm

Violet is recognised as the most elusive primary or secondary colour for photographers. It occurs rarely naturally so this opportunity to take a sunset with rich shades of violet just after a thunderstorm was not to be missed. The location was Ephraim in Wisconsin, one of the few places on the western side of Lake Michigan affording a westerly view over the lake.

The image is mainly about colour: not only the violet, but also the deep red sunset near the lake, and the tonated orange higher in the sky. The effect is accentuated by the reflection in the foreground puddle. The heavily silhouetted vertical timber piles make for an interesting contrast to the smooth natural shapes.

 

Milwaukee River Bridge

Canon EOS 450D with EF70-200mm f/4L USM. f13; 1/500; ISO 100 focal length 130mm

I am interested in capturing the texture of structures; this close up is a good example – the weather beaten steel spars and the crudely attached weathered sign made for an ideal sepia style image created using Silver Efex Pro 2.

Marionette

Point and shoot f4.3; 1/80; ISO 160 focal length 14.7mm

These street performers were photographed on the Golden Mile in Edinburgh during the Fringe. A mild painterly effect has been added to accentuate the face paints and costumes. I like the contrast of the in your face stare of the marionette with the almost uninterested expression of the manipulator as he looks at something off shot.

As have mentioned before, have had half an eye on this course for a while now, and this image was taken with P&P in mind; it may yet appear!

I added some bio notes and an invitation to buy the images should there be interest.

About the Photographer

Chris Sims is a keen amateur photographer having taken up the hobby seriously about seven years ago. Chris is studying towards a degree in photography with the Open College of the Arts, though candidly admits he may never quite get time to complete the course!

In his day job, Chris works in finance and it is probably no coincidence that he has been most successful in his OCA course in terms of visual/technical skills; “I need to progress further with creativity” he says.

This is Chris’s first exhibition. He does occasional commissions. He was a member of Hanham Photographic Society until commencing the OCA course – “too much time on photography to continue with both” – and regularly achieved winning and commended entries in competitions; many of the images here being examples.

His work available for sale is viewable on www.poetryspace.co.uk, a website established by his wife Sue and shared with Chris.

Chris shoots using a Canon EOS 450D. “I was told early on that lenses are more important than the camera body so have made my major investment in lenses – five in total, all of which have been used in one or more of the images in the exhibition. He has also an Olympus point and shoot waterproof camera, useful in wet conditions and for having in your pocket as a “just in case camera”, as with the Marrionette image.

A strong believer in post processing, Chris shoots exclusively digital. “We are really now at the point where most images are not complete in camera due to the range of post processing techniques.” He likes to experiment with different techniques as a few of the images in the exhibition demonstrate.

About the Photographs

All the photographs are for sale at the following prices:

20” x 16” mounted and framed                           £69

14” x 11” mounted and framed                           £49

Foam mounted                                                  £39

All the images in this exhibition are available  in these sizes, mounted and/or framed. Different sizes are possible. 

Please contact Chris on 0117 9614081, 07715 760884, chris.sims@cantab.net or via poetryspace.co.uk

Convention seems to be that you theme exhibitions, and I probably have too many images here, but let's see how it goes. It's a bit of fun.