Hi from Colchester

jjdoyle

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Jonathan
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Hi everyone,

I signed up last night and am looking forward to joining in the conversations here on TP. From the quick look round I've had so far, there seems to be a huge amount going on in just about every field of photography.

I'm 52, so not exactly young. I've had cameras since I was a teenager but only really used them on holiday etc until I was in my mid-40s when I started taking pictures for other people, rather than just for myself. I'm mainly interested in portraiture and within that the specialisation of music photography – although any performance photography is interesting to me. Although much of my photographic work is music related I do what comes along of course – needs must and all that. So, sometimes I swap the mosh pit for a conference. I added documentary photography to my profile more as an interest/aspiration than anything specific I've been personally involved with. I try where I can to use a documentary approach – my interest comes from a long-standing intrigue in those who use their pictures to tell stories well. I have nothing but admiration for those who compel themselves to find pictures in dangerous places.

I am nostalgic for film photography. I'd like to put my digital camera down for a year and just use film to see what happened but I doubt I could afford to do that in practice. But, I intent to use film much more this year than I have in the past. I went straight to the tradition photography threads when I signed up and was excited to see just how many TP members are using film. I'm looking forward to sharing the interest in that kind of photography with them.

I've been freelance most of my working life, doing various things related to books and publishing, as well as taking pictures in the last few years. At the moment I'm working on setting up an indie magazine (in print). I meet people in my work who I think would look good on the printed page and they have interesting stories to tell. There's never a good time to start something new and a print magazine is probably as stupid as the amount I spent a few years ago on my first proper digital SLR. But, nothing ventured etc ...

Looking forward to joining in with what goes on here in the coming weeks.

very best
Jonathan
 
Hi Jonathan, welcome to the forum. Good to have you here :wave:

Youll find that there is plently going on around the forums to keep you busy, and I look forward to seeing some of your shots.

Hopefully see you in the film threads also ;)
 
Thanks Nick – yes, I've looking round the film threads quite a bit. I'll get back to them after work. I'll post some shots too soon as I can.CheersJD
 
Hi Jonathon, I hope you enjoy the forum, and 52 is young, honest :agree:
 
Thanks Norkie, I'm sure I will enjoy it here. Yes, I'm determined to keep a 'young 52' a while yet too. How well I get on with that remains to be seen of course :)
 
Welcome to TP Jonathan - good to see you on the forum, I'm sure you'll be well at home in the film section :) Not to say that you're not welcome anywhere else of course!!!

Look forward to seeing you around :thumbs:
 
Thanks Sara – certainly, it seems a vibrant place. Looking forward to being part of it very much.
best,
JD
 
Hi Jonathan, and welcome.

Not far from you, being just over the county border into South Suffolk.

Dave
 
Hi Dave
Thanks very much – and, good to see a few TP members close at hand. I saw on the map that there are a few photographers pretty close by. I saw too that one of the members over in Woodbridge was thinking of organising a film meet-up. That sounds good. Looking forward to chatting with you in the forums.
Cheers, JD
 
Here are a few of my pictures by way of introducing myself. All digital – but I will make 2014 more of a film year I think. I'd be grateful for feedback/comments of course. I'm always interested to hear how other photographers get on shooting the same kind of subject matter I work with. Shooting movement in poor and changing lighting is always a challenge. But, it brings its rewards when something works out. My DSLR sensor doesn't always cope well with some colours, such as red light. I always shoot in colour and convert later in PS to black and white where the atmosphere in the picture feels like it would work better as a mono image. Mainly, I'm trying to catch the spirit of the gig I'm at. I've included a few crowd shots too. Sometimes a band's fans make better pictures than the musicians on the stage.

Joss Stone, Hammersmith Apollo, London, Dec 2005
View attachment 4436

Fans, Colchester Free Festival, 2012

View attachment 4437

Animal Noise promo shoot, Colchester, 2011
View attachment 4438

New Town Kings, 2011
View attachment 4439

Carl Harvey, guitarist, Toots and the Maytals European Tour 2012
View attachment 4442
 
Good set there Jonathan. I really like numbers 2 and 4 especially, as they show alot of energy which exactly what happens at gigs :cool:

Ive done a little live music photography in the past myself and really enjoyed it. I must admit, I do love a good black & white gig shot:)
 
Thanks Nick – much appreciated. Yep, finding pictures at gigs is certainly great fun. There's often a bit of everything – interesting lighting, people doing photogenic things, both on the stage and in the crowd. Plus, lots of scope for a documentary approach. And, unlike sports photography, you can do most of it with a single short-ish lens.
cheers
JD
 
Thanks Mandy – much appreciated!Very best, Jonathan
 
And thanks John – again, much appreciated. Looking forward to joining in what goes on here.Cheers, Jonathan
 
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