May 2017 - Richard Spurdens Photography

And then it was Three !

London Salon Medal 2017

A bit of an unusual title for one of my posts, but – when you find that you have been awarded a Medal in the prestigious London Salon of photography), and it is your third, then I think it is worth posting with an offbeat title.

Over the years I have always tried to support the London Salon, which is dedicated to exhibiting only that class of photographic work in which there is distinct evidence of artistic feeling and execution.

The London Salon does not run under FIAP Patronage yet it receives entries from around the world, so to get an image accepted is a real achievement, and then to be awarded a medal is really a great result.

Blue Haired Beauty was from a beauty shoot with the Model Amber Tutton and features the make up artistry of Monica Montalvo.

This was the image that received the award of the Salon medal.

portrait photography - portrait photographer - colour portrait image of model with blue coloured hair — Richard Spurdens Photography -Blue Haired Beauty

I had another image accepted into the Salon too, which was from a location fashion shoot, Styled by Jen Brook, Design by Mishi May, MUA: Sopie Battersby, Millinary: Donna Graham, part of the Walters wardrobe team.

Couture Fashion Stairway Elegance (Designer Mishi May)

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Events, News

Photo London 2017

Just back from a visit to Photo London (18^th -21st May 2017) – this is a major international Photo Fair being held for the third year at Somerset House. Having attended the event last year, we decided to book again to visit this year’s fair.

The Photo London guide stated: ‘Photo London was created to give London an international photography event befitting the city’s status as a global cultural capital. Photo London has established itself as a world-class photography fair and as a catalyst for London’s dynamic photography community. From the capital’s major museums, to its auction houses, galleries large and small, right into the burgeoning creative communities in the East End and South London, Photo London harnesses the city’s outstanding creative talent and brings together the world’s leading photographers, curators, exhibitors, dealers and the public to celebrate photography, the medium of our time.’

There were as many galleries as last year, with some showing the work of emerging artists and others with new images by some of the big names in the field. I was particularly impressed with the black and white portraits taken by Yousuf Karsh . Certainly a highlight for me.

It was also good to see some prints of the work of Saul Leiter, certainly better than any of the images I have seen published in the books on his work.

David Hurn’s exhibition of images that he had obtained by swapping photographs with other photographers of his generation was another highlight too. The exhibition showed which images he had swooped alongside the image he obtained in return.

Photo London also had a program of talks and symposia each day which were curated by William A. Ewing, writer and a distinguished curator. Having missed out on last years talks, we booked early to listen to David Hurn in conversation with Martin Parr. This was certainly an informative and fun discussion, with David sharing stories of his early years in London.

As the Photo London Fair didn’t open until 12:00, we decided to make use of the morning and also visited the Courtauld Gallery which is right next to Somerset House. The first three images below are of the great Staircase that is a feature of this gallery.

A selection of images from the days visits:

travel photography - travel photograher - images from a visit to photo London exhibition — Images from a visit to London on May 19 2017. Photo: Richard Spurdens …………Camera Data……….. Model:X-T2 Lens: XF18mmF2 R

travel photography - travel photograher - images from a visit to photo london this one in monochrome showing visitors to the david hern swoops exhibition — Richard Spurdens Photography – photo london -Photo swap gallery Fuji X-T2 : XF18mm f2 R

travel photography - travel photograher - images from a visit to photo london this one in colour capturing a man walking past fashion poster shot on the wall. he is engaged with reading his ticket — Richard Spurdesn Photography – photo london – views Fuji X-T2 XF18mm f2 R

travel photography - travel photograher - images from a visit to photo london this one in monochrome of fashion images outside the pavillion gallery — Richard Spurdens Photography – photo london views – William Klein Image -Fuji X-T2 XF18mm f2 R

travel photography - travel photograher - images from a visit to photo london this one in colour capturing a lady looking at the posts image on one of the outside walls — Richard Spurdens Photography – photo london series – Taking a text by the Dual Reality wall Fuji X-T2 XF18mm f2 R

travel photography - travel photograher - images from a visit to photo london this one in colour showing the selection of images on the image wall by noh suntag — Richard Spurdens Photogarphy – photo london series – Dual Reality by Noh Suntag Fuji X-T2 XF18mm f2 R

travel photography - travel photograher - images from a visit to photo london this one in colour capturing a lady looking at her phone as she strides past the dual reality wall imagess — Richard Spurdens Photography – photo london series – Engrossed in the phone Fuji X-T2 XF18mm f2 R

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Events, General

Dragon boat racing

A chance to shoot some Dragon boat racing on the river Aire in Saltaire was too good to miss.

The event held at Roberts Park a World Heritage Site where the River Aire runs along the side of the park and gives a great vantage point to watch and photograph the close Dragon boat racing.

The Dragon boat racing event was billed as a team building event and the idea was that each team member would do there best to raise £50 for the Lord Mayor’s Appeal 2017 Charity: YoungMinds

As well as the boat racing there was a large number of landside attractions from stalls, food, bars and entertainment to live music and just so much more in a stunning spectacular, picturesque venue. It gave some good photographic opportunites:

So here are a few images from this years Dragon Boat racing event.

sport photography - sport photographer -colour image of dragon boat racing on the river aire at roberts park saltaire, image captures the dragon boats head — Richard Spurdens Photography – Dragon boat racing series – Canon EOS 5D Mark IV – Lens: EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

sport photography - sport photographer -colour image of dragon boat racing on the river aire at roberts park saltaire, a slow shutter speed was used together with panning to give a feel of the speed — Richard Spurdens Photography – Dragon boat racing series – Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Lens: EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

Having taken a few classic Dragon boat racing shots, I decided that the colours in the scene might provide something different and colourful absrtact images.

I set a challenge and started to use a slow shutter speed and then added on camera flash set to second curtain sync.

Playing with different slow shutter speeds gave a set of interesting and sometimes abstract images which I really liked.

As you can see below:

sport photography - sport photographer -colour image of dragon boat racing on the river aire at roberts park saltaire, slow shutter speed was used with panning of the camera to give an abstract effect and feel of speed — Richard Spurdens Photography – Dragon boat racing series – Canon EOS 5D Mark IV – Lens: EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

dragon boat racing abstract — Canon EOS 5D Mark IV – Lens: EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

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