Phil | Double exposure

More playing with double exposures ... my chum Phil who is a pilates instructor.

All images ©KateCooperPhotography2014

The Thinks | Week 3

Ah project fatigue ... classic. Week three has seen my daily enthusiasm drop a little, no more waking up ready with an idea to action, instead a fair few days where I've been tempted not to bother and have had to push myself to post anything at all let alone anything relevant. But it feels like this is good ... the pushing to post when I don't feel like it ... it feels like it's a discipline that will pay dividends in the long run. And interestingly I quite like the photos I've come up with, even if I didn't like the process of thinking up what to see.

Day 15/100 Joy Joy in the gastropod world as Reverend Bumble officiates over a union that knows no bounds

Day 16/100 Sorrow A building with my favourite door is being demolished (though sorrow is pushing it, more like mild wistfulness)

Day 17/100 Thought Playing with multiple exposures led to the growth of an accidental beard. I feel in this photo I have the look of a wise old sage, content to sit with the mysteries of the universe while stroking my tree beard.

Day 18/100 Treasured. A keepsake box I made out of an old copy of Treasure Island.

Day 19/100 Orange

Day 20/100 Yesterday. I've drawn a complete blank on this theme. Gah.

Day 21/100 100 years of solitude ... which wikipedia tells me was made out of a city of mirrors

All images ©KateCooperPhotography2014

Play | Multiple exposures

Ooh I just discovered a new button on my camera that lets me do multiple exposures. This is my first play ...

All images ©KateCooperPhotography2014

The Thinks photo 100 | Week 2

It's the end of week two of The Thinks photo a day photography project over on their facebook page where you take a photo that corresponds to that days word, every day for 100 days. I'm enjoying it! It's been good for me to get my camera out more regularly and be forced to take something every day. It turns out little and often isn't the admin hassle I thought it would be. It's certainly a challenge to come up with something everyday that fits what are sometimes quite obscure words, especially when I'm spending a lot of the day sat at a computer. Sometimes I get to the end of a day and I've taken nothing so have to improvise something. Sometimes I go to bed knowing exactly what I want to get up and take (usually involving slugs!!).

I find it fascinating watching other people contribute too. There is so much variety in how other people interpret the word; with humour, poignancy, literalism, feeling. There is also much variety in how other people see; the subjects, the angles, the emotion. It helps me to appreciate the variety of eyes out there and that there is beauty in the diversity. It is a lovely project to be a part of.

Day 8/100 Shadow No gastropods today, just a late night shadowy selfie

Day 9/100 Black and White They're back and this time it's cerebral

Day 10/100 Pattern I do love Kelham Island for its brick walls.

Day 11/100 Forever

Day 12/100 Time to pretend Imposters.

Day 13/100 Quiet A quiet Friday afternoon drink in my favourite beer garden.

Day 14/100 Loud The evening sky wears its colours loud and proud.

All images ©KateCooperPhotography2014

The Thinks Photo 100 | Week 1

This summer I am taking part in a photo a day project hosted by The Thinks. Han has created a list of 100 words and the idea is to take a photo each day that corresponds with that days word. The project ran last year and I enjoyed watching from afar and seeing how people of all nationalities ages and abilities interpreted the word in their context. At that point I didn't have a camera phone and couldn't bear the idea of trying to get my DSLR to talk to my computer every single day (they have something of a strained relationship). But this year - phone (and sometimes DSLR) in hand - I have decided to have a go. It's not too late to join in either - the more the merrier - you'll find the list of words on the facebook page and can post pics there and on instagram -- or you can just observe and enjoy peoples creativity.

Each week I'll blog what I've come up with for the last seven days. Here is week one - in which I end up finding a new hobby ...

Day 1/100 Hope There is hope in the complete Sherlock Holmes.

Day 2/100 Red

Day 3/100 Bird (not a real bird in sight, had to make do).

Day 4/100 Behind me. I used to play all the time. Hardly ever now.

Day 5/100 Mixture. A mixture of 'mix-tapes' from the myriad muso men in my life.

Day 6/100 Sport I like snails. I like slugs. But which one's better? Only one way to find out...

Day 7/100 There Will Be Blood Things take a darker turn in the slugs v snails saga.

All images ©KateCooperPhotography2014

Reflecting on 2013 | Part 2

Yesterday I posted up part 1 of  my reflection on 2013 which had my internal ramblings on the last year plus a selection of my favourite portrait photos.

I wondered about writing a little about what I hope for 2014 ... I get a bit nervous about such things, as if hopes and plans will act as an inevitability in which I'll feel trapped, or a benchmark which I will fail to meet ... what is worse, if I say those plans out loud you'll all know about it. Finding meaning and growth by looking backwards has a perspective to it that I like, it acknowledges that I am not in control, but that growth is available all the same. In that sense my plan is as it always has been: to be open to the opportunities in front of me, learning from them as I go, reflecting on existence in the process. I have a few thoughts that are more concrete -- but I think I'm going to keep them to myself a little longer while they germinate ... or die out; both valid and good.

So with not much else to witter on about, I'll get on to wedding highlights of 2013.

All images ©KateCooperPhotography2013