More Smoke Imagery

Just recently I have discovered smoke photography and have been experimenting with some of the images.  The images are created by taking photos of the patterns in the smoke from an incense stick against a black background.  The rest is then done on the computer using a variety of tools and skills.  Now some of these finished images are obvious as to what they are supposed to look like, but others you can sit and look at and see a completely different image to someone else.  This is the beauty of smoke imagery.  So take time to have a look at these and see what you think.  Also feel free to go to my website and see some other images that I have created.  Many of these images will be available to buy in the near future.

If you require high quality wedding photography in Lancashire or perhaps it is great lifestyle portraiture you are after.  Paul Brown Photography, Blackburn, would be a great choice for you.  Please get in touch and we can discuss what is required.

Images Copyright Paul Brown Photography

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A Real Hero

On Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st March 2010, myself and fellow photographer Mark Pearson are organising a fund raising weekend for photographers with 100% of the profits going to Help For Heroes.  Full details of the event can be found by clicking here.  The reason for this post is that we are totally honoured to have a Guest Of Honour at the evening event who can be called a real hero.  Simon Brown is featured in the book by Photographer Gill Shaw called 'The Hero Inside'.  Go to Gill's website to order a copy of this inspirational book.  Alternatively the ISBN Number for the book is 978-1-84689-076-5.  Every copy of this book sold raises more funds for Help For Heroes and there are some amazing stories in there.

Anyway, the following is an interview of Simon's from the book and published on this blog with kind permission of Gill Shaw.

I joined the REME as a Mechanic in 1997.  I had ten years of active service and two further years of recovering, which involved  twelve operations and 100 hours of surgery.
     I was in Iraq on 6th December 2006.  We went on patrol with B Company Green Jackets - now The Rifles. We had a contact.  As we went to pull out of the area, a vehicle broke down and we went to collect it.  The enemy suspected it was a broken-down vehicle and put some fire down on it.  My crew and I attached it to my vehicle with the recovery equipment.  As we went to pull out of the area, I had to pop my head up to see through the dust for the driver.  At that point, a sniper shot me through the face. I dropped down into my one man turret and realised I was in a bad way.  I bandaged up my face and held my airway open by putting my thumb in my mouth and pushing my palate up a bit.  Then it was wacky races back to the hospital!  The Company Sergeant Major jumped on top of the vehicle and commanded it back to the hospital at Basra Palace. At the hospital, I climbed out of the vehicle on my own and then the medics put me on the stretcher.  I woke up three weeks later at Selly Oaks, Birmingham with my family at my side.
     I spoke to my Grandma on the phone.  She was dying of lung cancer and she inspired me, as she was more worried about me than herself.
     After Christmas, I was given news of a few friends who had died in combat and, at that point, I decided I could not sulk about being injured - at least I had come home.  The training and the life I had led before gave me the strength of heart and willpower to get on with it and survive.  I am eternally grateful for the support I received from so many people throughout my ordeal. 

If Simon's story has made you decide to support this Charity and donate.  This can be done by going to our Just giving page by clicking here.

Simon Brown - Guest of Honour at The Help For Heroes event on 20th March 2010

Four Gold Awards For January

In January I entered seven categories in the Society of Wedding & Portrait Photographers (SWPP) monthly competition.  The results of the judging has now been published and I am delighted to announce that I received Four Gold awards.  I am really pleased because I set myself a personal target of beating last years four Gold awards and so far this year I have already equaled it.  I personally use these competitions to give a little bit of a guide as to how my camera and creative skills are developing.  Even when they fail, I never get disheartened.  At the end of the day one persons Bronze is another persons Gold.  I do however sit and look at my images and try and see what the negatives may be.  Taking images of subjects other than Weddings and Portraits is also what keeps the passion for photography inside me, especially the smoke images.  These give me the opportunity to get creative and pre-visualize an image. So now I will sit and look at the reasons why the other three images got two bronze and a silver award and hopefully tomorrow, I will be an even better photographer than today.

Here are the Gold Winners from January.

Digital Art Gold

A smoke image where I have created an image of two ladies.

Fine Art Gold

Another Smoke image mirrored twice to create an abstract look.

Landscape Gold

A winters view from Fishmoor Reservoir in Blackburn looking across Darwen to Darwen Tower.

Monochrome Gold

A mirrored smoke image, made to look like a mask on a stick perhaps?