[April's monthly blog post] '10 photos that...Almost broke the internet'

I've been really excited for doing my new monthly post, '10 photos that..' because I get to relive the hype of some of these 10 photos, because well..they almost broke the internet! So lets get started!

1. THAT dress. Who knew a dress could cause so much of a stir?! It divided the nation, with some saying it was blue and black and other saying white and gold! What did you see? Personally I see blue and black, but check out this science video on why people saw different things. Click here

2. Artist Ruki Kaur caused quite a stir when instagram removed this photo, although it does not meet any of the criteria for it to be removed. She argues that it just shows a natural part of life, and it shouldn't be something us women are ashamed of. I find her concepts really interesting and although the photo may be uncomfortable to view, maybe that in itself says something about how we view periods? 

3. This photo by Martin Le-May is not photoshopped, that really is a weasle riding a woodpecker. Woodpecker taxi, whatever next.  

4. The internet loves cats, and one of their favourites is this beauty, known as Grumpy cat. Grumpy cat, who's real name is Tardar Sauce, was born with feline dwarfism resulting in this angry (yet brilliant) expression. The cat has been used for countless memes, and has even become somewhat of a movie star! 

5. If you haven't already seen this then where have you been? Check out the best selfie from the Oscars last year. 

6. Miley cyrus got the internet gossiping about her choice of outfit, twerking dance moves and that tongue! So many meme have been made, so thanks Miley for the lols. 

7. Everyone loves a wedding (apart from that little girl on the left...) and the internet sure loved looking at a real fairytale wedding! 

8. Scarlett Johansson takes a tumble and the internet gets busy making memes, naturally...

9.  Thanks to 21 year old, Jasmine Tridevil, 2 boobs just aren't in fashion anymore. This photo (as well as another one of her in a 3-way bikini top) makes its way into this list as it sparked alot of interest on the internet. Jasmine has spent £12,000 on her third boob and claims it was aimed to 'turn men off' (as she wants to stay single) and to help her make it onto MTV. 

10. Of course I had to put Kim Kardashian's bum on here, as it was all over the internet for the first 24 hours that it was released. I really hope that the size of it has been photoshopped...The photo was taken for 'Paper' magazine by Jean-paul Goude.


BONUS PHOTO. 

Because of the huge controversy behind this photo, I had to add a bonus photo. Josie Cunningham made the headlines after getting a boob job on the NHS. She fed of the attention and decided to make more news by posing here in the NHS tape. 

Next months title: '10 photos that...Get too close (macro shots)' 

12 Ways to jazz up everyday photos.

Here is a list of ways you can jazz up everyday photos. In the future I plan to make some tutorials based on these techniques but this is just a list of inspiration. Some techniques can be used when shooting and others can be applied to past photos. 

1. Birds eye view for the everyday objects. (unknown source)

2. Play with reflections. (Photo by Flickr user: rainywomen)

3. Get creative with water! (Photo by Me!) 

4. Try a double exposure, super cute for weddings. (Unknown photographer)

5. Capture motion with a slow shutter speed. (photo by Peter Lindbergh in Numéro) 

6. Edit it to make it look like a Lomo shot.(photo by Ayako Furness)

7. Experiment with adding art. (Sophie Hirschy for Harpers Bazaar) 

8. Add some text (another one by me)

9. Play with grain and textures. (unknown photographer)

10. Try a new perspective. (Bamboo towers, by Shothotspot.com)

11. Wait for natural laughter. (“Syracuse University , 1949″ – photograph by Lisa Larsen)

12. Try your photo in Black and white (unknown photographer)

Alot of these techniques may take some practice before you start seeing results that you like, but never stop experimenting! If there is a particular technique on here that you would like a tutorial on, please let me know in the comments and I'll do it! 

Happy Thursday! 

Becky x

Playing with different processing effects on photoshop.

Sometimes I get stuck in my ways and just use my own post processing techniques in my work. Today I wanted to experiment with different ways to change the feel of a photo. I've been looking at tutorials and trying them out, below are the results. Links are also included of the tutorials I used.


Lomography - Retro effect. 
I'm a huge fan of lomography, and love the effects that you can get from them. The tutorial was easy understand, although I didn't all the same tools on photoshop as him so I had to improvise a little.

Tutorial here: http://photoshoproadmap.com/video-tutorials/yt/69aVpRcFOfE/ 

Instagram's Early bird filter
Found this tutorial for my favorite instagram filter! Although I don't think my results came out quite as well as the tutorials...

Tutorial link here: http://photodoto.com/how-to-make-instagram-filters-photoshop-earlybird/

Watercolour effect

Tutorial here: http://abduzeedo.com/super-cool-watercolor-effect-10-steps-photoshop

Dreamy effect 

I do like the effect of this one, although I think it would work better with a photo that has more shadows and contrast. 

Tutorial here: http://planet37.deviantart.com/art/Dreamy-Photo-Effect-Tutorial-258205817

My own experiment with colours/filters..

After following the other tutorials, I experimented with different effects from the new techniques I'd learnt, mixed with the old ones I use. I may do a tutorial to follow for you guys, if your interested.

PS sorry for all the dog photos! This is my little Alfie :)

Becky. x

Old fashioned photography tips, trends and techniques

Before the time of digital, and film was the only option, you had to get a little more inventive to get the effect or composition you wanted. Below I will go through the clever, strange and just plain creepy ways in which photos have been taken in the past.

Carpet cover-up 

Back in the day, shutter speeds were extremely slow, meaning that the model would have to stay still for a long period of time. It can be difficult nowadays to get the right shot with kids involved but can you image how difficult it was back then to keep them still? So the carpet cover-up was invented! This volved the mother or nanny of the child holding the child or their hand to keep them still, but as an attempt not to be seen in the photo, they would hide under a carpet...Yes its as crazy as it sounds. Check out the photos below:

Good attempt...but doesn't work well..

'Watch the birdie' 

This little device was invented to help the photographer get the attention of the child. When ready to take the shot, the photographer would squeak the device to get the child to look his way.

Photographing the dead

Known as memorial or mourning photography, photographing beloved dead people was the norm for the rich in the 1800's. The photos served as keepsakes for the family, and in some cases may have been the only photograph taken of the deceased. It sounds very creepy to us these days but back then death was much more common in households, particularly in infants. The deceased were often made to look alive by posing them with toys, or in positions as to make it appear they are asleep. Sometimes a rosey tint was added to the photos to make the person look more alive.

Crack a smile!

You may have wondered by victorians are rarely seen smiling in photos. I used to think it was just the fashion back then to seem rather moody. But the actual reason is down to the long shutter speed times. It was easier to look glum then to fake a smile for 30/60 seconds. As shutter speed times increased over the years more people were depicted a little happier. 

Creating the moon [scenery creation for shoot]

Although annoying at times, I did really enjoy the building of Candyland. My second idea for a kids shoot, maybe one that would appeal to boys as well, was a trip to the moon! Obviously there was no way of me taking good enough photos (without a really expensive camera) of the moon, so I decided to make one!

I took inspiration from the Wallace and Gromit episode with the cheese moon. 

I moulded the moon out of air dry clay, using just my hands as I didn't have any modeling tools. The pole in the middle is for a flag which I can use to write the name of the child in the shoot. 

This is the basic layout I'll use for the set. 

After painting the background a navy blue colour, I added some stars with yellow paint. 

Here is the moon in front of the background with a little flag.  

Here's the cute alien I made to accompany the little astronauts on their trip! 

I am now on a search to find a brave 

young soul to be the first to travel

 to the moon. Any parents interested in a free shoot, please contact me via email becky.netley@live.co.uk 

A 1st birthday shoot.

I just love doing kid's birthdays, as I remember how happy and excited I used to be on my birthday (although I don't remember my 1st birthday...). In the shoots that I have done for 1st birthday, the parents have made such an effort to make it special, with a lovely cake, balloons, banners and presents, and this was no different.

How cute is he?! 

Hope your all well!

Becky. x