Telluride Photography Festival 2010

I just got back from Colorado, again. I flew back out there for the Telluride Photography Festival. I worked as a volunteer for the week. I was scheduled to work two days, but I ended up loving the festival and other volunteers so much that I worked more than I was scheduled for. I had the best time and look back with the thought - "flying out especially for the festival was one of the best decisions of my life". I will do again next year for sure. I'll get to why it was such a good decision for me in a moment, but I have to advise you (if you enjoy photography) this is an event you need to put on your calendar.

There were numerous galleries of high class work dotted around the small beautiful town. Seminars, workshops, photography nature walks, competitions and hundreds of interesting people to talk to and network with. I usually feel uncomfortable networking, but everyone there was so interesting.

The highlight for me were the portfolio reviews. Some of the worlds leading photographers were there doing said reviews. I was lucky enough to sit down and hear thoughts about my work from three of the five photographers I set out to speak to. Robert Glenn Ketchum and Carlton Ward Jnr. the two I missed - I'm sure I'll grab them next year.

I spoke to Tom Mangelsen, heavyweight mega-fauna photographer from the iLCP and he was very honest and gave me some amazing tips. I spoke to Emily Loose, the director of communications for the WILD foundation and she was extremely cool to speak to (pretty witty also). From her I got tips on how to get involved with conservation and contacts. Most impressive of all, I managed to secure the very first portfolio review of the entire festival, a 9am slot with no other than Cristina Mittermeier. Somewhat of a personal hero of mine. I won't go into too much detail but she is the president of the International League of Conservation Photographers - who do an incredible amount of good for our planet. She was very pleased with my photography, pointed out a few ways of making it better. She also openly preferred my photographs of the Arabic asylum seekers to my wildlife shots. Which is food for thought.

Needless to say, speaking to these incredible people and listening to them in seminars really reminded me of my younger self. The guy that once actively sought conservation, only to let it drift away over the years due to the "rat race" and city life. Well, I can confirm that I'm back! I am now contacting several non-profit organisations offering my services. I have been fired up, and I'm dieing to help out.

Thank you Telluride Photo Festival, but most of all, thank you Cristina & the iLCP!

ISU welfare for the elderly poster

A nice easy job. It's a small world nowadays, I'm from England, the client (ISU Plus) is from Denmark - and I did the job whilst in Colorado. I needed a little bit of assistance from my housemate, I needed a few files sent to me from my home PC before I could begin. I had to talk him through my complicated filing system and arrange for him to upload the needed images.

The job really was a simple one, which was welcomed because I was on holiday. All I had to do was convert the front page of an 8 page brochure I had previously designed into an A2 poster. The brochure itself was A4. At the time designing it I used forethought and created it at A3 (then scaled it down), in case this scenario ever arose. I'm glad I did, converting an A3 image to A2, is easy with a bit of "jiggery-pokery" (yes that's a technical term). Converting an A4 image to A2 is slightly scary due to print resolutions and pixelation.

212 VIP Fragrance

I had to artwork an A6 flyer for a Carolina Herrera fragrance called "212 VIP". The promotion was for people who found themselves in the position of said flyers - they have to go to the website and enter a game for a chance to win. The prize was "Win a private party in New York".... yes please!!

Luxury Buggy concept boards

Last year I created some A3 concept boards, ten in total. It was a for a new company called Luxury Buggy based in Portugal. The company plans to be the most affordable, green, and luxurious taxi service in the region. I'm not sure I'm allowed to give any further information out due to the company not being launched yet.

However, this week I had to revisit the concept boards and change some of the information. Technology moves so fast, it seems as if new technology is being put in place to make the Luxury Buggy idea even "greener" than first envisaged. Exactly the kind of news I like hearing.

As with most concept board jobs, this one was on the tightest of deadlines!

America photography trip

I am currently in Colorado for my what seems yearly photography trip. Colorado is VERY photogenic I can tell you. I'm here for a month and I have taken nearly 2000 photos already, I still have about 8 days left.

I've been staying in a town called Telluride. This place is an artists / photographers heaven. Everyone here is a Creative. It's very inspiring!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=460157&id=621210323&l=1ba7ba05ba

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=465179&id=621210323&l=3c79926b5f

Priors Field School - Video documentation

This is the forth year in a row I've been asked to be involved with this Priors Field School event. I've posted about it each year but I will briefly describe it again.

It's actually a highly enjoyable job which takes an incredible amount of concentration. This is a good challenge for me because I'm used to working alone at my own pace and listening to music, great for creativity but not great for concentration.

It's a two day event where the pupils of this all girls boarding school put on a bit of a show for the parents on the last day of term. The pupils leaving this year play the songs they have written, play in orchestras, show their art, and give speeches. The teachers also give a round up to the years progress and give out prizes to exceptional students.

My role changed this year slightly. I was given control of a free roaming broadcast quality camera. A huge thing on a tripod with wheels, the kind you see in studios broadcasting live. The hardest part is to get to grips with the running order of the show by being at the rehearsals on day 1, and on day 2 I have to film and edit LIVE to a 30 foot screen at the head of the hall - broadcasting to over 1000 parents. I control two broadcast quality camera's and a basic live mixing desk. The sound, probably the most important part of the production is done by a friend and sound engineer who runs the company Kinetic (based in Woking).

As I've said before, if I have children, and if I have a girl, I will be thinking about paying for her education at this incredible school. Very impressive indeed.

Sorry there is nothing to show you, but it's all mixed live.

Andrex - Fresh sampling leaflet

The graphics for the stand were created, and that part of the Andrex Fresh job this yeah is complete. I needed to create an A5 leaflet which accompanied the exponential stand. The leaflet was to be handed out by the staff, to passers by in shopping malls.