Beyond the obvious

From my new   #CreativeInsights  video series. In this video I explain the composition and why I think the image works. View the photo here https://flic.kr/p/22P7Yy6 Happy with sausage A man looks forward to tucking into a giant sausage on baguette at the German Christmas market in Leeds. Thanks for watching. More to follow in the New Year. Paul www.indigo2photography.com

It’s hard to take a photograph that does it justice. This is one of my favourite views in the world, looking toward Hout Bay from Chapman’s Peak Drive. You stand there with the wind plucking at your clothes, enveloped by the smell of fynbos mixed with sea air and you feel the heat radiating from the rocks and ground around you. Your heart beats a little faster as you try to take in the immense grandeur of the Cape Peninsula at the South Western tip of Africa. How can you put this experience into an image? One way is to add a description, as I have done here. Captions are immensely important. But a photographer has other tools as well. Using the language of light, composition, colour and gesture all help us convey the feeling of what was like to see what we saw and photographed. It's a real challenge and something to think about. Thanks for reading. Paul www.indigo2photography.com

Strangers united This lady stepped forward, curious, and at that moment I noticed that she was aligned with two other people in the background. Instinctively I pressed the shutter, uniting this little group of strangers in a photographic composition. The image gives form to the idea that we are constantly physically and mentally joining groups, sometimes at random and at other times out of choice, like the tour party in the background, aware or unaware of our behaviour. I am pleased I noticed the moment everything clicked into place. For me street photography is far more than just taking random snaps of people in the street. Till soon, Paul www.indigo2photography.com

On the Burg in Brugge looking toward the Tompouce, terrace filled with people enjoying the sunshine. In the background you see the Halletoren. Brugge is a magical place. I particularly liked the way the light etched out the gables and lit the terrace and the small group standing chatting on the Burg. To the left of the frame the light is just catching the greenery in the flower boxes at the edge of the terrace. The lady with the grey hair on the left sitting in the sunshine helps balance the composition. All of these tiny details come together to create an interesting image. A few minutes later and the beauty created by the light had gone. It’s one of those moments. When you see it you have to grab it. Till soon, Paul www.indigo2photography.com

Raindrops colour abstract Raindrops travelling down the window in little rivulets have always fascinated me. At night together with the lights of the city they make for a lovely abstract and colourful image. Beauty can be found everywhere, in the ordinary and in the extraordinary. I don’t want to have a certain style, a look or only ever photograph one subject. I want to be free to explore and discover new things, the beauty in people, colours, shapes, landscapes food, black and white… everything. The only parameter I consistently apply is to avoid over manipulation and digital trickery to create a fake scene. When you look at my work what you see is what I saw when I was there. Thank you for visiting my blog. Paul www.indigo2photography.com