I got together all the images that I've taken with regard to the Guitars on the Beach record attempt and now I have the hard task of sorting them out into a usable number. I think I'm looking at around 500/600 images, some planned and others taken at random whilst waiting for my subject to appear.
I know there are some excellent images, some good and other are a load of rubbish but such is life. I remember being told, when we used film cameras and rolls of 36 image films, that it would be excellent if you liked 2 or 3 pictures and the rest were also rans. Unless the work was urgent you were advised to put them in a drawer/filing cabinet and revisit them a couple of months later when the emotion had gone.
Tuesday, 10 September 2013
Sunday, 8 September 2013
Colourful participant
I took this picture at the registration pavilion in the morning prior to the record attempt, not sure who the guy is in the stunning suit. The man on the right is Chris Boothroyd who co-ordinates volunteers in the Jubilee Pavilion on Marine Parade (part of the Tourist Information Centre).
Taking pictures was quite difficult as it was quite dark inside the pavilion but there was bright sun coming through the windows. I ended up using Photoshop's Image/Adjustments/Shadows and Highlights to get a better balance.
Saturday, 7 September 2013
Photography over and done with
Well, I have note taken all the images, the event is over and if I haven't got enough pictures I should give it up and find a new job.
Now comes the hard bit, that of sorting, categorising and eliminating the has beens and find the gems.
Now comes the hard bit, that of sorting, categorising and eliminating the has beens and find the gems.
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| Glenn playing on the beach in the rain |
Boy, did it rain!
Well, the guitars on the beach went off in the rain and caused much controversy. Due to heavy rain at 4.15 pm it was decided to bring forward the actual attempt at the record. Over two thousand two hundred guitarists registered (which beat the world record) and after the first practice it was decided to go ahead and do the song. Shame was that loads of guitarists and spectators were still walking to the beach. Ironically, it had stopped raining at 5.00 pm!
Friday, 6 September 2013
Covering an Event
Friday, September 6th
I suddenly spotted a Facebook entry from the organiser of the Guitars on the Beach Geoff Baker asking for people who intended to be part of the record attempt to be on the beach at 6.15 pm with their guitars. The BBC local news Spotlight programme would do a live feed interviewing Geoff and also wanted some guitarists to play in the background.
In the event it was a short feed, no more than 2/3 minutes with the guitarists playing in the background. The programme cut back to the beach and had them all play the programme out. Everyone enjoyed the experience but went home quite chilled as there had been a quite a breeze blowing off the sea.
I suddenly spotted a Facebook entry from the organiser of the Guitars on the Beach Geoff Baker asking for people who intended to be part of the record attempt to be on the beach at 6.15 pm with their guitars. The BBC local news Spotlight programme would do a live feed interviewing Geoff and also wanted some guitarists to play in the background.
In the event it was a short feed, no more than 2/3 minutes with the guitarists playing in the background. The programme cut back to the beach and had them all play the programme out. Everyone enjoyed the experience but went home quite chilled as there had been a quite a breeze blowing off the sea.
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| Guitarists playing on the beach at Lyme for live BBC Spotlight local new programme |
Thursday, 5 September 2013
Stormy weather ahead
Everyone has been watching the weather forecast for tomorrow (Saturday, September 7th) as the record attempt for Guitars on the Beach is in the open. Hope they have plan B as the forecast is for heavy rain!
They can't get upward of 2500 guitarists in the local scout hut if wet!
They can't get upward of 2500 guitarists in the local scout hut if wet!
Wednesday, 4 September 2013
Bizarre day
As I completed Assignment 3 - A Photographic Commission, my tutor advised me to think about Assignment 5 whilst we were still in the summer period as there was more chance of completing the photographic side of the assignment 'Covering an Event'. I checked out the late summer timetable using the two main websites http://www.lymeregis.org/whats_on/events/ and www.whatsoninlyme.co.uk. I was looking for an event which would take place on one day rather than a week long festival or like the ArtsFest which lingered over 10 days.
The town discovered that whilst there was a record in other countries for the largest number of people playing guitars together there wasn't one in the UK. It was agreed that the best place for an attempt on the world record would be the town beach as this had the most space. The organisers contacted the Guinness World Record people and a date was set for Saturday, September 7th at 5.00 pm. This specific timing meant that the tide would be at its lowest point for several months and would give more room on a limited space beach.
This all sounded like a doable event for me and I sat down to think through what I would need to prepare and how to go about getting organised for it. The town organisers had set up a website. http://www.guitarsonthebeach.co.uk/ and the music they chose to play was Rave on by Buddy Holly as it only needed players to learn 3 chords.
The family who live next door to me (the Fords) are very musical and I asked them if they would be taking part in the record attempt? I was informed that both the husband and son would take part so I asked if I could follow them in their preparations and they agreed.
Silence for 3-4 weeks as they were away on holiday part of the time. I approached Glen at the end of last week (31st August), very aware that as a primary school teacher he would be up to his neck in preparation for the new school term which started this week, to see when it would be possible to take some pictures of his preparation soon. I asked about his son, Miles, and learnt that, in fact, Miles was unlikely to take part. Glen did mention that friends of his, who had never played a guitar before, were very keen to take part in the record attempt, and they had asked him to teach them the chords and music before Saturday, the 7th. Would I like to include them?
I had to leave it with Glen to get in touch as to when I could take some photos and I began to worry that it wasn't going to happen. I started to think about alternative people I could approach as many people in the town are keen to take part and are frantically learning the 3 guitar cords.
My fears were unfounded as I received a message that I would be welcome to take pictures of the 3 adults on Tuesday evening and the photo session would take place in one of the oldest buildings in Lyme, a real feast to the eyes. When I went to confirm the time that evening, Glen also agreed for me to take some pictures of him practicing in his garden that afternoon. This was about 3.00 pm and I would have preferred to take them at least an hour later as the sun would be less strong and warmer, but he had plans for later so it was now or never.
Whilst it was a challenge to get balanced lighting in the shots, I think I managed some good images.
All in all, a very satisfactory afternoon and evening.
The town discovered that whilst there was a record in other countries for the largest number of people playing guitars together there wasn't one in the UK. It was agreed that the best place for an attempt on the world record would be the town beach as this had the most space. The organisers contacted the Guinness World Record people and a date was set for Saturday, September 7th at 5.00 pm. This specific timing meant that the tide would be at its lowest point for several months and would give more room on a limited space beach.
This all sounded like a doable event for me and I sat down to think through what I would need to prepare and how to go about getting organised for it. The town organisers had set up a website. http://www.guitarsonthebeach.co.uk/ and the music they chose to play was Rave on by Buddy Holly as it only needed players to learn 3 chords.
The family who live next door to me (the Fords) are very musical and I asked them if they would be taking part in the record attempt? I was informed that both the husband and son would take part so I asked if I could follow them in their preparations and they agreed.
Silence for 3-4 weeks as they were away on holiday part of the time. I approached Glen at the end of last week (31st August), very aware that as a primary school teacher he would be up to his neck in preparation for the new school term which started this week, to see when it would be possible to take some pictures of his preparation soon. I asked about his son, Miles, and learnt that, in fact, Miles was unlikely to take part. Glen did mention that friends of his, who had never played a guitar before, were very keen to take part in the record attempt, and they had asked him to teach them the chords and music before Saturday, the 7th. Would I like to include them?
I had to leave it with Glen to get in touch as to when I could take some photos and I began to worry that it wasn't going to happen. I started to think about alternative people I could approach as many people in the town are keen to take part and are frantically learning the 3 guitar cords.
My fears were unfounded as I received a message that I would be welcome to take pictures of the 3 adults on Tuesday evening and the photo session would take place in one of the oldest buildings in Lyme, a real feast to the eyes. When I went to confirm the time that evening, Glen also agreed for me to take some pictures of him practicing in his garden that afternoon. This was about 3.00 pm and I would have preferred to take them at least an hour later as the sun would be less strong and warmer, but he had plans for later so it was now or never.
Whilst it was a challenge to get balanced lighting in the shots, I think I managed some good images.
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| Glen practising in his garden |
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| Glen, showing Danny how to finger the correct chords |
All in all, a very satisfactory afternoon and evening.
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