Black & White/Sepia

I sometimes try to compose photographs in such a way to make it look dark, mysterious, even scary. But sometimes such decisions are made in the post-production process or both. Birds can create this great scary effect in a picture and not only Hitchcock’s black crows can do that but also white seagulls – this is at least my personal opinion.

Continue reading “Scary seagulls” »

It has finally started to be a bit warmer in Brussels and it’s possible to stay outside without freezing to the ground after 5 minutes. I couldn’t miss this opportunity and I spent a weekend walking around and doing my first Brussels Photo Walk. As I’m not so familiar with a city yet, I got lost few times but that actually was the fun part! I moved to Brussels in September 2009 but I have been so busy, that I didn’t have time to do any proper photo walk before. I plan to have a photo shoot outside soon but I need to wait at least another month for much warmer weather.

I hope to have time for another Brussels Photo Walk soon, so feel free to get in touch with me if you’re interested in joining!

This is once again a picture taken in Gdansk, Poland during my winter 2009 holidays but this time a little dark, scary and mysterious.

Continue reading “When dark clouds take over the sky” »

I don’t take low-key lighting pictures often. Don’t ask me why, I just don’t know. But sometimes, I can’t resist to take such pictures. I personally believe that low-key lighting photography can have a particularly strong effect for certain type of portraits. I like to use low-key lighting especially in those portraits where a person’s personality and background are enhanced by a tool/instrument/object within a picture that is associated either with a personality, a hobby, background or an occupation. Those of you experienced with low-key lighting will realize that it might be hard to use such type of lighting both for a person and an object within a frame. I understand that some of you might not be familiar with low-key lighting, so what is it?

Continue reading “Low-Key Lighting Photography – Portraits of Musicians” »

Sorry to everyone for such long silence and thanks to all of you who sent me emails asking what was going on. Most of you are probably already aware that I moved recently to Brussels and I was busy arranging everything and settling down in the capital of Europe.

Continue reading “Settled in Brussels” »

I find less and less time everyday on things I would like to do (like updating my photo-folio). However, I like to keep myself busy and I’ve been busy thinking for the past couple of days what photography equipment should I take with me to Poland (for those of you who don’t know: I leave there on Saturday for 3 weeks). Overall, I don’t have too much equipment but when you travel by plane, every thing you put in your suitcase has to be well thought before it actually makes to the suitcase.

Continue reading “Next Stop: Gdansk (Poland)” »

Ah! Summertime… time to relax…time for holidays! Unfortunately not for me this year. Because of some personal issues and organizational matters, I’m unable to go on holidays. Even my short (3 week) trip to Poland, which starts the coming Saturday, will be more about work and organizing ‘stuff’ than holidays. After all, who visits a family for holidays, right? I have few plans to shoot some pictures while visiting Poland but unfortunately other duties will have the priority this time.

I think this photography portfolio will soon turn out as a combination of a portfolio and a blog, Why? Well, I have found much more pictures ‘from the attic’ (taken with my old camera(s)) and I really have nothing special to write about them. Sometimes there is no story to tell about a picture, maybe because pictures should tell stories themselves.

I have come up with my new photography motto or saying: “I don’t take pictures. I just try to capture the past”

Who would expect to find vineyards in Maastricht? For those of you who don’t know where Maastricht is: it is in the south of the Netherlands. So what’s so amazing about vineyards in Maastricht? Well, that they exist at all here! It’s neither the warmest place in Europe nor with lots of sun. I actually had an opportunity to try white wine from Maastricht (I got a bottle for my birthday in April for which I’m truly thankful) and I have one advice for those of you who would like to try it: avoid it!

Now about the picture. I dug out few old pictures taken still with my old SLR (yes, there is no “D” in front of it so it’s not a Digital one) – Minolta 505si – old, good traditional 35mm film camera. There will be posts called “From the Attic”, which means that these will be some old pictures, most of them taken with this old camera.

One of the very basic rules of photography is the one that seems to be the most obvious one (but not always): always take your camera with you wherever you go. Of course, there are certain situations (dinner at your parents in law, funeral, again dinner at your parents in law) where you are not expected  to take it with you but there are situations/conditions or places where you could take your camera with you but you forget. I have learned it myself the hard way long time ago. One of the recent unexpected and not planned photo sessions is a set of pictures of Josine.

Continue reading “First Picture, first couple of rules” »