When a client commissions me to produce one or a series of photographs of a particular commercial subject, I bring to bear, what I call, the Photographers Eye; meaning that when I survey the subject matter I can envisage how to bring out the best in the subject matter. This could mean using a specific lens to let the angles and dynamics of a piece of architecture thrust forth and shout about itself, or I may see that some ‘painting with light’ will bring what could conceivably be considered an uninspiring location or subject to life. It takes a trained eye to just know what will and won’t do the subject justice; there are so many variables to take into consideration – you could say it’s akin to hand-eye coordination skills, but this time it’s lens-eye coordination with some good old right lobe creativity thrown in.

This in-depth understanding comes with experience (I’m making this word bold and underlined because experience is a weighty subject), and it’s what a potential client is relying on when commissioning me to undertake their project.

Only when I’m clear in my own mind the best way to execute the photograph and whether I will choose a particular lens or unusual angle or need to employ my sophisticated post production software on the image to make a ‘whole’ out of a collection of pieces, will I begin the photographic shoot.

Examples of these skills can be seen in the two architectural images I’ve featured.

This building is in Blackhall Road Oxford, which is a very narrow road to say the least. I calculated that I could get the entire building into one image by positioning myself at the Keble Road end.  The final picture is a good example of taking the best from what you’re presented with and using post-production to bring it to life!

This is Stream Edge in Oxford. Another good example of the creative photographers eye in action. The choice of lens, the angle of the shot and post-production all combined to good effect. 

Happy days at Hogwarts

I’m very passionate and enthusiastic about architecture, and living and working around Oxfordshire allows me to visit and photograph some of the very best of England’s architectural heritage. The area is literally crammed with photographic opportunities, and sometimes I happen across a place that literally demands my attention.

A good example of a moment when I was gripped by the creative potential was on a visit to the Dining Hall at Christchurch College. I espied the stunning staircase and fan vaulted ceiling which I discovered featured as part of Hogwarts in the Harry Potter movies.

Its curvaceous sweep appealed to me greatly and the structure and solidity of the hand crafted stonework is truly stunning. The more I looked at it, the more I wanted to add even more to it’s appeal by adding an artistic twist to the conventional view of the staircase.  Have a look at the result of my endeavors – I’m rather proud of it to be truthful and thoroughly enjoyed employing my post-production skills to achieve the end result. It looks like a reflection but in reality it isn’t, it’s knitted together to create that illusion. It’s a fine example of history, architecture and contemporary effects all used to good effect.   I wonder what JK Rowling would make of it? 

The second image I wanted to share with you is the Divinity School (built in 1488) in the Bodleian Library.  Another impressive example of a fan vaulted ceiling, and also prominent in the Harry Potter films. Its more historic claim to fame is that the building was used to store armaments in the English Civil War (1642-1651). I’ve a keen interest in all matters military and I was a member of a Civil War re-enactmment society long ago and produced a book of “war” photographs from the Civil War. 

It may be of interest to you that this image is available to buy mounted on a contemporary wooden surface with stand-off fixings. It’s 6’ x 3 and would adorn a pillar wall or an alcove with aplomb. 

I was recently commissioned by a design agency in Cornwall to create a series of images to suit a promotional brochure for DHL, who are a worldwide distribution and logistics organisation.

After doing a site recce, and agreeing terms with the agency, I set to work in the DHL warehouse, a hub for initial collection, sorting and re-distribution of all manner of packages from letters to large crates going worldwide. It’s busy, busy, busy!

Challenge? – bring it on!

I love a challenge and this was no exception!

The agency brief was to capture the constant flow and stream of activity in the warehouse space and to make the image balanced and interesting. This could be tricky from a standing viewpoint even though I’m over 6′, so I suggested that we shoot from a medium level gantry looking across and slightly over the scene.

This opened up the entire area visually and enabled me to create the vista in sections.

The panoramic image suited the brief perfectly as you can see in the finished brochure.

Sometimes a photographer needs to break the accepted technical conventions and rules to achieve the right image to fit a brief, producing something creative and technically exciting but also a successful interpretation of the designers idea.

Furthermore the final shot should give the recipient of the brochure a new perspective on what could be deemed to be an ordinary daily work scene. This defines a working image.

A question of balance

An artist just knows when all of the elements and angles, juxtapositions of objects, space and colour all work together to create a balanced composition.

My engineering background helped me to view the warehouse space with an analytical eye, where I could easily see the challenges ahead. With 25 years of photographic experience behind me and my in-depth knowledge of industrial environments and settings, I could assess and calculate what was required to achieve a striking and useful image.

Post-production brings it all to life

The warehouse staff obviously couldn’t be asked to stop working and clear the site while I was shooting (time and tide waits for no man, and never more so in distribution and logistics!), so I decided to use my post-production skills to compose the individuals into the scene as a secondary tranche of work. See the results here.

I also used some advanced stitching techniques to achieve the agency specified panoramic dimensions.

 

Project summary:

Day 1: Site recce and planning. Technical and artistic proposal submitted and agreed with commissioning agency.

Day 2 and 3: On site shooting scene. Liaise with design agency.

Day 4 and 5: From selected scenes, post production work to achieve final result and supply high res images to agency via ftp for design and artwork.

Result: Panoramic image plus set of supporting images.

Happy client? – Yes

‘We chose Working Images for this challenging project as we needed a technical and creative expert to bring our idea to life.

Chris Honeywell’s proposal was compelling. We were delighted with the service we received and end-product alike.

If you’ve got an idea but you’re not sure how to achieve it, commission Chris Honeywell.’

       

Chris has recently carried out a commission for the renowned ceramicist Gilles Le Corre.

For more information click here

Another year, another Maze at Millets Farm Centre, Abingdon. Chris with his aerial hat on and

the Maze with an Alice in Wonderland theme. For more click here.

On a recent assignment at the Building Research Establishment I discovered that there was a concrete scaled down version of the Mohne Dam, famous as one of the targets of the Damdusters raid by 617 squadron during the second world war. Apparently Barnes Wallis had it built in order to test explosives to be used in the raid. Some damage can be seen. A result of those tests? It was surprising to find it still in existence after so long.

Chris was commissioned by Gateway Publishing Ltd to cover the launch of a magnificent tribute to David Shepherd on his 80th birthday. Over 120 of David’s best loved works, including some never before published, have been printed on hand made paper, bound in leather and gold blocked by hand. This publication is truly worthy of David’s art. An archive to be treasured for many years to come.

It all took place in the impressive portals of Stationers Hall, London.

Click here to find out more.

In the process of preparing the ground for a new building a pit containing 20 or so 2000 year old saxon skeletons of

young men was unearthed in Oxford. They were thought to have been killed in fighting with rival groups.

Chris was recently commissioned for aerial photography at Millets Farm Centre, near Oxford.

The new Amazing Maize Maze was photographed from the air to show the new ‘Clowning About’  layout.