Blog | 42 - Not Elf On The Shelf but sELFie

December 31, 2017

bokeh photographic (Alistair Grant): Food & Drink Photographer; Commercial Photographer, Product Photographer & Packshot Photographer; Event Photographer; Portrait Photographer; Corporate Photographer & PR Photographer; Engagement Photographer & Wedding Photographer and Photography Training Courses in Cambridge, Huntingdon, Peterborough, Bedford, St Neots, St Ives and London. Freelance Photographer & Freelance Photography Services in Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Hertfordshire and across the UK.
			Alistair Grant Freelance Photographer Cambridge & London


bokeh photographic: Blog No: 42 → TIP: Click any image to view in LightBox




Not Elf On The Shelf but "sELFie" So it’s the last day of the year and I’ve given the final blog of 2017 over to an important follow-up message to the recent bokeh photographic social media festive fun that was “Not Elf on the Shelf but sELFie (in the Photography Studio)”. If you aren’t on social media or if you somehow missed "sELFie" on my Twitter, Instagram and Facebook feeds in the run up to Christmas the collated posts can be viewed here. Although intended as a light-hearted illustration of just some of the photography equipment I use as a Freelance Photographer to shoot Food & Drink Photography, Commercial Photography & Product Photography, Corporate Photography & PR Photography, Portrait Photography & Active Portraiture, Event Photography and Wedding Photography there was a serious point. Actually, there were two serious points. Firstly, kit is only as good as the person using it. Skill is a characteristic of the person behind the camera and not an inherent feature of the kit itself i.e. technical expertise and creativity lies with the photographer. It seems that any professional photographer these days has a story to tell about when presenting their portfolio somebody comments “wow you must have a great camera”. This is a salient point for anyone who has been seduced by “you can shoot images like this (but only if you buy our camera)” type adverts for equipment over the festive period. Don’t get me wrong, modern kit can produce stunning imagery but generally only in the hands of somebody with a reasonable level of knowledge and expertise in using it. On a related note, if you have been lucky enough to receive a new camera for Christmas (or if you have picked up one in the sales) and are wondering how to get the most out of it why not sign up for one of my Photography Training Courses in 2018? Secondly, I ensured that a number of the 25 posts featured cheap kit. In fact, items that aren’t actually bona fide photography kit. The simple reason is that I use such items, alongside my dedicated professional (and thus pricey!) equipment, on each and every shoot. As an example, Day 13 of “sELFie” featured Diffusing Scrim. Whilst I own several Lastolite pop-up diffusion panels - a brilliant product - I just as often use the horticultural fleece featured in the post to soften whatever light I am shooting under. If you are looking for the cheapest way to step-up your photography invest a pound in a sheet of horticultural fleece (and if you can’t find any buy a decorator's sheet) and you won’t look back! Incidentally, the inspiration for “sELFie” came from the Christmas promotional shoots I undertook for clients featuring the official Elf on the Shelf beside various products etc. Over the recent years I’ve shot a few of these but numbers really took off this year. Of course, “sELFie” is not the official toy Elf. If I’m honest, I have always thought that official boy/girl/light skin/dark skin Elf looks a bit creepy and I much prefer this one. Happy New Year!

Call Alistair Grant on 07775 365507, Email [email protected] or click Booking Enquiries if you have any questions or would like to make a booking.

bokeh: "the aesthetic quality of the blur produced in the out-of-focus parts of an image produced by a lens" Freelance Photographer offering Food & Drink Photography Cambridge; Commercial Photography Cambridge, Product Photography Cambridge & Packshot Photography Cambridge; Event Photography Cambridge; Portrait Photography Cambridge; Corporate Photography Cambridge & PR Photography Cambridge; Engagement Photography Cambridge & Wedding Photography Cambridge and Photography Training Courses in Cambridge. Also covering: Huntingdon, St. Ives, Ramsey, St. Neots, Peterborough, Bedford, Stamford, Newmarket, Sawtry, Alconbury Weston, Brampton, Hartford, Warboys, Houghton, Wyton, Godmanchester, Hilton, Hemingford Grey, Hemingford Abbots, Fenstanton, Whittesley, Yaxley, Needingworth, Somersham, Chatteris, Ely, Bar Hill, Grafham and Buckden.
bokeh photographic - Alistair Grant \| Freelance Photographer \| Cambridge, London, UK Food & Drink Photography \| Commercial Photography & Product Photography \| Corporate Photography & PR Photography \| Portrait Photography (inc. 'Active Portraiture', 'Naturally You' & 'Poptraits') \| Event Photography \| Engagement & Wedding Photography \| Photography Training Courses & Camera Tuition \| Videography & Film Production Tel: 07775 365507 \| Email: [email protected]

Keywords: christmas, creativity, diffusing scrim, horticultural fleece, lastolite diffusion panels, photography equipment, photography skills, photography training courses, professional photographers, selfie (in the photography studio), the elf on the shelf