Blog | 48 - Favouritism

February 16, 2018
Freelance Photographer in St Ives Cambridgeshire: Food & Drink Photography; Commercial Photography, Product Photography & Packshot Photography; Event Photography; Portrait Photography; Corporate Photography & PR Photography; Engagement Photography & Wedding Photography and Photography Training Courses in Cambridge, Huntingdon, Peterborough, Bedford, St Neots, St Ives and London. Professional Photography Services in St Ives, St Neots, Huntingdon, Bedford, Peterborough & Cambridge.    
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   Alistair Grant 

Freelance Photographer Cambridge & London

     
     

bokeh photographic: Blog No: 48

 Freelance Photographer Cambridge Blog Image | Blog 48 | Favouritism (A guy wearing only swimming trunks stands out on a boat full of people photographing the iconic Bishop Rock Lighthouse off the Isles of Scilly). © bokeh photographic (Alistair Grant): Freelance Photographer; 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, St Ives, Cambridge. Blog 48 – Favouritism (A guy wearing only swimming trunks stands out on a boat full of people photographing the iconic Bishop Rock Lighthouse off the Isles of Scilly) | bokeh photographic - Alistair Grant | Freelance Photographer in Cambridge, Huntingdon, Peterborough, Bedford, St Neots, St Ives and London. Blog 48 – Favouritism (A guy wearing only swimming trunks stands out on a boat full of people photographing the iconic Bishop Rock Lighthouse off the Isles of Scilly) by Alistair Grant. Food & Drink Photography; Commercial Photography, Product Photography & Packshot Photography; Event Photography; Portrait Photography; Corporate Photography & PR Photography; Engagement Photography & Wedding Photography and Photography Training Courses in Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Hertfordshire and across the UK.

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Favouritism

Possibly the three most common questions I get asked are: i) what is my favourite photograph (that I have taken); ii) what is my favourite photograph (taken by somebody else) and; iii) who is my favourite photographer? There isn’t a straightforward answer to any of these questions. One thing that is clear is whilst I make a living through working as a commercial photographer (i.e. shooting Food & Drink Photography; Commercial Photography & Product Photography; Corporate Photography & PR Photography; Portrait Photography & Active Portraiture; Event Photography; Wedding Photography and any other type of photography assignment for which I get paid), my commercial images are distinctly different to my non-commercial images i.e. photographs taken my me but for which I don’t get paid. There is a good reason for this. Although I always produce dynamic and creative commercial images commercial photography is bounded by convention and the genre is inherently ‘small-c’ conservative compared to the broad spectrum of photography as a whole. Clients dictate that commercial photography needs to be scripted as ‘middle-of-the-road’ in order to sell products and services. Even the most adventurous commercial images are distinctly unadventurous when viewed against independent photography. If you are not convinced take a look at the portfolio of any up-and-coming indie photographer or maybe even flick through a copy of the British Journal of Photography, a mainstream publication ironically not known for its leftfield views!

I have written previously how all the exiting approaches experimented with at college are abandoned as soon as photography students qualify. It’s important to note that I’m not arguing that non-commercial photography is in any sense better than commercial photography (or vice versa) but they are unquestionably profoundly different to one another. My personal photography portfolio is certainly very different to the examples from my commercial portfolio that are featured on the bokeh photographic website. Because of this I don’t have a single favourite photograph, taken by me or anyone else, or for that matter a favourite photographer. Instead I am influenced by a wide range of sources no matter whether shooting commercially or for my own enjoyment. These influences can be seen in my work. One of the main differences between my commercial and personal work is that with the latter I am free to explore wider aspects other than concentrating upon a product or a person.

As regards this particular image, although I’m not at all claiming to be an equivalent photographer, the clear influence is Martin Parr. The image documents a moment in time which although slightly humorous portrays the eccentricities of human behaviour in (I hope) a non-judgmental way. The particular reason I like this image is despite the chap in the foreground being, shall we say slightly underdressed, everyone on the boat is fixated on taking a picture of the iconic Bishop Rock lighthouse off the Isles of Scilly. Although the guy in foreground stands out for wearing only swimming trunks his behaviour otherwise is exactly the same as everyone else in the scene. Whilst there are similarities with Parr's work such as the highly saturated look and that the viewer feels an integral part of the scene, one major difference is that everyone is looking away from the camera (as opposed to looking directly at the camera as per a typical Parr image). Although the image would never cut it commercially, to borrow the words of Martin Parr, a serious photograph taken disguised as entertainment?

   
     

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.

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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]