Just chillin'.

...complaining about my lights, again.

I was so happy to have them and to be able to say that I have them but they have ended up being so much trouble, they will be the first thing to get an upgrade when I have a proper job. I actually hate them.

I was having such a successful project shoot until then and I think I actually got some decent images - update later - but then the light I was using literally starting going mental and flashing non-stop, not a particularly good sign and I didn't fancy it blowing up in my face so I packed everything away and finished up.

I'm sad because it's quite rare that I feel so confident with how things are going and when I do it's like it's a sign. Technology can be so lame.
At least I got some photos out of it.

A Night at the Oscars.

I finished taking the photos for tonights party just after midnight, it was really fun to play observer for the night, it's very strange being with such a large gathering of people, not knowing anyone but taking their photo anyway.
I enjoyed myself, maybe I didn't enjoy the 6 hours stood up, but it was a fun experience that I wouldn't mind doing again..

In the end it turned out that I didn't need to bring my studio-lights as there was too much interference and I was working too quickly anyway. Annoyingly, I messed up the modelling bulbs on the journey down - well, one on the journey down, I dropped the working one on the floor when I got home. I'm so angry with myself. I think the only circumstances I will do this again is if I'm in the area. I don't like having broken everything, especially when it's through no fault of anyones but my own. Luckily the damage is easily fixed and the flash tubes are safe.

I think I'll be able to use my external flash for the shoot I have on Monday if the replacements don't arrive by then - I was so angry, I ordered them the second I got through the door, it was hard not to let it play on my mind all evening.

But anyway, watching people dance and making them feel like celebrities isn't a bad way to spend an evening, especially when it's a paid job. I'm quite proud of myself really.
Aperture is still processing the 740 photos I took tonight, that's the next day and a half filled up then, I guess.
I think once it's done I'm going to go to bed and catch up with X Factor - it's barely halfway through yet :(
I have another busy day tomorrow, it's my mum's birthday so we're going out to lunch and after that I have to get myself back down to Portsmouth, hopefully without breaking anything else important and in time for tomorrow night's X Factor.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.....

Glass Cow!

So, this looks like it was pretty good, it's probably Black Eyed Peas' only credible song and legitimises the redundancy of Fergie, it's pretty much an all round winner. Although I must say 'My Humps' is basically a musical masterpiece.
I really like the idea of T in the Park, even if it is miles and miles away, they always have bands that I love there. The recording for this seems a lot better than that for Glastonbury too, I think it's much better when you can hear the crowd, otherwise there's no point in really watching the coverage, you may as well listen to the CD. Still have Glastonbury withdrawal, I think.

Better quality version via BBC @ T in the Park.

Please enjoy my photos of Jacqueline Wilson on my website, I didn't take too many as I was in a bit of a rush, I really like the one of her with all the children though. I wish I'd met her when I was younger, I think I'm a bit old to get one of her books signed.

Mr Mallon.

I think I've seen this photo in one of my theory lectures, meaning it's probably really old, but I came across it last night and thought it was really interesting. The image was taken using a pinhole camera in a garden, but the photographer left it there and forgot about it for months, the resulting image being light trails of the Sun's movement over the course of the days it was left there.

via, Public School.

Ballerina 54 Lighting Shoot.

.:Continued from below:.These are the images relevant to the lighting workshop shoot, they are basically test shots for what we were going to take on the 54's, although, some of these contribute to what could be considered our final images for this session.
With the digital cameras, the Bowen lights were working as slave lights so we got lighting from both flash lights. I got to use my Speedlight for this, which made me quite pleased, I've really been getting my money's worth with it recently.
Images that Abbie took with my camera as well as more images showing the 'production' can be found in this Facebook album.

© Ruth Johnston 2009

A funny story to go along with the shoot is that the roof of the theatre leaked half-way through - thought it was pretty poignant considering the problems I've been having - couldn't help laughing. It even leaked around the same amount, but from a much great height, can't believe how big the puddle was.

My Christmas Tree.

I put it up on Sunday but I was sat here just doing work all of yesterday so I haven't actually had time to post these.
This was the day that I discovered mulled wine is disgusting, one sip, one.

© Ruth Johnston 2009

I put the ones with the crazy movement on Facebook, luckily the quality is terrible.
No-shave-November ended (obviously) yesterday, but more on that later. It seems that because it's not my beard, Moon wants to put up the photos that I took onto his Facebook. Puh.