CALVENDO self-publishers in conversation: Rory Garforth

Posted on 14. April 2015 by CALVENDO-Team

Yorkshire-based photographer Rory Garforth has a knack for black and white images. His evocative pictures make you look just that little bit longer. Here, he tells us about his photography, what influences his work and why Yorkshire is the perfect ‘shooting ground’.

1. Rory, we need to talk black and white with you: Tell us a bit about your specific preference for black and white photography and how it developed.

My first camera was a Russian Zenit 11 SLR, bought for me by my parents. Back then, aged 11 in the 80s, I instinctively wanted to shoot in black and white and asked my father to get me black and white film. I’ve always loved noir and the look of old movies. I’ve stuck with black and white because I love the timeless, classic feel it gives. I also love the drama in a black and white image with its strong contrast and texture; something I’ve never really achieved in a colour image. I’m also colour blind and have often wondered if this has influenced my photography. My black and white images tend to be strong, high contrast and sometimes powerful – I’m working on soft, gentle and subtle!

Isle of Skye
Copyright: Rory Garforth

My appreciation for landscape and wide open skies comes from early trips to the coast in Yorkshire, and my love of mountains from hiking trips to Scotland and the Lake District. Photography wise, my earliest influences were Ansel Adams, Fay Goodwin and particularly Michael Kenna. I felt that his photography showed me what I really wanted to learn and aspire to. Another is Bill Brandt, who really got me interested in street photography and whose dramatic landscapes of Skye first drew me to that location. I really admire the work of Susan Burnstine, she uses handmade cameras and lenses creating a really unique look. I love her book, ‘Within Shadows’.

2. You have a passion for landscape photography and the great outdoors. Looking at your portfolio, it becomes clear that your ‘home turf’ of South Yorkshire definitely plays an important role for your work. What specifically is it that you find so inspiring (apart from the fact that the scenery is indeed stunning!)? And can you tell us a bit about how you find the places and motives to shoot? Continue reading →

CALVENDO self-publishers in conversation: Mark Cooper

Posted on 1. April 2015 by CALVENDO-Team

Mark Cooper, a Wiltshire-based photographer, takes inspiration from his surroundings and tells us why perseverance and patience always pays off, be it when shooting butterflies or using Calvendo to set up a calendar.

1. Mark, you started using Calvendo at the beginning of this year and within a short period of time, have already published five calendars. Can you tell us why you’re using the platform and what makes you keep on going?

I was introduced to Cavendo by an article in the Royal Photographic Society magazine which impressed me. I have a number of recent photos which used to be called stock photos languishing on the computer as well as more impressive images which I wanted to share. A calendar is a good way of showing your work to a far larger audience with all sorts of possible future avenues.

2. Can you talk a bit about your background as a photographer and how and when you took it up?

At college I really went into photography in a big way even having my own darkroom (well, a blacked out bathroom) and did all my own black and white. I was once offered £500 for an image of a friend which I, in my naive youth (and being a romantic fool), turned down. Still, a career in catering kept me busy for the next 15 years. Obviously, I still owned a good camera and kept, of course, taking photos but could not do too much. Costs were a consideration then. Like most people in photography it was not until the advent of digital photography that my passion took up once again. I personally never thought digital would be as good as film (how wrong can you be!). It’s all those hours spent in the darkroom, I suspect. So, I was really late back into the process. It really is a lot easier to produce quality images these days. So, I have a few regrets not taking to digital three or fours years sooner for one.

Standing out: “Views of Salisbury Cathedral”

3. You specialize in photos and prints of Salisbury and South Wiltshire, and have published a calendar, “Views of Salisbury Cathedral”, featuring beautiful images of the Cathedral from many different perspectives. Can you talk a bit about the process of taking these images: what inspires you, how do you choose the perspectives and why are you so fascinated by this building?

The one thing you cannot buy is an eye for a photograph. The camera does not see all that our eyes can, so you have to interpret the scene. When you are brought up in an area, always returning to the spire dominating the horizon (no two-story building is allowed within a ten mile radius), you have an innate knowledge together with a total geographical insight to the area. Having crafted your angles and viewpoints it is all down to time of day and normally the golden hours up early out late in the summer.

One of the many thousands - in "View of Salisbury Cathedral"

One of the many thousand shots taken – in “View of Salisbury Cathedral”

After 10,000 photos you are likely to get on very good one and if you shoot another 10,000 you might get another two like me. You have to be in the right place at the right time. It is as cliché as that. It also helps if you have a very good camera that you know inside out but after 20,000 shots you do get the basics and then you better upgrade to the latest model. Technology is very fast moving.

4. Your portfolio contains great shots of the South of England, and in particular the coast, and you have already produced a “Cornish Seascapes” calendar. Any more landscapes to come?

Should please not only all those Poldark fans out there …

Yes, I just visited the Lake District and I was very lucky with the weather armed with Stuart Holmes’ book “Photographing The Lake District”. I have been able to capture a few good shots hopefully enough for a “Springtime in the Lake District” calendar.

5. Another one of your specialities is butterflies. Do you have any particular “butterfly photography tricks” for us?

Yes, if you are not very nimble, get up early: They don’t fly much until it reaches 52 degrees. Otherwise, patience is definitely a virtue.

From “Adonis Blue Butterfly” calendar

6. Can you talk a bit about your experience when creating your calendars with Calvendo? Any tips for first timers?

Computers are not my best friends but perseverance pays off. However, I still cannot find my way around all the grids.

7. Last but not least, what are your general comments on Calvendo as a self-publishing platform: Anything you particularly like? Or things that need improving?

Definitely worth giving it a go if you have a twelve or thirteen images which might make a nice calendar. You have nothing to lose because if the idea or pictures are not any good it won’t get published. Greater fun trying, though!

Thanks, Mark, for talking to us, and we look forward to more of your work in our product gallery!

From “Cornish Seascapes”

More about Mark and his work:
www.mccphoto.co.uk
www.twitter.com/markccphoto
Calvendo product gallery

Re-publish your calendar for 2016: It’s easy!

Posted on 17. March 2015 by CALVENDO-Team

If you want to publish your 2015 calendar again for the next year and in fact any year after, we’ve made things easy for you. The “flexible calendar grid” option in our online editor guarantees that dates are automatically updated. You might not remember if you have clicked that option when initially setting up your calendar so please check and do so now:

– Go to “Projects approved by Calvendo” in your account

– Click on the grey button with the cog wheel symbol to the right of your published
project(s) (My Project Management)

– Click the option “Flexible calendar grid” in the window that’s opening

– Click on save. All done and no need to re-submit your work!

2015 calendars will automatically be updated over the coming months and in time before the next calendar sale season starts. We’ll let you know!

One more thing: If you’ve integrated the year in a text field on your calendar cover, the system will recognise that when the automatic calendar update gets under way and change it to 2016. However, if you’ve created a separate image for the cover image that integrates the year as part of the photo, our software won’t recognise that and we’ll have to ask you to change the year yourself and re-submit your project.