Karen Strunks Professional Birmingham-based Freelance Photographer

Another Birmingham Post Photo

I’m on a roll now!

I think I took this back in June. My instructions were to get a shot showing the movement of people going in and out of the store. I remember having to tweak the white balance in photo shop as I had forgotten to set the correct balance whilst taking the shots, and they came out quite pink. Still, I’m pleased that the Post found a picture to use. This is my second Post picture.

Insulted by Titan The Robot

On one of my Birmingham Mail assignments, I found myself at the Bullring shopping centre, face to face (almost, remember I’m a shorty) with Titan The Robot.
 
I found this video on The Birmingham Post’s Youtube site.

About 30 seconds in Titan looks around, glances at me with his peircing blue eyes and announces to the crowd, “There seems to be no signs of intelligent life anywhere.” Cheers Titan!

Just a perk of the job I guess!

I’m in a red coat, with camera, and kneeling down. I’m not THAT short.

My first Birmingham Post Pic!

The Gardeners Weekend was held in Kings Heath Park last weekend. The day before it opened I was sent to take some pics for the Birmingham Mail. People were very thin on the ground and the few people that were there were setting up stands.

I saw some Mothers with children in a nearby play area, so I had a word with them, gathered them up and took them to an area of the park that had some iron statues of animals. In my haste I forgot to take the names of the children. A lesson learned!

I thought that if any of the pictures were going to be used, it would be in the Birmingham Mail, so I was delighted to find out that the Birmingham Post used one of the pictures! That is my first published picture in the Birmingham Post, and another goal achieved.

A few of my other pictures from the day have been used on the Birmingham Mail website.

I am quite pleased with this picture, though the background could have been better. I suspect that could have been corrected by changing the angle. A step ladder had to be sourced so I could get level with the gentlemen.

I have a little acronym I try to remember: F.A.B

Flash – When to use it. What direction to aim it. Can I bounce it off anything? Will it create shadows? Should I take it off the camera and hold it above or to the side of the subject?

Angle – Try to use different angles and not just shoot the subject straight on. Don’t shoot up somebody’s nose*! Get creative and work around the subject.

Background – Do a background check. What’s going on behind the subject? Is there a pole sticking out of someones head? Is the background too busy? Does the background distract from the subject?

*I am quite short. Well, shorter than some people anyway. After having a chat with the picture editor, he advised that where possible I stand further away from taller people and then zoom in, as opposed to standing close to the subject. This way the angle won’t be so severe and I should avoid the ‘up the nose’ shots!