Wednesday 16 December 2009

PHOTOS 2009 *My Photographic Art and Music Photography -

2009 has been an interesting, busy and wonderful year for my photos and I'd never have dreamed so many possibilities - while its been hard going often too. I've had positive feedback from managers, artists and promoters and that's been very encouraging. I hope do to more Art photography and to shoot weddings next year.

I love it. I have become friends with many wonderful artists this year and appreciate  their kind words. It's meant a lot. It gives me pleasure to know that people enjoy my work.

I took pics of Elton, Fleetwood Mac and the Nutcracker Ballet, all of which are dreams for me! Not without hitches though - arriving for Elton to find no Photo pass, nearly forgetting the ballet, being late when I needed to be early. I am sure these young twenty years old photographers have no idea what it means to have dreams as long as I have. The Elton gig was magic and wonderful how much he loves performing them. To be that close and see his passion for it all and he's been touring for years! He thrives on it. I love his upbeat and slower songs. I have also put in a ton of hard graft the past years to build my music portfolio and to make contacts.

Yet I enjoy best those small venue gigs - the Jazz Bar, Oran Mor, the live album shoot Manchester - have been awesome in different ways, intimate and engrossing.  A Big thanks to all the artiss I have had the pleasure of taking photos for.


Jazz Bar Edinburgh - On Nov 28th I took shots for an amazing Jazz band, The Magic Hat, at the Jazz Bar and the Bar Brel Glasgow also. ..

Tuesday 17 November 2009

Photos Nov 2009

I have been taking the smaller and mid size venues for quite a while now. I am still keen to do them. I've been taking music photos mostly in Glasgow and some in London. I've also taken several festivals - 2010 will be my third time at Celtic Connections. It's been incredible for me to shoot artists like Elton John and Fleetwood Mac this year. I guess dreams sometimes come true?? I've had managers, promoters and artists come back to me as they like my work. The live album shoot Manchester was so much fun - thanks Mat and Kirsty. Hope this will lead to good contacts.

Protecting my Business – copyright laws
In recent months several of my images are being used in print promotions without asking my permission. I am flattered people like my work enough to put on the front of a brochure or flyer – but can I live on praise alone. Images are central to promotions, and yet some appear to expect the use of photos for nothing. They wouldn’t dream of offering a plumber or a venue a link for a days work! Aspiring photographers fall into this trap. It is piracy - much as free music downloads are. There is masses of Copyright laws (see Wikepedia). The author of a photo should be asked for permission before reproducing the image in print. It is stealing – much as stealing a loaf of bread or pint of milk at Tesco’s… We all know that farmers expect to be paid and need to earn a living. Makes me realize how musicians must feel about all the ‘free’ downloading of their music.
Problems arise as aspiring photographers and musicians offer their work for free and the FREE internet access. There comes a point when you think – I’m not just starting out anymore. I have worked hard on my photography – studying, processing, working, shooting, purchasing good equipment. I hope I now offer a professional service that is not offered by everyone with a small digital. A big thanks to all who do value my skills, and don’t expect that I offer hi-res as ‘gifts.’ My good photographer friend who has worked 25 years in the business is upset over this issue, as it undermines and devalues professional photographers work. It was very nice being treated with respect for my work last week end at the album shoot. Thanks guys.
Paulinex

PS Just listening to a folk radio station – perfect.
Pss and Cara Dillon- hear her on the radio last year, perfect voice.

Sunday 6 September 2009

NEW PHOTO GALLERIES September 2009

I have many plans. I’ve been busy with EDINBURGH FESTIVAL 2009 - which was manic as usual! MUGOCK Music Festival, The Gathering Homecoming event Edinburgh, Dance - Venezuela Viva!

EIF Absolutely love it an my theme this year was ‘colours'.  I particularly enjoyed The Edinburgh Book festival and searching out poetry books, it is a haven of peace after the high street. Many famous authors give talks here, such as respected Scottish authors Iain Banks, Ian Rankin and more. I managed a very fun Broken Records gig at the  Queens Hall Edinburgh as part of the Edge festival - cool venue and lighting. I expect this band to make it big and they looked and sounded very good. They released their first album with 4AD June 2009, ‘Until the Earth Begins to Part’ and their cello, violin and trumpet gave their sound a Scottish feel.

I took mainly dance images at this year’s festival and interesting from a music and visual angle. Many shows come from all around the World – India, Malawi, Korea, France, Brazil, Venezuela… and more. Celebrating their own country’s culture. My next dream to shoot is the ballet. I am also in the middle of an exhibition at a local arts festival.
Please check out my new galleries – I am very excited about many of my new images. Some hot guys and babes!

Monday 10 August 2009

My Photography August 2009

which I started to take seriously this year is going better than I ever dared to hope. I have 2 movies still shoots coming up. I’ve been having very positive feedback from those in the business. I recently shot at the Gathering Edinburgh and at Elton John and both events were an incredible adrenalin rush for me! Many artists post my photos on their websites and appear to enjoy what I do for them.
Paulinex

Monday 18 May 2009

May 2009


May 2009
I’ve had some very interesting contacts this year - photographers, promoters, media. Perhaps that’s what this year is about for me?

Music, film and event photography
I covered a fashion party at the Corinthian Glasgow, which was fun the same day as I met a magazine guy and had an interesting chat. I’ve had images picked up for a wide variety of things – maps, magazines, press. I've had interest from an Arts agency – and been asked to take stills for a movie which sounds fun. It is all quite a strange business in a way.

It is all hugely competitive though and there seems to be loads more music photographers out there than say when I shot images of Patrick Watson at King Tuts in 2007, and I was the only shooter there! – great gig btw. Music photography is about the art of photography for me.

A few years back I read about Paul MacCartney’s tour photographer and how he got a lucky break being in the right place at the right time. I never thought I could ever aspire to this. I check others work and think I can match what they are doing. Sometimes it feels like this dream might be possible. Whatever – I can combine my love of art with my music. I regret not following my passion for art and now I can so I’m grateful for these opportunities. 

I was at a wonderful gig at the Tall Ship last week - the weather was blowing a gale outside but inside was a warm and cosy venue of music.
Please get in touch if you like my work and would like me to cover your event or take portrait or promotional shots – a lot of thought and care goes into my photos and I hope you enjoy them.

PKIMAGE


I am a Glasgow Music and Event Photographer. Also recently I’ve been enjoying taking nature shots as the light has been soft and clear and the blossom those light pinks. After receiving encouragement for my work I set up seriously as a photographer last year in 2008.

NEW Photo site
I have been working on a new photo site for a while, for months and months actually! Mind you I’ve been working on art since I was seven and on photography since I got my first camera – although only seriously with music photography the past year. I took art higher, taught in schools, lived in the USA (Chicago and Cincinnati and travelled quite a lot) for 10 years and brought up my family. I started taking shots of my son’s band and found I enjoyed being able to combine my love of live gigs with my love of art.
-->
I do my photography for the art of it – there’s something magical at live gigs that I try to capture in my images. It reminds me of all the sketching with pencils ( I loved those soft-edged pencils) and charcoal I did in my teens of dancers, models, portraits – except now I sketch with my camera. It takes just as long to get that one perfect capture with a camera as it does with my pencil (you’d think it would be easier), in fact I’ve often thought sketching at a gig would be easier. I’ll need to give this a go sometime!
I wasn’t sure about the zenfolio site. My music images are mostly quite dark- so recently I changed the background to white put the text at the top and I feel much happier about it. Still not entirely sure (??!) Then again an artist is never entirely sure about their work because it can always be better – otherwise what’s the point?

*Festivals
My first festival shoot was Kilsyth 2007 – it was great fun and the organiser was very positive with my photos. I have also taken images for local festivals at Mugdock Music Festival at Mugdock country park (great setting).


I am originally from Edinburgh and enjoy its huge festival each year and have several photos of Edinburgh festival I’m very proud of. The biggest festival I’ve covered is the Celtic Connections 2008 and 2009 - and it takes place in over 13 venues around Glasgow for over 2 and a half weeks with many overseas visitors and artists. I love the buzz of festivals.

*Live gigs
Last year some of my gig photos for the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, and of Emeli Sande attracted attention. Emeli's manager and promoter were in touch over using my Oran Mor images of Emeli's for her promotions for gigs and in the press.  

I attend a wide variety of live gigs and I enjoy music from many genres – indie bands, folk, folk-rock, pop, classical more.. In recent years I’ve been to T in the Park, Celtic Connections, Glasgow venues and festivals, London venues and moremake a note to write blog on venues. I enjoy established artists and younger ones also.

Published work – Several artists have used my images on flyers, brochures, websites and in press.

SPF – Scottish Photographers Federation. I joined a local Camera club last year and it’s interesting to meet other serious photographers. To my surprised my images scored well with other photographers and some were submitted to the annual SPF exhibition.

*Photobox Prints - I offer prints and digital photos directly through my website.


* Photo Promotions - I also offer the hi-res images for promotions. Payment is required for the use of images on promotion flyers, brochures or press articles (after all the printers, venues, and sound people all get paid for their efforts).


*Media. - This week I have had some good contacts - 3 magazines looking for images. Also an agency who are very positive which is nice and two promoters. A very interesting commission.


Feedback… ‘your photos are fantastic, you really caught the moment in those pictures’ 

'you used the light exceptionally well, full of life and really catch the spirit of the festival! You have a wonderfully observing and imaginative eye. Great stuff' < ‘


what I find with your photos is that they somehow bring something extra out of the images.. yours have a star quality about them which makes them stand out from the crowd.’


MUSIC & PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY Pauline Keightley / PK IMAGE

http://pkimage.co.uk/ 

MY GIG & FESTIVAL SETS ON FLICKR - htpp//:www.flickr.com/photos/paulinekeightley

For commissions, image licensing and other enquiries please contact.pkimage09@gmail.com