Shortlisted for Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize

One of my photos has been selected for the prestigious Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize book and exhibition at The National Portrait Gallery in London. Winners will be announced on 11 Nov and the exhibition will run from 13 Nov 2014 to 22 Feb 2015.

60 images were selected out of 4193 submitted. I'm a little bit in shock that mine was one of them! This is another dream come true! Thank you to everyone who has supported me!

This is the image titled Felix: 

Felix and his favourite horse at the local riding stables. Felix is the youngest son of my dear friend and work colleague Paul Clarke. 

A song by PixelVixenUK

Scared to tell

Putting pen to paper, saying those words,
Putting fingertips to screen
Why can’t I do this? Fear creeps in
Expectations rising, panic subsiding,
Stop doubting your own mind,
Who is your worst enemy?
Will you listen to me?
I have to tell you, I want to tell you
I’m scared to tell you, fear creeps in
Why do I want this? Why do I feel this?
Don’t want to miss out on this.
That’s why it’s hard to
Putting pen to paper, saying those words,
Fingertips to screen, fear creeps in
Yes I will tell you, yes I have missed you,
And no I don’t want to, it’s so hard not to!
I don’t want to lose you, that fear creeps in
So many times I’ve been so close to telling you,
I want you to know.
I don’t want to change things, don’t want to break things
Don’t want to change us, don’t want to break us,
What if I do? Fear creeps in
That’s why it’s hard to
Put pen to paper, tell you those words,
Put fingertips to screen, fear creeps in.
Truth is I want you, truth is I need you
To hear what I say,
When I’m thinking about you, full of wonder about you,
So happy to know you, grateful for all of you
Yes I will tell you, yes I have missed you,
And no I don’t want to, it’s so hard not to!
I don’t want to lose you, don’t want to scare you,
That fear creeps in, stops me from
Putting pen to paper, saying those words,
Putting fingertips to screen
Why can’t I tell you? Fear creeps in

Written by Tracy Howl (c) 2014
Tel: 07931 900269
londonpresspix@aol.com
@Pixelvixenuk

My LPOTY entries part 2

13. Birds on a Wire

Birds on a Wire, Harris

A tribute to Alfred Hitchcock! 

Your View

Birds on a Wire

14.  Black Magic

Luskentyre Beach - We experienced every weather imaginable on this beach and the most amazing electric light. This was just before the most almighty rainbow appeared to yet again take our breath away!

Your view

Black Magic

15. Sea of Light

ICM - long exposure at a fountain in Kings Cross, London

Exhibited at Patchings Art Centre in Connected 2014 - A Tale of Two Cities

Your view

Sea of Light

16 Stone Crossing

Here I was fascinated by the abstract patterns caused by the relationship of Kilt Rock waterfall and the ocean that it meets. 

Your view

Stone Crossing

.
17. Traigh Mhor

ICM on Traigh Mhor beach, Lewis

Your view

Traigh Mhor

18. Telephone Dog

Centre Point, London, Solarised version.

Exhibited at Patchings Art Centre in Connected 2014 - A Tale of Two Cities

Your view

Telephone Dog

19. Oxo Wharf

Living the View

Oxo Wharf

My entries for Landscape Photographer of the Year

LPOTY ???

"But you are not a landscape photographer,..... are you??? I mean, you photograph people, right??? And doorknobs???  That's not like photographing trees and stuff is it?? " I hear this all the time.

Some people will think I'm only entering because my boyfriend got in the book last year. And that I've never shot a landscape until I went to Scotland with him this year. So. Very. Wrong!

I'm a full time photographer. I've been a photographer forever it seems. My passion is Travel photography, which surprisingly incorporates different kinds of landscapes. Yes I'm known for my people, music, fashion, documentary and product photography but surprise surprise, a lot of my past/present commercial work is actually ..... wait for it...... LANDSCAPE!

My clients were and still are Town Planning Consultants, Quarries and Landfill Sites, The Environment Agency, Travel companies and many more.

Yes I've walked for miles, waiting for the right light, I've even used a tripod and I have a huge box of filters. But I like to break the rules now and again... (who imposes these rules anyway?) I shoot landscapes without a tripod, I'll use a car bonnet or rock if I have to! Or dare I say it..... shoot handheld!

Yes I've photographed more landscapes in the past year than I have in previous years. It's a great way of having down time and still staying in love with photography when the rest of the time is crazy busy constantly shooting/editing.  It's also so nice when you finally meet someone who shares the same passions as you and doesn't mind the hours of non-communication which often comes from being at opposite ends of the beach!

I take all and none of my photography seriously. Yes that's right. I don't stress that the shot is not obvious and ready for me to press the shutter, I will go looking for it and make it happen. And I will ALWAYS come back with something good which I am happy with.

So I have entered this competition with photos which bring me enjoyment, some have been a stolen moment after an event, or while wandering around the city and others from our amazing trip to Scotland.

I have entered images which still come under the genre of landscape, maybe a little more abstract than traditional but nonetheless, still a landscape image.

I hope you like some of them, I hope some challenge your ideas about landscape, I don't mind if you really dislike some of them. It would be nice to be shortlisted, even better to be commended and be in the book/exhibition. Of course it would be awesome to win a category. I'm being realistic, I've never entered before. I know my vision is different to everyone else's so I'm taking a risk entering not as a landscape photographer but as a photographer who takes landscapes too!

These are some of my ideas about the genre of Landscape - the more traditional selection....

1. Loch Lomond through the trees

Taken on way back from Scotland, this image made Flickr explore I particularly like the abstraction but incorporating all the classic elements of landscape; trees, water, mist, rocks and land.

Entered into Classic View and Your View categories

Loch Lomond through the trees

2. First Morning

My first morning waking up in Terry's camper van on Mellon Udrigle beach. My first proper sunrise of the trip. This was my idea of heaven!
Classic View

First Morning

3. High Waters

Taken a short time after the above image, at Loch Lomond. Another play on boundaries, where the Loch and the land become one! 

Classic view/Your View

High Waters

4. Immersion

The Black Mount of Glencoe. I wanted to concentrate on the surface immersed in cloud and show where the relationship between two become one.

Classic view.

Immersion

5. Roadtrip

Aptly named - my first real stop to take in the beauty around us. This is what I imagined it would be like. It certainly didn't disappoint! 

Classic view

Roadtrip

6.Standing Proud 

The standing stones at Calanais. Each stone was beautiful, I wanted to show the raw beauty of this stone in context with her sisters. This image also made Flickr Explore.

Classic view

Standing Proud

7. Storm-o-way

An incredible sight as we drove from the ferry at Stornoway on our way to Harris. 

Classic view

Storm-o-way

8. Tree House

A very familiar sight on the Isle of Harris, Derelict buildings everywhere, taken back by their land. Classic view/Your view

Tree House

9. The Awakening

Sunrise on Mellon Udrigle beach. I had never seen the light dance like hard rain on the sand.

Classic view

The Awakening

10. Sticks and Stones

I could identify with the chaos of this beach. A pile of sticks. In no particular order. Some look for the lonely rock but to me this was perfection. 

Classic view

Sticks & Stones

11. Before the Fire

Taken from Canary Wharf with a Canon G12. My first experience of seeing rain like this. The sky turned to fire but I prefer these more subdued colours against the stark grey of the city!

Urban view

Before the Fire

12. Points of View

Another moment after an event up high. So many unexpected colours in the city. So many spires. So many cranes. The moment the sun turned everything to gold.

Urban view

Points of View

See my next blog post coming soon with the my images entered for Your View and Living the View

Tracy

Engagement Shoots

Think of that special place, perhaps where you first met, your first kiss, or where one of you proposed? Maybe you are not thinking of engagement, but would still like a set of professional images taken with that special someone! Most engagement/couple shoots are photographed at locations which have fond memories for you, or maybe somewhere you have never been before but would like to explore?  The possibilities are endless! Previous shoots have been at home, in church gardens, in the park, in hotels, by the sea, in the country, on the streets of London and beyond, and also in studio!

I am very creative, ensuring each shoot is tailored for the individual couple to reflect their personalities, goals, desires, and passions and of course, love for each other. I listen to you, work with you and together we create something beautiful.

Style can be very natural, highly glamorised or a mixture of both. You may want to add drama, dress up or maybe not be dressed at all?

Images will be of the highest quality to be printed for the wall, to send to friends and families, perhaps for a book to take pride of place on the coffee table or maybe to keep under wraps for your eyes only! The whole experience will be very enjoyable and fun. Transport between locations can also be arranged.

Please contact me if you have any questions and if you would like to see examples of engagement shoots. They are a very personal experience and I don’t use them publicly for advertising.  If you have ideas already, I’d be very happy to discuss at any time.

(+44) 07931 900269

londonpresspix@aol.com

www.tracyhowl.com 

You want me to work for free???

Just had the call we have every day! 

"You come very highly recommended. We love your work. We are a not for profit organisation. We have a Gala Dinner event in a 5 star Central London hotel with 300 people attending. We will promote you and introduce you to influential people. All our high profile speakers are waiving their fee, will you? But we will give you dinner and your expenses"

My thoughts:

Er thank you but no. I have photographed all your high profile speakers. My portfolio is shit hot which is why you have come to me in the first place. The cost of the meal will feed me and my daughter for a week so I'll have that instead. My expenses will be the same as my fee. For that you will get my time, 4 hours at event plus 4 hours editing, 2 hours travel. You will also get my 25 years experience. College & degrees cost money. My pro equipment to hire would cost more than my fee! Then there is insurance and public liability. So if you want me to work for free, it will still cost you!

Promotional Photography for Businesses

A PR or promotional photo needs to tell a story and show the product/service at it's best. It also needs to connect with the audience and create a lifestyle desire.

Although it helps to have an idea of what you want to achieve from promotional photography, be open to ideas from an experienced photographer.

Some business owners cannot think creatively or visually. That's where our experience, creativity and vision comes in to make it happen!

When you have been doing Press & PR photography for this long (20 yrs), you get to know what works! We are not just there to mindlessly click or film, we lead the process. We are the image makers after all! From concept to publish and beyond!

Never underestimate the power of branding!

www.tracyhowl.com