photography

Hello everybody! How are you my chums? Did you have a nice Christmas? Today I have a nice relaxed blog post whilst you all browse the Boxing Day sales, with my lovely advertiser, Bas from Let’s See! (If you want to see your blog here, then look at my packages here!) Images from Let’s See

Do you stay up late for the big countdown, or just sleep through it all? I’m usually working. This year I’m playing in the band for the Rocky Horror show, we’re doing a late show on New Year’s Eve and then there’s a party.

What would you wear to a New Year celebration? I think people are dressing up, I’m not sure as what. Theatre people go all out when they dress up, so it should be crazy. Although on the last dress-up occasion, the drummer wore eyeliner and thought that was his costume… I haven’t decided what I’ll wear yet.

Will you be taking any festive pictures, and with what camera? My film camera, it’s a lomography LC-wide.

Where do you like to photograph in the Winter? It’s the middle of summer for me in Cape Town right now, so the beach I suppose. Although, I prefer shooting on the beach in Winter. White sand and grey sky and nobody around, that’s when the fun starts. My favourite film photos happened in the mist on an empty beach in winter. 

What’s your favourite piece of Winter clothing? Jerseys. Big patterned thrifted jerseys, layered on top of each other.

CHECK OUT LET’S SEE HERE 
Follow Bas on TWITTER//INSTAGRAM//BLOGLOVIN’

*evil cackle* Hello my pretties! I thought I would kick off the Halloween spirit just before it all gets a bit too spooky! I went all out for you guys, and did a special photo shoot for you… enjoy!

Photography: Papa Posh Editing: Tolly Dolly Posh Make-Up & Hair: Tolly Dolly Posh Cat: Paloma Posh Make-Up Used: Beauty UK and Bobby Pin Eye-shadows & Fake Blood Dress: Matalan 

I hope you like this little photography edition to my blog! I know it is a VERY big contrast to what I usually do, and you might think I look terribly creepy as a zombie, but I think these pictures are AWESOME! The make-up took quite a while to create, and the pictures came out amazing! It’s only a slight filter over them too! That black background, isn’t even a black ‘drop’ or even edited in, so well done Papa Posh! I’m in love with these shots! Also a big thank you to Paloma for staying still for just 1 second so we could get a black cat photo to fit the occasion. This was so fun to do, and if you enjoyed it, let me know and I can do some similar ones for other occasions! Enjoy tomorrow, and if you are going to a party, have fun… watch out for the bats! *mwah ahahaha*

One of, now last month’s, advertisers, Bas from Anything Bas is here to talk about her photography and lifestyle blog, and her top tips for blogging… (Images courtesy of Bas)

What inspired you to start your Blog?: I wanted a place to share my photography, really. I knew I was going to be travelling a lot this year, and I loved the idea of capturing different cities and cultures on film, in a sort of personal way.

Why did you choose Photography as a topic?: I would say it’s more a “lifestyle based photography blog”. I use my photos to show my experiences, although there are some photo shoots mixed in there that are purely for creative’s sake, let’s call it ”art”.

What are you top tips on starting a Blog?: Post about what you’re into, what makes you happy. It seems like an obvious thing to say but so many bloggers are on this mission to please their readers, always asking what they want to see. Sometimes it gets boring. I mean, I’m reading your blog already. (Half of my attraction to a blog is tied in with the blogger’s personality, definitely). Also, work on your writing skillzzz, it makes such a difference to read correctly structured sentences devoid of typos and grammar problems. If you don’t know the difference between “you’re” and “your”, I’m outta there.

What are your Blogging Targets for this year?: I don’t have any set targets. Getting new readers is cool because I like to meet people and get my blog out there (it feels good to know that other people like what I’m doing) but it’s not something I’m going to worry too much over.

Who are your favourite fellow bloggers?: Tori West for her style and photography, Robyn Lynch for her outfits, Lily Melrose for her hair and London lifestyle posts, Ellie for her all-round coolness, Ella Masters for her art. (God, are they all British? whoops. I follow loads of Swedish chicks on Instagram, they all seem to wear Docs with tiny shorts and eat McDonalds a lot.)

What trend are you most looking forward to working, this A/W 13?: I’m really not into fashion. I’m definitely into style and clothes though (I’m sure we all know the difference) but I don’t like to think too much about it.

Where’s your favourite place to grab a bargain and why?: Vintage/thrift markets. There are a few very cool ones in Cape Town that I frequent, I’ll also be exploring the markets in Amsterdam for the first time this month. Yesssss. So excited.

What’s your favourite type of camera to use?: At the moment I’m very into my Lomo LC-wide camera, it’s a film camera with a wide angle lens. I’d love to get a proper vintage film camera and one day learn more about digital photography (when I have money to burn). I am completely self-taught, my skills are purely aesthetic, based on what I see and what I like. I get inspired by pictures and landscapes and images rather than manuals and paragraphs and diagrams. (I don’t necessarily think that this is a good thing, but as an educated jazz musician, it’s a nice change to create art without any of the theoretical thinking behind it.)

Who is your favourite fashion brand and why?: Hmmm, I’ve just spent a few days in Dubai visiting my cousin and I have to say, I’m so disappointed with everything in the shops. Brands in Cape Town are bringing me down too, and I don’t do much online shopping purely because of all the ridiculously customs laws in SA. Maybe I’ll have a favourite brand after this next month that I’m spending in Europe.

What’s your personal style and what do you do to work it?: Vintage grunge. Thrifted, big jerseys, Doc Martens, ripped skinny jeans, messy, natural hair. I’m all about being comfortable, seriously.

Check out Bas here: BLOG//Twitter//Instagram//BlogLovin’

**Advertising is now open for November. If you would like to book a space, fill out the form on THIS page. 50% off for all teen bloggers. Enjoy!**

I am trying to find a new effect software instead of using money grabbing Instagram, so I have put together a review for you guys. Here it is…

Aviary

Aviary is a really fresh way of doing photo editing. It is really easy to use, and free! It is for IOS, Android, and Windows 7 Phone. It is super easy to use. Unfortunately I cannot screenshot it because the phone which it is on, home button has broken… meaning I cannot! So, here are a few pictures from Aviary’s site itself…

As you can see above, there are effects, editing tools, and frames. You can download different effects and frames, depending on what they are, depends on the price. At first, you get a screen (on the iPhone this), which you can flick through all your photos, then you click on the photo or Edit This Picture. You can then choose from, Enhancement, Effects, Frames, Stickers, Orientation, Crop, Brightness, Contrast, Saturation, Sharpness, Draw, Text, Redeye, Whiten, Blemish, or Meme. So there is a wide variety on things you can do. I really like the way this app looks, it is clear, and simple, and you don’t have to sign up! So, nobody can steal your pictures or, sell them! My favourite thing is the Meme tool. It’s pretty much a tool so you can put those like caption things on the picture, like you see a dog looking funny and it says ‘Sup?’. I also like how it is really easy to choose frames, and effects, all you have to do is click! And, of course you can take a picture on the app and then edit it as well.

CLEARNESS & OVERALL LOOK: 8/10 – Really easy to look at, and you can find your way around easily.

EASE OF USE: 9/10 – Super easy to use, like super easy.

WORRIES?: 1/10 – I don’t have any fear because you don’t have to sign up! But you can still share.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: 8/10 – Really good, and simple. Easy to use, and does good stuff! Oh, and it has a Meme Tool, so that’s fun!

Tadaa

Tadaa again, is free. But, if you want some of the features, you must sign up. It allows  you to put filters on certain parts of a picture, focus on a certain part, and take a picture with the effect already on it, and make your pictures even better quality. My favourite part is that you can take pictures with the effect on it at the same time. Also, you can snap away, and then edit them later. Here’s a snapshot (Picture from IphoneDarkRoom.com)…

As you can see, you have the choice of many effects, but some you need to sign up to use, you can add frames, change the brightness, use the focus tool, and change saturation. At first I found this app extremely hard to use, so you have to get use to it. It is quite good quality, and you can make a picture look really good, but if you find things hard to understand, this is not for you. Again, you have to sign up to use certain effects and tools, so that is a negative, but it will do if you don’t want that hassle, or the worry of perhaps, getting your pictures sold! 😉 You can actually draw around an area, and it will focus completely on that, which I like, so say, you’re watching something with a crowd,  you can edit it so, you are only focusing on the attraction. Also, you can edit pictures from your camera roll too. I believe this app is only on IOS at the moment.

CLEARNESS & OVERALL LOOK: 6/10 – It’s a bit confusing to look at.

EASE OF USE: 6/10 – Not that easy, but you get used to it.

WORRIES?: 4/10 – If I want to use an effect or tool, I might have to sign up, but I don’t want to do that!

OVERALL IMPRESSION: 7/10 – Quite good, and cool tools, but not very easy to use, and some things aren’t available without sign up!

These are few Blogs that I love right now…

A Girl A Style

Style Quotient

The Marcy Stop

Today’s Top Photography goes to… The Cherry Blossom Girl ‘Ooh La La’. I love the style of this blog; and, I especially love the outfit below 🙂

The Cherry Blossom Girl is today's Top Photographer! 🙂

I was browsing around, and found Today’s Top Fashion Photography! Today’s is by, From Me to You. I love the look and feel of this site & of course everything on it! Take a look here…

From Me To You Fashion Photography of the Day! Congratulations 🙂

Absolutely love the blog! Will definitely be returning to it!

I came up with the idea of doing a post, almost everyday, on my favourite pictures of Fashion. Today’s is by… Ben Trovato.   Take a look here >

Ben Trovato is Today's Top Fashion Photographer! Well done 🙂

I absolutely love Fashion Photography Blogs! I have been searching the web, and came across these 2! They are fab! Ben Trovato & The Sartorialist! Look here >

Ben Trovato & The Sartorialist Blogs.