Wednesday 27 May 2009
Activities
Since my last blog, I've spent much of my time catching up with a backlog of desk and computer work, looking after the needs of several clients, and managed a couple of short trips away. The first was to the Cumbrian Lake District, which became a bit of a reccé, really, because neither the weather nor the light were too kind. But I made a few images I think I can work on, and the break was good, too. Soon afterwards, I was in Paris, and was fortunate enough to stay in an apartment belonging to a very successful artist in the Montmarte district. Paradoxically, this trip was meant to be a break, but I was fairly busy, and managed to capture a good slice of Parisan street life - I'll get those pics onto my website as soon as I can. It was great to be there, and really enjoyable. Last week, in Newcastle, I attended the official opening, and preview evening, of the Great North Museum: Hancock. Previously well known as the Hancock Museum, it closed its doors to the public on 23 April 2006, and has now been transformed into a world-class visitor attraction as part of the £26 million Great North Museum project. I was commissioned last year to provide landscape images for display there, and they form a backdrop, as huge panoramas, depicting various ages in the 'Ice Age to Iron Age Gallery'. The museum is very much up to date, with lots of interactive displays, video, and high tech visual media, as well as animal life, so both adults and kids can have a great time there. It's great to be part of it. I've done quite a few panoramic images for clients recently, and some very large ones, too. I've found that Photoshop CS3, and Windows Vista, don't seem to get along too well, and in the course of producing my panoramas, caused me several headaches! I've now invested in CS4, so hope things will get a bit easier behind the scenes. Let you know in my next blog!
Friday 27 February 2009
Long Time
It's been a long time since I last updated the blog - despite my best intentions, there always seems to be something more pressing to do!
I had a couple of great trips to France last year, working on landscape photography in the Gers region, and on Ile de Re, then to the Camargue. I had a great time there photographing the white horses and the bulls in the wild, as well as the bull-running at Aigues-Mortes.
It's quite a spectacle, with the bulls being driven through the streets by a tight group of expert horsemen and women, at great speed, to a small arena outside the medieval town walls. There, the young men of the town demonstrate their macho credentials by attracting the attention of these powerful beasts, then running for safety with the bull charging behind - sometimes even following the runner into the stands of spectators! The bulls have leather 'caps' on the end of their horns, to prevent serious damage to both bulls and people, and in most cases it was the bulls who claimed the highest scores in their encounters with the Camargue guys. I saw several young men being hit by the bulls, and frightening though it was, they all walked away, sometimes with their shirts and their pride in tatters, but I guess ready to return next year!
Take a look at some of the images from the bull running and capture some of the excitement of the event. I was so close to the action that on one occasion the bull's horn grazed the lens hood on my camera as it galloped by! Certainly makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck!
Since then, I've had safer but spectacular work covering Northumberland Lights. In it's 3rd year, this major North East project runs throughout November and December, beginning at Blyth with a magnificent fireworks display (http://www.theworldfamous.co.uk/ ) then lighting up many sites and landscapes of Northumberland. Major attractions this year included a night time cycle ride through a dramatically lit Kielder Forest, and at Craster, the waves crashing into a beautifully lit harbour. You can see my images from these and previous years' events on my website, and also at http://www.northumberlandlights.com/ . Not as dangerous as the bull running in the Camargue - but the photography is nevertheless very testing - always in the dark, very often raining, and in sub zero temperatures!
I'll be uploading lots more new images to my site over the next few weeks, so watch out for them, and more updates to the blog.
I had a couple of great trips to France last year, working on landscape photography in the Gers region, and on Ile de Re, then to the Camargue. I had a great time there photographing the white horses and the bulls in the wild, as well as the bull-running at Aigues-Mortes.
It's quite a spectacle, with the bulls being driven through the streets by a tight group of expert horsemen and women, at great speed, to a small arena outside the medieval town walls. There, the young men of the town demonstrate their macho credentials by attracting the attention of these powerful beasts, then running for safety with the bull charging behind - sometimes even following the runner into the stands of spectators! The bulls have leather 'caps' on the end of their horns, to prevent serious damage to both bulls and people, and in most cases it was the bulls who claimed the highest scores in their encounters with the Camargue guys. I saw several young men being hit by the bulls, and frightening though it was, they all walked away, sometimes with their shirts and their pride in tatters, but I guess ready to return next year!
Take a look at some of the images from the bull running and capture some of the excitement of the event. I was so close to the action that on one occasion the bull's horn grazed the lens hood on my camera as it galloped by! Certainly makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck!
Since then, I've had safer but spectacular work covering Northumberland Lights. In it's 3rd year, this major North East project runs throughout November and December, beginning at Blyth with a magnificent fireworks display (http://www.theworldfamous.co.uk/ ) then lighting up many sites and landscapes of Northumberland. Major attractions this year included a night time cycle ride through a dramatically lit Kielder Forest, and at Craster, the waves crashing into a beautifully lit harbour. You can see my images from these and previous years' events on my website, and also at http://www.northumberlandlights.com/ . Not as dangerous as the bull running in the Camargue - but the photography is nevertheless very testing - always in the dark, very often raining, and in sub zero temperatures!
I'll be uploading lots more new images to my site over the next few weeks, so watch out for them, and more updates to the blog.
Thursday 17 April 2008
First Post!
John was born on Tyneside, in the North-East of England. His work has taken him to a great number of places in the UK and around the world, but his home for many years has been in Northumberland, England's most northerly county.
Throughout the website you will be able to view examples of his landscape photography and purchase photographic art prints from a wide and varied photographic image library. Landscape photographs range from classic Northumbrian landmarks such as Alnwick Castle to stunning portraits of people as far afield as Cuba and other parts of the UK, as well as his latest photographic art work. Browse the galleries....
Designers and creatives can also use this website to browse and download of John’s landscape photographs, through our online photographic image library for commercial projects, using our unique "Project builder" account which is free and easy to manage. Learn more...
The photographic art prints of John Williamson come in a distinctive style, capturing of the essence of his subject matter. Whether it’s the Great North Run or National Dance Company of Cuba, his works are colourful, vibrant and diverse. It is hardly surprising to see why his works have appeared in numerous brochures, magazines and other publications. Images from his photographic image library see publication, often with accompanying editorial.
John’s landscape photography mirrors the rich vein of life and diversity which makes up the north east of England. From the Georgian streets of Newcastle to rural scenes in Hexham and Corbridge, his website boasts a rich variety of scenes.
As this site sees regular updates, we recommend bookmarking this page, as new landscape photographs are transferred to the online photographic image library on a regular basis. His recent work in landscape photography has seen him diversify towards plants and gardens.
If you have any enquiries regarding John’s landscape photography, or his photographic art prints, feel free to make contact.
Throughout the website you will be able to view examples of his landscape photography and purchase photographic art prints from a wide and varied photographic image library. Landscape photographs range from classic Northumbrian landmarks such as Alnwick Castle to stunning portraits of people as far afield as Cuba and other parts of the UK, as well as his latest photographic art work. Browse the galleries....
Designers and creatives can also use this website to browse and download of John’s landscape photographs, through our online photographic image library for commercial projects, using our unique "Project builder" account which is free and easy to manage. Learn more...
The photographic art prints of John Williamson come in a distinctive style, capturing of the essence of his subject matter. Whether it’s the Great North Run or National Dance Company of Cuba, his works are colourful, vibrant and diverse. It is hardly surprising to see why his works have appeared in numerous brochures, magazines and other publications. Images from his photographic image library see publication, often with accompanying editorial.
John’s landscape photography mirrors the rich vein of life and diversity which makes up the north east of England. From the Georgian streets of Newcastle to rural scenes in Hexham and Corbridge, his website boasts a rich variety of scenes.
As this site sees regular updates, we recommend bookmarking this page, as new landscape photographs are transferred to the online photographic image library on a regular basis. His recent work in landscape photography has seen him diversify towards plants and gardens.
If you have any enquiries regarding John’s landscape photography, or his photographic art prints, feel free to make contact.
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