Lee Folkard Photography

My Top 5 Apple Apps

2012-02-28T11:20:00.000+02:00

I first discovered the wonderful world of apple apps via the istore about 3 years ago when i purchased an iPod Touch. I was instantly hooked and this followed with my iPad and now my iPhone. Luckily they can all sync and i can utilize the apps on any of these magical devices!

Here are my Top 5 Photography Apps on my iPhone. There are many many many more - so, shop around browse and enjoy.

5. DSLR Camera Remote Lite/Pro ($1.99/$19.99)

The Pro version is a hefty $20 but comes fully featured while the Lite version costs $2 and only fires the shutter.

4. Adobe Photoshop Express (FREE)

This is a great app for the iPhone from the photo editing giant Photoshop. It allows you to edit photos easily and quickly.

3. Camera + ($1.99)

Every camera needs a great lens, and Camera+ is just the ticket. The app has every feature you could think of for taking photos with your iPhone: an option to use the LED flash as a flashlight, the ability to set exposure on one part of an image and focus on another, a stabiliser that waits until the iPhone is being held perfectly still to take the photo, a grid to banish crooked shots and many, many more. The features don't just end at shooting photos either; once you've taken the photo, you can add a number of effects, crop, rotate, add a border and use the apps built-in auto corrector "Clarity" to bring things out of shadows and into the light. You can also share taken photos to Twitter and Facebook to show your friends your masterpieces.

2. Hipstamatic ($1.99)

Digital photography never looked so analog. The Hipstamatic brings back the look, feel, unpredictable beauty, and fun of plastic toy cameras of the past! The Hipstamatic keeps the the quirks of shooting old school but gives you the ability to swap lenses, film, and flash settings all with the swipe of a finger.

1. Instagram (FREE)

15 million users love Instagram! It’s a free, fun, and simple way to make and share gorgeous photos on your iPhone.

Pick from one of several gorgeous filtered effects or tilt-shift blur to breathe a new life into your mobile photos. Transform everyday moments into works of art you’ll want to share with friends and family.

My instagram account name is: leefolkard

Hope you've enjoyed the list. What is your favourite photography app?

The DSLR Camera Remote app from Oregon-based onOne Software lets you remotely adjust settings (shutter speed, WB, aperture, etc.), view previously taken images and trigger the shutter on your Canon or Nikon DSLR from your iPhone or iPod Touch. If LiveView is one of the features on your DSLR then consider it a feature on your iPhone, too.
The Pro version is a hefty $20 but comes fully featured while the Lite version costs $2 and only fires the shutter. A list of compatible Canon and Nikon DSLRs can be found here.

Read more: http://techland.time.com/2010/03/02/the-10-best-camera-apps-for-the-iphone/#onone#ixzz1nf7bls00

The DSLR Camera Remote app from Oregon-based onOne Software lets you remotely adjust settings (shutter speed, WB, aperture, etc.), view previously taken images and trigger the shutter on your Canon or Nikon DSLR from your iPhone or iPod Touch. If LiveView is one of the features on your DSLR then consider it a feature on your iPhone, too.
The Pro version is a hefty $20 but comes fully featured while the Lite version costs $2 and only fires the shutter.

Read more: http://techland.time.com/2010/03/02/the-10-best-camera-apps-for-the-iphone/#onone#ixzz1nf7yUBKG

Happily Ever After

2012-01-30T17:04:00.000+02:00

You know how when you were a little kid and you believed in fairy tales, that fantasy of what your life would be, white dress, prince charming who would carry you away to a castle on a hill.

You would lie in bed at night and close your eyes and you had complete and utter faith.

Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, Prince Charming, they were so close you could taste them, but eventually you grow up, one day you open your eyes and the fairy tale disappears.

Most people turn to the things and people they can trust.

But the thing is its hard to let go of that fairy tale entirely cause almost everyone has that smallest bit of hope, of faith, that one day they will open their eyes and it will come true.

First Shoot Advice (for Models)

2012-01-24T10:28:00.000+02:00

Models often ask for tips before their first shoot… things like, “what do I do beforehand?” and “how do I behave?”. So here’s some first shoot advice for new models.

Before the shoot
Discuss everything with the photographer in advance, including your limits (if any), and, if it's a trade shoot, how many shots you’ll be getting back, how you’ll receive them, and when you can expect them. If you're getting paid, ask about compensation, how you'll be paid (cash or check), and when you can expect to receive full payment. If you are hiring the photographer, find out exactly what the money you're paying covers: number of looks, number of edited images, styling team, etc. Also, be sure to figure out wardrobe, location, shoot length, and start time in advance. Work out if there will be a MUA on set, who is in charge of setting up the MUA, and the MUA’s payment.

Make sure you get a phone number you can reach the photographer at the day of the shoot in case, for example, you get lost on the way there. An email address is helpful as well, in case the site you’re using to communicate with goes down. There is no reason you should be afraid to give someone your phone number or email address, or, for that matter, talk to them on the phone in advance.

Some models like to see copies of releases they are going to be signing prior to shooting. It is perfectly acceptable to ask the photographer to email or fax you a copy to look over. This is helpful if you have any questions or want to ask if any changes can be made (not always something that gets agreed to, but you can still ask).

The day before
Confirm with the photographer. Send a quick note that says something to the effect of, “Hi Photographer, I’m just confirming our [style] shoot on [date] at [time]. I’ll be bringing [wardrobe items] and will come [ready for shooting/ready for makeup]. Again, my cell number is [123.456.7890]. Looking forward to working with you!” It might also be helpful to confirm the location address and directions if you’re not sure of where you’re going.

Get stuff together for shoots the night before. It means less frantic running around in the morning (and lessens the chance of forgetting something). Make a list of what you want to bring well in advance, and pack your suitcase the night before. Also make sure to print out directions in advance, get the photographer’s number into your phone, and print out any shot/pose ideas you have to bring along.

A good nights’ sleep means not looking tired on the shoot, but also having the energy to shoot all day.

Another thing you need to make sure you have is a copy of your photo ID. Many of us who drive don't leave home without our driver's license, but if you are bringing a different form of ID with you, make sure it is in your modeling bag so that, if asked, you can present it to the photographer. Some photographers make photocopies of IDs or take photos of models with their IDs, to have on record. This is perfectly acceptable (and for some kinds of work, required), so be prepared for this.

Showing up
Show up when the photographer asks you to, or slightly early (10-15 min max). Generally, it’s best to leave about 30 min extra when driving to a location in case you get lost, have to find parking, or have a delay (such as getting tied up with a car accident) on the road. It's better to be early than to be late!

How to act
Have a conversation with the photographer. It’s perfectly fine to joke, laugh, or otherwise have fun, but remember to stay professional. Steer away from discussing or joking about hot-button topics like sex, religion and politics. Be polite and courteous, and don’t be afraid to ask questions if you have any.

Keep your energy up
Bring a small snack and drink with, double if it’s going to be a long shoot. Not all photographers provide food and drinks, and it’s helpful to have something on hand should you find yourself parched. Passing out from hunger or dehydration is a bad thing.

If, for whatever reason, you feel like you need to take a break, ask to do so. Being tired, faint, hungry, bored, uncomfortable, or anything but into the shoot will show on the resulting shots, and they likely won’t be usable. So if you need to sit down, stretch, get out of the lights, take a drink, warm up, whatever, ask the photographer.

After the shoot
Chances are, after you shoot the photographer will ask you to sign a release. Be sure to carefully read the release before signing it. If a photographer needs to make a copy of your ID, they may do so now as well. If money is exchanging hands, it is common for it to happen after the shoot.

Before you leave
Before you leave the shoot, make sure you have everything you came with, and that anything you may have borrowed from the photographer or studio is back where you got it from. Make sure any garbage you've left behind (from makeup application or any snacks you brought) has been thrown away or properly recycled. And most definitely make sure that you've left the changing area as neat as (or neater than) you found it. You want to be invited back, or at the very least you want the photographer to know you didn't accidentally take something or leave a big mess for him to clean up.

Once you're ready to leave, be sure to thank the photographer for his time. A smile and a thank you goes a long way, and will help you build a reputation as a professional who appreciates others.

Article tweaked and made more S.A friendly. And Lee Folkard Photography friendly.

Lee Folkard Photography: Basics

2012-01-06T12:07:00.000+02:00

Only for the month of January.
If selected you will be given more details.
Who may apply: anyone 16 years and older.
That's it.

2011 - The year that was.

2012-01-04T08:00:00.000+02:00

As January 2012 rolls forth i look back at 2011 and smile. Smile not only because of the awesome memories and moments of the year that past but more importantly, i smile because of the endless possibilities that the year ahead holds.

2011 brought us: The end of Project 365. The concept shoots - Doll Me Up, The Midas Touch and VIVID. We had Project One and it's winner - Roxi Richards. The Wild Thing shoot that came about as her prize was my best shoot of 2011. It saw me step into the wonderful world of Apple - well half way there - for now. Lee Folkard Photography took on more corporate work nearing the closure of the year - which was a different experience with its own pro's and cons. The website also got a revamp.

What does 2012 have in store? More of course!

Thank you to all who have stuck around and all who have referred Lee Folkard Photography to someone else. In the words of Lil Wayne(whom I shot), "I ain't shit without you!"

Merry Christmas 2011

2011-12-24T15:00:00.000+02:00

Lee Folkard Photography wishes you a Merry Christmas 2011!

Creatives : 10 Things Worth Knowing

2011-10-24T10:32:00.000+02:00

1. Experts aren’t the answer.

The blogs, the teachers, the mentors, the seminars aren’t the answer. They’re not there to tell you exactly what you need to know. If they’re good, then they are there to give you some ideas, some guidelines, or some rules to learn and subsequently break. This isn’t about the expert, it’s about you. In creative pursuits especially…what’s going on inside you is where the answers can be found. Hear what experts say, but don’t always listen to them.

2. Clients cannot tell you what they need.

Clients hire you because they have a problem. They need a great visual representation of something, a solution. They think they know the best way to photograph something, but they don’t really. That’s why they hire you. Take their suggestions to heart, because they definitely know their brand, product, their vision–perhaps even shoot a few versions of the images they THINK they want to see first–but then go nuts with own vision. Add value. Show them something they didn’t expect. Don’t be a monkey with a finger. Remember why you got hired…that YOU are the badass image maker. If you are good enough to get selected for the job, you should be good enough to drive the photographic vision.

3. Don’t aim for ‘better’, aim for ‘different’.

It’s funny how related “better” and “different” are. If you aim for ‘better’ that usually means you’re walking in the footsteps of someone else. There will often be someone better than you, someone making those footsteps you’re following… But if you target being different–thinking in new ways, creating new things–then you are blazing your own trail. And in blazing your own trail, making your own footprints, you are far more likely to find yourself being ‘better’ without even trying. Better becomes easy because it’s really just different. You can’t stand out from the crowd by just being better. You have to be different.

4. Big challenges create the best work.

If you get assignments that are pushing your vision, your skills, then awesome. Kudos to you, keep getting those assignments. If you’re not getting those assignments, then you need to be self-assigning that challenging work. Give yourself tough deadlines and tougher creative challenges. You do your best work where there is a challenge that is clearly present and 10 feet taller than you think you can handle.

5. Aesthetic sensibilities actually matter.

Go figure on this one… I’m constantly surprised as how much this is overlooked. Read this and believe it: You must develop a keen understanding of design, color, light, and composition. To just say “I know a picture when I like it” isn’t going to get you anywhere. You need to know –for your own sake as well as the sake of your clients who will ask you– WHY a photo is a great photo. WHY is this one better than that one. If you don’t have any visual vocabulary, opinion, or aesthetic sensibility you won’t be able to explain these things. You won’t get the job. Or if you do get the job, you won’t be able to explain why your photos are worth getting hired again by the same client for the next campaign, story, or video. Trust me on this. Develop a sense of visual taste.

6. Simple is good.

Almost every photo that is bad has too much information. Outside of technical basics, the number one reason that most photos fail is because there is no clear subject. Often this is the case with design, film, fashion, you name it. Remove clutter, remove distraction. Tell one story, and tell it well.

7. Make mistakes, learn quickly.

Simply put, you need to be able to learn from your mistakes. Avoiding failure is not the goal. The goal is recovering from mistakes quickly. That goes for ever element of your photography–creative, business, vision…you name it. If you’re not willing to make mistakes, you’ll be paralyzed with inaction. That is the devil. Get out there and do stuff. If it works, do more of it. If it doesn’t work, change it. Quickly.

8. “Value” is different from “price.”

Don’t compete on price alone. That is certain death in any creative field. Focus on delivering value and price yourself accordingly. If you deliver great value with your images — better than expected, and better than your competition– and you can illustrate that through any means, then you should be more expensive. And remember that value comes in many forms.

9. A-Gamers work with A-Gamers.

If you are good at what you do, then you work–or seek to work–with other people who kick ass too. If you suck, then you put yourself around sucky people to feel better about yourself. If you want to be the best, seek to be around awesome people–be it other artists, assistants, producers, clients, partners, whatever. Shoot high. Shoot for better than yourself.

10. Real artists create.

Do you just sit around and think of stuff you could create, photograph, build, ship, or design, but never output anything? Then you’re a poser. Take a new approach and make stuff. Maybe what comes out of your studio isn’t perfect, but there should always stuff leaving the door and hitting the web, the page, the billboard, the gallery, or the street. If you are for real, you’ll be pumping out work on the regular.

Article credit: http://blog.chasejarvis.com

Steve Jobs - Legend

2011-10-06T08:44:00.000+02:00

“Here’s to the crazy ones.

The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers.

The round pegs in the square holes.

The ones who see things differently.

They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo.

You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them.

About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them.

Because they change things. They invent. They imagine. They heal. They explore. They create. They inspire. They push the human race forward.

Maybe they have to be crazy.

How else can you stare at an empty canvas and see a work of art?

Or sit in silence and hear a song that’s never been written?

Or gaze at a red planet and see a laboratory on wheels? …

While some see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.

Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.”

-Ad campaign by Apple Inc.

Rest in Peace Steve Jobs. Your innovation will live on.

"Quote of the Day"

2011-09-09T10:19:00.001+02:00

"For what it's worth;

It's never too late to be whoever you want to be.

There's no time limit, stop whenever you want.

You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing.

We can make the best or the worst of it.

I hope you make the best of it.

And I hope you see things that startle you.

I hope you feel things you never felt before.

I hope you meet people with a different point of view.

I hope you live a life you're proud of.

If you find that you're not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again."

The "Lee Folkard Photography" Experience

2011-09-08T13:27:00.000+02:00

We want to know about your experience with Lee Folkard Photography.

Have you had a portfolio shoot done by us?
Been a part of a family Shoot?
Been at a wedding we covered?
Done a couple shoot with Lee Folkard Photography?
Have we shot your birthday party?
Were you at a birthday that Lee Folkard Photography shot at?
Been a part of a "project" or "concept shoot" ?

How have you experienced Lee Folkard Photography?

What did you think?

We want to know your experience; good or bad!

All you have to do is email us at; info@leefolkard.com

Your experience; your full name and your contact number.

One randomly selected person will win a free mini shoot with Lee Folkard Photography!

Thank you,
for your support and your participation.

Website Revamped

2011-09-05T12:46:00.000+02:00

So, I embarked on a website revamp this weekend.
The website - [ www.leefolkard.com ] had needed an update as I had last updated it in April this year. Since then - as one can imagine - a lot of pictures have been taken.

I figured with the new update and change to the overall interface was on the cards as well. So I sat down and had to once again work my trial and error web design method. The actual colour scheme remains the same - minor tweaks here and there with an aim of making the site visually appealing and easy to work through.
Of course with pictures to match this!
The final choices of which pictures go up and which don't is a very very tiresome process.

Overall, I'm happy with the final outcome. A simple site with clean lines and a user-friendly interface.

Well - what are you waiting for - go check it out!!! www.leefolkard.com

[ Aspirations ]

2011-09-03T11:26:00.000+02:00

"My mother said to me, 'If you are a soldier, you will become a general. If you are a monk, you will become the Pope.' Instead, I was a painter, and became Picasso."
- Pablo Picasso

Safety Tips for 'Models'

2011-08-23T09:44:00.000+02:00

Safety is a major concern for female models, particularly if you are a freelance model working online. The Internet allows anyone to portray themselves in any manner they choose with virtual anonymity. Many profit from the dreams and aspirations of naive young women. Sometimes their motives are not as presented.

An amateur photographer can pose as a prominent professional or a guy working out of his basement with an elaborate website can claim to be an agency or model management company. Many of these individuals will offer models high pay, free photos with unrestricted use, free websites, paid travel etc...Due to the intimate nature of this business, some of these individuals may also have other motives than creating beautiful images or helping models succeed. Legitimate photographers or companies rarely offer amateur models anything for free, except perhaps a test photo shoot if they believe they have real potential.

Regarding both on and offline ads seeking female models. Anybody can publish those ads and pretend to be a photographer or agency. Often, these ads offer high pay with "no experience necessary" to lure unsuspecting young women into posing for explicit hardcore pictures. Some of these ads are legitimate and posted by companies in the adult film industry.

Below are some safety tips that may, if strictly followed and accompanied by common sense, help you as a freelance model avoid a dangerous situation.

Don't let anybody intimidate you into making a compromise. Follow these model safety tips every time.

When looking for a photographer, if the individual or company has an online presence, check to see what kind of modeling they represent and how professional their work looks.

Always ask for and check professional references.

Be suspicious of extravagant claims that promise great pay with no experience necessary.

If meeting for the first time, make sure it's in a neutral public location and notify a friend or family member of where you are going.

ALWAYS bring a chaperone with you to all non-public meetings.

Do not give out personal information or accept a friend request on your social networking profile until you have determined the legitimacy of the individual or company.

Do not be persuaded into posing in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable no matter how great the money is.

Prior to the photo shoot you may be asked to sign a model release. This is common and required for most photo shoots. Make sure that you understand what you are signing and don't be afraid to negotiate and ask questions. If you're uncomfortable, ask that it be amended or don't do the photo shoot. You should review the model release during the initial meeting with the photographer.

Don't be discouraged from pursuing your modeling aspirations. Many photographers, whether advertising online or in the local newspaper, are legitimate and conduct themselves professionally. The above model safety tips will help you determine which photographers or companies to consider.

How to Smile in Photographs

2011-08-22T11:28:00.000+02:00

1. Take a deep breath and let yourself relax. Taking pictures can be stressful, but stress and negativity leave you tense and anxious. Listen to music, sip a bottle of water or give yourself a few quiet minutes to meditate or daydream before a shoot.

2. Don't force yourself to hold your smile for too long -- you'll end up looking mechanical and unnatural. If the photographer counts down, smile on 1. If there's a pause between pics, let your face relax and then smile again just before the next photograph.

3. Think of something funny or happy before you smile -- it'll help you smile more naturally. Laughing a little helps your smile look natural, too.

4. Don't forget to smize -- smile with your eyes! If your smile doesn't reach your eyes, it doesn't look genuine. Smile in the mirror and watch how your eyes change. Your smile should brighten up your whole face, not just your mouth.

Post Process Procedure

2011-08-04T09:52:00.000+02:00

"Post Process Procedure"

I have decided to make an effort to decide on one basic look for my shoots and create a monotone feel throughout the shots.

This can be seen specifically in my last 3 "concept shoots" this year.

Wild Thing with Roxi Richards, Project One winner!
VIVID
The Midas Touch

I have also done this with a normal shoot; see Mzamo Shozi.

This sort of uniformed look and feel can be achieved by using the same post processing techniques on each picture.

Below you will see ONE image. Modified NINE different ways.

Image number 1 is the original - straight from camera image, slightly cropped.
What one has to factor in is the overall "concept" and all other outfits and shooting locations within the shoot.
The one that would work best for all will be chosen. Quite the process and quite a challenge.
So far, so good though. Can you tell which was used for the Midas Touch shoot?

Project 365 v 2.0

2011-08-03T13:23:00.001+02:00

On the 1st of February 2010 I started Project 365. A picture a day for 365 days.
The Group can be found on facebook; Lee Folkard: Project 365.
Ending on the 31st January this year - I had decided that I would not be doing another one for quite some time! It becomes quite challenging to take and display a worthy picture on a day to day basis.

We all have our busy days, our bad days, our time away and our lazy days.

7 months down the line - I find myself here. Day 2 of Project 365 v2.0.
What can I say - I am a sucker for photography.

My photography page: Lee Folkard Photography will be the host this time round. I have started an album titled; Project 365 v2.0.
I am pretty sure facebook has a cap on the number of images allowed per album - but I will cross that restriction when I get there.

The main change this time round is - I will not always be uploading a picture a day -BUT I will be taking a picture a day. The whole transfer to pc and resize and label takes some time sometimes and this will also stand for days when I am busy, or lazy, or away from a pc.

~~What you can rest assured is that by; 01/08/2012 - there will be 365 pictures.~~

Along the way expect some themed sets of pictures, and some interesting interactions.
Hopefully participation from members of the Lee Folkard Photography page will be consistant throughout.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS PROJECT 365 HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED. A NEW PROJECT WILL BE STARTED SOON. STAY TUNED FOR MORE DETAILS.

The 32nd Durban International Film Festival (DIFF)

2011-07-23T19:28:00.000+02:00

When: 21st - 31st July 2011

Where: Durban, South Africa

Website: DIFF

South Africa’s longest-running film festival, the Durban International Film Festival runs across 12 days at the end of July, presenting over 250 screenings of current films from around the world, with strong focus on South African and African cinema. Screenings take place throughout Durban including township areas where cinemas are non-existent.

I love this time of the year because I get to a diverse range of movies and also support local arts.

I type up this blog minutes before I leave to go and see my first movie of the film festival; The Tree of Life.

Some places showing movies for the festival include; main cinema's such as Gateway, Musgrave and Suncoast. As well as the likes of The Royal Hotel and the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre.

Some movies that I am realy looking forward to are: Three, Brownian and a Woody Allen movie to close the festival - Midnight in Paris.

The DIFF can be followed on twitter at: DIFF

Also you can follow my updates via LEE FOLKARD.

Instagram; the phenomenon.

2011-07-20T20:31:00.000+02:00

I call it a phenomenon because Instagram is much more than one app the way Facebook is much more than one site.

My First Instagram - and now I am hooked

So what is Instagram and why is it such a huge success? Instagram is an iPhone app that enables the user to snap a photo (or take an existing photo from the phone’s gallery), enhance it with eleven different possible effects, share it on the various social networks, as well as on Instagram itself, which has quickly turned into a social network of its own.

Instead of discussing each one of the features in Instagram, I thought I would take a different approach and point out four things that Kevin Systrom, the developer of Instagram did right, while software giants before him got all wrong.

Bullseye

1. True Social Integration: Instagram has managed to add seamless social integration to sites like Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, FourSquare, and Tumblr. The main difference between this integration and others is that in Instagram’s case, it works perfectly on both a practical and conceptual level. Others before it could not pull it off the way Instagram has.

2. Utter Simplicity: I cannot stress this point enough. If you are a developer, you might want to run a short analysis on all the apps that have gone viral recently. Angry Birds, Flipboard, Cut the Rope, Real Racing, and many more. The common thread that jumps out at me is simplicity. These apps are not overloaded with fancy features and they do not do extraordinary things, they just work. A user can open Flipboard and begin using it without a tutorial. The same is true with Instagram, and that, in my humble opinion, is why the app is so appealing.

http://www.leefolkard.com/

3. Simple Photo Sharing: The thing with Instagram and the reason I did not download it the first time someone talked about it on my Facebook or Twitter stream is because I thought it was just another silly photography app for iPhone. There are so many apps out there like Hipstamatic that allow you to enhance your iPhone photos with cute effects. The thing is with Instagram that separates it from the rest is its sharing abilities. Not only can you easily share your Instagram photos on Facebook or Twitter in one simple step, but you can actually build an entire network of friends around your Instagram photos. What Instagram figured out that others before it did not is that people like to create things but even more than that, they like to show them off.

4. Scalability: Now I am no developer and I do not know how to properly handle the issue of scalability when it comes to the viral nature of iPhone apps. Having said that, if you are a developer and you create an iPhone app, you need to be prepared for it to explode. In fact, if you do not think it is going to take off, then why bother creating it? Take the case of Flipboard for example. Mike McCue, the CEO and brains behind the wildly popular Flipboard app explains in an interview that he doubled the amount of servers his developer told him he needed before launching Flipboard. However, with the help of some major Flipboard evangelists, the servers crashed within seconds and they had to implement a registration program to roll out the app gradually to new signups. Instagram has exploded and continues to grow in numbers, yet the app is responsive, robust, and fun to use. No scalability issues to be found.

vivid

All in all, Instagram seems to be taking the crown of the next big thing in photo sharing. I am sure we will see the app on other platforms including Android and maybe even Windows Phone 7, but for now, developers should be taking this app as a case study and learning a few very crucial lessons about getting their app to take off the way Instagram has.

Capture Life

Have you tried Instagram yet? What did you think? Please let us know in the comments or reach out to me on Twitter.

[ VIVID ]

2011-07-18T09:32:00.000+02:00

It's been a while since I have blogged. Been quite busy with shoots. I have been debating doing another Project 365 - most likely starting in August of this year! But we shall see about that one.

I have been having an awesome time using Instagram! An app for my iPad. A blog will follow within the next week about this amazing FREE app for all those who have an iphone, ipad touch or ipad.

Last weekend I did my 2nd "concept" themed shoot for 2011. One more to come!

Below find a few pictures from, [ VIVID ]

Wild Thing with Roxi Richards

2011-07-04T11:39:00.001+02:00

"There is a pleasure in the pathless woods;
There is a rapture on the lonely shore;
There is society, where none intrudes,
I love not man the less, but Nature more..."

Winner of Project One, Roxi Richards' much anticipated shoot happened yesterday.
A team consisiting of; make-up artist, Jessica Frew ; stylist, Brett Robson ; and myself ; met with Roxi at 08:00. Braving the cold we made the trek of about 30+ minutes carrying all our gear to our starting point.
We had decided to really go wild for our; "Wild Thing" shoot concept.
Sunlight was evident even though the early morning conditions still resulted in an icy chill in the air.

On reaching our desired point of commencement we got going. Make-Up begun and Outfits and Accessories were paired and the shooting started.

What followed shows evidence that when a team of people get together with a common purpose - great results follow. I believe this goes for all things in life. Big or small, teamwork and working with nature, not against it - yields positive results.

Some pictures from the, "Wild Thing" shoot can be found on my facebook page. Comments are most welcome. Keep checking as within the next few days, more pictures will go up.

Once again I would like to thank all involved in the shoot!

Loss = Life

2011-06-21T13:48:00.000+02:00

"Loss is a part of life.

You can't really care for something or someone until you realize that one day, they may be gone.

And when they do go, we feel as if everything goes with them and we feel like we'll never really care about anything again.

But we do.

And we discover that that loss was a gift, that helps us appreciate all of the things we still have."

Find Lee Folkard Photography

2011-06-20T13:00:00.000+02:00

Where else can you find Lee Folkard Photography?

[ facebook ] -> Click here -> Lee Folkard Photography Page [ LIKE THE PAGE ]

[ twitter ] -> Click here -> Lee Folkard Twitter Account -> [ FOLLOW ]

The importance of proper undergarments

2011-06-14T09:14:00.000+02:00

I read a lot of blogs; photography, fashion, models, art; all things of interest basically.
I came across an interesting article on undergarments worn when doing a shoot or fashion show.
As I have encountered situations whereby the person I was photographing had worn very unflattering underwear - I figured let me share this with you all.

Article by: Rachel Jay | Chicago Modeling Examiner

One of the most common new model mistakes is not having proper undergarments, but proper undergarments are important for all models.

It is rare that a designer wants their garments modeled with visible panty lines, or bra straps showing, and it is rare that a photographer working on a project for a client (or for personal reasons) wants to see the same. Models need to make sure they are fully prepared when it comes to undergarments when they pack for a shoot, even if wardrobe is being provided.

To start, every model should have at the very least a nude thong, a nude bra, and a nude strapless bra, all seamless and properly fitting. Nude undergarments are essentials for modeling and ensure that the wardrobe looks best without a distracting bright color or crazy pattern peeking though. Sometimes, a look calls for that, but more often than not, it's a distraction and majorly takes away from the shot, because it's an amateur mistake (often made on both sides of the camera). Patterned bras and brightly colored panties should be left for lingerie shoots and personal use only.

A nude thong is also essential for wardrobe to ensure there are no visible panty lines. In most cases, it is preferable for a garment to hang as seamless as possible, and wearing a properly fitting thong (not one that digs in and causes additional lines at the hip) is essential to keeping undergarment lines to a minimum. And, of course, you want the thong to be nude to make certain no crazy colors or patterns show through.

In addition to a nude thong and the 2 nude bras, a black strapless bra might come in handy. Also, in some cases, the bra-less look might be called for, but a photographer or designer might wish to hide erect nipples. If this is the case, having a pair of reusable silicone pasties is helpful. They are easy to carry and can be tossed in a bag easily, which means they should also be a staple.

Having the proper undergarments, which fit perfect, ensure a model looks her best while modeling. Making sure she has these things is important, especially for new models, because being properly prepared will go a long way to help a new model build a reputation as a professional.

Project One Winner - Roxi Richards [ The Q & A Session ]

2011-06-02T18:59:00.000+02:00

25 Days | 3381 New Lee Folkard Photography Page Members | 5186 Votes | One Winner!

Introducing, Roxi Richards.

Congratulations and well done on securing the number one spot after a 25 day Project, with two phases!

How have the last few weeks been for you?

Exciting, sleep deprivation at its maximum, enjoyed the entire process though!

You were leading after phase 1 - did you expect to stay in the lead and win the project in phase 2?

I did not win by very many votes in phase one so it was a close competition throughout.

What has been the best part about being in Project One?

I made so many new friends, meeting the top 10 girls at the photo shoot, they all great

Did you enjoy the Top 10 shoot, what was memorable from that day?
Yes I did enjoy it – lots of fun and not forgetting the cold. The location was great and having Lee who is a professional taking my pictures was awesome.

So you've won - what now?
I plan to take this a little further and try and get my foot into the door to the world of modeling, update my portfolio etc

Did you get a lot of random friend request and messages during the project? Anything or anyone come to mind?
Yes, made lots of friends and thank you to all those who voted for me. Not forgetting “Keenan James” haha, won’t forget that guy

You received a lot of help from friends and family - name 3 of the people you'd like to give a special thanks to?
My mum - she got every1 at work to vote 4 me, which I truly appreciate, even those that became new facebook users.

All my friends helped in a big way but I’d like to thank CHEVAUN LINDERBOOM, she played a big part in the comp, got me loads of votes..Even got strangers to vote. Few girls from the top 10 also showed their support by voting for me as well, thanks ladies.

Complete the sentences:

Tevin Jina came second because… she is a beautiful young lady and worked hard throughout the project. I think she gave off her best to all tasks that were given to her and this is evident in her poll position.

Your best physical feature is your… nose

You're single because… mmm, who said I’m single haha ? I want to concentrate on my studies and career

Project One… -has given me a platform from which good things can begin

Your favorite movie is… - disturbia

What surprised you most about the Project?
That so many people supported me and that I got more than 400 votes..wow!

First 3 words that come to mind when I say:

Roxi Richards – shy ,active ,considerate
Lee Folkard - BEST PHOTOGRAPHER EVER
Global Warming - carbon ,drought ,famine
Africa - naturalistic, poverty, aids
Eminem - successful, ambitious, vulgar

Why doesn't glue stick to the bottle?
Lol not again haha, but this time i'll answer with confidence ;), the glue will probably stick to the bottle if it has a chance to dry. Since the bottle is always kept closed when the glue isn't being dispensed, the glue doesn't dry out. But if you open the bottle and leave it open long enough for the glue to dry out, it will probably stick to the bottle pretty well!

Any last words?
Yes, it was a privilege to be a part of project one, I am truly thankful! All the ladies that were apart of top 10 are really gorgeous and we are all winners because we all went the extra mile to get votes, we were all determined to win. So well done to all.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Roxi Richards - Lee Folkard Photography's Project One Winner!

Project One [ Group Shots with the Top 10 ]

2011-05-23T13:52:00.003+02:00

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

So yesterday I had the Top 10 Shoot with the Project One girls.
At 07:00 girls started arriving. I got to watch the sun rise - which is something I never tire of seeing.

A few shots of each girl were taken - with intent of using them to upload onto the Photography Page for Phase 2 of voting. Prior to this people were voting on pictures submitted by the entrants.

Each girl will get one image uploaded this evening at 17:00 and they will remain up for 7 days. At the end the girl with the most votes will take the prize!

I wanted to take a group picture of the top 10 girls to add to the original logo that i had made for the Project.
My inspiration came from one of my favourite tv shows - Lost. See below - I was pleased with result.

The shoot went well and it was great to meet ten beautiful people.

After the mandatory pictures - a few group shots were taken. See below:

What do you think? Awesome bunch aren't they? Anyways - They need your VOTE :)
See: Lee Folkard Photography Page for more details!

Some of the girls stayed after the shoot wrapped up and we took a few more fun shots. I will upload some at a later stage.

Project One - Tips to get more Votes

2011-05-07T19:01:00.000+02:00

1. Awareness

Get ALL your friends to know that you are in a competition.

This can be done via status updates. Links to the Lee Folkard Photography Page. Links to the Project One Album. Create an Event on Facebook. It's free and can be used to create a domino-type effect, which is essentially what you want to amass the required votes. Tag the Lee Folkard Photography page in status updates using the @ key. So people can easily click through to like the page.

2. Share

Facebooks platform enables you to share just about anything. All the links that you used to create awareness should be shared. You can share links via, wall posts, status updates, profile pages, event walls, even in individual messages to target friends one at a time. I would go as far as to share links via Facebook Chat if you do use it.

3. Step Process

Once you have their attention - people need to be aware that they need to LIKE the Lee Folkard Photography Page first. Then locate your picture. For those who have difficulty in locating the album on the page - this will not be a problem with the many Direct Links you have posted all over the place.

Once they find you picture they need only type the word - VOTE as a comment under the picture.

4. Networking

The most important factor of the whole voting process is that of networking. You may have 300 facebook friends and another entrant may have 1000 facebook friends - The important thing is that you get the friends of your friends to vote and then their friends. The Domino Effect. What you want is the people that do take the time to vote for you to let their friends know about this competition. So once people vote for you - ASK them to share the link with their friends. ASK them to make status updates etc. And so the process should fall - and YOU will start accumulating VOTES.

Direct your friends to this blog post so that they can have a better understanding of how this whole thing works.

Good Luck to all involved and thank you for participating in a Lee Folkard Photography Project.

See website at -> http://www.leefolkard.com/

Project One - Dates and Info

2011-05-04T20:41:00.000+02:00

Phase One kicks off on Friday 6th May 2011 - Once the pictures are uploaded - voting will commence.
To vote - All you will need to do is get your friends and others to type the word - VOTE as a comment on your uploaded picture. The pictures will all be uploaded into an album in the Lee Folkard Photography Page.
You can vote on as many pictures as you wish -BUT only one vote per picture! Duplicate votes will result in all your votes being deleted.

Phase One will end on Monday 16th May 2011 @ 17:00.
Votes will be counted and the Top 10 Candidates will move on to the next phase.

Shoot with Top 10 Candidates on Sunday 22nd May 2011 @ 07:00.
This is a very important date - should you make the Top 10 you will be required to be available on this date at this time for a quick shoot. If you are unable to make it - your place will be forfeited.
Shoot will take place on Umhlanga Beach. You will be required to do your own hair and make-up.
Dress Code: Jeans and a white tank top. You should be done by 09:00 at latest.

Phase Two begins on Monday 23rd May 2011 - Once pictures uploaded voting will again commence.
Your newly taken shots will be uploaded and voting again will commence.
All votes will be stripped from Phase One however, the person who was leading will start off with 10 free votes and the person who was second with 9 - and so forth.

Phase Two ends on Monday 30th May 2011 @ 18:00. Winner announced!
Woohoo! The End - One Winner takes the Prize!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Fine Print Below:
Lee Folkard Photography reserves the right to change any details at anytime.
If rules are broken - Lee Folkard Photography can delete your entry.
Rules: Play fair. Any suspicious activity will cause deletion.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[ Project One ] - The Prize

2011-05-02T15:08:00.001+02:00

And the winner gets *drum roll*

A themed photoshoot with Lee Folkard Photography valued in excess of R5000.00!
How awesome is that?!

Consisting of:

- 3 hours plus shooting time
- 40 plus edits
- DVD Slideshow
- Post-Shoot Consultation Session
- Pictures from shoot displayed on net
- Blog post done with post-shoot interview
- Professional Make-Up artist on day of shoot
- Stylist on day of shoot
- 10 x A3 Prints

Because this is a themed shoot prize - the winner should be getting a unique concept shoot idea with all necessary props and extra's supplied by Lee Folkard Photography.

***********
Terms and Conditions apply
***********
Lee Folkard Photography reserves the right to change any prize specifics.

[ More details will follow. Entries still welcome* ]

[ feelings ]

2011-04-30T17:28:00.000+02:00

I believe that one should always follow their feelings, regardless if they are logical or not.
Embrace your feelings I always say.

It does not matter if these feelings are good or bad, just embrace them and let your heart lead the dance.
This is why it’s OK to be sad. It’s OK to cry. It’s OK to dwell on your pain. You don’t always have to cheer up for the sake of another.

Today I decide to go against this belief.

Today I endure pain for love.

Today I walk past the warning sign.

Tonight I let fear feast.

Tonight I depend on faith.

Project One

2011-04-27T11:31:00.000+02:00

New Project :::: Coming Soon

To be a part; Send through:

1 x full length picture

1 x close up picture
Age

email: info@leefolkard.com

Authenticity is invaluable; Originality is nonexistent.

2011-04-20T14:38:00.000+02:00

The history of the world is one of shared spaces, shared food, shared water, shared DNA, shared lives.

The history of art is the same.

It is a history of an evolution of ideas, of appropriation and application.

Therefore, if you’re looking for inspiration, look no further than 1. inside you; and then 2. to other art work that fuels your soul.

Apply your own story to what you see.
Make it relevant, make it yours.
Remix it all and you’re underway.

“Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic. Authenticity is invaluable; originality is nonexistent.”

"All of life is a collage."

Sunrise

2011-04-13T14:57:00.000+02:00

"At sunrise everything is luminous but not clear.
It is those we live with and love and should know who elude us.
You can love completely without complete understanding."

Early morning shoot with Sindy Dlamini.
The sun took a good 45 minutes to finally break through the horizon, giving lots of time to capture some great shots!

Photographer: Gregory Crewdson

2011-04-07T11:55:00.000+02:00

Gregory Crewdson (born September 26, 1962) is an American photographer who is best known for elaborately staged, surreal scenes of American homes and neighborhoods.

The sheer nature and attention to detail used in each of his shoots somehow warrants the exorbitant prices!
See link for details on the $1 Million Photo Shoot!

Photographer: Peter Lik

2011-04-05T11:54:00.000+02:00

I have decided to blog every now and then about photographers I admire or who have made it to another level in terms of success in the art world.

Up first; Peter Lik.

Peter Lik (born 1959 in Melbourne) is a self-taught Australian landscape photographer who took to the medium when young. While traveling in Alaska in 1984, Lik began to experiment with panoramic cameras. He is known for his limited editions. For more info on Peter check out his website.

Some of the people that have one of his pieces include; George Bush, Celine Dion, Dr Dre, Bill Clinton, Justin Timberlake and Paris Hilton!

those Moments

2011-04-02T22:03:00.000+02:00

"A few times in my life I've had moments of absolute clarity, when for a few brief seconds the silence drowns out the noise and I can feel rather than think, and things seem so sharp and the world seems so fresh.

I can never make these moments last.

I cling to them, but like everything, they fade.

I have lived my life on these moments.

They pull me back to the present, and I realize that everything is exactly the way it was meant to be."

Doll Me Up - The Concept Shoot

2011-03-17T09:57:00.000+02:00

So, a few months back I had the idea to do a few "concept shoots".
They would be unique ideas/themes done to photoshoot and add to my portfolio of work whilst also including people that are part of my Lee Folkard Photography Fan Page on facebook.
This way I reward people that participate in my page and support my work AND I get to do something challenging and different whilst also building on my work. WIN - WIN - WIN.

I asked for people who were interested to forward me relevant info and then compiled a database of potential candidates.

After a botched attempt at Concept Shoot #1 - When all people involved are not on the same page things fall apart. On to Concept Shoot #2.

I got the idea to do a doll inspired shoot. Many ideas were played around with as dolls are a broad theme - at the end most inspiration was taken from the doll of all dolls - Barbie :)
With a lil twist - having one "bad doll" amongst the bunch. So 5 girls were selected and plans set in motion.

Saturday 12th March arrived and all 5 girls pitched. The Make-Up artist was there, along with the Stylist.
It marked my first photoshoot which featured video. This should be available more in the future of Lee Folkard Photography. With my uChannel launched on YouTube-> www.youtube.com/user/leefolkard
You may see a few videos that are already up.

Starting at 08:00 and going on till about 15:00 - a long day was had by us all. But I would hope a memorable one will be remembered.

I would like to thank all those involved in this successful concept shoot:
Angela, Nicci, Chandre, Chelsi, Kayla, Brett and Jessica - awesome work all round!

Doll Me Up! More pictures coming soon!

An Open Letter

2011-03-10T15:22:00.000+02:00

Hello, Random Person:

I know you can see my eyes wandering from the dirty street floor up to your face. Or maybe it’s your hair, or the line of your nose. I just can’t help it. I stare at people.

As I go through life, I’m constantly snapping pictures with my mind. Studying the light as it hits random people’s faces. That’s my life… to see… to see the world around me and find the little hints of beauty, or maybe I’m looking for the ugly in all that beauty. I just can’t help it. I stare at people.

Oops. Our eyes met again, I’ll quickly turn my head away and pretend I’m looking at the poster of… Oh shit, that’s an advertisement for Viagra. I don’t need that, I’ll quickly turn my head away. For a moment, I stare at someone or something else. I just can’t help it. I stare at people.

It’s not you, it’s me. You think I’m staring at you, but I’m not, I promise… I’m just looking at the light, or maybe it’s your skin, or maybe it’s the cool clothes you’re wearing, or maybe it’s the way your jeans fit you… Ok, I guess I am staring at you. I just can’t help it. I stare at people.

I’m walking up the stairs. You seem to be taking the same turns as me. As I turn the corner, I catch a glimpse of the way you walk. You have this sense of grace, almost like you’re floating. I think you notice me looking, again. I’m sorry. I just can’t help it. I stare at people.

Later that day, I’m walking down the street and happen to run into you again. I notice your outfit changed a bit. Your blouse is flowing in the wind, what beautiful movement. Your hair… Yes, your hair too it looks fuller – it’s not as wet like this morning – the wind gives it this beautiful flowy look. I look the other way as we pass. I think you noticed that I was looking at you again. I’m sorry. I just can’t help it. I stare at people.

I get home finally. I remember the things I saw today, and yesterday, and the day before. The flow of your dress. The attitude I sensed. The way you sat. The way you held on to the hand rail as you walked up the slippery stairs. Your hair flowing in the wind, your hair style – I love it.

I promise, I do it to everyone, everything. The Girls. The Guys. The Statues. The Buildings. The Taxis. The Cars. The Ocean. The Sky. The Light. The Dark.

You’re beautiful. You’re Ugly. Your style inspires me. Your style? What style? Your eyes freak me out. They’re glaring at me. I’m really not staring at you. You have this attitude that inspires me. Yes, I’m looking at you, but I promise I’m really not looking at you.

I can’t help it, I’m a photographer.

Sincerely,
Lee Folkard

[ Photography ]

2011-03-01T11:33:00.000+02:00

"Photography isn't about making money, getting famous, getting dates, getting laid, or making friends.

In the end, it's about enriching the lives of those who will see your work, and enriching your own life, as well."

Bianca Paul

Silhouettes & Shadows

2011-02-17T08:35:00.000+02:00

"A long time ago in ancient Greece, there was a young boy who fell in love with a young girl from another country.

One day word came that the young girl would have to go home.

So on their last night together he traced the outline of his lovers shadow, so that he could always remember how she looked on the very last moments they were ever to be together."

Bianca Paul

A Man Walks into a Room

2011-02-16T07:38:00.001+02:00

"When a man walks into a room, he brings his whole life with him.

He has a million reasons for being anywhere, just ask him.

If you listen, he'll tell you how he got there.

How he forgot where he was going, and that he woke up.

If you listen, he'll tell you about the time he thought he was an angel or dreamt of being perfect.

And then he'll smile with wisdom, content that he realized the world isn't perfect.

We're flawed, because we want so much more.

We're ruined, because we get these things, and wish for what we had."

My [Beautiful] [Dark] [Twisted] [Fantasy]

2011-02-11T08:34:00.000+02:00

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy | The Barbie Edition is now on (",)

It will be an ongoing project for me and will be updated as time goes on.

To see the album, click HERE

The Reasons

2011-02-07T10:46:00.000+02:00

Ten Reasons why Lee Folkard Photography is right for you:

1. You are young, hot, and gorgeous! Why not show it off to the World!
2. You are 50 and Fabulous, shall I say more?
3. Not sure what to give your lover as a gift, look no further!
4. Your birthday is coming up, what a wonderful gift to give to yourself!
5. Bad Break-Up? Instead of indulging in some mourning and sorrow, why not treat yourself to a sexy photo shoot and show him what he/she lost!
6. Giving the On-Line Dating Scene a try, you’ll need some breathtaking photographs of yourself to post up on your profile. Facebook! (500 million possibilities)
7. Just finished recovering from major plastic surgery, now it’s time to flaunt it!
8. Planning a party for yourself or someone else, our sexy photo shoot parties will knock their socks off!
9. Tired of the daily soccer mom routine, pamper yourself to a full photo shoot make-over.
10. The Best Reason of all…..”Why not, you are worth it”!

The Top 12 - Project 365

2011-02-06T08:14:00.002+02:00

February 2010

March 2010

April 2010

May 2010

June 2010

July 2010

August 2010

September 2010

October 2010

November 2010

December 2010

January 2011

Which is your favourite?

Project 365

2011-02-05T08:09:00.000+02:00

Over a year ago I realised that I was picking up my camera less and less on a regular basis, with the exception of paid shoots.
This was a concern to me, as when I first started out in photography I used to travel practically everywhere with my camera near by. [ almost an extention to my one arm! :) ]
I decided to embark on a journey.

And what a journery it was! Project 365 started on February 1st, 2010 and lasted ........... well you guessed it - 365 days! [ pat yourself if you got that one before I mentioned its duration! ;) ]

~~There were tough times of course~~ - Lets back up a bit -

Project 365 would be me, Lee Folkard, taking and uploading a picture per day for 365 days. Any picture would do.

There were tough times and there were good times. TImes I'd gotten home at 23:45 and had 15 minutes to take the picture and upload it onto the computer and get it online. Weekends away when I had to haul the laptop with me to get my picture online. Load-shedding, and Internet issues - But all in all it was an amazing success!

A group is available on facebook with each days pictures. Feel free to check it out and to leave a comment.
Link -> http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=282716443458

Looking back through all the pictures I can get a sense of achievement as I see pictures representing different ventures and frontiers passed by over the 365 days. Moments in time frozen to be looked back and recalled.

Photography. You gotta love it ;)

Next up: Top 12 Pictures in Project 365

Being a Model

2011-01-31T10:58:00.000+02:00

Being a model is more dangerous than letting Stevie Wonder take you on a walking tour of The Grand Canyon. Seriously. Modeling is an extremely dangerous profession. I don't think there's a more dangerous profession out there...

If I were an insurance agent, I would not insure models for anything. Not life insurance, not personal liability insurance, and definitely not auto insurance. From my own personal experience models have car problems 50% of the time. 50%! That's a coin toss! I'd just ride my bike everywhere if I knew my chances of breakdown, accident, flat tire, etc. were 50%! They must spend a lot of money on auto repair, AAA, insurance (if anyone is willing to even insure them), GPS systems (though these usually don't work for models), hospital bills (personal injury), etc. And from what've heard, their cars get broken into all the time, and you know what the thieves steal? Clothes! It's always another model or a cross-dressing transvestite with good taste that's breaking into models' cars. Nothing else gets stolen. Just the clothes. What are the odds of that?!? Amazing!
Speaking of personal injury, models go to the hospital a LOT. Models sometimes get punched in the face (during fistfights of course), fall down stairs, they get kidney damage, break limbs, and lots of surgeries.

And this is on top of being sick all the time. I'd call them hypochondriacs but they tell me they really do get sick! They are 10x as likely to catch the flu, stomach bug, colds, have an adverse allergic reaction, etc. Of course none of these illnesses are alcohol-related. I mean, I've never heard about models getting drunk, getting hangovers, or even partying so they must be real home-bodies...

Oh, and if you're a relative of a model, you're shit-out-of-luck because you're probably going to die soon. Relatives of models are extremely prone to suddenly falling ill so models regularly visit their loved ones in the hospital. These people are typically next-of-kin (or boyfriends), so the closer you are to a model, the more likely you're about to eat shit. I suggest all friends and families of models to take out life insurance because it'll come in handy soon.

And if you're a boyfriend of a model, you're either going to die or you're going to jail. Models' boyfriends are 100x more likely to spend time behind bars than any other normal human being. If law enforcement could just tap the databases of modeling agencies, they'd probably find 90% of all the outstanding criminals they haven't caught. Unfortunately for the police, this is only known to those who work inside the fashion industry! So don't tell anybody!

How do I know all these things? I know them firsthand straight from the horse's mouth! The models tell me themselves so it must be true. I mean, they have no reason to lie to me, right?

*as read on a fellow photographers blog: see: cinco photography

Annie Leibovitz: Life Through a Lens

2011-01-26T09:00:00.001+02:00

In her portraits for Rolling Stone and Vanity Fair, Annie Leibovitz has photographed a generation (and more) of rock stars, politicians, and supermodels.

Annie Leibovitz: Life Through a Lens, a documentary created by Leibovitz's sister Barbara, suggests that she might be somewhat overqualified for the job.
Not that Leibovitz reflects too much on the business of photographing movie stars for a living.
Her nomadic life suits her just fine, and might have come from a childhood spent as an Army brat, moving around the world every few years.
Home movies give some of the flavor of Leibovitz's youth, and her arrival in San Francisco just as the Sixties counterculture (and Rolling Stone magazine) were getting underway is covered with old footage and new interviews with colleagues, including publisher Jann Wenner.
It was a wild time (Wenner speaks of sending Leibovitz on tour with the Rolling Stones as though he were responsible for selling her into slavery), and it took its toll; the movie doesn't go into great detail, but a substance abuse problem and subsequent rehab is acknowledged and quickly forgotten.
Mick Jagger and Keith Richards remember her warmly, in any case.
Leibovitz's personal life is in the shadows, except for her relationship with writer Susan Sontag.

The rest is a series of testimonials from admiring subjects (Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Whoopi Goldberg) and some on-location stuff for Vanity Fair, including a shoot with George Clooney and Julia Roberts.

Her working methods show someone with very specific ideas about what she wants, and a disarmingly blunt way of getting them.
Perhaps the most memorable section of this American Masters program is the account of Leibovitz's photographs of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, including a celebrated Rolling Stone cover of a naked Lennon embracing his wife, taken a few hours before Lennon's murder.

That kind of work proves that in Leibovitz's world of portraiture, intimacy is everything.

Try to make an effort to see it!

Photography

2011-01-25T15:21:00.001+02:00

I stumbled upon this a few weeks back and it made me smile.

Thought I'd share it.

"I drifted into photography like one drifts into prostitution.
First I did it to please myself, then I did it to please my friends, and eventually I did it for the money.
The only real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes."
Anonymous Photographer*

This is Art

2011-01-21T14:34:00.000+02:00

As photographers, we must view our profession as an art. It’s not just a way to make a few bucks. Otherwise, we’re only taking snapshots and someone is hiring us for the equipment we own, not for our artistic vision and creativity.

Think of it this way. You could hire anyone to paint your portrait, but does that mean every artist’s painting will be of the same quality? Of course not. Will you automatically go with the lowest bid, regardless of style and quality? It depends on what you’re after. The artist who has mastered his craft or is constantly improving will undoubtedly produce a fine work while the beginner who does not understand lighting, color, and posing will produce something that is sub par and unappealing. Yes, it will cost less to hire the inexperienced artist, but do you really want to look at a poor painting of yourself for the rest of your life?

In the same way, photography is an art. We are “painting” with light and capturing the results on a camera rather than with brushes on a canvas. It can be difficult to remember this when our work and prices are compared unfairly to lesser qualified photographers. But trust me, there are plenty of people out there who still value our quality and want to create art with us.

When someone visits our website and decides to contact us, they do so because something in our portfolio appeals to them. Perhaps they’re moved by a particular photo or can envision themselves being photographed in our unique style. They consider hiring us because they want us to make them look beautiful and create artistic photographs to remember a certain moment in their life. This means we get to collaborate together on wardrobe, setting, mood, and more. Rather than taking snapshots of a client, we’re teaming with them to make art that evokes emotion and lasts. This is exciting!

Keep learning and pursuing your passion in photography and the recognition and respect for your work will come. Always put forth your best effort and give your clients something they can’t get anywhere else. They’ll love you for it! No matter what, view photography as an art and not just a means to an end. This will keep you thriving and loving your profession while others fade away.

Goodbye 2010; Hello 2011

2010-12-31T13:10:00.000+02:00

Thank you for the year that was, 2010.

Great memories, great moments, great pictures.
To all who supported in 2010 - Thank you*

Happy New Year to All and all the best for the coming year!

http://www.leefolkard.com/

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-24T01:09:00.000+02:00

Lee Folkard Photography wishes you a Merry Christmas 2010!

My New Gadget :) The iPod Touch 4G

2010-12-20T12:46:00.000+02:00

My new toy :)

The new iPod Touch is thinner and lighter featuring 2 built-in cameras with built-in HD video recording and editing

Features

Camera:

iPod touch now has two built-in cameras—one on the front for FaceTime calls and one on the back for recording HD video. Rear camera can take quick stills (960 x 720) and front camera can take VGA-quality stills —both great for uploading to social networking sites.

FaceTime:

Make video calls over Wi-Fi networks to any other FaceTime-enabled iPod touch or iPhone 4

Retina display:

Everything looks amazing on the Retina display because its pixel density is so high the human eye is unable to distinguish individual pixels. Graphics and text look smooth and continuous at any size

HD Video recording:

Record memorable moments with iPod touch, which has built-in HD video recording and editing.

A4 processor:

The Apple-designed A4 processor is powerful yet power efficient. It can easily perform jobs like multitasking, editing video, and FaceTime.

Sensors:

iPod touch now includes a built-in, three-axis gyroscope. When paired with the accelerometer, the gyro allows iPod touch to sense advanced motion—like acceleration, full 3D attitude, and rotation rate—for an even better gaming experience.

iOS 4.1 Software:

Includes iOS 4 features like multitasking, folders, enhanced mail, and iBooks, plus Game Center, iTunes TV show rentals (US only), iTunes Ping, and HD video uploads to YouTube and MobileMe.

Game Centre:

The new Game Center app on iPod touch lets customers expand their social gaming network by inviting others to join and by sharing leader boards and achievements.

Built-in mic:

iPod touch has a built-in mic to use with HD video recording, Voice Memos, Voice Control, and other applications that use a mic.

Battery:

Music: Up to 40 hours

Video: Up to 7 hours

Retails in South Africa; 8 gig - R2200.00 | 32 gig - R2999.00 | 64 gig - R3999.00

If you haven't found the perfect xmas gift, i would highly recommend this nifty gadget.

Upcoming blog: On applications for photographers and other cool apps for normal people as well ;)

Moments of Clarity

2010-12-17T21:58:00.000+02:00

"A few times in my life thus far I've had moments of absolute clarity, when for a few brief seconds the silence drowns out the noise and I can feel rather than think, and things seem so sharp and the world seems so fresh.

I can never make these moments last.

I cling to them, but like everything, they fade.

I have lived my life on these moments.

They pull me back to the present, and I realize that everything is exactly the way it was meant to be."

Project i - Dualism

2010-12-07T15:15:00.000+02:00

On the success of Project i another was bound to follow.
Project i - Dualism used the same concept as its predecessor. The difference - Couples.

41 chosen couples took part in a Vote-Fest that lasted - 8 days!

Edwina & Davey Jansen won the Project with 170 votes gathered.
They take the prize valued at -> R2260.00

Their shoot will be booked either late December or early January. Stay posted to see their pictures.
And thanks again to those that took part!

Project i Winner: Lorin Redman

2010-12-07T14:21:00.000+02:00

A few pictures from the shoot with Lorin.

Themes for shoot:
1. Nautical Mania
2. Rocking the Rocks

Stylist: Brett Robson (See blog: Fashion by Brett Robson)
Make-Up: Vee (See facebook: Miss V Makeup)

Thank you to all involved in this shoot and the whole Project i concept.

Hope you enjoy the pictures, Lorin!

Project i - Dualism (Tips)

2010-11-18T09:39:00.000+02:00

Ok - I know I haven't really spoken much about Project i - Dualism as yet but it has begun - and is now running. I will get back to a prologue at a later stage. Time is of the essence.

So the Tips you have come to see:

1. Awareness
Get ALL your friends to know that you are in a competition.
This can be done via status updates. Links to the Lee Folkard Photography Fan Page. Links to the Project i - Dualism Album. Create an Event on Facebook. It's free and can be used to create a domino-type effect, which is essentially what you want to amass the required votes.

2. Share
Facebooks platform enables you to share just about anything. All the links that you used to create awareness should be shared. You can share links via, wall posts, status updates, profile pages, event walls, even in individual messages to target friends one at a time. I would go as far as to share links via Facebook Chat if you do use it.

3. Step Process
Once you have their attention - people need to be aware that they need to LIKE the Lee Folkard Photography Fan Page first. Then locate your picture. For those who have difficulty in locating the album on the page - this will not be a problem with the many Direct Links you have posted all over the place.
Once they find you picture they need only type the word - VOTE as a comment under the picture.

4. Networking
The most important factor of the whole voting process is that of networking. You may have 300 facebook friends and another entrant may have 1000 facebook friends - The important thing is that you get the friends of your friends to vote and then their friends. The Domino Effect. What you want is the people that do take the time to vote for you to let their friends know about this competition. So once people vote for you - ASK them to share the link with their friends. ASK them to make status updates etc. And so the process should fall - and YOU will start accumulating VOTES.

I hope that some of these tips have been of use to you. Direct your friends to this blog post so that they can have a better understanding of how this whole thing works.

Good Luck to all involved and thank you for participating in a Lee Folkard Photography Project.
See website at -> http://www.leefolkard.com/

Website Update*

2010-11-14T18:28:00.000+02:00

I hadn't updated my website in quite some time - to be specific - end of July 2010.

A really cool change up is the inclusion of my facebook fan page - which has live stream and a direct link to the page. --- Actually I have even included this in my Blog! see side panel :)

The fan page has been a great success and I am glad that I finally decided to get one up - to date- I have 3000+ fans :)

It provides an easy means of communication with people that either wish to use my services in the future or just appreciate photography.

A projects section has been added to the website which aims to notify people of projects that Lee Folkard Photography will be involved in. Past, Present and Future.

The Gallery section has also been updated - if you have been involved in a Lee Folkard Photography photoshoot - there is a high chance at least one of your pictures will be up.

There is even a link to the latest newsletter - for those that haven't signed up to the mailing list!

Let me know what you think!

THE WEBSITE -------- http://www.leefolkard.com/

Love*

2010-11-09T14:19:00.000+02:00

"Loving someone deeply gives you strength. Being loved by someone gives you courage."

Last weekend I covered the 10th Wedding Anniversary of Melissa and Yaseen.
An intimate gathering of family and close friends.
To the future. (",)

Life | Moment | Time

2010-11-05T19:47:00.000+02:00

[Life] changes its beauty all the time,

Sometimes it’s a shade, sometimes life is sunlight

Live every [moment] here to your heart’s content

The [time] that is here may not be tomorrow.

Beauty

2010-11-05T10:20:00.000+02:00

"You are wrong if you think that the joy of life comes principally from human relationships.

God’s placed it all around us,

it’s in everything, in anything we can experience.

People just need to change the way they look at those things."

As i was saying...

2010-10-28T09:06:00.000+02:00

What next?

I will be working on the 3rd issue of the eNewsletter.
It should be sent out within the next few days. What will be in it?

A lil bit about Project i - of course... due to its success I have to give it some space.
Jade Ogle's concept shoot - She was one of the chosen ones from the mass photoshoot event.

oh - and the What Next Q will be answered. (",)

How do you get the newsletter [ send mme your email address ]
1. email me - info@leefolkard.com
2. sms me - +27824958613
3. on the home page of the website enter email address in space provided - http://www.leefolkard.com/

What Next?

2010-10-28T08:51:00.000+02:00

[ Project i ] now a distant memory: The winner being Lorin Redman who attained 226 VOTES in the 7 day period. Congrats again to her and all others that participated in some way to this spontaneous "Project"

The Top 5:
1. Lorin Redman
2. Tarryn Peters
3. Courtney Kok
4. Nicci Bedderson
5. Quintessa Ali

Lorin's shoot will be taking place on the 20th November 2010.

The Story Behind Project i

2010-10-15T11:21:00.001+02:00

7 DAYS | 1386 + VOTES | 35 ENTRANTS | PRIZE VALUED AT R3500.00 | ONLY 1 WINNER

This is the story of Project i (",)

Last week Friday morning I logged into my Facebook Fan Page and made a status that called upon people to post the name of a friend that they thought could be a model.
An innocent post to create some interactivity.
5 hours later a response of more than 60 names put forward promted me to do something more.

Fast thinking, I decided that we'd do a little Project.

Project i was born!
Of the 60 + nominees I had recieved - 35 came forward and submitted their pictures.

What followed in the week ahead was a frenzy to accumulate votes.
Working within the confines of facebook is not the simplist of tasks but I believe that the overall success of the Project i has been amazing!

With a few hours left there seem to be 2 entrants leading the pack. Only 1 will be a winner. Just a little update in case anyone wanted to know.

Whilst a large part of accumulating votes via this system is down to popularity and who has friends that will go the extra mile or in this case click - many entrants have amassed votes from people who came on to vote for someone else then saw other pictures that they also liked. Which highlights the beauty of facebook and how it is able to link people together. I guess we all appreciate beauty in life.

I must thank all those that entered and submitted their pictures. It takes a lot to put yourself forward for others to judge and rate you as an individual (especially since this is based purely on appearance) - I applaud and admire you all for doing so.

An even bigger thank you must go to the people who initially responded to the status. Without you - this would never have even began! So thanks a lot.

For all the newcomers that have joined my Fan Page during this voting process - I hope you stick around and see what else may come in the future. Lee Folkard Photography needs you. With you I can create memories and moments, that we can both share.

Packages may be obtained for the following:

Wedding
Portfolios
Events
Family Portraits

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Contact Number: +27824958613 | Email: info@leefolkard.com

~~The End~~

Oops! For those that wanted to know what the i in Project i stands for:

Impromptu (",) THANKS.

It's been a while...

2010-10-11T01:48:00.000+02:00

Yes yes - I have not posted in ages! I apologize -
Been busy busy - so expect an influx of posts...

I will be uploading a few pix of Jade Ogle's Concept Shoot - She was one of the winners of the Mass PhotoShoot. Theme: Amazonian Bondage... more to come soon.

Enjoy :)

Diversity in Photography

2010-09-21T12:10:00.000+02:00

this past weekend i covered three different "genres" of photography

a 21st party on friday

a model concept shoot on saturday

a family portrait shoot on sunday

a busy but very rewarding weekend of work

this diversity within my photography is both rewarding, stimulating and challenging

[ pictures to come soon ]

Markets of Warwick

2010-09-08T09:36:00.001+02:00

In my mind the "warwick triangle" area in Durban was a very dangerous area to be walking - even nearby.
So the opportunity to go into the area with a guided tour which would allow opportunity to shoot pictures immediately grabbed my attention.

Starting early morning and starting promtly we moved in a group through each of the markets in the area. 9 were covered in total. The whole experience was memorable and I would highly suggest that everyone makes a booking. It would be a great family trip or couple trip as well.

At a cost of R50 per person and a FOUR hour guided tour through NINE of the markets this is an awesome opportunity to experience an amazing South African beauty.

It was a great cultural experience and I am very glad that I attended.

Details of the Markets of Warwick
Website: http://www.marketsofwarwick.co.za/
Telephone: 031 309 3880

21st Party

2010-09-03T13:22:00.000+02:00

A few quick shots taken at a 21st I covered last weekend.

Décor

2010-09-01T14:42:00.001+02:00

décor n 1: decoration consisting of the layout and furnishings of a livable interior [syn: interior decoration, decor]

One of my favourite parts of capturing events and birthday parties is the pictures of the décor.
I try to arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of the function to get some good shots of the setup and décor.
Somebody took a lot of time and put in a lot of effort to make the venue presentable and I think that it is a good starting point to the photographic aspect of the event.

I also enjoy taking pictures of the décor as it allows me to get a bit creative and try new things. Up close, far away, some blur... in-focus and distorted images.

I did a 27th Birthday Party a few weeks back.
These are some of the shots I took prior to the arrival of the guests.

Facebook Fan Page Promotion

2010-09-01T13:49:00.000+02:00

Woohoo! 1000 Fans - As promised promotion time.

What you get?
10 FREE 5x7 Prints and a DVD SlideShow
Valued at R350.00

How do you get it?
Book and pay your deposit for ANY Build-a-Package Portfolio or Portrait Shoot in September and you get the FREE Prints and SlideShow.
You may make booking between now and the end of October 2010.

What is Build-a-Package?

A unique pricing structure launched today! 01-09-2010
To request the pricing structure just message me via an inbox message.
Thank you.

Please suggest that all your friends/family join this fan page.
The more fans = The more promotions! (",)
Website
Facebook Fan Page

Danielle Le Brasse

2010-08-20T10:06:00.000+02:00

I did a shoot last weekend of a Danielle.
Below are my favourite two shots of the session.
One for its artistic quality and one that shows the subject, Miss Le Brasse at her most comfortable.

More pictures can be found at:
My Fan Page
Facebook

Where are we now...

2010-08-18T09:15:00.001+02:00

Been a busy past week.
Moved to a new place so my life has consisted of packing and shopping...

I did a shoot this past weekend - those pics will come soon.
I will be launching my newly structured price system in the Month of September.
Also have the September Newsletter to look forward to.

Things will be getting back to normal soon, as things are getting into order.

My fan page link -> CLICK HERE <-

Art: A Reflection of Self?

2010-08-13T14:16:00.000+02:00

"Every portrait that is painted with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter.

The sitter is merely the accident, the occasion.

It is not he who is revealed by the painter; it is rather the painter who, on the coloured canvas, reveals himself."

Is this true for photography?

August - My Birthday Month

2010-08-06T11:03:00.000+02:00

Seems like ages since I last blogged.
With the Mass Photoshoot event a distant memory - almost as distant as the Fifa World Cup - I am moving on to the regular stuff. Portfolios and Events.

Tomorrow I will be shooting for most of the morning/afternon: A new venture* ~~More on that to come~~
It is a long weekend here in South Africa - Womens Day is on Monday 9th August.

My facebook fan page has been launched: Already 500+ followers. Are you one of them? Not? Here's the link-> The Fan Page

My new user friendly packaging structure should be available shortly.
Also the second edition of the newsletter will be out towards the end of this month.

That was a lil fill-in for those wondering what is happening.

31st Durban International Film Festival

2010-07-27T10:51:00.000+02:00

Daring, innovative and controversial films and filmmakers from around the world take the spotlight at the 31st Durban International Film Festival which takes place from 22 July 2010 to 1 August 2010.

So, if you did not know about it as yet - you have time to support and enjoy*
The festival programmers have scoured the globe for films that excite, thrill, raise awareness and provoke. These films will be presented in over 200 screenings at venues across Durban and in surrounding communities. Alongside the screenings of films, the festival offers an extensive workshop and seminar programme, as well as training and industry events.

The movies I have seen thus far are; Pepperminta, The Killer Inside Me, Dogtooth, The White Ribbon & Slovenian Girl. All but one have been excellent viewing material.

I am glad that we in Durban have access to such a film festival and would encourage all those who enjoy movies and the arts to go and see at least one movie.

The Mass PhotoShoot: Edits

2010-07-23T13:44:00.002+02:00

As I continue to slowly release pictures.
This marks the 3rd segment of the pictures from the Mass PhotoShoot.

Other pictures can be seen:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Lee-Folkard/727967282
Twitter: http://twitter.com/leefolkard

One picture per applicant can be seen at each of these public domains.

Congratulations go to Bianca Paul, Carishma Basday & Jade Ogle who have been selected to get a full photoshoot with Lee Folkard Photography.

Lin

Kelly-Anne

Kenneth

Bianca

Lauren

Carishma & Gael

Alyssa

Jade

Nadine

Lauren & Nabeelah

Adele

Chanelle & Lyle

Aloysia & Mark

Charlene

Tracey

Teniel & Selwyn

Katie

Tasne'

The Mass PhotoShoot : 17 July 2010 : Part 2 of 2

2010-07-22T14:55:00.000+02:00

...

Setting up my lonesome banner close to the actual entrance onto the beach through Suncoast was complete by 07:00.
My team of helpers were all there on time ready to get this day on the ~~road~~ beach.

All went amazingly well -
I had assigned a 20 minute slot for each applicant and took on average about 7 minutes on each.
There were scheduled breaks throughout the day - but seeing as how smooth things were running - I don't even think they were needed.
An hour 20 minute lunch break came in handy as we all got to eat and fuel up.

After the break we had 2 people not pitch up. If there was any bad note on the day this would be it. As these people were chosen to take part in the event it is sad that they did not take up the opportunity to be involved in a lovely experience, but anyway - things got back on track as the applicants continued to arrive as per schedule.

At appoximately 16:00 we left Suncoast. Home to back up all pictures.

The Mass PhotoShoot was a great success, and I hope that all that were there or were somehow involved in the day had a blast!

Where to from here: I will be editing pictures and on the 31st July 2010 each person will get their 5 edits on a CD.

I will also be selecting 3 applicants to get a full photoshoot with me.

[ w a t c h t h i s s p a c e ]

Charlene working her stuff whilst Jade adds a backdrop.

Shooting Aloysia Ogle and Mark Fearick

My amazing team: Giselle Human, Brett Robson, Jordayne Humfrey, Jade Ogle & Chanelle Robson (from left to right)

Shooting Jade Ogle

Me shooting Alyssa Manuel

Brett Robson making my banner look good

The Mass PhotoShoot : 17 July 2010 : Part 1 of 2

2010-07-21T14:14:00.001+02:00

The day had finally arrived and after so much planning I was keen to get the day over with. I had no idea at the outset just how much would go into putting this event together. I guess that is what they have event organizers for.

I had been taking applications for the mass photoshoot for a 2 week period. The basic breakdown was: you send in 2 pictures and your details, if selected you get a mini photoshoot and 5 edits on a CD.

After making my selections for the day - the successful applicants were contacted and given a time slot.

The day started at 05:00 for me - as I had to get ready and pack all the necessary equipment and paperwork.
Getting to the venue at 06:30 with the first applicant arriving at 07:00 I was able to get a nice sunrise picture - which always makes me appreciate the beauty in this world we live in.

Part 2 to follow...

Fifa World Cup 2010

2010-07-16T14:54:00.000+02:00

I just realized that i did not do the end of World Cup 2010 enough justice.
Here is my apology:

"We are all Africa"

Nine out of ten foreigners visiting South Africa for the purposes of the World Cup say that they would recommend South Africa to friends or family as a holiday destination, according to African Response's World Cup Visitor Survey.
The survey included 722 tourists, interviewed in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Pretoria and investigated perceptions of the various elements of the South African experience, including roads, accommodation, stadia, policing and safety, amongst others.

"Post World Cup press has been very positive about the success of the tournament and its implications for tourism and foreign investment. It is very pleasing to see our survey confirming this view," states Beatrice Kubheka, Managing Director of African Response. "African Response has been tracking the perceptions of readiness leading up to the 2010 World Cup since 2006 and witnessed doubt slowly becoming confidence the closer we got. But having 92% of visitors saying that they would recommend South Africa as a destination is more than we bargained for and is great news for our future."

Those whose stay lasted between a week and two had a slightly higher tendency to recommend SA - at 94%. However, propensity to recommend SA to friends or family was as high as 92% amongst those tourists who were staying in the country for over a month.

Asked if they themselves would return, an overwhelming 96% of visitors said there is a possibility that they would and the remainder (4%) said that they would prefer to visit somewhere they have never been before.

Word of the Tournament

"Vuvuzela" has been nominated as the word of the tournament and love them or hate them, they played a huge role in differentiating the South African event to the many World Cups that have gone before. African Response asked 300 tourists how they felt about the plastic horns. The vast majority (80%) agreed that vuvuzelas add atmosphere to the game, and 20% disagreed with the statement.

When asked whether the vuvuzela should be used at all future matches, two thirds of respondents agreed that they should.

Interestingly, females showed a higher affinity for the instruments than men did, 86%of females interviewed stating they add atmosphere and 70% believing they should be used at future matches.

Well that's a wrap. Well done to the tournament winners, Spain. And an even bigger WELL DONE to the overall winners - SOUTH AFRICA and all the people that played their part and embraced the beautiful game.

Fifa World Cup 2010 South Africa

- "I WAS THERE"

What day is it?

2010-07-14T12:38:00.000+02:00

Wow.. busy busy busy.
With the World Cup over - I am back to work.

I am entering a competition which requires an 8 page spread. The pictures have been taken - next up the selection of the pictures to be chosen.
Then I have to post the final product off - soon!

The Mass PhotoShoot is taking place this Saturday - that should go quite well. I have made the selections of people - not an easy task.

I have also invested in my first bit of lighting gear - a reflector, and a stand.

A few pictures from between shots from the shoot for the competition:

Model: Lisa Bonhomme

Extra Time Comedy Show

2010-07-14T12:21:00.000+02:00

Some of the pictures from the comedy show I covered.
It was a laughter-filled evening!

Update on Life v1.0

2010-07-07T13:44:00.003+02:00

With the world cup coming to a close -Lee Folkard Photography is going to be back in action full force ahead...

As a little teaser - I will be photographer at a comedy show within my community. This will be happening on the evening of Thursday 8th July. Also good to capture the feel of an event with some quick shots.

Tonight, the last world cup game to be played in Durban happens; The semi-final between Spain and Germany - should be a good one.
Whoever wins plays Holland in the final on the 11th July 2010.
And with that comes the end of an awesome spectacle.

I have my mass photoshoot on Saturday July 17th - That also should be an interesting event.

My banners arrived yesterday - very good service from the company I used in Cape Town. My design is simple and clean - keeping in check with all my curent image.
These will be used at most shoots and events.

Will be away this weekend. Near the coast is my destination. Maybe some pictures to come.

Lee Folkard Photography Makes Top 10

2010-07-02T12:38:00.000+02:00

A few weeks ago i received an email thanking me for entering a competition and inviting me to come by for the announcement of the winner.

I must admit this is probably one of the first competitions I have entered as much as I see competitions every now and then - i barely end up sending in some pictures.

After receiving the email, i had to back-track to try and see exactly what was the competition and what picture/s i entered.
Turns out the competition was for VOLCOM STONE, send in "whatever flies your pigeon".
I submitted 3 pictures, so I figured why not.
The main prize of cash, a volcom hamper and the winning picture used on a volcom t-shirt seemed like a worthy one.

I made my way to Spiga d'Ora on Florida Road, Durban on the 30th June.
One of my images made the Top 10, printed and framed on a wall amongst 9 other brilliant pictures was a nice sight to behold.

A winner would be chosen from these.

End of Story - I did not win. In truth being 1 of the 10 was a win in my books.
It was nice to see my name up and have others view the pictures.
The event was well turned out and I would imagine from the number of entries, a success.

From now on I will try much harder to enter competitions and submit pictures where and when I can. At the end of the day photographs are meant to be shared.

A thanks to my camera club, Westville Camera Club, for informing me of the competition and for always being on the lookout for photographic events.

Below is my Top 10 entry.

Cinema Nouveau

2010-07-01T23:04:00.000+02:00

My other passion in life on par with photography is movies.
I love nothing more than watching a stimulating movie anytime, night or day.
I have an ever growing collection of movies and I try and get to the cinema as often as I can.

I enjoy mainstream movies as well as "art house" works. The latter being my reason for this blog post. I know that in KZN our dedicated art house cinema is the Gateway Cinema Nouveau situated in the Gateway Shopping Centre. But I am at a loss as to how many others know this.

Ster-Kinekor, the largest cinema exhibitor in South Africa, operates the only dedicated "art" cinema circuit in the world under the Cinema Nouveau brand. Experience the different cultures and styles of movie-making that Cinema Nouveau offers through foreign language and alternative content that is not readily available on the commercial circuit.

Maybe I have not seen the ads or maybe this sort of industry works with word of mouth. If this is the case -this is my attempt to spread the word.

I have watched many foreign language films that are beautifully made. Lots are independant and do not feature the "big name" stars. Every now and then you get some big names - the actors/actresses that appreciate a good script even though it does not fit into the mainstream fil norm.

Hopefully you will try to locate the art house cinema near you and maybe see a movie every 3 months or so.

If in South Africa you can go to http://www.sterkinekor.com

The Mass PhotoShoot

2010-06-29T10:33:00.001+02:00

More details as promised.

The Mass PhotoShoot is a little promotional event whereby any members of the public could get the chance to have a mini shoot done by me.

Details/Questions/Answers:

Date to Enter-> Between the June 22nd and July 11th (note that the sooner you enter the better chance you stand of being selected and the better timeslot you will be given)

When will the shoot take place-> Saturday 17th July 2010

The Location-> Suncoast Beach, Durban

How long will the shoot be-> No more than a 20 minute shoot

What should you wear if selected-> You may wear whatever you want to. Swimwear/Formal/Casual - there is no theme. Wear whatever youd like to be photographed in.

What do you get if selected-> a 20 minute mini shoot with me and 5 edited pictures on a CD at high resolution.

When will you receive your 5 Edited Pictures on a CD-> Edits will be done in approx 3/4 weeks and all participants will receive an sms with details. Collection point will be suncoast again.

Why am I doing this-> I have taken a break from scheduled photoshoots during the Fifa World Cup, I see this as a good way to get back into things.

Ways to enter-> Email: info@leefolkard.com ::: MMS: +27824958613 ::: via Facebook

Details I require-> 2 Photographs (one close up and one full length) ::: Your Full Name ::: Age ::: Cell Number

When will you know if you have been selected-> At latest you will receive a call on the 12th July 2010 informing you of your acceptance. If you do not receive a call by the 12th July you unfortunately did not make the shoot.

For those that get a call back-> If selected you will get a call confirming your entry into the Mass PhotoShoot and your timeslot. Now all you have to do is show up on the 17th July at your required time.

If anyone has any other questions, do not hesitate to ask me.
Email: info@leefolkard.com
Call: +27824958613

This event is being hosted by my Project 365 Group (http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/group.php?gid=282716443458) via facebook.

This is the link-> http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/event.php?eid=136703879679714

Newsletter Complete

2010-06-22T20:30:00.000+02:00

South Africa bow out of the World Cup, ending with a good 2-1 win over France.
Well done guys - You may not have made it to the next round but you certainly had a nation - for the most part - united behind you.
I will now move my support from my soccer team to supporting my country - who I must say are doing an amazing job at hosting this great spectacle.

On to the next major news story - even though I doubt it will make the newspaper - My newsletter is complete and I have started sending it out via email.
Hope those who have received it have enjoyed the content.
For those of you who do not have it as yet - just get me your email address.

The newsletter will be another way of communicating to you and will from time to time give you some good photography advice and who knows what else?

The main feature of this first issue is "The Mass PhotoShoot"
More details on this to follow.

World Cup Season

2010-06-21T11:06:00.000+02:00

What a world cup this has been thus far.
Some unpredictable results have been playing out. I love it when the underdog triumphs.
Who's your money on?

Anyways, with the start of the Fifa World Cup in my country, South Africa - i have taken a mini-hiatus and will only be booking shoots for dates after this illustrious event concludes on the 11th July 2010.
Of course I am still snapping away all the time. And my Project 365 continues each day.
Today being Day 141.

The newsletter is progressing and am hoping to get that out soon. Watch this Space.

My 1st Game

2010-06-17T14:47:00.001+02:00

13th June 2010

My first World Cup game that I attended. Germany vs Australia.
Had my German colours on and was ready to support!
Germany did not let their fans down - 4 goals. So far the most goals in a game during World Cup 2010.

I was under the impression with Fifa's ultra strict policy that my DSLR camera would not be allowed in - so I dusted off the sony cybershot which has not seen action in about 2 years and snapped a few pictures of my memorable and unforgetable day.
I am thinking for my next match though - I will be taking in my DSLR as they did not seem to worry much about cameras.

The atmosphere inside the Moses Mabhida Stadium was amazing, the actual stadium is truly beautiful and aesthetically pleasing.

Sharing a day like this is made more special in that it was shared with people I value in my life.

World Cup 2010 South Africa Kicks Off

2010-06-15T12:55:00.000+02:00

It is Here,

The years have passed by and World Cup 2010, South Africa is upon us.
Kicking off on June 11th with the opening ceremony and the first game(South Africa vs Mexico)at Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg.

Armed with my camera I went off to the Fan Park here in Durban to soak up the atmosphere and take some shots.

The city was abuzz. I have never felt or seen anything like it in my life. One country all behind one event - one spectacle. Of course this is not just an every day spectacle. This is the World Cup.

The 2010 FIFA World Cup is the 19th World Cup, the premier international association football tournament. The final is forecast to be among the most-watched events ever.

At the fan park the vibe was amazing. The feel of the people all bonding. People from different cultures and different backgrounds. Locals amongst foreigners. All interacting in harmony with passion and pride.

I see now why our slogan for this World Cup 2010 is “Ke Nako”. “Celebrate Africa’s Humanity”. "Ke Nako" translates to "It's Time" - thus the basic message in this is; now is the time for Africa to show the world its humanity and reposition itself in the eyes of others - starting here in South Africa.

This is so much more than soccer to South Africa and I am honoured to be a part of this country. I will remember June 11th 2010 forever.

Enjoy the few pictures I have from the day.
June 11th 2010.

I am an African

2010-06-09T12:19:00.000+02:00

"I am an African.

I owe my being to the hills and the valleys, the mountains and the glades, the rivers, the deserts, the trees, the flowers, the seas and the ever-changing seasons that define the face of our native land.

My body has frozen in our frosts and in our latter day snows. It has thawed in the warmth of our sunshine and melted in the heat of the midday sun. The crack and the rumble of the summer thunders, lashed by startling lightening, have been a cause both of trembling and of hope.

The fragrances of nature have been as pleasant to us as the sight of the wild blooms of the citizens of the veld.

The dramatic shapes of the Drakensberg, the soil-coloured waters of the Lekoa, iGqili noThukela, and the sands of the Kgalagadi, have all been panels of the set on the natural stage on which we act out the foolish deeds of the theatre of our day.

At times, and in fear, I have wondered whether I should concede equal citizenship of our country to the leopard and the lion, the elephant and the springbok, the hyena, the black mamba and the pestilential mosquito.

A human presence among all these, a feature on the face of our native land thus defined, I know that none dare challenge me when I say - I am an African!

I owe my being to the Khoi and the San whose desolate souls haunt the great expanses of the beautiful Cape - they who fell victim to the most merciless genocide our native land has ever seen, they who were the first to lose their lives in the struggle to defend our freedom and dependence and they who, as a people, perished in the result.

Today, as a country, we keep an audible silence about these ancestors of the generations that live, fearful to admit the horror of a former deed, seeking to obliterate from our memories a cruel occurrence which, in its remembering, should teach us not and never to be inhuman again.

I am formed of the migrants who left Europe to find a new home on our native land. Whatever their own actions, they remain still, part of me.

In my veins courses the blood of the Malay slaves who came from the East. Their proud dignity informs my bearing, their culture a part of my essence. The stripes they bore on their bodies from the lash of the slave master are a reminder embossed on my consciousness of what should not be done.

I am the grandchild of the warrior men and women that Hintsa and Sekhukhune led, the patriots that Cetshwayo and Mphephu took to battle, the soldiers Moshoeshoe and Ngungunyane taught never to dishonour the cause of freedom.

My mind and my knowledge of myself is formed by the victories that are the jewels in our African crown, the victories we earned from Isandhlwana to Khartoum, as Ethiopians and as the Ashanti of Ghana, as the Berbers of the desert.

I am the grandchild who lays fresh flowers on the Boer graves at St Helena and the Bahamas, who sees in the mind's eye and suffers the suffering of a simple peasant folk, death, concentration camps, destroyed homesteads, a dream in ruins.

I am the child of Nongqause. I am he who made it possible to trade in the world markets in diamonds, in gold, in the same food for which my stomach yearns.

I come of those who were transported from India and China, whose being resided in the fact, solely, that they were able to provide physical labour, who taught me that we could both be at home and be foreign, who taught me that human existence itself demanded that freedom was a necessary condition for that human existence.

Being part of all these people, and in the knowledge that none dare contest that assertion, I shall claim that - I am an African.

I have seen our country torn asunder as these, all of whom are my people, engaged one another in a titanic battle, the one redress a wrong that had been caused by one to another and the other, to defend the indefensible.

I have seen what happens when one person has superiority of force over another, when the stronger appropriate to themselves the prerogative even to annul the injunction that God created all men and women in His image.

I know what if signifies when race and colour are used to determine who is human and who, sub-human.

I have seen the destruction of all sense of self-esteem, the consequent striving to be what one is not, simply to acquire some of the benefits which those who had improved themselves as masters had ensured that they enjoy.

I have experience of the situation in which race and colour is used to enrich some and impoverish the rest.

I have seen the corruption of minds and souls in the pursuit of an ignoble effort to perpetrate a veritable crime against humanity.

I have seen concrete expression of the denial of the dignity of a human being emanating from the conscious, systemic and systematic oppressive and repressive activities of other human beings.

There the victims parade with no mask to hide the brutish reality - the beggars, the prostitutes, the street children, those who seek solace in substance abuse, those who have to steal to assuage hunger, those who have to lose their sanity because to be sane is to invite pain.

Perhaps the worst among these, who are my people, are those who have learnt to kill for a wage. To these the extent of death is directly proportional to their personal welfare.

And so, like pawns in the service of demented souls, they kill in furtherance of the political violence in KwaZulu-Natal. They murder the innocent in the taxi wars.

They kill slowly or quickly in order to make profits from the illegal trade in narcotics. They are available for hire when husband wants to murder wife and wife, husband.

Among us prowl the products of our immoral and amoral past - killers who have no sense of the worth of human life, rapists who have absolute disdain for the women of our country, animals who would seek to benefit from the vulnerability of the children, the disabled and the old, the rapacious who brook no obstacle in their quest for self-enrichment.

All this I know and know to be true because I am an African!

Because of that, I am also able to state this fundamental truth that I am born of a people who are heroes and heroines.

I am born of a people who would not tolerate oppression.

I am of a nation that would not allow that fear of death, torture, imprisonment, exile or persecution should result in the perpetuation of injustice.

The great masses who are our mother and father will not permit that the behaviour of the few results in the description of our country and people as barbaric.

Patient because history is on their side, these masses do not despair because today the weather is bad. Nor do they turn triumphalist when, tomorrow, the sun shines.

Whatever the circumstances they have lived through and because of that experience, they are determined to define for themselves who they are and who they should be.

We are assembled here today to mark their victory in acquiring and exercising their right to formulate their own definition of what it means to be African.

The constitution whose adoption we celebrate constitutes and unequivocal statement that we refuse to accept that our Africanness shall be defined by our race, colour, gender of historical origins.

It is a firm assertion made by ourselves that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white.

It gives concrete expression to the sentiment we share as Africans, and will defend to the death, that the people shall govern.

It recognises the fact that the dignity of the individual is both an objective which society must pursue, and is a goal which cannot be separated from the material well-being of that individual.

It seeks to create the situation in which all our people shall be free from fear, including the fear of the oppression of one national group by another, the fear of the disempowerment of one social echelon by another, the fear of the use of state power to deny anybody their fundamental human rights and the fear of tyranny.

It aims to open the doors so that those who were disadvantaged can assume their place in society as equals with their fellow human beings without regard to colour, race, gender, age or geographic dispersal.

It provides the opportunity to enable each one and all to state their views, promote them, strive for their implementation in the process of governance without fear that a contrary view will be met with repression.

It creates a law-governed society which shall be inimical to arbitrary rule.

It enables the resolution of conflicts by peaceful means rather than resort to force.

It rejoices in the diversity of our people and creates the space for all of us voluntarily to define ourselves as one people.

As an African, this is an achievement of which I am proud, proud without reservation and proud without any feeling of conceit.

Our sense of elevation at this moment also derives from the fact that this magnificent product is the unique creation of African hands and African minds.

Bit it is also constitutes a tribute to our loss of vanity that we could, despite the temptation to treat ourselves as an exceptional fragment of humanity, draw on the accumulated experience and wisdom of all humankind, to define for ourselves what we want to be.

Together with the best in the world, we too are prone to pettiness, petulance, selfishness and short-sightedness.

But it seems to have happened that we looked at ourselves and said the time had come that we make a super-human effort to be other than human, to respond to the call to create for ourselves a glorious future, to remind ourselves of the Latin saying: Gloria est consequenda - Glory must be sought after!

Today it feels good to be an African.

It feels good that I can stand here as a South African and as a foot soldier of a titanic African army, the African National Congress, to say to all the parties represented here, to the millions who made an input into the processes we are concluding, to our outstanding compatriots who have presided over the birth of our founding document, to the negotiators who pitted their wits one against the other, to the unseen stars who shone unseen as the management and administration of the Constitutional Assembly, the advisers, experts and publicists, to the mass communication media, to our friends across the globe - congratulations and well done!

I am an African.

I am born of the peoples of the continent of Africa.

The pain of the violent conflict that the peoples of Liberia, Somalia, the Sudan, Burundi and Algeria is a pain I also bear.

The dismal shame of poverty, suffering and human degradation of my continent is a blight that we share.

The blight on our happiness that derives from this and from our drift to the periphery of the ordering of human affairs leaves us in a persistent shadow of despair.

This is a savage road to which nobody should be condemned.

This thing that we have done today, in this small corner of a great continent that has contributed so decisively to the evolution of humanity says that Africa reaffirms that she is continuing her rise from the ashes.

Whatever the setbacks of the moment, nothing can stop us now!
Whatever the difficulties, Africa shall be at peace!
However improbable it may sound to the sceptics, Africa will prosper!

Whoever we may be, whatever our immediate interest, however much we carry baggage from our past, however much we have been caught by the fashion of cynicism and loss of faith in the capacity of the people, let us err today and say - nothing can stop us now!"

- Former President, Thabo Mbeki

The 'Right' Price

2010-06-03T14:44:00.000+02:00

"Finding the right price points for selling photography or bidding on an assignment is the Holy Grail of the photography business.

What do you charge for licensing an image for an ad in a magazine, a billboard, or for a local merchant's Web site?

What about pricing a photo shoot of a parade for one of the corporate sponsors?

How about a wedding?

No matter what the product or the service, pricing is the most daunting problem facing all photographers in their first years, and it seems there is no sure-fire method to finding what works.

The natural thing to do is research price charts or guidelines, but as the industry has evolved and competition has grown, such data points are no longer reliable.

What's more, it's not that simple.

Even veteran professionals get frustrated by the volatility in pricing, not just among different clients, but in the way the same product can vary dramatically from one case to the next."

For the last few weeks I have been trying to restructure my pricing guide.
Such a daunting task. But I am wanting to break away from the normal pricing system and give you, my potential client, more choice and more options.

I have a good idea of how I am going to do it - I just need to put it to paper.

Moments

2010-06-01T13:16:00.001+02:00

"Some moments are just to good to be missed.
They make you smile whenever you remember them, and if you've captured them, it's always worth the revisit."

My name on a Shirt

2010-05-30T00:24:00.000+02:00

Hey there good people.

Quite impressed with my shirts I got done. Lee Folkard Photography now also worn.

I am busy trying to work on a newsletter for all who signed up for it. That should be coming soon.

Also I am hoping to update the website with some new pictures.

Later today I am covering a 2 year old's birthday party - should be interesting.

I have decided to start carrying my camera more often as I somehow lost the plot with regards to that for a while. There really is no point in not having it all the time, as you truly never know when that moment may happen.

This should reflect positively in my Project 365 - Link-> http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=282716443458. Resulting in more variety.

Below we have upcoming models Reece Williamson & Zoe Folkard modeling my shirts.

Being*

2010-05-25T14:20:00.000+02:00

Interesting that we call ourselves human "beings," not "beens" or "becomings."

It's all about the power of the moment - it all happens so fast.
Great moments are captured at dazzling speeds.

1/125 of a second gives you great "exposure" on a sunny morning -

We measure in hours, days and minutes.

We live in fractions of seconds.

Being.

Photography is Me

2010-05-21T12:49:00.000+02:00

Friday again, just got my S.A flags for my car. And have been playing Fifa World Cup on PS3 all week.
I will win with South Africa.

My upcoming plans:
This weekend I have a 21st shoot on Saturday night and a maternity shoot on Sunday.

Still have editing to do on previous projects as well as work on a newsletter which will be sent out to all who are on my mailing list.

How does one get on the mailing list?

Simply go to my site -> http://www.leefolkard.com/ and on the home page type in your email address.

In closing a picture from a shoot from the past week.
Zahraa Boomgaard

Friday :)

2010-05-14T13:44:00.000+02:00

The weekend is upon us again.
The Fifa World Cup is that much closer.
For those that do not know - 11th June marks the start of the 19th Fifa World Cup.
This will be the first time that the tournament has been hosted by an African nation. This being: South Africa.
The tournament runs for a month - and like that - it is over.

I will be trying to get some memorable shots during this time. It's not very often that your country is chosen to host such an event.

I've had lots of editing to do this past week - But I believe I am running on schedule. Am hoping to add some new work to my website and make some minor changes.
http://www.leefolkard.com

This is a picture from a shoot I had done this past week.
Lisa Bonhomme

Busy Busy Busy

2010-05-12T12:45:00.000+02:00

I've been so busy of late.
Had an eventful weekend - but I may get to that in my next blog post.

What I wanted to discuss in this entry is online shopping.
The digital age is amazing. And I myself have purchased numerous things online.
Take 2; Kalahari.net - are two of my favourites.

I have used sacamera.co.za for camera equipment. It is cheaper than the retailers most of the time. Also a benefit is that it has stock and availability which most stores that you visit do not.
I have for a long time watched prices on ebay and seen the HUGE price differences.
So this leads me to my new discovery. Bid or Buy has been around for some time, but it was only recently that I read an article in a magazine that I bought describing them more in depth.
New and used items bought mostly locally from sellers within South Africa.
I signed up, browsed around and found something that really caught my eye.

A wide angle lens. Considerably cheaper than any other place. The seller, based in Johannesburg. I am based in Durban.

To cut things short, I placed my order and paid on Wednesday and recieved my new lens in the box on Friday! Turns out it was sent for delivery on Thursday but they couldn't find my address.

Amazing stuff. With the cost of so many products being so expensive in shops. Why are we so sceptical about going online.
I will definately be giving bid or buy a look every now and then and would highly recommend you not rule it out.

On a side note: Picture attached is a back and front of my new business cards.

The week ahead

2010-05-03T12:19:00.000+02:00

Ok, well it's Monday again.
So far I have revamped my twitter page.
Am happy with the results; let me know what you think?
http://twitter.com/leefolkard

My to-do list for this coming week; Work on Pictures. Editing.
The month of May would appear at a glance to be a busy one - so I do not want a back-log to deal with.

Friday

2010-04-30T14:01:00.000+02:00

Hey there people,

The website has gotten good responses thus far, I am quite pleased.
There will be a few slight modifications as time goes by. But I am pleased with it and so happy that i decided to take matters into my own hands to get it done the way I wanted it to.

My new business cards arrived yesterday, am also really liking them. Will post a picture very soon. Overall things are falling into place nicely.

I have a 21st tonight - batteries charged and ready to go. It's fun to be a spectator at someones special event.
Knowing that you're capturing memories that will be looked back on someday with happy, pleasant thoughts.

I'm out for now as I have a back log of editing to do - since the website had been eating into all my time.

Ciao for now.

The Website has Arrived

2010-04-28T12:02:00.000+02:00

This starts a new chapter in Lee Folkard Photography.
Please do check the site out and let me know what you think?
I will be posting to this blog at regular intervals.
Bits about me, my days, and my photography.

Hopefully you enjoy sharing the journey with me.

http://www.leefolkard.com