The Selfie Stick
One of my favourites from the comparatively new Flickr group Photos of Photographers with a Selfie Stick, by Tobias Eisenschmidt.
Published on 3rd November 2015
Blog posts about portraiture
AvatarDay 6
Barbara Hess announces the sixth of the annual AvatarDay events: a day in which she and a few helpers provide a day of free portrait photography for everyone to update their online profile photos.
Published on 22nd October 2014
Portraiture on location: course in Zurich
Now that the weather is turning fine again, it's time for a new photo course. I'm collaborating with the Photo International Club Zurich to run an all-day course on my usual topic - portraiture and lighting on location - on…
Published on 10th April 2014
Portrait area at 500px.com
I like the website 500px.com as users there focus (ho ho) much more on quality images, rather than the volume approach of Flickr users. I have re-activated my account at 500px.com and am using it as a showcase of…
Published on 8th March 2014
Yannick’s lightbox
Wow. Two years. It’s taken me two whole years to get around to writing about the photos I took for Choo Choo in 2010-2011, which they used to accompany their superb self-produced video for the single…
Published on 19th November 2013
Keep It Simple workshop
The idea behind the workshop I ran in Zurich a few weeks ago was to get away from lugging around loads of lighting gear and heavy camera equipment. I hadn’t done an extensive portrait…
Published on 30th September 2013
Using your shoulder as a camera rest
A tip I passed on to a participant at a photo workshop last weekend was one I learned from Joe McNally: not on how to light your subject or how to interact with them, but how to manage your…
Published on 27th August 2013
Selective lighting magic
What makes a picture is often the main subject. But a little attention to detail can also work wonders and turn a nice picture into a really nice picture. Walking in the park with friends last autumn, towards the end…
Published on 5th July 2013
“Keep It Simple” portrait meetup
It’s been a while since my last photo workshop and so it’s definitely time for another! I’ve spent a lot of time over the past year getting used to a simpler workflow and…
Published on 23rd June 2013
Top of the world
Reknowned photographer Joe McNally ascends to the very top of the tallest man-made structure in the world… to say he’s been and to take some portraits while he’s there. Why just take a photo of the view when you…
Published on 15th June 2013
Learning how to light
Having been in the position of a new student, and wanting desperately to improve my technique, it makes me truly happy when I can pass on some knowledge to another photographer.
Published on 19th October 2012
AvatarDay 2012
The date is out for AvatarDay 2012 in Bern, when you can get a free portrait taken by Barbara Hess.
Published on 8th October 2012
Ezybox Speed-Light
First experiences with my new ultra-compact and ultra-light Ezybox Speed-Light softbox.
Published on 30th August 2012
Portrait and lighting workshop in Lausanne
Yesterday's free portrait and lighting workshop at the Rolex Learning Centre in Lausanne was an unmitigated success, with just the right amount of photographers taking part to allow everyone to make new friends, work well together, and come up with…
Published on 20th August 2012
Nadav Kander talks about his portraiture
Photographer Nadav Kander talks about his portraiture in this 13 minute film.
Published on 28th July 2012
Return to the EPFL – portrait and lighting workshop in August
The second of two photographic portraiture and lighting days this summer will take place at the Rolex Learning Centre on the grounds of the EPFL in Lausanne on Sunday 19th August.
Published on 13th July 2012
Portraiture day at the MFO-Park
Our workshop day this past Sunday was a great success, after the rain passed away from the MFO Park in Oerlikon some ten minutes before we started! Blazing sunshine soon warmed the area and gave us plenty of light to…
Published on 10th July 2012
Free lighting and portraiture day in Oerlikon
Thanks to all of those who toook part in a Doodle survey, the dates have now been set for the first of the on-location lighting and portraiture days here in Switzerland.
Published on 24th May 2012
Free lighting and portraiture day
After a break of almost two years, and a handful of small lighting courses both on location and in the studio, I've decided to organize another free day of photography and learning in the style of the Swiss Strobist days.
Published on 31st March 2012
Ten more of the best
Following on from - and inspired by - the feedback I received from my aunt about what she felt to be ten of my best online portraits, my Mum sent me her list recently in…
Published on 15th February 2012
Ten of the best
My aunt picked out ten portraits from my Flickr stream which she feels are the best of those I've shared. Here they are, for you to comment, concur or disagree.
Published on 31st January 2012
Photographing groups
Tips on lighting, herding and photographing groups of people when time is limited.
Published on 29th January 2012
Portraits on location
2012 is the year in which I’m going to try and catch up on an inordinate amount of photos which have never seen the light of day. I have no idea yet how I’m going to get them all online…
Published on 11th January 2012
Studio workshop
I ran the latest of my photographic workshops last weekend and chose (mainly because of the time of year) to hold it in the studio. Thanks to the ready availability of the studio space at Satzart in Bern, we…
Published on 10th December 2011
The end of the movie
After three years of intermittent work, several rounds of shopping and a great many rounds of battery recharging, my One Frame Movie series came to an end last Sunday with what I feel to be one of my best results.
Published on 28th October 2011
Presentation this Wednesday in Bern
I was delighted to be accepted for the 50th edition of the monthly Pix Mix event after applying some weeks ago. As a result of this turn of luck, I will be presenting 20 images from my series…
Published on 10th October 2011
I wish you would let me take your portrait
I love taking portraits of people; whether I know them or not. I do it because of my passion for the image, not for financial gain, and I really wish more people would volunteer to let me photograph them. Here's…
Published on 28th September 2011
Open Show in Lausanne
I was delighted to be invited to submit to the upcoming “Open Show” in Lausanne, an evening of photographic presentation by a small selection of photographers, and honoured to have my submission confirmed earlier today. I’ll be showing twenty…
Published on 10th August 2011
Portraiture and Lighting course in Zurich
My all-day coaching session on 11th June 2011 took place in the grounds of the ETH at Hönggerberg in Zurich. I've used this location several times before thanks to the size and variety of potential areas in which to take…
Published on 27th July 2011
Isa in the studio
A portrait shoot in the Satzart studio in Bern.
Published on 17th July 2011
The Unexpected Twist
A photo shoot in a cellar cinema in Bern adds a new photo to my One Frame Movie series.
Published on 1st June 2011
First lighting workshops completed
I've carried out the first of my photographic lighting workshops for 2011 and there are still places available for the next one in Zurich in June.
Published on 13th May 2011
Swiss Strobist – the next level
I'm happy to announce that starting in June, I'll be taking the Swisss Strobist workshops to the next level. Moving away from the previous days with large groups of attendees, I'll be leading affordable half- and one day courses both…
Published on 22nd April 2011
Found You!
Published on 13th April 2011
One Frame Movie continues for 2011
Now that the spring is here once more, I'm looking for volunteers for my photo series "One Frame Movie".
Published on 18th March 2011
Into the world of TTL
With the money I've put aside for new camera gear, a new, reliable, fully automated flash gun was high on my "wants" list, not least because I receive a slowly increasing number of requests to take portrait photographs and cover…
Published on 30th January 2011
Habi and Nina in the studio
One of the reasons I organize photographic meetup days is so that I can learn new techniques and use equipment that I might not have encountered before.
Published on 28th January 2011
Revenge
One of my favourite pictures of the year, which was shot at the end of a studio session a couple of weeks ago.
Published on 9th November 2010
Simply Yannick
A portrait of a friend and work colleague, shot for a work project earlier this week.
Published on 21st October 2010
Zum Wohl
As a British person abroad, there are several aspects of Swiss culture which take a little getting used to. One of them is making eye contact when chinking glasses with someone.
Published on 28th September 2010
