31 Comments

Thanks for another really interesting article. How do you do this every week? I really liked this piece and it made me think about how I need to spend more time looking and thinking about what is going on before racing to capture a scene that has caught my eye. Why did it capture my eye? What is really going on? Thanks again - great advice.

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Thank you for your comments Dennis, I am glad that you are finding the articles interesting. It can be hard to think something new to write about every week but it keeps my mind busy and I enjoy the challenge! 🙂

I think it is always worth looking around to see what you can see beyond the obvious. Often I find clients don't look hard enough and they miss the details that can make a photograph interesting. It is always worth asking why something caught your eye as this can give you ideas for how to photograph it.

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Thanks for another interesting and superbly illustrated article Gill. Will give us all food for thought. Your photography continues to inspire and certainly gives me ideas on where to go next.

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Thank you very much Peter for your kind comments. I am glad you enjoyed the article and the images. It's really good to know that it has given you some ideas for your own photography.

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Stunning photographs of Norfolk, especially the Happisburgh lighthouse with its turbulent, inky sky. Fascinating too to hear of the decisions and process behind your images.

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Thank you very much Deborah, I am glad you found the post interesting. I love Happisburgh for photography, it is such a varied and fluid landscape which never fails to inspire.

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Gill! I was off grid when this posted and just read it now. Fantastic article! Storytelling in photos is a concept I'm really just becoming aware of and have struggled to incorporate. I feel like I'm probably at the point you were 15 years ago. Great concepts to work on here and I'm saving this for reference. Thank you!

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Thank you so much for your comments Erik and I'm am sorry for the slow response.

I am glad you enjoyed the post and found something useful in it. I think storytelling can be difficult especially within single images - it is easier with projects and bodies of work and I love the challenge. I find it a great way to focus my image making.

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Love the idea that the wider landscape is "the framework with which we construct our stories." Such a useful concept, thanks Gill.

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Thank you very much for your comments James. I am glad you found something interesting within the article.

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Love the first image Gill with the remarkable contrast in light, and the way you've discovered some of the images by using long exposures with seemingly mundane subjects and honing this to reveal new perspectives

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Thank you very much for your comments Tom, I am glad you enjoyed the article.

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Really interesting and motivational post Gill. There’s no story to my images and I can’t say doing so is something I find naturally appearing but definitely need to try.

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Thank you very much for your comments Terry, I am glad you enjoyed the post. I find story telling a bit challenging at times but it definitely focuses my image making.

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A great article and will try to incorporate some of these thoughts on my next shoot.

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Thank you Philip, I am glad you found it interesting.

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From the dramatic image of the icon that is Happisburgh lighthouse, to the simple sea scape, the close up shots of the metal groynes, to the detail images of the barnacles, as a previous comment a full essay in images!

You then put your stamp on another icon, Cromer peir, serene in the beautiful muted colours of sunrise! With your delightful narrative you could easily publish a 'zine' or short book, just from this article, like Dennis I am in awe of how your can produce such work each week, which is of such inspiration to many, thank you!😀

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Thank you so much Chris, that is really kind. I think there are definitely some ideas for a zine in Norfolk. Shooting a series of images is always good fun as it allows more exploration and experimentation than a single image might.

I am really glad you are enjoying the posts and I appreciate all your comments.

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A interesting and well illustrated article on developing a story or photo essay, thanks Gill. The coastal erosion I read about along the East Anglian coast is quite frightening with the speed it is progressing. Documenting it now before it's all lost is so important as a record and also to raise awareness.

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Thank you very much for your comments Lin, I am glad you enjoyed the post.

The coastline here is changing very fast and I agree it is important to document the changes and to raise awareness about what is happening.

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What a great insight to Norfolk it does have many stories to tell and keep giving more each time we go fantastic read very inspiring lv the images and creative work thanks for sharing

Pat

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Thank you very much Pat, I am glad you enjoyed the article and found it inspiring. As you say there is so much variety in Norfolk and I think it makes for some rewarding photography.

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Fascinating. I love the sculptural aspect of the metal structures but then you delve into the detail and reveal so much more. It makes me realise that as a snapper (rather than proper photographer) I should pause a bit longer before I press the shutter and look properly at what I can see.

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Thank you very much for your comments Anne. It is always good to explore a location really well as there are so many possible photos if you look beyond the obvious shots. 🙂

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Stunning photos particularly the lighthouse one, really breathtaking. Far too close to home not thinking about the narrative till later. Going to keep that in mind going forward, thanks!

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Thank you so much for your kind comments.

I think it is always tempting to try and make the narrative fit after taking the images, although its often more productive to have some plans and stories in mind before shooting. I always come away with more interesting shots when I have a story in mind.

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Gill, I enjoyed and learned from your excellent article. One question - whilst I agree that a landscape can have a subject which the photographer needs to find and use, is there a danger of having too many subjects and confusing the viewer.

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Thank you very much for your comments Bill.

I guess the idea is to identify a subject that you want to be the focus of your images and make your compositions around that. Too many subjects would definitely be confusing.

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Thanks Gill.

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Thank you David, hope you enjoyed it.

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Apr 10
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Thank you very much for your comments Jenna and I am sorry for the slow response.

I love your analogy about the sculptor and the stone and I think this is so true for photography. I also love the fact that several photographers could visit the same landscape at the same time and come away with completely different stories. We all see something different in the world around us and that's what makes our stories unique.

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