Emma in Wonderland Photography

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2012-01-28T19:34:00.003Z

A New Year's Revolution!

2012-01-21T16:15:00.000Z

I'm so chuffed; it's still only January and I'm in my first exhibition of the year! Also, it's being curated and run by my lovely friend Ross Atkin, who works at the Bricks & Bread Sustainable Living Centre when he's not commuting to work and back to his regular 9-5, so I'm doubly-chuffed.

Actually, I'm trebly (is that a word?) chuffed because Bricks & Bread is an amazing, forward-thinking social enterprise, encouraging and assisting people to live, work and build sustainably. The brainchild of Trudy Thompson in 2009, B&B is a place for experts and enthusiasts alike to share ideas, offer free advice and promote sustainable living and self-sufficiancy. To find out exactly what they do and how you can get involved, CLICK HERE.

www.bricksandbread.com

Until the end of March they're running an exhibition called 'A New Year's Revolution', showcasing the work of various craftspeople and artists, with a little background on each. The idea is to promote, share and inspire creativity and new skills. All the exhibits are displayed with a short bio about each maker, with contact details and a photo. I love finding out about the 'person behind the product' - I believe when you buy something handmade, you're investing in that person and their work. I also love finding out about what makes other people tick and why they do what they do, or make what they make. (I'm also a bit of a nosy parker, quite frankly!) Look out for work by Ali Haydon and Kate Atkin, two very talented ladies who also happen to be gorgeous friends. Check out Vicky Lloyd from NEDay Crafts, too; who have selected B&B as their Eco-Business of the Month!

A variety of free workshops are also on throughout the exhibition, including Extreme Knitting, which is one I may just have to do. (I just need to relearn how to cast on... again!)

So, if you're in the Aldershot area between now and March 31st, get yourself down to Bricks & Bread. I've just spent a happy lunchtime looking around at all the wonderful crafts on display and chatting to Ross and Trudy, so I can personally recommend it! We also had a look around the reclamation store downstairs... an Aladdin's Cave which really brought out the eco-friendly interior designer in me!

So that's my latest news; until next time; take care

(and 'trebly' is indeed a word - I just checked!)

Emma ♥

Happy New Year!

2012-01-12T16:39:00.000Z

After quite a lull... oh, let's be honest; I fell completely off the radar for a while there... I've decided to give my blog -and my photography - a bit of a much-needed kickstart.

I've got big plans for upcoming blog posts, including an interview or two with other photographers who have inspired me and some instructive articles which, hopefully, will give aspiring and improving photographers a few useful pointers. Should be useful for those selling online and needing product-photography tips, too! I get asked questions all the time about many different aspects of photography so what better place than my blog to share some tips and techniques?!

New Project for 2012 - Photography Group
One of the most exciting, secret and, for me, terrifying events of 2012 will be the setting-up of a photography group for adults with mental health problems. I can't say too much, as it's a bit hush-hush at the moment, but once all the logistical and practical considerations have been worked out we should be ready to roll. (Remember, you didn't hear it from me, ok?!)

New Work
I've also got some work from 2011 which will be available for sale over the next few weeks alongside some brand new photographs. I hope you'll like them. As ever, your comments and constructive criticisms are always welcome!

Finally, I want to wish all you lovely blog followers and customers a very happy and healthy 2012!

Until next time,
Emma ♥

Yes, I'm Still Alive!!!

2011-06-06T10:05:00.011+01:00

HUGE apologies for being away so long. A combination of things have kept me away from my blog. Firstly; I'm willing to bet that I have one of, if not the slowest computers in the UK, if not the world! Seriously - I do not exaggerate. It takes 5 to 10 seconds just for a box to appear when I click on an icon, then anything up to 3 minutes for a new page to load. That's if it loads at all. Sometimes I get timed-out just trying to log in somewhere! I know - I need a new laptop. Well, one is forthcoming. Hubby and I celebrated (in a very low key and modest fashion: Pizza Hut with our son) our 11 year anniversary on the 8th of July and, being at a total loss for what on earth to get each other (what do you get the man who has nothing?!) we decided to pool our resources and buy a new laptop to share. Romantic or what?!! Posh 'n Becks have nothing on us!

Secondly; we've had one ridiculous crisis/near-death experience after another. In January we had to replace our fridge freezer, which suddenly gave up the ghost. We then had problems with our (ancient) boiler, which started when the pilot light kept going out, due apparently to a build-up of... wait for it... carbon monoxide residue!!! Nice, huh? After it was cleaned-up and reignited it worked for a bit then conked out completely. At the same time the electric timer fizzed, sparked and died, in sympathy I assumed. Turns out water from our tank upstairs had been seeping into the wires and shorting them (!) British Gas then condemed our boiler officially, hanging a warning notice on the front, presumably in case anyone decided to try and relight it. Not likely, matey, when we'd been told that the flue going through our loft and out the roof had 3 large holes in it, which had been leaking noxious fumes into our home for goodness knows how long!!!

Since then there have been a few more 'interesting' episodes, including illhealth and financial problems, but as none of those tales are particularly exciting when compared to the above, I shan't bore you with them.

Anyway, somewhere in the midst of all this I have managed to actually do some photography! I finished my Lent project, which you can view HERE and I'm glad to say it has been a big success in many respects. It got me back in touch with my Christian faith, has opened up conversations with people who I wouldn't otherwise discuss God with, both online and in 'real life' and images from the set have been used in our church's 24-7 Prayer Room, on websites such as GoodNewsNow.com and the St Peter's Lent pages.

Several people have asked me to put all the images together in a book and as I already have customers lined up I'd better get that sorted soon!

We (hubby, son and me... or should that be hubby, son and I?) went to Cornwall with my parents for a week in April. The odd hiccup, but overall a lovely break and it gave me the chance to stretch my landscape photography wings again. They'd been almost completely tucked away while I hibernated during a particularly long, frozen winter! I was working on my Lent project at the time, so I was duty-bound to take good, considered shots every day. I'm still sorting thorough those photographs, but will upload them to Flickr asap. At the moment I have quite a backlog of personal photos to wade through: several school events including sports day, a church camping weekend, a church sports day, Royal Wedding Day (sorry, no pics of the Wills and Kate, only my Wills!) Father's Day, hubby's morris dancing events, etc. I also have the usual fine art photos to process and print. I'm sure I'll find the time... somehow!

So, that's me up to date then. Better go now and feed my son, I suppose.

Take care!

Love,
Emma ♥

Lent - the 1st project of the year!

2011-03-13T20:43:00.009Z

Hello again, friends! Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I had a big creative block during the winter, which has been particularly long and especially cold in the UK this year. I'm a complete wimp when it comes to cold weather and the combination of that and the grey skies, while being fantastic to photograph, affect me negatively and I pretty much just hibernate 'til Spring!

Anyway; I'm back with a new personal challenge! Here's the details:

As some of you know, I'm a committed Christian and so for Lent this year I've decided to incorporate my photography into my Lent vow. I've made cursory attempts to give things up during past Lents, but I always either forget or simply give up. Also, giving up chocolate is a very good idea and very beneficial for my health, but it doesn't really get me any closer to God, which is the point after all! So... my vow for Lent 2011 is this:

Every day I shall take a photograph and upload it to Facebook and Flickr, with a relevant verse from the Bible. By Easter I should have 40 uplifting and inspiring images, which I will give to my church, St Peter's, to put in their photo library.

The tasks and aims will be:

* To break my creative block and get 'out there' with my camera.
* To read my Bible each day of Lent and get into the habit of picking up my Bible every single day.
* To inspire and encourage others with the resulting images and verses.
* To spend some time every day with God and to get into the habit of setting time aside to just 'be' with God.
* To spread the Good News!

The challenges:

* Making and finding time to take the photographs.
* Taking good shots, no matter where I happen to find myself and despite my personal limitations.
* Travelling to and staying in Cornwall then Wales for two weeks of Lent, including 4 days on the road and having to find an internet connection!

Jesus went into the desert for forty days, ate nothing and faced down the devil. I think I can manage to take some photos..!

If you want to follow the daily uploads; you'll find them on my Facebook page in THIS ALBUM and in my FLICKR ALBUM. (I usually post the photos in the evening, by 8pm GMT.)

I'll also do a weekly round up here on my blog, too, although the images will be a bit smaller.

Here's the first five:

1 Peter 1:23

Luke 19:10

Isaiah 40:8

Matthew 16:19

John 13:34

So far the response has been amazing, from both Christians and non-Christians alike and I'm so grateful for all the support and encouragement. It's also wonderful to know that people are comforted and inspired by these little daily offerings!

So, until next time, take care!

Emma ♥

Urban Decay - Some Thoughts...

2010-10-13T14:58:00.012+01:00

Nok Woz 'Ere

I have a love/hate relationship with urban decay. On the one hand it's terrible - a blight on our cities and towns. A lack of respect for public and private property and our communities. On the other hand it makes for great photography! Am I saying let's keep trashing our towns in order to give me something to photograph? No. I hope that by taking these photos I will both offer a kind of beauty and inspire people to clean up their act. I'm making a statement - a commentary on urban decay. Sometimes I simply take the photo because I can't physically or safely remove or fix the offending item. But I won't lie, a dumped trolley in a frozen pond is like catnip to me and my camera..!

The Ditch

Dog Ends

The Boot

The Skip

Pondlife
Until next time,

Emma ♥

Free Giveaway Winner!!!

2010-10-05T08:31:00.003+01:00

...And the winner is... MySaviour!

Congratulations on your win! I'll be in touch.

A massive thank you to everyone who entered - you will all recieve 10% off any print from my Etsy or Folksy shops. Just mention it in the checkout and I'll refund the difference.

Love,
Emma ♥

It's FREE GIVEAWAY time again!

2010-09-18T15:32:00.004+01:00

As a thank you to all my loyal blog followers and to celebrate reaching over 100 (157 at the last count!) I'm going to offer a giveaway of prints to the first lucky winner 'out of the hat'!

The prizes: Any TWO large prints - 8"x8", 8x10", or A4 - (as available in my Folksy and Etsy shops) plus a goodie pack of postcards, sweeties and the much coveted 'Emma in Wonderland' fridge magnet! Woohoo :-D

All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is simply leave a comment below. For extra chances, just Tweet, Facebook, blog or link the competition elsewhere. For every link you'll receive an extra free entry! (This is NOT compulsory and is completely up to you.)

Competition ends on Sunday 3rd October and the winner will be announced on Monday 4th.

Good luck!

Emma ♥

Hello friends, it's been a while..!

2010-09-03T15:33:00.016+01:00

The Old Singer

Sorry to have neglected you all for so long. As many of you know I suffer from recurrent depression and boy, did it recur! I'm living like a hermit at the moment (albeit a married one with a small child!) but in terms of my photography it's forced me to think small - inside the box (well, house!)

Ever since I can remember, my Mum has had this huge Victorian sideboard, inherited (I think) from my maternal Grandmother. On it my Mum displays all her blue-and-white china and other assorted antique and antique-looking knicknacks, interspersed with the usual handmade bits and bobs and bizarre strangeness made with more love than talent in my and my sister's school art classes! (I'm sure that last sentence is screaming out with grammatical errors but you know what I mean!) Anyway - the point is that it inspired me to do a whole new series of sepia-toned, vignetted images, evoking the past with a touch of romance. I thought about those Victorian brides-to-be, safely storing away items for their new lives as married women and all the romantic ideals, excitement and anxieties ahead. 'Her Bottom Drawer' is the story of one such young lady - and it all starts with a wedding cake...

A Fine Romance

The Little Russian

The Painted Duck

(In case you're wondering about the giveaway, I hadn't forgotten - I just wanted to make sure I could include these new prints! The giveaway will be my next blog post. Promise!)

Love, Emma ♥

-----

To buy these photographs:

Folksy (UK)

Etsy (USA)

Dreamaid on the BBC!!!

2010-05-15T23:56:00.003+01:00

...I forgot to mention; the BBC will be featuring Dreamaid on Theo's Adventure Capitalists, presented by the wonderful Theo Paphitis of 'Dragon's Den' fame! How cool is that?!

It'll be shown on BBC2 on Tuesday, 18th May at 8pm, GMT. Get the details here!

(Yay!)

Emma in Wonderland Photography - Now on Dreamaid!

2010-05-15T11:12:00.009+01:00

I'm very proud to announce that I'm now selling my work through Dreamaid!

Dreamaid is wonderful organization with a great charity.

You can find out all about their brilliant work HERE!

...and my shop is HERE!

Every print sold will include a donation to this very worthy cause!

Shopping with a conscience. Cool!

♥

Until next time,

Emma

♥

(BTW; I haven't forgotten about the giveaway. I'm just waiting for the printing lab to send my most recent test prints, then I'll put together a goody bag!)

Just a quickie...

2010-05-14T17:17:00.005+01:00

Just in case you were wondering just exactly how cool lomo cameras are,

Click here for the proof!

Yes - Lomo cameras are cool - official! (But you knew that anyway...)

♥

World Pinhole Day and Something for YOU!

2010-05-12T17:13:00.011+01:00

Now before I begin - a big sorry for not posting for a little while. Life really creeps up on us sometimes, doesn't it?! By the time you reach the end of this post, however, you should hopefully feel it was worth the wait!

Anyhoo; I took part in this year's WPD, having been itching to use the true pinhole function on my Diana F+! It was quite exciting! I was busy until 3:30pm (I co-run a film and animation group for people with mental health problems) so on the way home I stopped at a lovely wood near our town centre. Despite being surrounded on two sides by a busy main road and a railway line, it's a nice, peaceful area. The sun was shining and warm too, which always helps, doesn't it?! I went right back to basics - no memory cards, no batteries, not even a lens! I was able to sit and eat my sandwiches while the little box did it's thing - I just had to make sure I kept an eye on the time ticking away! It's a tricky thing to get right (which I didn't, mostly, but that's the fun of learning) and it all depends on how much ambient light there is and how many seconds/minutes you leave the shutter open for.

I enjoyed it all sooo much - I can't believe I waited so long do have a go! I assumed it would be a tricky process, best done by a more technically-minded person. Quite the opposite! It goes right back to the earliest days of photography and was a reminder of how far we've come in a relatively short time - and how amazing it is that an entire scene can be captured on film at all!

♥

Sooo.. this was my very first (and only) successful shot. I'm really pleased with how it turned out and have been spurred on to do more, this time indoors and at night. Watch this space!

Far From the Madding Crowd

Now I know this post was a little long, so thanks for sticking with me. Now here's your reward!

I've now reached over 100 followers of this blog, so to celebrate and say a big 'thank you' I'll be having a free giveaway. Yay!!! I'm getting together some goodies for a lucky someone, so see a future blog post for details!

Until next time,

Emma ♥

B&W V. Colour - Film V. Digital

2010-05-01T17:01:00.007+01:00

It's no secret that I have a long-standing and very deep love affair with black and white film, but I also love shooting digitally in B&W. Lately I've started shooting more in colour, too and it really does require a different way of seeing the world. I'm used to framing everything in my mind and mentally converting all the shades and tones into greyscale. After years of doing this almost constantly, everywhere and anywhere I found myself (and with or without a camera) I developed a 'feel' for how B&W film behaves. I pretty much knew how a shot would turn out, using a mix of intuition and the right shutter speed. Now I use a digital SLR for about 70% of my work and have had to relearn. It means getting to really know the camera and that means practice - a lot of it! Two years on and I've learnt a whole new photographic discipline.

The other 30% of the time I use film and was using 120mm medium format B&W almost exclusively, until I forced myself to go back to colour - and that meant relearning all over again! I've really enjoyed seeing the world 'in colour' again!

The shots in this blog post are examples of my very latest work - at different ends of the spectrum. One was shot on colour film, the other in B&W digital. See what you think...

The Arches

Glorious Springtime!

Until next time!
Emma ♥

(BTW; When I was a child I saw old black and white films on TV and actually thought the world was like that in 'the olden days.' I'm sure that's relevant, but I'm not entirely sure how..!)

Just For The Fun Of It!

2010-04-23T16:15:00.014+01:00

The Gate

Sometimes it's great just to wander with my camera and shoot purely for myself, with no customers or commercial value in mind. I had two such chances very recently:

Tangle

We were invited to a wedding at a country hotel last weekend and at the very tail-end of it, the next morning after everyone had left, hubby, William and myself went for a wander around the grounds. We stumbled upon a beautiful collection of lawns and walled gardens and right at the back was an 'urban decay' paradise! A wonderful array of old statues, hotel furnishings and various building materials, all piled high amongst the crumbling walls of an abandoned outhouse.

Shears & Sickles

Broken #2

Broken #1

♥

Last Sunday evening hubby and I took our son over to our local airport/business park, where there is a fabulous flat area just right for a young chap to break his first bike in!

The Arches #1

Reach

Aviators Cafe

Silhouette

The Arches #2

Because all flights were cancelled and the offices and cafe were shut it was so peaceful and quiet. Just an occasional passer-by. It was also perfect weather - for biking and for photography!

Blocks #1

Blocks #2

It was my husband who suggested I bring the camera, thinking I would get a few shots of William on his bike, but I shot much more than that. In fact, I almost did an entire industrial landscape project right there and then!

♥

After both sessions I felt elated - genuinely happy inside. It has proved to me once again that photography really is good therapy for me. Long may it continue!

Until next time,
Emma ♥

PS: The above are a selection from all the shots taken. I don't know if any of them will be put up for sale yet. I'll gauge everyone's reactions and decide then, but if you do specifically want a print of any of the above - or any of the rest from my Flickr gallery - please ask!

Cloudy With a Chance of Rain

2010-04-02T10:49:00.005+01:00

...No, not the weather report here in England - which is cloudy and windy with almost certainty of rain - but my latest Lomo print!

A couple of weeks ago I found myself with an hour or so to spare, so I went for a walk along the canal. I had my Diana Lomo camera with me, loaded with B&W film, so of course the walk turned into a scouting party for good shots! I took a few photos, but nothing really exciting, then just as I was about to climb the steps back up to the road, I saw this wonderful view!

One little problem with older 'toy' cameras is that unlike modern compacts and SLRs, the viewfinder on top doesn't look through the lens itself, so you have to remember to adjust your eyes accordingly and lift the camera a little higher to get the right frame. It's something which I've found quite easy to do but it has meant that I've really had to start concentrating on composition again. I would much rather get it right 'in camera' than have to spend too much time fixing any little mistakes in post-processing. Don't get me wrong, I love using my Photoshop Elements software and when it comes to digital I think the sky's the limit, but with my film work I like to keep it as true to the original shot as possible.

Cloudy With a Chance of Rain

So, I hope you like this latest offering? If you have any thoughts or feelings about the image, this blog or just photography in general, please feel free to leave a comment below!

Until next time!

Emma ♥

Racing the Wind!

2010-03-30T21:25:00.006+01:00

I'm very pleased to announce two brand new prints, both available to buy in my Folksy and Etsy online shops!

Racing the Wind #1 and #2 are both lomography shots, taken with my Diana F+ Lomo camera, on 120mm medium format film. As with all my Lomo photographs, I scan the negatives in and they are then printed digitally on archive-safe paper by a professional lab.

I personally prefer #1 and was only going to list that, but my darling husband likes #2 better, so to keep him happy (and in case he's right) I'm offering them both for sale!

So, which one do you prefer?

Racing the Wind #1

Racing the Wind #2

My Folksy (UK) Shop

My Etsy Shop

Until next time,

Emma ♥

Now available as free wallpaper!

2010-03-25T18:22:00.004Z

...well, on an iPhone, anyway!

One of my prints has been chosen as part of Inspiks.com's iPhone wallpaper showcase!

If you're a Christian, as I am, or simply in need of some divine inspiration, download an Inspiks wallpaper for free today!

Click here to check them out!

Or go straight to Inspiks.com's homepage here!

Bye for now,

Emma ♥

Lomo Prints ~ Now Available!

2010-03-12T19:17:00.007Z

I've just listed the first of my new lomography images in my Etsy and Folksy shops! Regular followers of this blog will know by now how in love I am with lomography and I hope my latest work will meet with your approval!

Canopy
The three prints on sale so far are Canopy, Trash TV and Pondlife. Two are on an urban decay theme and the third is simply a lovely image of tangled trees! All three are full of dreamy, blurry, vintage-feel lomographic fabulousness!

Trash TV

Pondlife

All three were shot on 120mm medium format film, then the negatives were digitally scanned.

As time goes on I intend to experiment more with old skool and bygone photographic techniques. Having gone from 35mm and medium format film to digital, then back to 120mm film, I feel like I've gone full circle!

If you would more information on each image or if you'd like to purchase 5x5" or 8x8" digital prints of the above, either visit my Folksy or Etsy shops, or contact me for direct orders.

Folksy

Etsy

Em ♥

Meet Sugarmice and Mary Vican - the winners!

2010-03-02T10:57:00.006Z

The two winners of my recent giveaway won copies of my prints, a fridge magnet and a plug for their own blogs and online shops...

First prize went to Sarah aka Sugarmice. She has two Folksy shops, one selling her own tiny jewellery creations, made from polymer clay and the other selling craft supplies. Both shops are gorgeous, full of lots of lovely little items which will make your mouth water! I seriously recommend you go take a look!

Sugarmice

Sugarmice Supplies

Sarah also has a blog, full of her own craft experiments. Fascinating stuff! It's a great read!

Experiments with Sugarmice

♥♥♥

Our second winner is Mary Vican, a fellow photographer and also a member of the fPOE Team (Female Photographers of Etsy.) Mary sells her own range of beautiful prints in her shop and I promise you it's well worth a look! As well as great photography, Mary also sells her own range of handmade jewellery on Etsy.

Mary Vican Photography

Bad Apple Jewellery

Mary has also started a blog, documenting her rediscovered love of photography. It's full of fabulous images, too!

Mary Vican Blog

♥

I feel very fortunate to have met two great and friendly fellow artists through this giveaway and have throughly enjoyed browsing through their shops and reading their blogs! Make yourself a cup of something hot, or pour something cold ;-) - settle down and enjoy!

Until next time!

Em ♥

♥ Valentine's Giveaway Winners!!! ♥

2010-02-21T23:07:00.006Z

Huge thanks to everyone who entered the competition! You're all fabulous people! I particularly loved reading about some of the places you'd hang the prints and so appreciated all the comments! ♥

And so, without further ado, here are the winners (as picked by my glamorous assistant, also known as my husband!) #Feigns opening gold envelope to drum roll#

First prize and huge congratulations goes to Sugarmice (Sarah) who wins a 10x8" print of Recurring Nightmare. Second prize and a respectful round of applause goes to Mary who wins a 7x5" of The Gathering Storm. Both winners also receive an 'Emma in Wonderland' fridge magnet and a free plug for their own blogs and online shops (if they have them!) I'll be in touch with both winners very shortly to sort all the details.

Recurring Nightmare

The Gathering Storm

♥♥♥ Special Exclusive Blog Offer For All Entrants!!! ♥♥♥

I would also like to give all the entrants a very special offer: FREE worldwide shipping on ANY print currently available in my Folksy and/or Etsy shops! Just mention 'Valentine's offer' in the 'message to seller' box during checkout and I will refund the shipping costs within 24 hours. Alternatively, tell me which print(s) you'd like and I'll set up a reserved listing especially for you on Etsy or Folksy. (Offer is open to all giveaway entrants, one per person.)

My Etsy Shop (USA)

♥

My Folksy Shop (UK)

Once again, many thanks to everyone who took part - I hope you enjoy your special offer!

Love,

Em ♥

'Winter Wonderland' - my latest series

2010-02-18T19:04:00.015Z

Here in my little corner of the world (SE England) we had our fair share of this winter's snow. I went out walking with my camera at various times of the day, enjoying the pure cleansing whiteness, the silence, the crunchy snow under my feet and the incredible colours at sunset. I don't generally 'do' cold weather, but a blanket of snow is a whole different story - I love it! I'm like a child when it snows!

Winter WonderlandWhen my son and I weren't making snowmen or having impromptu snowball fights with the neighbours (amazing how something as simple as snow can bring people together) I was scouting for scenes to record or setting up my tripod and shooting.

Here are some of my favourites, now available in both my Etsy and Folksy shops.

A Little Piece of Narnia

Chilly Softness

The Big Thaw!

Dead & Buried

Sepia in Winter

Sunset Bird in Winter
A Winter's Tale #1

A Winter's Tale #2

All the above are included in my Valentine's Giveaway, as are all my prints, including any which are listed on Etsy and Folksy between now and Monday (22nd Feb.)

Em ♥

My Etsy Shop

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My Folksy Shop

♥ Exciting Valentine's Giveaway Update!!! ♥

2010-02-15T19:00:00.003Z

Hello again!

Firstly, a HUGE 'thank you' to everyone who's entered the giveaway so far! I'm really feelin' the lurve! Your comments are very valuable -and quite flattering; I fair blushed when I read some of them! - and useful in helping my gauge what prints are most popular and why.

Secondly; I've noticed that some people have chosen a print which is not available as a 10x8" - in which case I'll offer the winner 2 smaller prints instead. Unless you want to change your mind of course! I'll contact the winner and they can make their final decision then. (Huge apologies. My own silly fault for not stating that before and I'm sorry for any inconvenience caused.)

Thirdly; (and this is the really good bit) because I've been so moved by some of your lovely comments, I've decided just one winner simply isn't fair. Soooo...

...I've decided to award a SECOND PRIZE of a 7x5" or 5x5" print (plus the magnet and blog/shop plug)!!!

Same rules apply: just leave a comment saying which print you'd choose if you won and why you like it - and possibly where you'd hang it and why!

Good luck!
Em ♥

♥♥♥ I love you all! ♥♥♥

2010-02-13T10:13:00.006Z

♥♥♥ Valentine's Giveaway! ♥♥♥

Because I love all my blog readers so much - and because it's Valentine's Day tomorrow - I'm giving away a free 10x8" print! The lucky winner will recieve a print of their choice, plus a fabulous official 'Emma in Wonderland' fridge magnet! :-) I'll also give your own blog/Etsy shop/Folksy shop or whatever a good plug!

♥

If you'd like to enter, simply leave a comment below telling me which print you'd like and why - and maybe where you'd hang it and why. I'll pull a name out of the hat (or whatever I can find) next Sunday (21st) and announce it on Monday.

♥

Good luck!

Em ♥

My Etsy Shop

My Folksy Shop

♥

Are You Getting Your Five-A-Day?!

2010-01-28T18:10:00.006Z

Well, the weather has been very miserable since the the snow melted away; grey skies, rain and cold wind. Not having all-weather gear and having a toddler in tow is not at all conducive to landscape photography!

So; I've stayed indoors and done a lot of soul searching, as well as some still life photography. Two things that are definite are: A) I love still life and will always return to it and B) I don't eat enough fruit. Actually, I eat almost no fruit at all (unless the raisins in a Cadbury's Fruit & Nut bar counts? It doesn't? Oh...)

And now, ladies and gentlemen #clears throat# for the obligatory joke:

Here is the fruit of my most recent labour... and it looks like I've cracked up more than myself!
(Please don't feel you have to laugh. Oh, you didn't...)

Eat A Rainbow

Until next time!

Em ♥

The very 1st photos with my fabulous new Diana F+!!!

2010-01-18T10:22:00.010Z

So, what do you think? Be honest - love 'em or hate 'em? I need to know! (Personally I adore them, but then I haven't been this excited about photography in a long time!)

St Peter's Parish Church

Pondlife

I know I'm biased; I love lomography and all that goes with it and so far the feedback has been very positive. But what do you think?!

Film info (for those who want to know!):

Shot on Ilford HP5 and Fujicolor Superia X-Tra 400 - both 120mm rollfilm.

Em ♥

Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls - Please welcome... Diana!!!

2010-01-05T12:05:00.005Z

I've got a new baby! No, Wiliam doesn't have a new sibling, but I am now the very proud owner of a Diana F+ 120 film camera!

Regular readers of this blog will know that over the past year I have developed (see what I did there?!) a passion for lomography-style photography. Well, now I can focus (I did it again!) on the real thing!

If you want to know more about lomography, you can find lots of very interesting and often entertaining info HERE!

The Diana is seriously old skool - around 99% plastic, it leaks light like a sieve, the colours are often very saturated and sometimes there's a shadow or blur on the photo. So why then, you may ask? Why on Earth would a professional photographer with a perfectly good collection of SLR and digital SLR cameras want one?

Well; my answer is simple: happy accidents!

I want to get right back to basics and rediscover the magic of capturing images on film. I also want to have some fun and stop worrying too much about all the rules and regs of photography. I want to enjoy and capture the looks on people's faces when I get Diana out and start taking photos!

Remember the first time you picked up a camera and took a photo? You didn't know if it would turn out alright but you assumed it would. Remember collecting the photos from the lab or chemist? Remember nearly getting knocked down by a car because you couldn't wait 'til you got home before looking at them?

I want that back! (Except for the getting knocked down bit, obviously...)

And just LOOK at her - she's beautiful! Pure Daily Planet retro class! That blue and black body is straight out of the swinging sixties! Her flash looks like something from thirties Hollywood! Pure class!

Can you tell I'm in love..?

Now... off to buy some film...

'Til next time,

Em ♥

Merry Christmas!!!

2009-12-18T17:11:00.008Z

I want to take a moment to thank all my buyers for their support this year. My Etsy and Folksy shops have gone from strength to strength and I'll continue to produce more fine art photography for you to enjoy! Since opening my Etsy shop back in March I've sold to people in places all over the world, and it fills me with such joy and awe that someone in somewhere as far away as Australia has one of my prints hanging on their wall! I've also met some wonderful people through the Etsy and Folksy forums, here on the blogs, on Flickr.com and at the We Make London fair.

To all of you who've bought my prints, I thank you and I hope they please you for many, many years to come!

I wish all of you a very merry Christmas and a wonderful 2010!

Em ♥

(PS: I'll be taking a short break over Christmas, from Dec 24th to 28th, so any prints bought won't be posted until the 29th at the earliest. Apologies for any inconvenience. Em ♥)

Emma in Wonderland Photography at Etsy.com (USA)

Emma in Wonderland Photography at Folksy.com (UK)

'We Make London' Christmas Market --- This Saturday! A reminder and more info!

2009-12-03T12:52:00.011Z

Just a little reminder that the We Make London designer art and craft Christmas fair is this Saturday (Dec 5th) at the Chelsea Town Hall, King's Rd, London.

I've already blogged about this great event, which I'm really looking forward to, but I have some more info about the day:

Firstly, the We Make fair has been listed as one of the top 10 Christmas markets in London by Time Out magazine! It has also been featured in these mags, too: Crafts Beautiful, Foxtons Sloane Square and Selvedge!

There will be a wonderful selection of stallholders selling their handcrafted wares. Textiles, fashion, ceramics, fine art and, of course, Christmas decorations will all be on sale. You can be assured of excellent quality and service, too.

Aside from the great shopping opportunity, there will be carol singers to welcome the first visitors of the day - 11-11:45am - to help us all get into the Christmas spirit!

The event has a few superb sponsors, too:

The Make Lounge - who will be giving everyone a chance to have a go at a craft on the day at their 'creation station'!

Moo - those friendly and fun printers and providers of the now famous mini-cards!

Tea, coffee, cakes, sandwiches and hot food will be provided by Sands Caterers, the founders of Patisserie Valerie.

Don't forget - all my blog readers will recieve a free thank-you gift from me on the day!

Do drop by and say hello, it would be lovely to meet you in person and would be a great opportunity to see my work 'in the flesh' as it were, in various sizes, mounted and even framed! I'll also be offering reductions for two or more prints, as well as some items not yet available in my online shops! (If you like, you can let me know in the comments box that you're coming.)

Hope to see you there!

Em ♥

LAST DAY OF MY FREE PRINT GIVEAWAY!!!

2009-12-01T15:55:00.005Z

Sorry to shout, but just wanted to give you a quick reminder that today (Dec 1st) is the last day of my free print offer; I'll also be putting my 10x8" prices back to their usual price, so if there's a print you've had your eye on TODAY is the day to order it! :-)

Until midnight tonight (wherever you are in the world!) you will still recieve a free 6x4", 5x5" or 7x5" print of your choosing. Just tell me which print and what size!

My Etsy Shop (USA $)

My Folksy Shop (UK £)

Bye for now!
Em ♥

Please come and see me at the 'We Make London' Christmas fair!

2009-11-21T16:38:00.008Z

I have secured a place at the 'We Make London' designer arts & crafts fair, at the fabulous Chelsea Town Hall in the equally fabulous King's Rd!

Date: Saturday, Dec 5th
Time: 11am -5pm
Place: Chelsea Town Hall, King's Rd, London SW3 5EE

The hall itself is a beautiful building and is often the preferred civil wedding place of many a pop star or socialite! It's slap bang in the middle of the King's Rd (that is, it's equadistant between Sloane Square at one end and The World's End at the other - not that it's actually in the middle of the road! That would be stupid.) The position means that it's extremely accessible by bus or tube. Or do it properly and get in a London Black cab! There's no parking right outside the Town Hall, but there are public car parks near by.

I'll have my usual range of fine art images (printed as ever on highest quality archive-safe paper and guaranteed for 150 years +) in 6x4", 5x5", 7x5" and 10x8" sizes. I'll also be bringing some ready-framed prints and some brand new items, not yet available in either of my online shops!

♥ A SPECIAL THANK-YOU GIFT FOR MY BLOG FRIENDS! ♥

Are you a follower of this blog? If so I'd love to meet you and say thanks in person! Just mention that you're a follower of my blog and you will recieve a special free gift on the day! (If you are planning on coming, do pop a note in the comments box below so I know to look out for you!)

Hope to see you there! In the meantime, click here to see my designer feature on the We Make blog!
Em ♥

Westy Exhibition, Aldershot

2009-11-14T09:30:00.005Z

Hello!

Some news for anyone in my local area. The fabulous West End Centre, in Aldershot are holding their annual open exhibition from the 16th of November to 12th December. The preview night is Monday (16th Nov) and I'll be there with my family as my Mum and I have both entered works into the exhibition!

I inherited my creative side from my Mum, so it seems fitting that we're exhibiting together, side by side. It's also very exciting for me, personally!

Like myself, my Mum has a long history of mental health problems but she was also diagnosed a couple of years ago with Multiple Sclerosis, which has meant she has to use a cane or wheelchair to get about. I've watched Mum struggle and suffer so much with MS that it's with great pride I'll see my pieces hanging alongside hers.

The two pieces I've selected are A Gentle Freak-Out and The Chapel Gate.

If you're in the neighbourhood from the 16th Nov to 12th Dec, do pop your head round the door of the Westy gallery. If you come along in the evening the bar will be open, so you can grab a drink (including tea and coffee) and a snack and settle into one of the big leather sofas!

Let me know if you're coming - wherever possible I'd love to meet you there for a drink and a chat! (I'll be at the Westy on Tuesday night anyway for a rehearsal for an upcoming Christmas show.)

Bye for now!
Em ♥

You Asked - I Listened!

2009-11-04T13:53:00.003Z

Aside from the price reductions, I'm also doing a bit of rejigging in other areas of my Etsy and Folksy shops.

One thing I've heard raised a good few times in the forums is concerning item photos - and framed examples of prints in particular. So I've just been through my shop and posted the first of many photos of the framed examples I already have in my home. This is so you can get a better idea of what my pictures would actually look like hanging in your home; something which people have both directly and indirectly asked me for.

Another issue raised by the photo-buying handmade community was sizing options. Some people want each item in each size listed separately, while others simply want a list of the options in each listing without having to send a message to ask. Since opening my shops I intended to list every available print individually so I mean to go on the way I started. Basically, if it's listed, it's available. I always keep my listed prints in stock, so I can meet or beat my 'within 3 days' shipping deadline. I hope this will make shopping easy - like taking the items straight off the shelf in real-life! (Of course, I'm still as open as ever to special requests, such as larger/smaller sizes, adding text or a different finish - high gloss or matt - and will always welcome queries and strive to provide what you want.)

Please feel free to add in the comments any points or questions you have - I'm at your service!

Em ♥

Wow! My first review - and it's a good 'un!

2009-11-02T15:21:00.006Z

I've been featured in the 'Haptree and Me' blog and their is a lovely review of my work - and I must say it's made me very, very happy indeed! :-)

Haptree & Me

(I've also won a months' free advertising on her blog, too, which is fabulous!!! Thank you 'Haptree'!)

I'm not too well at the moment and had started to feel a bit crappy about my photography, so this couldn't have come at a better time. I'm a great believer in the power of prayer and God never fails to amaze me..!

Em ♥

An Early Christmas Present For All My Customers!!!

2009-10-31T18:51:00.009Z

I've done a bit of rejigging in the financial and supplies departments and been able to reduce ALL my 10x8" prints in both my Etsy and Folksy shops!

I've also been able to knock a bit off the postage and packing rates, too! Woohoo!!!

...and my offer of a free 7x5" or 5x5" print of your choice with every single 10x8" until Dec 1st still stands so now is the perfect time to buy that print you've had an eye on for yourself - or someone else!

Folksy (UK £)

Etsy (USA $)

Merry (early) Christmas!
Em ♥

Art Meets Mental Health Issues - A Very Special Treasury

2009-10-27T11:29:00.006Z

I've just been notified that my photograph 'A Gentle Freak-Out' has been included in the following treasury on Etsy.com:

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=90249

It's always nice to have a piece of work selected for any treasury, but this is a subject which many of you know is very close to my heart, so if you could just click on it and maybe leave a comment, we might get this issue on the frontpage of Etsy - and I'm all for promoting good mental health and raising awareness of mental health issues.

Thank you!!!
Em ♥

A Nice Surprise!

2009-10-25T10:40:00.001Z

I woke up this morning to find I'd been featured in this lovely Etsy treasury:

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=73168

which was a lovely surprise!

Em ♥

FREE PRINTS! :-)

2009-10-17T16:49:00.006+01:00

Just a gentle reminder to my loyal followers :-) that until Dec 1st I'm giving away a free 5x5" or 7x5" print of your choosing with every single 10x8" sold (and none of this 'one-per-transaction' high street nonsense, either!)

If you buy three prints, you get three free - simple!

(And if you mention that you saw the offer in my blog, I may just throw in an extra freebie..!)

Em ♥

Click here for my Etsy shop= $

Click here for my Folksy shop = £

Dear Father Christmas, I've been a very good girl this year...

2009-10-14T20:35:00.013+01:00

Well;, anyone who knows my photography knows how much I adore lomography and the vintage look (see previous blog entry here!)

Now I'm ready to take the plunge, put down the battery chargers and memory cards and go totally old skool...with a toy camera!

(So, for anyone who doesn't know about toy cameras, please read on...)

Yes, you heard right. I said 'toy'. Not that these are toys - no siree! They may be 'cheap' (relatively speaking) plastic cameras but they take some of the best photography I've seen. Check out this work from fellow fPOE team member, HolgaJen, who just happens to be one of my great toy camera inspirations: (Please click on the photos/titles.)

Hidden in The Grass

Wanderlust

Polson Park

Check out Jen's shop here!

You see, 'toy' cameras, like the Holga featued here and the Diana cameras, are definitely not mere toys...but that doesn't mean they're not fun!

Look at the stunning effects they can achieve - the aged, retro feel; the vignetting (the shadow around the edge); the rich colours or deep black & whites, the bursts of sunlight...some people spend hours in Photoshop trying to achieve with a digital camera what the Holga or Diana can do in an instant on film. Ah yes, I do miss working with film...another reason to give this a go!

Yep, I already know what I want this Christmas - and it definitely isn't a silly jumper with Rudolf on it!

Em ♥

Coincedentally, World Camera Day 2009 is coming up on Staurday, 17th!

(P.S. More info about Holgas here)

Good News, Now About 'Good News Now'!

2009-10-03T09:44:00.004+01:00

I'm so proud to be on the front page of goodnewsnow.com today! (Oct 3rd.)

As both a Christian and a photographer (and the two aren't mutually exclusive!) I was only to happy to allow them to use my image today.

It's a great, uplifting website - a break from the constant barrage of bad news in the mainstream media.

Check it out here!

Creative Streak!

2009-10-02T21:16:00.025+01:00

After a long, dry spell I seem to be coming to the end (possibly) of a very short yet prolific creative streak! Since coming home from France I've been doing some challenging, although successful, still life work - I'm really proud of myself!

I don't know if it was the strong coffee or the perfect chocolate eclairs, but France gave me back my mojo. I ticked a lot of boxes from my mental list; portraiture, landscape, social documentary, slow exposure work, bright sunshine then low light levels, faster shutter speeds...I was a busy girl!

Since being back I've produced a few successful stil lifes and really pushed my limited resources and DIY lighting skills to the limit!

Please, tell me what you think...

Until next time,

Em ♥

FREE PRINTS!!!

2009-09-27T17:40:00.005+01:00

Though that would get your attention! :-)

From now until December 1st I'm giving away a FREE 7x5" print with every single 10x8" sold in my online shops!

$: http://www.emmainwonderland.etsy.com/

£: www.folksy.com/shops/emmainwonderland

After making your purchase, simply tell me which 7x5" you would like. It can be one of any from the 7x5" or 10x8" sizes in my shops.

As ever, they will both be printed on 'Fujifilm Crystal Archive' paper - guaranteed to last a lifetime...if not longer! Both prints will be signed, titled and dated upon purchase (unless you don't want that!)

Remember: EVERY single 10x8" gets a free print - even if you buy two or more!

Love,
Em ♥

Time for 'another great photographer you should check out!'

2009-09-21T18:23:00.005+01:00

This time I'm raving about Mark Highton-Ridley's B&W work and his great blog, 'Musings in Monochrome.'

You probably all know by know that I a deep and passionate love affair with black and white photography and Mark's work are superb examples of this type. Mark is a fellow brit, living in the beautiful west-country county of Devon (jealous...moi?!) and has been featured by that grand old British institution, the BBC and is scheduled to do a BBC Radio interview this week. Not bad, eh?

Mark's main site is HERE and he's also currently running a prize draw on his blog (here!) to win one of three prints, so I suggest you get over there pretty smartish, too!

Until next time!
Em ♥

Back to Blighty!

2009-09-17T11:53:00.007+01:00

My camera and I have just got back from a trip to France. There were a few shots I definitely wanted to get, such as a reshoot of 'Summer's End' (aka 'Depth of Field'.)

The original was taken on the spur of the moment, as we drove past a particular field in Normandy's wonderful farmlands. It was a great composition and but a low resolution image, therefore the quality was to low for quality prints larger than 6x4". This time I went prepared, with my favourite digital landscape equipment (Nikon D80, light tripod and all the filters I might need, all packed safely and neatly in my gorgeous new Lowepro 'Flipside 200' backpack!)

I went to Normandy on 2007 and did the D-Day beaches, the Bayeaux tapestry, revisited Mont St Michel and spent a couple of days in Caen and Rouen (where an uber-heroine of mine, St Joan of Ark, was burned at the stake.) I took a ridiculous amount of photos, swearing to come back and shoot properly - doing justice to the place this time! I've been to various parts of France but Normandy has stolen my heart - the people are wonderful, the scenery is stunning, the buildings are gorgeous and every town and village has a charm all of it's own. There's something for everyone - a rugged coastline or wide, sandy beaches, quaint little houses and farms, picturesque villages, large, bustling towns, peace and quiet or fun and excitement and of course, history seeping out of every blade of grass and cobbled stone!

- - - - -

I couldn't spend as much time out and about with my camera as I'd have liked (having a husband and 3-year-old son in tow hinders things a little!) but I think there are definitely a few worthy shots which I'm about to start working on now, including some social documentary style portraits as well as the usual landscapes and architectural shots. I even managed to get in a self-portrait in a wonderful brasserie. The best should be ready for sale within the next two weeks...fingers crossed!

See you soon - à bientôt!

Em ♥

~ Shops temporarily closed for 12 days ~

2009-08-25T09:51:00.004+01:00

Just a quick warning; the online shops will be closed for 12 days from 27th of August, so if you would like to make a purchase during that time, I won't be able to post until 8th September. Any purchases made until 26th August will be posted on 26th or 27th August.

Em ♥

So what's this 'lomo' thingy then, eh?

2009-08-21T10:07:00.007+01:00

People have been asking me what 'lomography' is and how I achieve the effect on my more recent work. So, for them everyone else who's interested, here's the lowdown:

A potted history:

The name was inspired by a Russian company; LOMO Plc in St Petersberg, although 'Lomography' is actually the commercial trademark of Lomographische AG, an Austrian company. LOMO Plc produced the now-legendary 35mm LOMO LC-A Kompakt Automat camera in the 1980s, which was rediscovered in 1991 by Lomographische. They bought the sole marketing and distribution rights and became the sole distributers for the LOMO LC-A outside of the then Soviet Union.

So what's so cool about a cheap, plastic camera, then?

Well, it's partly explained by what first attracted the Austrian Lomography founders to it. Apparently they were very taken with it's; "unique, colourful, and sometimes blurry" images. Lomo photographs are characterised by vignetting (the dark shadows around the edges of the image) and deep, over-saturated colours, which even make a wonderful difference to black and white photography. Because of its cheap, plastic build the original cameras were/are prone to light leaks which can also add an interesting depth to the images.

The cameras are compact, light and easy to use anywhere, anytime.

So how do you do your photos, then, Emma?

I use a digital SLR camera and add the lomography effect afterwards in post-processing. This way I can offer buyers the best of both worlds: an original image and/or one with the lomo effect. (I like to think of the second option as adding a little extra nostalgia!)

I personally adore the lomo effect - it gives a shot that classic, retro vintage-feel which is so popular these days and also adds a depth to my work which I really enjoy. I love the slight unpredictability of it, too. It's made photography fun for me again!

Take care - bye for now!
Em ♥

Etsy Art Showcase!

2009-08-13T13:57:00.005+01:00

I'm in Etsy's art showcase today. I heartily recommend you pop over there and check out all the amazing artwork Etsy has to offer!

Bye for now!
Em ♥

fPOE 'Member of the Week'!

2009-08-10T21:47:00.003+01:00

As you may or may not yet know, I'm a very proud member of the new (pending) Female Photographers of Etsy (fPOE) street team and this week I'm particularly proud as I've been selected as 'Member of the Week' on the teams' blog - which is a great blog, actually!

Click HERE to check it out!

How cool is that?!!

Em ♥

(Just realised that I've just blogged about being blogged! LOL)

ArtFire Coupon Codes and Vouchers are Coming!!!

2009-08-04T18:17:00.004+01:00

Soon ArtFire will be officially launching coupons and voucher codes for use all over their site on all sorts of great items, including prints from the Emma in Wonderland Photography studio!

Read all about it here!

Free stuff, discounts, special offers...they're all coming, so watch this space!!!

Woohoo! Made Etsy's Frontpage Again!

2009-08-01T10:10:00.005+01:00

Just found out, thanks to Craft Cult, that I made the front page as part of a treasury on July 30th!

Thank you, heidiburton, for including me!!!

'Photographers of Etsy' and 'Female Photographers of Etsy' Teams

2009-07-31T13:35:00.007+01:00

I am now a member of the Photographers of Etsy Street Team (POE Team) on Etsy.

You can also find the POE Team blog HERE!

I'm also a member of the newest group (pending): Female Photographers of Etsy (FPOE)

...which all means I am now very well connected to some of the most talented independant photographers anywhere!

Make yourself a cup of tea or pour a glass of something stronger, click away - and enjoy...!

Em ♥

Introducing Robby!

2009-07-30T20:18:00.012+01:00

Robby has retired from his B-movie film career and now lives with and models for me!

I originally included him in a still life shoot (above) just for fun and practice, but was so pleased with the result that I have now subjected his image to the lomography effect and digital art. What do you think...?

Lomo Digital art.

The original and digital art versions are available as 6x4", 7x5" and 10x8" prints. The 'lomo' version is currently only available as a 6x4" and 7x5".

All are available in my Etsy, Folksy shops and in my ArtFire studio, or contact me direct!

Em ♥

Another great photographer you should check out!

2009-07-10T18:57:00.006+01:00

Sometimes it's nice to share,so here's a link to one of my favourite fellow female photographers (that's a lot of fff's), Elle Moss. She's having a sale in her Etsy shops right now so I'd get over there pretty smartish if I were you!!!

Elle is a gorgeous person, with exceptioal taste. She's also pretty gorgeous in the looks department, too, for which I try not to hold a grudge ;-)

'Elle' is also a member of the FSPASG (Female Self-portrait Artists' Support Group) on Flickr. We're also in the pending 'Female Photographers on Etsy' group - watch this space!
As if that wasn't enough, we're also both in the FSPASG books - the first of which (She Took Her Own Picture) is available on Blurb.com and the second (In Her Own Image) will have its official public release soon! (Again, watch this space!)

I'll post some more info on the books and share some more inspirational people with you soon!

Happy 1st Birthday, Folksy!

2009-07-10T17:42:00.003+01:00

Folksy.com has just turned one!

Celebrate by investing in something gorgeous and beautifully handmade! You could do worse than start with a nice print for your wall... well, it doesn't hurt to try! ;-)

http://www.folksy.com/shops/EmmainWonderland

Now on ArtFire.com!

2009-07-03T12:06:00.006+01:00

I've just opened yet another branch of Emma in Wonderland Photography at ArtFire.com.
(I'm a veritable chain!)

ArtFire is a great way to buy art and crafts on a 'proper' commercial online shop - and no need to sign up for an account first, either! Prices are also displayed in YOUR currency, too, which is cool!

The shop is in its infancy at the moment, so please bear with me for a few days while I add all my current prints.

See you there!
Em :-)

WOOHOO!!!!!!

2009-06-19T11:19:00.012+01:00

Now this may seem like a fairly small thing, but it's hugely important to me and you'll see why...

Every month I read my favourite magazine in the whole world, Black & White Photography. Not only is it an excellent specialist publication, but one of the finest of any type of photographic magazines. It is always superbly presented and well-written and is great for anyone from beginners to life-long, professional photographers.

Ok, advert over. Why am I so excited? Well, this morning I recieved a pre-released version of this month's magazine - with my 'letter-of-the-month' in it, accompanied by one of my very first still life shots!

I knew it was happening as I'd already been told by GMC Publications' editor, Elizabeth Roberts and I was sent a copy of a lovely book for my troubles! It was still a wonderful surprise in the post, though!

I will scan and post the page here, in the meantime, here is a copy of my email as it appears:

LETTER OF THE MONTH - Creative Shot in the Arm

As a huge fan of monochrome photography I have been an avid reader of your magazine for over two years now and every month I am inspired; howeverMarch's issue was especially welcome!

Due to a recurring long-term mental health problem my creativity hit a dry spell and my inability to get out and about much meant my photography became quite restricted. After reading about Andrew Sanderson's still lifes, however, I was motivated to have a go and have included the two best results. I was very pleased

with them - especially as I planned, shot and post-processed both images in one afternoon! It's a whole new genre for me and one I intend to persue!

Thank you for the monthly creative 'shots in the arm' - I have just bought my copy of May's issue and have already read it cover to cover and am planning my first close-up nature shots (Assignment) and Lee Frost/Sense of Place-inspired coastal scene - we'll see how it goes!

Emma Newson by email

- - - - - - - -

Liz has also expressed an interest in publishing the whole set when it's finished, too!

#Doing the happy dance!#

New UK shop!!!

2009-06-15T22:48:00.002+01:00

I've just opened a new virtual branch of Emma in Wonderland Photography on Folksy.com

It's like a UK version of Etsy and it means I can sell in pounds rather than dollars and hopefully offer my fellow Brits a better deal on postage, etc! I will also be able to offer bulkier items, such as canvas prints to UK customers which would be difficult and very expensive to ship overseas.

At present the images offered are exactly the same as my Etsy shop, but I should be expanding the range very soon, so watch this space! :-)

Bye for now,
Em x

Gloss or Matt?

2009-06-11T12:48:00.003+01:00

I have a bit of an obsession with matt/matte prints. My subjects, particularly the urban landscapes/portraits and still lifes, look so good on matt that I automatically order them on matte. An advantage of using good matte photo paper is that it reduces reflections, which is why galleries often use satin or matte. Light bouncing off a picture doesn't do much for the image and can be quite annoying for the viewer who has to dodge and weave to get a good look!

BUT!

...saying that, some of the colours I use just look so much better in high gloss - and I mean HIGH gloss! The paper still has the same high quality (I use Fujifilm Crystal archive paper for all my 10x8" and A4 prints) but the colour images are given an extra richness and depth. Beautiful!

So - the ball really is in your court. I often print colour-only and colour versions of my images in both matte and high gloss, so if you don't see the alternative in my Etsy shop, just ask! The price is currently exactly the same for both.

(BTW; I always use a well-established and trusted professional lab for all my printing. Rest assured!)

My Etsy shop

Etsy Showcases

2009-06-04T11:27:00.006+01:00

I sometimes take part in the Etsy showcases, usually the main, art or Storque (blog) categories.

The showcases and blog are a great Etsy community-building exercise and potential customers can find fabulous products and great sellers they otherwise might never come across by browsing alone.

Today I'm in the art (general) showcase. You can find it via the link on Etsy's frontpage, or simply go to http://www.etsy.com/showcase.php?ref=fp_banner_showcase_main and click through the categories using the arrows and menu at the top.

Tip: Clicking on an image opens a more detailed pop-up. Clicking the image closes it again, or you can go straight to the seller's shop.

Enjoy all the loveliness that is Etsy!!!

Bye for now,
Em x

http://www.emmainwonderland.etsy.com/

Easter Assignment

2009-06-03T23:35:00.007+01:00

In case you were wondering whether I do any other types of work aside from the character portraiture and fine art stuff, the answer is yes! Occasionally I undertake voluntary assignments for my church such as event photography and the like.

One very fun shoot was with a friend's son, Benjamin. I was asked to set up a portrait shoot to exact specifications, that being a young boy in front of a white background eating a lot of chocolate and obviously loving it!

The shoot was great fun. Ben's daddy brought him over to my house and we sat him on the floor (on a sheet...I'm no fool) while the chocolate fun began! William, my own son, played with Ben's dad behind me so in the photo what you can actually see is Benjamin in fact laughing at them! A great team effort! We also had quite a bit of Easter egg left over... ;-)

(Text added by St Peter's. Photo shown here with permission of the parents)

Buttercups!

2009-06-02T09:12:00.007+01:00

Yesterday afternoon (after an anti-anxiety medication-induced nap!) I went across the road into the woods to take some photographs. The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day. I then went onto the field over the brook and it was full of buttercups - such a wonderful sight!

I got a couple of good shots and there's one in particular that I'm very pleased with. I've added a little bit of texture in post-processing to soften the image and slightly mute the pretty yellows and greens. I can't wait to print an 8x10" version to see how it comes out!

As I walked back from the field I had to congratulate God for such a lovely day and such beautiful buttercups. I also thanked him for sharing it with us. Awesome to think He created each and every petal!

I see a pattern forming...

2009-05-27T10:40:00.006+01:00

...I seem to have been caught in a still-life web - and I'm loving it!

I've found myself shopping around and foraging about for interesting objects to photograph recently and I've started seeing the world in small, sepia-toned snippets!

One of my most recent image is, in my own personal humble opinion, my best so far. I was really chuffed with the final results and I've had some really positive feedback from various quarters. I think I've definitely found my niche...for now, anyway!

The image in question is called 'Thel's Motto.' The title comes from a prophetic poem by William Blake called The Book of Thel. One of the verses reads:

Does the Eagle know what is in the pit,

or wilt thou go ask the Mole?

Can Wisdom be put in a silver rod,

or Love in a golden bowl?

I uploaded three versions of Thel's Motto - one in colour, one in sepia and one in sepia 'on canvas' to Flickr to guage reactions and the canvas version seems to have won, hands-down, so I'll be releasing a canvas version of this and other images in due course. I want to use the highest archive quality canvas and printing so will do a bit of research first!

Quality Assurance!

2009-05-26T21:55:00.003+01:00

Just a quick message to let you know that all my 10x8" prints, whether framed, mounted or unmounted, are all professionally printed in a lab on highest quality 'Fujifilm Crystal' archive paper. I stupidly neglected to mention this before...!

:-)

Em x

The Storque

2009-05-21T10:15:00.004+01:00

If you haven't come across it before, The Storque is the Etsy blog. It's full of gorgeous things and great ideas and lots of helpful info.

Today I'm featuring in The Storque showcase (slap bang in the middle of the page!) I'll be rotating different images from my shop throughout the day.

Check it out here!!!

http://www.etsy.com/storque/

Christian Photography

2009-05-18T18:50:00.017+01:00

I'm very passionate about people using their creative gifts for worship, prayer, praise and ministry. Some people sing and dance, others draw and paint - I take photographs. It's a wonderful to spend some time with God, especially doing still life or being out in the landscape, and the resulting images can be used to share the gospel. A winning combination!

I'm part of a core group at St Peter's in Farnborough, called 'Audience of One,' who are desperately trying to further creative worship, not only in our own church but also as an outreach to the wider community.

FACT: Everyone has a creative gift - even if they haven't discovered what it is yet!

I have a selection of some of my photographic prints with a strong, deliberate Christian influence and some with a less immediately obvious link, in my Etsy shop. They are all currently available unmounted for $10 or mounted (matted) for $20.

I am an artisan member of Veritasse, the Christian Arts Society, in the UK and exhibited some of my work with them at Spring Harvest 2009. Through Veritasse I made my very first sale (The Boot) to a church in Wallington, Surrey, at the end of 2008.

I have been asked by Audience of One to run a Christian photography workshop at St Peter's during the summer. I will also be running a drama and theatre skills workshop (when I'm not taking photos I'm a promenade actor.)

10x8" Bargains - while stocks last!!! :-)

2009-05-17T21:50:00.003+01:00

I'm about to launch professional giclee versions of my fine art images. These will be of museum archive quality and printed using archival inks which will last a lifetime.

Until then, I'm selling off mounted and unmounted versions in my Etsy shop on high quality matt and/or gloss photographic paper at $10/$20 respectively. (Approx. £6.50/£13.20)

I will also be selling these at upcoming exhibitions and sales but once they're gone, they're gone and there's only one or two of each print left.

If you'd like to purchase a giclee printed version - watch this space!

By the way, a massive thank you to my recent customers! You're fabulous!!!

Emma :-)

The Rim of Every Cup

2009-05-15T19:46:00.009+01:00

This image put me in mind of the following quote:

"What is laid down, ordered, factual is never enough to embrace the whole truth: life always spills over the rim of every cup."Boris Pasternak (Russian novelist, poet and translator, 1890-1960)

As important as an early education is, there's nothing like life experience and whether you like it or not, it will get in the way!

This image is deliberately soft, in the tradition of early sepia photography. I love the vintage feel of it and it looks fantastic mounted or framed at 10x8" plus!

Extra info: The mug is made of bone, based on a traditional horn jug. The berries came out of a Christmas pot pourri! Who needs expensive props?!

Currently available in my Etsy shop as a mounted 10x8" print at the bargain price of $20! Also available unmounted for $10 - just ask!

A more expensive giclee edition will replace this one so I'm selling off this version at a bargain price. Get it while stocks last (as they say)!!!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24896907

Still Life

2009-05-15T18:52:00.015+01:00

I'm currently working on a still life set. Black and White Photography Magazine have expressed an interest in publishing the monchrome images from set once finished, which is very cool as it's my favourite magazine in the whole wide world!