Category: Behind the Images
London portrait photographer Helen Bartlett explains the background to her award-winning portraits and fine art family photography Whether it’s from a gallery visit, being inspired from great photography in other genres or being mentored, Helen explains her process and techniques.
Stories behind the Images – the highest leap in the world!
Sometimes a photograph needs an accompanying before and after picture to show that it is real, and this is definitely one of those instances. So many people have asked if this photograph was put together in Photoshop but no, Adam really did jump this high over his family, much to his wife and children’s amusement! […]
Stories behind the images – The Walk to Paradise Garden
This month’s image was inspired by a picture by one of my favourite photographers – the late, great W. Eugene Smith and his famous shot of his children, The Walk to Paradise Garden. One of the best things about photography on location is the inability to plan. Until I arrive somewhere on the day, I […]
Stories behind the Images No. 7 – Mary Poppin’s Chim Chim Cher-ee dance
I always know that I am going to have an amazing time when I visit Adam and Henrietta to capture pictures of their wonderful children, Poppy and Edward. This shoot was no exception. We had left the house to go for a walk down the lane leading from their house – it’s a lovely spot […]
Stories behind the Images No. 6 – Beach
What makes a picture remarkable? What makes one return to an image again and again? It is an open ended question, for sure… Sometimes it is an expression, or the emotion, or the light or composition. This picture, for me, is about mystery. It is also about the Great British Summer that we know so […]
Stories behind the images No.5 – Oxford
To me, this picture is about the father and son relationship. It is about growing up in Oxford, rainy afternoons at the Ashmoleon museum, about science homework, about the joy of discovery and shared experiences. It isn’t – to me anyway – about having a family photo shoot, and I love it when my pictures […]
Stories behind the Images No.4 – Father and Son
I’m really enjoying choosing pictures for this series as it’s really making me think about what it is in pictures that makes me really love them. Often it is down to a few simple elements – compositions, light and expression/emotion. These elements are the building blocks of a great image. They can be used simply […]
Stories Behind the Images No.3 – Poppy in the Water Spray
This month’s image marks the introduction of the hosepipe ban – I can’t imagine that there will be many pictures like this this year! This is one of my favorite pictures of all time and when I think of it, I think about getting oh so very wet! We were playing in the garden on […]
Stories Behind the Images No.2 – Jumping on the Bed
I love movement in pictures and so I am always happy with a short session of jumping on the bed as an activity as part of a portrait session – albeit always supervised by parents and not for too long (there’s a fine line between forbidden joy and giddy exuberance, and bumped heads, bruised knees […]
Stories Behind the Images No.1 – Magical Light in the Woods
Welcome to a new feature on the blog for 2012 – a monthly article that explores the stories behind the pictures. This feature will be an excuse to show you some of my favourite images – some old, some new – and to write about them in a little more detail. I’m hoping that for […]