Ann Seymour Photography: Blog

Christmas Cards, photographed by me and designed by 'us'....

(Ann Seymour Photography) — Fri, 05 Oct 2018 13:46:35 GMT

Personalized Christmas/Holiday Season Cards 2018

With Christmas and the Holiday Season fast approaching, it is often a nice touch to have a personalized card. Whether you are a business selling a product a service or a lifestyle, or just someone who loves their horse or pet, together we can create your unique card in time to send to customers, friends, and family.

Give me a call to discuss a shoot and design brief, and make your Christmas Message zing!

Time for change

(Ann Seymour Photography) — Tue, 06 Feb 2018 12:13:01 GMT

Time for changeMy inspiration... Embracing change ...

You get to a point in your life when, sometimes things change... you either embrace it or you don't. Being a single mother of my two children and running my own business has been a challenge over the past few years. But I never shy away from a challenge! Today on the 100th anniversary of the first women to obtain a vote I have decided to relaunch my brand under my maiden name 'Seymour' ... a friend told me recently... "never shy away from who you are and what you believe", she is also a brilliant female photographer!

Reverting to my name of birth after my divorce was one I put off, as my family and I have strived to make a new life for ourselves. Today I celebrate who I am right now! A strong and confident mother of two, who loves her work as much as she loves life! Knowing that women all over the world are reaching out to achieve their own goals, smashing ceilings and believing in themselves! It seems fitting on #100years celebrating strong women, who broke down perceptions and barriers and fought for change, that I launch my new brand.

I continue to challenge perceptions and strive to be the best photographer I can be.

So for all my clients and friends who have supported me thank you!

Welcome to Ann Seymour Photography, 2018.

New and old friends made at Musicians Against Homelessness - Cardiff October 2016

(Ann Seymour Photography) — Fri, 21 Oct 2016 13:43:34 GMT

I first heard about this through my photography at The Tabernacle, Talgarth. Owned by Kate Holmes and Alan McGee, I have been busy documenting the bands and performers who have walked through it's hallowed doors since they opened back in May 2014. Alan is the Patron of the charity who's brainchild is Emma Rule. I was invited to do the official photography for the Musicians Against Homelessness Event in Cardiff during a meeting with event organiser Joanna Jones and Danny Blakemore at a Tabernacle gig.
I agreed, and on a sunny Saturday afternoon, made my way to Portland House (the old Nat West building) close to the Pier Head and Millennium Centre.
At 3.30 a whole procession of acts took to the stage to debut old and new music to an ever changing and flowing crowd. Some of the highlights for me were 'Chapel Row' who recently signed their first management deal with Leeders Music Group. With a great set from the Scott Howells Band, who I first met in The Tabernacle and many more from bands such as Upbeat Sneakers, Local Enemy, Hierarchy, The Riff to name but a few, the event was great. The finale was a set my The Oasis Experience, led by Degsy Williamson, and consisting of well known singer songwriter Chris Phillips, Adrian Davies on bass, Neil Rees on lead guitar and finally Dorian "Dozzer" Griffiths on drums. The set nearly brought the house down and the stage, with an impromptu percussion addition from some very lovely ladies in the crowd!
Tech stuff...Mostly shot with my Nikon D810 and a 85mm F1.4 Prime Nikon lens, ISO 3200 or thereabouts. The clarity was great especially with the challenging luminescent lighting back drop! Taking my Mac with me to download images to in-between sessions, was a great idea and saved me from filling lots of memory cards. Anyway, was a great event and challenging to be almost 12 hours not stop photography! Here are a few of my choice images!

Degsy Williamson - The Oasis Experience Degsy Williamson

Chris Phillips - The Oasis Experience

Chris Phillips

Neil Rees - The Oasis Experience

The Oasis Experience

Excited ... yes I am!

(Ann Seymour Photography) — Thu, 22 Sep 2016 16:16:59 GMT

All I can say is watch this space! I have just been given a wonderful job.... it is everything I love about Wales, places and photography! Thanks to Tim and Nicky for the wonderful commission... I can't wait to get started! Watch this space!

Autumn is drawing near...

(Ann Seymour Photography) — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 13:29:39 GMT

The business of Summer is coming to a close, and I have been reflecting on some of the highs of the 7 weeks spent in the varying elements. The Green Man Festival was certainly one of them. Three days of sun, rain, wind and grass turning to mud. But, what a lovely opportunity see the human race in all its glory. From children to adults, people of all diversity and music, lots of music. Seeing LUSH, Warpaint, Tinder Sticks, White Denim all stood out for me, although I quite often just sat and people watched, with my camera of course. Trips to Pembroke with kids, without kids. All good. Photographing Owls for Abergavenny Food Festival and the National Eisteddfod, mountains and much more. Now as Autumn approaches a chance to regroup enjoy the long shadows and warmth cast by the setting sun. Please take a loot at my galleries to see to only my commercial and commissioned work but the things I'm passionate about... enjoy! x

Time flies !

(Ann Seymour Photography) — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 07:55:49 GMT

Well my last post related to my exhibition 'Multiplicity' at the Theatr Brycheiniog in Brecon! You never realise the amount of work involved in producing a show, promoting it and preparing for the opening night until you have been through that experience! You also learn a lot. For me working out how to display the images was a great challenge! Different pieces worked in different ways with other images. Anyway my advice is go with your gut instinct! Lots of people will have a view, but I have to say following my own feelings worked best! With the help of some great freinds (Mark especially!) we hung the exhibition. A short time to relax and then enjoy my private view!

It's a bit like the film quote 'if you build it they will come', and after some vagueness of who and how many would come, I was actually very humbled to have may artist and photographer friends and colleagues come and join me. With esteemed artists such as Niel Bally, Susan Milne, Katherine Sheers, Helen Watkins, and photographers Mark Zytynski and Ian Geere, I was thrilled that they came to see my work. After several sales of images, and fantastic comments, the whole ordeal of mounting, and positioning on walls seemed worth the effort. The evening culminated with me back with my camera in hand and taking some shots for a locally promoted film, The Antwerp Dolls who had their Premiere directly after my private view.... home to bed and a well earned cup of tea! The images from my show are now available for sale on my website. However some pieces are available pre framed from the exhibition, please email me if you are interested in any of them! Ann

Little helping hands...

Traces Art Exhibition - The Tabernacle Venue, Talgarth

(Ann Seymour Photography) — Mon, 23 May 2016 12:41:25 GMT

I am delighted to have worked with three amazing artists who are having their exhibition during Hay Festival Week at The Tabernacle, Talgarth. Seeing the final pieces after observing them in creation through the lens is wonderful. Please do go and see it!

Musicians Against Homelessness in Cardiff Announcement

(Ann Seymour Photography) — Mon, 23 May 2016 12:20:56 GMT

I was very delighted to be contacted by the promotors of the 'Musicians Against Homelessness' event in Cardiff with a proposition. Having seen me working recently at The Tabernacle with one of the artists performing at the event, I was asked if I would like to do the official photography! How could I refuse? So I will be there on 8 October with a great line up of bands as well as doing some work just before for the publicity! Fantastic to join the team on this event and supporting a great cause with CRISIS UK. Pictured below Danny Blackmore and one of the performers 'Degsy Williamson of The Oasis Experience'.
Danny along with Joanna Jones are the event promotors. To book tickets : Tickets now on Sale for our gig with "Musicians Against Homelessness "http://www.wegottickets.com/event/361245.

Rainy day chores and reflections

(Ann Seymour Photography) — Sat, 21 May 2016 12:37:02 GMT

Whilst attacking the cleaning of my oven this morning with some gusto, my mind drifted away to the places which have inspired me photographically over the years. Iceland is certainly one of them! Having ridden around many parts of that far away isolated country many times over the years, I was always armed with two 35 mm film cameras, one being a panoramic and one standard fixed lens camera. You have to have been there to understand why you needed both in those days! Horses have always been a passion, I was hugely inspired by the spirited animals and dramatic landscapes. I’m still proud of those images taken whilst the reins were between my teeth in full Tolt! I even managed to make an hour long film one year! Though it took nearly 12 months to edit and put together. Those experiences and the desire to capture the essence of what I had seen and experienced encouraged my passion for the photographic image. Looking back I have come a long way! I some times wonder which came first the view or the camera?

Remembering my first camera, a Russian Zenit 35 mm from my art Foundation Course, and too long ago to say when, I think that is was then when the seed was sown. I still have contact sheets from those early days and still have the camera! Thanks to Steven Sasson of Eastman Kodak, in 1975 who developed the first digital camera my path was always going to go in that direction. My first digital was an early Kodak with a small SD card slot which I think held a 250 k card. Would need to check, as I still have that camera too!

Over the years I moved onto to Fuji models and had many successful images. In 2011 I'm moved to Nikon and have never looked back. Now shooting in full frame FX and having honed my eye, I find that I get huge enjoyment on shoots. Whether it be with people, animals or a pile of crumbling rocks from an old Welsh ruin. I guess you never loose the excitement in the pit of your stomach of when you see the view through the lens and press the button. I must revisit my film photography and drag some of my favourites back out in to daylight!

Anyway for now it’s back to cleaning the oven … I have Banana bread to bake later!

Whilst I’m doing that, you can read this great article from the New York Times about the birth of digital and why I get so excited about it!
http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/08/12/kodaks-first-digital-moment/?_r=0

Picture credit 'Steve Kelly / megapixel.co.il

A visit to Theatr Brycheiniog today to look at spacing...

(Ann Seymour Photography) — Fri, 20 May 2016 06:07:12 GMT

I popped into the Theatr Brycheiniog today to speak to Nigel who has been diligently organising my exhibition. Speaking to him we discussed hanging and spacing options, people and publicity and it suddenly occurred to me, it's only two weeks tomorrow! Whilst I was there and speaking to the multi-talented Jamie Huish, I was able to persuade him to come and play during the Private View, which is wonderful! So thank you Jamie!
(Here is a little photo of this very talented young man I have photographed several times!)

Jamie Huish

16 Boxes of frames......

(Ann Seymour Photography) — Tue, 17 May 2016 21:18:27 GMT

Well the frames arrived today and have taken over the house! With many thanks to Welsh Framing Services for taking on the task! Just have to mount everything and get the exhibition in to a good running order! A few hard days slog ahead! But excited ..... when you are passionate about your work and photography you climb every mountain! ....

Frames arrived for Multiplicity

Busy week!

(Ann Seymour Photography) — Sat, 14 May 2016 08:12:34 GMT

Had a great meeting with Lisa Mottram, singer of Cherryshoes http://www.cherryshoes.co.uk to arrange a shoot with her. What a very lovely and talented young lady. She reminds me of a young Kate Bush. Passionate about music, image and she has the most individual voice I have heard for a long time. She has recently supported the lovely Gwenno at The Tabernacle, Talgarth where I took some shots of her.

May 2016 Blog

(Ann Seymour Photography) — Tue, 10 May 2016 11:30:52 GMT

I am really excited about my up and coming exhibition at The Andrew Lamont Gallery, Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon. The exhibition entitled 'Multiplicity - Portrayal & Perspective' runs from Friday 3rd June - Tuesday 28th June 2016. The pieces on display are from a range of interests and collaborations on which I have worked over the past few years. Please go along and see it! Photography is my passion and hopefully it shows! Ann x

April 2016

(Ann Seymour Photography) — Tue, 10 May 2016 11:28:32 GMT

Welcome to my first Blog entry!

April was a busy month working with many diverse clients. I loved shooting John Power and Jay Lewis from Cast who did an amazing acoustic set at The Tabernacle.

Mid month I had a lovely photoshoot with 'Immaculate Fools' on the last of their rehearsal sessions before they started a tour in Spain. They were super welcoming and I am pleased to say, you can now see some of the shots up on their website http://immaculatefools.uk/gallery/in-rehearsal-april-2016.

Whilst working with the Immaculate Fools, I was very fortunate to meet Tom Hingley of Inspiral Carpets fame, who was playing an acoustic set next door in CARAD in Rhayader.

The rest of the month saw me busy with studio sessions with artists Susan Milne, Katherine Sheets and Helen Watkins for PR shots for their exhibition 'Traces' being held at The Tabernacle, Talgarth during Hay Festival week in May.