James Burden Photography

thanks to ASD

2010-06-08T21:16:00.001+01:00

thanks to ASD, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

Sometimes I think about giving up the whole photography thing. Some days it seems hard to keep up the creativity, to go through the hassle of sorting and posting, to come up with something worthwhile saying. And try as I might, it is difficult to react with composed serenity when a photo that I really like doesn’t get as many views or comments or faves as I think it is ‘worth’. As people, let alone photographers, we look to make a difference, and we look for signs that we are making that difference. And it can sometimes be dispiriting when you don’t see those signs.

Then something unexpected comes along. Someone sends you a flickr mail asking how you’re doing because they haven’t seen you post in a while, or someone blogs or retweets your photo saying how much it meant to them or what it communicated. A good friend of mine did that today. Next time you feel the urge to do a spontaneously impetuously nice thing for someone – do it! You will make a big difference to someone’s day. Thanks Andrew. You made a big difference to mine.

This is one of my favourite shots of my trip to Shenandoah. Ironically this shot is all about composed serenity (which I so often lack). I wandered round this spot for ages just breathing in the wilderness and experiencing a serenity that I can never seem to find when I’m consciously looking for it.

Now – I wonder how many views, comments and faves this shot will get…!

Study in the softness of bluebells

2010-06-07T20:22:00.001+01:00

Study in the softness of bluebells, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I love black and white. But sometimes nature screams out to me: ‘Don’t make it black and white when so much effort has gone into the colour’.

socialising is easier with a hat

2010-05-31T21:53:00.001+01:00

socialising is easier with a hat, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I went to the 40th birthday party of one of my wife’s friends on Saturday. It was an 80s evening – fancy dress. There was dancing and music so loud I couldn’t hear myself think. I knew only my wife. Anyone who knows me will know that for me this situation represents the kind of living hell that I think fitting only for the great villains of history.

However, my wife bought me a hat. I love hats. Nuff said.

(Taken on my iPhone using Hipstamatic)

my ear is so itchy

2010-05-19T21:36:00.003+01:00

my ear is so itchy, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I know - it breaks all the rules of wildlife shots. I've ended up photographing the rear end of a couple of deer. Not a classic pose. But I like it nonetheless. I'm having a contrary kind of a day.

untitled for the moment

2010-05-19T21:36:00.001+01:00

untitled for the moment, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

black tree on blue ridge

2010-05-08T11:03:00.001+01:00

black tree on blue ridge, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

Not much time to write anything meaningful today. I've got a to do list with 21 things on for just today. My long-suffering wife tells me that 21 things is probably about 19 things too many.

I wish I was back on the Blue Ridge Parkway - I didn't have anything on my to-do list then...

the eagle and the peaks

2010-05-02T04:18:00.001+01:00

the eagle and the peaks, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I’m in the USA at the moment – on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia. I’ve been chasing these eagles for the last few days trying to get a decent picture of them. I’ve got ‘better’ photos of the eagles than this one – but they just don’t work. This is the only one that works. To see an eagle you need to see it in context. A picture frame full of the detail of the eagle is no use if you can’t see that eagle soaring above serried peaks. What is an eagle without the mountains?

portrait of a young ostrich - the lesser known novel by james joyce

2010-04-26T22:26:00.001+01:00

portrait of a young ostrich - the lesser known novel by james joyce, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

Apparently ostriches gather in a group and all yawn together before they go to sleep.

Your life will be different now you know that.

why i'm going to vote for the candidate - not the party

2010-04-24T12:11:00.001+01:00

why i'm going to vote for the candidate - not the party, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

Here in the UK we have a General Election coming up in the next few weeks. It looks to be one of the closest run elections for many years. Various polls more or less put all three parties within a few points of each other. There are undoubtedly policy differences between the parties and to be frank there are things about each party that I find attractive and unattractive. So who should I vote for?

Corruption and dishonesty have been two features of our political ranks in recent years and this puts many off voting at all. In my constituency the Conservatives have won every election since 1945. At the last election they still had more votes than the other two main parties combined. Yet our Conservative candidate is one who was caught up in the expenses scandal and simply does not appear to be trustworthy.

In what other walk of life would you appoint someone to a position who you knew to be of questionable morals or who spent all their promotional energy pointing out faults in other people? In what other walk of life would you not appoint the candidate who appeared the most positive, enthusiastic, genuine and honest?

The candidate I vote for is unlikely to win. Maybe my vote is “wasted”, but at least I know that I’ve voted for someone who is willing to focus on issues, who is passionate, who is direct and honest.

Regardless of your support or empathy with a political party I urge you to vote for the candidate and not the party. Let’s rid our political representatives of those who would abuse the system. If we continue to have self-serving people in these positions of responsibility our country will never progress in the way that it could.

So beware. It may be the dark horse that wins the election.

beirut at bedtime

2010-03-31T19:54:00.001+01:00

beirut at bedtime, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

This was the view from my room in the Convent in Lebanon – quite an incentive to never go to bed. The change of light throughout the day was stunning. You can see Beirut in the distance. I have some pictures which I’ll post later of the inside of the church in this picture. Beautiful stained glass windows with Mediterranean sun streaming through. Lebanon is beautiful – simply beautiful.

the red balloon of Beirut

2010-03-28T08:47:00.001+01:00

the red balloon of Beirut, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I’ve just got back from a week in Beirut – the first time I’ve been to the Middle East.

I’ve had an amazing week with some truly amazing people around the world – people who are willing to work together and are willing to make sacrifices to do so. The people of Lebanon are generous, kind, intensely welcoming and have a wonderful sense of humour. Despite everything that has happened to this nation and its people they are full of hope. It is humbling to meet them and to realise yet again how distorted our view of the world is.

the clouds, the trees and a self-portrait – all in the eye of a horse

2010-03-14T19:31:00.001Z

the clouds, the trees and a self-portrait – all in the eye of a horse, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

the sun in the storm

2010-03-10T21:00:00.000Z

the sun in the storm, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I’ve had a rough week – but relationships have got me through it.

You will have no doubt heard it said that social networking sites do not generate or perpetuate real relationships.

Yet through facebook I am back in touch with some of my oldest friends from whom I stupidly allowed myself to drift away. Some of these friends have provided some very special and timely encouragement this week.

And through flickr I have made new friendships that go far beyond simply admiring each others’ photos. And again I have been deeply encouraged by the comments from my flickr friends this week.

So this picture is dedicated to a number of people: Catherine, my wife (who I see every day) who is simply wonderful, knows me better than anyone and yet still loves me; to Annette Zeidman (who I’ve never met) – one of the best flickr friends there is and who shows that virtual friendships can be exceptionally real; to my sister, Esther Freeman (who I see most weeks), who is the very embodiment of gentle goodness; to my friend David Bray (who I haven’t seen for at least five years) who is wisdom and style; to my old friend Dawn Devonald (who I haven’t seen for at least thirteen years) who still cares enough about the friendship we had to provide humour and encouragement.

It doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate the rest of you – you’ve no idea how much I do – I just wanted to highlight a few people who, through a few words or lines, have made my week better.

Thank you all for showing me something of the sun this week.

the closed window of my mind

2010-03-08T21:10:00.001Z

the closed window of my mind, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I really seem to have no thoughts to share at the moment. My mind is a closed window. I need some fresh air.

the curve of the swan

2010-03-07T20:30:00.001Z

the curve of the swan, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

No words today - just a swan.

castlerigg stone circle

2010-03-04T15:48:00.001Z

castlerigg stone circle, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

So I’ve not been posting any photos for nine days. I haven’t stopped doing photography though ;-)

Here’s another one of my long gestation panoramas. This is Castlerigg Stone Circle near Keswick in Cumbria. The circle was probably constructed around 3200BC making it one of the earliest stone circles in Britain, and possi...ble Europe too. From within the circle you can see some of the highest peaks in Cumbria including Skiddaw and Helvellyn. The heaviest stone weighs around 16 tons.

Panoramas provide an interesting angle on the SOOC (straight out of the camera) debate. This is most definitely not straight out of the camera. I had to make adjustments to the exposure and colour temperature to ensure that they could be effectively stitched together. I then had to stitch and then clone out various rain spots on the lens (it was pelting it down with rain when I took this series of shots).

What is more valid? Straight out of the camera with the arbitrary limitations of 2:3 ratio and leaving the rendition of light and tones to a computer in the camera? Or making the most of a computer outside the camera to create something that actually more faithfully represents capturing that moment?

the gull who flew too low

2010-02-23T20:44:00.003Z

the gull who flew too low, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I love black-headed gulls. They are incredibly agile fliers and seem to relish making great photo opportunities.

Seeing as today is Trivia Tuesday (not really – I just made that up) I thought you might like to know that the black-headed gull is the official prefectural bird of Japan – and they named their Yurikamome railway after it.

Ben Starav

2010-02-18T19:21:00.001Z

Ben Starav, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I’ve finally begun to work on some panoramic shots that I’ve taken over the past few years. I don’t own a panoramic format camera, so I’m limited to either cropping a single photo to a panoramic crop, or to taking a series of separate photos and then combining them. Recent panoramic shots I’ve posted have been panoramic crops. I think these can work well, but it’s not my preferred option. My preference is to take several separate exposures and stitch and blend. However, I have struggled to find a decent piece of software that can make a good job of this.

It’s not perfect, and it’s certainly not cheap, but Photoshop CS4 is, in my most humble opinion, the best software on the market to accomplish this. You still have to work as some of the blending, and sometimes it doesn’t know which photos to stitch together, but it does do a very good job.

This is my first – more to follow. Sorry they’re somewhat from the archives. I’ve been sitting on these for a long time waiting for the right software to show up!

the smile in his eyes

2010-02-16T20:15:00.000Z

the smile in his eyes, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

What’s the most important thing about taking a portrait? I think it might be something about capturing something of the spirit of the subject. Certainly some of the best portrait photographers I’ve seen have managed to do that. Whether it’s wedding, fashion, social or family photography I think that the great portrait photographers somehow help you to see something of the subject’s personality.

I think it is hard taking photos of children – they present more of a challenge than shooting elusive or dangerous wildlife. I’m on a journey of trying to capture something of my son’s personality – he doesn’t make that journey easy – indeed he seems to delight in making it as difficult as possible. I give thanks for ISO800 and fast shutter speeds. You have to move quickly!

I like this one. I can see the smile in his eyes.

you are very welcome here...

2010-02-15T19:05:00.002Z

you are very welcome here..., originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I took my son to Bedford today. We were planning to visit London as it's his birthday, but he's been unwell over the weekend (missed his own party!), so we decided to go somewhere a bit closer to home that still involved a train trip.

We actually had a lovely day - despite what you see on these photos. I probably represent it unfairly, but I couldn't resist bringing these shots together in one post. It sends such a wonderfully welcoming message!

I particularly like the last outtake below: Disabled facilities on the 3rd floor – you couldn’t make it up.

voici le week-end

2010-02-12T09:10:00.001Z

voici le week-end, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

Woo hoo! It’s Friday! Voici le week-end!

...I know it's blurry. He wouldn't keep still and who can blame him.

the desolation of the irish sea

2010-02-10T21:38:00.000Z

the desolation of the irish sea, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

Grief is like the birth of a child. No-one can prepare you for the intensity of it. It stays with you forever. You never get over grief. Never. It's with you always, constantly shaping your attitude, your perspective on life. Part of my journey is figuring out how to embrace that reality.

13 years ago today my father died in tragic circumstances. Today I celebrate his memory with the Irish Sea and another poem by my talented sister.

I can see you in so many faces,
Catch my breath in a crowded room,
Find your eyes, your chapped, shy lips
Staring blankly back at me.

I look for you but I do not find you.

These clumsy hands of my mind
Mould and reshape your character.
Find the gentle timidity of your speech,
Not the glazed anger and blinkered arguments you maintained.
Replays our days in London’s bustle, in Snowdonia’s solitude,
And push away the hours and weeks I felt forgotten.

I know not how to label you.
You were always outside the box.
An exile in your own family.
Striving against the suffocating tide of conformity.

My hot, salty tears cannot reclaim you.
My clinging self pity cannot hold you here.
But it helps to express this:
To tell you that I knew you
And I love you.
And I miss you.

[ (c) Esther Freeman ]

Glen Etive

2010-02-09T20:23:00.002Z

Glen Etive, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

My sister writes poems. She has ways of crafting words which leave me breathless sometimes. I’ve been thinking for a long time about doing a series of resonances between her words with my images. This is my first attempt.

This wind is a magical magnet
As my arms embrace its strength
And my lungs inhale its wild breath
It gathers my fragmented self
And shelters it under the wings of my soul.

[ (c) Esther Freeman ]

Sunrise at Rubha Robhanais

2010-02-04T22:51:00.001Z

Sunrise at Rubha Robhanais, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I’m in the middle of updating my website: new galleries with new images, some changes in design and functionality and a very exciting new page – more details to follow! As part of the work I’m doing on the new website I’m finally getting round to developing some photographs that I took some time ago. And this is one of them.

Don’t judge me for having several favourite places in the world. But one of my absolute favourites is the islands of the Outer Hebrides. This is the northernmost tip of the northernmost island. This is sunrise at Rubha Robhanais.

the feather and the butterfly circus

2010-02-03T21:56:00.004Z

the feather and the butterfly circus, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

Sometimes I see something which leaves me wanting to respond in a creative way.

I saw a short film the other day. You can see it here. It’s 20 minutes long and well worth spending that time watching it. You might not have time to watch it right now, but I encourage you to see it at some point. It’s very powerful, very touching and almost incidentally has superb camera work in it. Your life will be richer for having watched it.

It made me want to respond in a creative way. A butterfly might have been the obvious response (the film is called The Butterfly Circus), but for some reason I wanted to respond with a feather: something that is both enormously fragile – but has enormous potential… can make you fly.

the blue bracken

2010-01-31T21:56:00.000Z

the blue bracken, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I love walking in woods that have bears in them – the way it quickens my pulse and heightens my awareness. Unfortunately we have no bears in England, so woodland walks tend to be somewhat tame – beautiful, but tame. So instead you look for beauty in the ordinary, for remarkable in the usual. And every now and again you find it – if you look really hard…

I know that this is a little unusual and most definitely not straight out of the camera. But as photographers we do more than simply reflect what we see through our lenses. We tell the story ourselves. There is often perceived kudos attached to a lack of manipulation of the image, and I wonder if we spend too much time defending ourselves against accusations of digital manipulation. As soon as you frame a scene in your viewfinder and press the shutter you are digitally manipulating the shot. If you choose a shallow depth of field, or use ND filters you are manipulating the shot – we don’t see the world like that. Whether in post-production you choose to crop or desaturate, how you choose to tone or frame, is simply an extension of the photographer interpreting and conveying a scene.

In this image I want to communicate cold, fragility, brokenness and perseverance. Is it so strange that I should adapt the image to help convey that? If I wanted to portray that in a poem or prose I would shape the language, choose the sound and colour of the words, the length of the sentences… Why should it be different in photography?

I’m not decrying the marvellous images (far far better than mine) here on flickr and elsewhere that are graphically realistic and evidently pretty much straight out of the camera. But why limit our visual world to just that? Sometimes I want my physical world to go beyond the bounds of reality…

sunlight through blinds

2010-01-30T21:55:00.000Z

sunlight through blinds, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

Today the sun is shining through the blinds onto the wall. Today is a day to exploring in the woods with my wonderful son and my camera (also wonderful but not quite as important to me as my son).

the hills of stirling, scotland

2010-01-26T09:43:00.000Z

the hills of stirling, scotland, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I saw the sun today for the first time in what felt like months. I forget how important the sun is to me. Whilst I adore the winter and all the sharpness and vagueness that it brings through frost and fog, I relish the moment when the sun reappears and reminds me that spring is next in line.

I like black and white very much - but this needs to be green - green to remind us that winters never last forever.

the mess of the woodland floor

2010-01-21T21:34:00.001Z

the mess of the woodland floor, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I’ve been thinking about flickr a lot lately. Why do I find it so compelling, so inspiring, and at times so demoralising?

There are some truly great images on flickr. But is that why I’m here? No. It’s more than that – much more. Flickr doesn’t have the last word on great photos – there are plenty of sites out there with wonderful images on. Flickr for me is about friendship, interaction, exploration and support. For me, it is a place to express myself – not just in pictures, but in words too. I find something cathartic in conceiving an image and a concept and marrying them up in my photostream/blog. For me, flickr means that I can share my thoughts – sometimes some of my deepest and most personal thoughts with a community of people who I value as friends.

I like getting comments – who doesn’t? Comments are important – they motivate you as a photographer. To be honest, most people who are on flickr (apart from the dark minority) are here because they are fundamentally creative, and people who are creative often suffer fluctuations in their motivation. That’s all part of being creative and flickr is a place where I can gain encouragement from those who visit my stream, and see that even my most talented of flickr friends occasionally suffer from the same lack of inspiration that I do. I wonder sometimes how I should ride out that lack of inspiration so it doesn’t completely throw me off the horse.

In my quest for mediocrity this year (which is only 21 days old) I’ve become quickly aware of how much that quest goes against the grain. Maybe an important part of me achieving mediocrity might be to realise that I’m only mediocre in achieving mediocrity – if you see what I mean…

Maybe I need to learn that sometimes it’s that which can seem mediocre, chaotic or just messy that actually makes a photo, or photostream, or photographer interesting…

What does flickr mean to you?

frigate bird

2010-01-19T20:08:00.000Z

Frigate Bird, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I’m in the mood for the marvels of the natural world at the moment.

This is a Frigate bird. I saw this one when I was in Florida last year. Frigate birds can hardly walk and can’t take off from a flat surface. They have the largest wingspan to body weight ratio of any bird. They are almost constantly in the air.

They can’t swim either – hence the age-old affinity with sailors who knew that when they saw that distinctive silhouette of the frigate bird that land could not be too far away.

the clown fish

2010-01-17T20:08:00.000Z

the clown fish, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I’m fascinated by the natural world. I think it is beautiful, vicious, inspired and bizarre.

I think clown fish are very very cool fish. They have protective mucus coating their body so that they can live in poisonous anemones. The fish are therefore afforded protection from predators, and in return the clown fish eat small invertebrates which otherwise could harm the anemone.

Clownfish live in small groups inhabiting a single anemone. Heading up the group is a breeding pair, and they cohabit with a few smaller males. When the female partner dies, the male changes sex and becomes the female.

Our world is a place where truth perennially seems to be stranger than fiction.

your feet's too big

2010-01-16T20:07:00.000Z

your feet's too big, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

Every now and again you come across an unusual law of the universe. I came across one today. If you are decorating and happen to use a roller with your right hand in order to apply paint on the wall, you will invariably find that your left foot attracts more splatters of paint than your right foot. Strange but true.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=in1eK3x1PBI

village pump in fog

2010-01-15T07:23:00.001Z

village pump in fog, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

Have you ever noticed that when driving in fog it’s easier to see with your lights on dipped rather than on full?

Sometimes when my world is chaotic and foggy I blaze through, lights on full beam, dazzled and confused by the sudden immensity of mist.

I’d do better with my lights on dipped.

How do you drive in the fog?

the quiet lonely snow

2010-01-11T22:44:00.000Z

the quiet lonely snow, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I know, I know. There’s a lot of fuss about snow at the moment. It’s amazing to think that somehow as a life form we’ve managed to make it through an ice age.

I love snow – in particular the quietness and loneliness of snow. I love the way that it strips away all distraction, all untidiness, and swamps our chaotic world with a perfect white.

the yellow toboggan

2010-01-09T22:44:00.000Z

the yellow toboggan, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

To begin to toboggan first buy a toboggan, but don’t buy too big a toboggan. Too big a toboggan is not a toboggan to buy to begin to toboggan.

two horses

2010-01-08T22:43:00.000Z

two horses, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

You know by now how much I love horses. Unfortunately I didn’t see any live horses today so had to make do with these.

I’m off to play chess tonight. I expect my success to be very mediocre!

the beauty of the bow

2010-01-07T12:20:00.000Z

the beauty of the bow, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

Sometimes it seems like there is nothing to photograph. No inspiration. Sometimes I seem to have eyes that only look for big spectacular subjects – a mountain, an ocean, an iconic building. Then sometimes when I stop trying I see that there is beauty in a bow.

house in the hills

2010-01-06T20:48:00.002Z

house in the hills, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

How much would you like to live here? Are you instinctively an urban fox, or are you a rural rabbit at your very core?

I’m a rural rabbit – but I’d like to keep broadband please.

nant gwynant

2010-01-05T17:12:00.001Z

nant gwynant, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I don’t have anything to say today. I didn’t get to sleep until 3am this morning and am rather tired. When I’m tired I seem to lose the power of speech. So here’s a photograph of one of my favourite places: Nant Gwynant in Snowdonia, North Wales.

I know I’ve got a massive area of blown highlight in the sky. But the sun was bright, my fingers were freezing, and I’ve made a commitment this year to post even when I feel the shot is mediocre. Huh. Turns out I did have some words after all.

dance of the jellyfish

2010-01-05T17:06:00.001Z

dance of the jellyfish, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I was waxing on yesterday about the unpredictability of horses. So here’s some unpredictability in my photostream. Bet you didn’t expect to see a jellyfish!

the winter horse

2010-01-03T20:45:00.003Z

the winter horse, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

Snow, horses and empty landscapes go very well together.

Considering I’ve never really had anything to do with horses, I have a surprising fondness for them. They always seem to know how to pose – and they often project this air of stillness alongside wildness. Horses are unpredictable. This is a good thing.

the problem with 3:2

2010-01-02T22:18:00.001Z

the problem with 3:2, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

So many photos are shot at the standard 3:2 ratio (because of the historical precedence of 35mm photography). The problem with 3:2 is that it often doesn’t do the subject justice. It either includes unnecessary space or excludes important space. And for no reason other than ‘that’s the way it’s always been’.

I have a weakness for square photos – there’s something about a square photo that strips away any focus on the aspect ratio and allows the subject to dominate.

However, my personal favourite is the 16x7 panoramic format (as above). It has lush amounts of space – and actually seems to replicate pretty closely what we often see. This shot above was taken just before Christmas when I was on my way to work. The light and themist was so amazing, that after getting half way to work I had to turn round and go home to get my camera.

Two things I've learnt in photography over the past week:
1 - Always take your camera with you
2 - Always ask whether 3:2 actually works for the image you're creating.

the dawn of a new year

2010-01-01T20:09:00.002Z

the dawn of a new year, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I’m not a big fan of New Year’s resolutions. However, this year I am choosing a theme for my year. And my theme is this: mediocre creativity.

Those of you who follow my online presence, or who even know me in person, will know that creativity is very important to me – whether that’s with photographs, words, or music. But I have a weakness. I only ever post something which I think is worthy of remarking – remarkable with a small ‘r’! This means that often I don’t post something because I don’t feel its good enough. I find it difficult to be mediocre. I either do something really really well, or I don’t do it all. This all-or-nothing thinking has led me to some difficult places in the past and I want to challenge it this year.

So here’s what my theme for the year means. I will blog everyday this year. Some days I might not actually upload it on the day – that’s all part of me being mediocre! Some days it will be something new, some days it might be something from the archive. Some days it will be trivial, some days it may be deep. Some days there will be a relationship between words and image, some days the link will be astonishingly tenuous to the point of non-existent.

A journey is infinitely better with companions – with friends. So I invite you to join me on my journey. You can either follow my stream on flickr, or if you have a google, yahoo or twitter account you can follow my blog. If you’re on facebook then you can either friend me or become a fan of my facebook photography page – either way you’ll get updates in your news feed.

Happy New Year – may you be blessed this year.

I'm having a white christmas...

2009-12-25T20:08:00.000Z

I'm having a white christmas..., originally uploaded by jamesburden.

the horizon of dunstable downs

2009-12-22T20:08:00.000Z

the horizon of dunstable downs, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

Sometimes I crave horizon: the ‘long way a way’ kind of horizon. This is Dunstable Downs – near where I live and it is magnificent. You can feel your eyes stretch as you gaze out over the plains of Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

This has been a long hard year. One of the hardest in a long time, and in many ways I’ll be very glad to see the back of it. So roll on 2010. I now have ten days off work and I intend to spend time with my family and relax – properly relax. Not the ‘I’ll squeeze in an episode of 24’ but the ‘that horizon is a long way a way’ kind of relax.

My apologies that I haven’t been as present on flickr as I would have liked – there are many excuses why and none of them really amount to reasons. Thank you for bearing with me, for welcoming me back on the intermittent occasions when I make an appearance. Your creativity, comments and friendship mean a great deal.

So I wish you have a wonderful Christmas, filled with laughter, love and lashings of cranberry sauce. I hope you find a horizon to stretch your eyes.

See you in 2010.

Stained Glass Abstract I

2009-12-01T20:08:00.001Z

Stained Glass Abstract I, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I feel the need for something colourful tonight. So here are some abstracts I did of some stained glass windows in a church. I don’t like to brag – but these shots were made at 400mm with no tripod. I know, I know, I should have been a surgeon with hands as steady as these…

Which one do you like best?

the weeping trees of November

2009-11-17T22:25:00.002Z

the weeping trees of November, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

It is common to shelter under a tree from rain. Not so in the midnight November mists of Middle England. The nights draw in, the temperature drops, the mist descends and the air takes on an intense cold humidity. Here you can walk the streets through the mist and remain utterly dry. But pass under a tree and you enter a delicate waterfall. The collected mist dripping incessantly onto your head as winter struggles to vanquish autumn.

I nearly didn't take these photos. It was 11.30pm and I was ready to go to bed. I was putting the rubbish out and noticed the mist. I grabbed my monopod, my camera and my woolly hat and set off a trek through my village to capture this amazing midnight world.

a place where silence is the loudest sound

2009-11-10T20:22:00.004Z

a place where silence is the loudest sound, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I'm reading Birdsong at the moment: a powerful and sobering read. It brings home the harsh realities of war and the horror that those involved go through.

I had a heavy cold at the end of last week, so nearly didn't go to our village Remembrance Day service. But the fresh power of Birdsong inspired me to make the effort, and I'm glad I did.

So at 10.45am on Sunday morning I, and most of the rest of the village, gathered outside around the village green. The priest began to read out the names of those who had died in the two world wars. And whether it was through coincidence or immaculate timing, the roll call was completed on the dot of 11am. The police stopped all traffic driving through the village and the priest fell silent as the village bells rang out eleven times. The village hushed to an unnatural silence apart from the sudden and oddly appropriate activity of crows wheeling and calling high above the village green.

I make no comment on the rights or wrongs of war. But I pay tribute to those who lay down their lives because they believe in truth and in justice.

perfect proportions

2009-11-06T20:21:00.000Z

perfect proportions, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I’ve been trying to design a bookcase today. And it’s really hard. I can’t get the proportions to look right. I can’t balance function with form. Then I saw a flower. Perfect function. Perfect form. Unfortunately not much good for storing books on.

and this is surely where E.T. landed...

2009-11-03T20:20:00.000Z

and this is surely where E.T. landed..., originally uploaded by jamesburden.

Boo!

2009-10-22T20:19:00.000+01:00

Boo!, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

There’s a lot of serious stuff going on at the moment with my friends, my colleagues at work and my family, and life seems very heavy. So I thought I’d just get my lovely son to say ‘boo’. Did we make you jump?

Lightroom 3 Beta

2009-10-22T10:16:00.004+01:00

I use Lightroom for all my image management and processing. It is a wonderful piece of software. Today Lightroom 3 Beta has been released. Click here to see more.

what would your patronus be?

2009-10-11T14:38:00.001+01:00

what would your patronus be?, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I’m a big fan of Ly' Wylde's photostream. It’s fresh, vibrant, varied, powerful, personal, achingly real and often jaw-dropping.

I’m also a fan of the Harry Potter books. One of Lyanne’s photos got me thinking about what my patronus would be, and I decided that it could be this – a black headed gull. I love these birds. They’re intelligent, unpredictable, elegant and so fast. And surely, if nothing else, your patronus should be something you aspire to!

Go and look at Ly's stream. You won’t be disappointed.

What would your patronus be?

three remarkable people

2009-10-08T14:37:00.000+01:00

three remarkable people, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I want to introduce you to three remarkable people: my sister, Esther, her husband Pete, and their brand new baby Jasmine Ella Hope Freeman. I have held her in my arms. She holds my gaze with uncanny precision. She is wonderfully alive. And I am glad to the depth of my soul.

the humble bumble

2009-09-08T14:34:00.000+01:00

the humble bumble, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I have varied ambitions as a photographer. One of them is to create a good picture of the humble bumblebee. An easy challenge I thought to myself and then tried to do it. It’s really hard!! They move so fast. I take my hat off to all who have tried to photograph this curious creature that scientifically shouldn’t even be able to fly.

the rise and fall of the 50mm lens

2009-09-07T14:33:00.000+01:00

the rise and fall of the 50mm lens, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

A week ago I went wilderness camping in Snowdonia. The amount of shots I took where unfortunately inversely proportional to the prodigious amount of rain that fell. After 24 very wet hours, presumably in shock at the incessant dampness, my 50mm lens just fell apart. My 50mm prime lens is my cheapest lens but oddly, my favourite. I love how it demands that I move in order to frame the shot rather than lazily zooming from wherever I happen to be standing.

The photo above is the last shot taken before it broke. Not the standard Snowdonia landscape shot. This was taken in the middle of the night at the mountain refuge hut at the top of Foel Grach. It was cold, wet, dark and utterly utterly brilliant.

The Ogwen Valley, Snowdonia

2009-08-26T14:33:00.001+01:00

The Ogwen Valley, Snowdonia, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

You don’t want clear blue skies as a photographer. You want storms, you want wind, rain, clouds, ideally snow and ice - you want weather chaos. If the sun makes an appearance, you want it to have waged war against the clouds to get there. You want to feel as though you’ve battled against the very elements to make your image.

Down with blue skies. Push them down the stairs.

all the better to see you with...

2009-08-24T14:32:00.000+01:00

all the better to see you with..., originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I’ve been away for a week or so, in the wonderful world of North Wales – hence my general lack of flickr activity. I’ve got some landscape stuff which I’ll post up over the coming weeks, but I was most struck by the garden where my Mum and Step-Dad live. It’s a totally amazing garden, with enough food in it to support a small army for several weeks. It has wonderful plant life and a puzzling array of insects. Here’s insect no. 1 – no idea what it is.

Truth really is stranger than fiction. Have you ever seen an alien more alien looking than this?

Zebra Abstract

2009-08-10T14:32:00.000+01:00

Zebra Abstract, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

Today is my 13th wedding anniversary.

What have I learnt in 13 years of marriage? Two things:
1: My wife is more wonderful then I could ever have imagined.
2: Nothing in life and marriage is as black and white as it might seem.

The 21 Greatest Photographs of Space

2009-08-07T00:01:00.000+01:00

If only I had taken these...! See here for the 21 Greatest Space Photographs

White Lion on White

2009-08-05T14:31:00.000+01:00

White Lion on White, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

After yesterday’s White Lion on Black , here’s a White Lion on White!

White Lion On Black

2009-08-04T14:30:00.000+01:00

White Lion On Black, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I photographed some white lions yesterday. Magnificent, imposing, inspiring creatures. So here’s a white lion on black.

Vaudoy-en-Brie

2009-07-28T14:30:00.000+01:00

Vaudoy-en-Brie, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I recently read about a man who decided to spend a few days in a monastery on a guided retreat. On arriving he was met by one of the monks who welcomed him and showed him to his cell. As he left him there the monk said ‘I hope your stay is a blessed one. If you need anything, let us know and we’ll teach you to live without it.’

to boldly go...

2009-07-20T14:29:00.000+01:00

to boldly go..., originally uploaded by jamesburden.

’m a big fan of the split infinitive. I think it’s important to boldly go where no man has gone before.

Today is the 40th anniversary of the first landing on the moon, and its impact appears to be no less diluted by the passing of four decades.

Neil Armstrong hasn’t said much over the intervening years, but when he has said something it has been worth listening to:

“Mystery creates wonder and wonder is the basis of man's desire to understand”

Asiatic Black Bear

2009-07-14T22:08:00.000+01:00

Asiatic Black Bear, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

How do you relax?

I’ve had an intense day, and my brain hurts. And (you’ve guessed the tenuous link with today’s photo) I’m like a bear with a sore head. So time for some light relief. I’m going to make a Bolognese, pour a glass of Rioja and put on some Country & Western.

“Hold on a minute! Tarry a tick!” I hear you cry, “I was with you up until the glass of Rioja, but Country & Western??”

There is an art in appreciating Country & Western, and it all lies in the title, the lyrics and the fact that it is the one genre of music that never takes itself too seriously. Here are some of my favourite titles:

Get your tongue outta my mouth, cos I’m kissing you goodbye

How can I miss you, if you won’t go away?

I liked you better before I knew you so well

I still miss you but my aim is getting better

My wife ran off with my best friend and I sure do miss him

And my personal favourite:

Mamma get a hammer – there’s a fly on Papa’s head

Do you have a favourite Country & Western song? If not, how on earth do you relax?

Starburst Sun through Leaf Canopy

2009-07-11T22:08:00.000+01:00

Starburst Sun through Leaf Canopy, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I have a theory that men have a finite amount of words for each day. I think I've run out of mine already.

not an f/4 mindset

2009-06-29T22:07:00.001+01:00

not an f/4 mindset, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I remember once hearing some advice from a professional photographer that the key to a successful wedding shoot was to shoot everything at f/4.

I was struck last weekend by how tempting it is to stay in that f/4 mindset. Everything is the immediate, the now. Even the financial crisis that many countries are now experiencing is, I think, essentially down to an f/4 mindset. Choosing to focus only on that which is directly in front of us. Choosing to focus on what will bring us a quick win or an immediate profit.

How different would our society look today if we thought at f/22 instead of f/4? What would our jobs look like? What would our relationships look like? What would our priorities look like for this week?

It was this view which provoked that thought - which incidentally I shot at f/13.

the reason the sun shone

2009-06-26T22:07:00.000+01:00

the reason the sun shone, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I like to think that it's sole reason was to light this small flower up.

water water everywhere

2009-06-23T22:06:00.000+01:00

water water everywhere, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I have something to share with you. 12 years ago my father went missing. He had been suffering with depression for many many years and was last seen running into a stormy winter sea. My world caved in. Last week my four-year-old son jumped into the swimming pool without any help. My heart burst with pride.

I have a love-hate relationship with water. Sometimes I don’t know what to feel about this amazing, ubiquitous, calm yet tempestuous, life-giving/life-taking, substance that forms so much of what we are. Sometimes I marvel at its wildness and beauty. Sometimes I shudder at its malevolence. I’m constantly drawn to capture something of its essence.

A few people have asked me recently for my thoughts on what it means to make photos. Many people will tell you that photography is all about light. And it is. But I believe there is something more. I believe that photography is all about emotion.

So if you’re looking for inspiration, find something you feel emotional about. Find something that makes you pause in awe, weep with gratitude, shiver with anticipation, tremble with anger. Find something that creates such emotion in you that you can’t swallow because of the lump in your throat. Then is the time to raise the camera to your eye and make that photograph.

bokeh beer

2009-06-17T22:05:00.000+01:00

bokeh beer, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I’ve just been away on conference exploring how the organisation I work for can work more collaboratively with other organisations around the world. We met at a basic but beautiful place in France and spent many hours sharing thoughts and ideas about our various areas of work. It was great. But we only got so far.

Then we went for a walk together. We talked on the walk – but not much about work. Then we stopped for a beer on the way home. Then it all started to make sense. Then it all started to seem possible. The fact that our offices are thousands of miles apart suddenly didn’t seem to matter anymore. I’d shifted from working with colleagues to working with friends.

I don’t really drink beer. But I did this weekend.

hint of a hand

2009-06-10T22:05:00.000+01:00

hint of a hand, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

Here’s my thought for today: take your precious camera, and give it to a four year old.

With my heart in my mouth I often “supervise” my four-year-old son using my Canon 40D. He loves it and seems to know his way round the camera better than I do. You would not believe how he has progressed just in the course of a few sessions. Now he intentionally looks through the viewfinder and shoots away.

And here’s the thing. The world is a totally different place when you’re three foot high and can crawl under the table at a restaurant and generally get a perspective on the world that we have long forgotten. This is his latest photo and I think it’s fantastic. The only processing I’ve done is to convert it to black and white. No tweaking with levels, no selective vignetting, no fiddling with the channels.

My son makes photos. I am very proud.

he looks so small

2009-06-08T22:04:00.000+01:00

he looks so small, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I was going to post this in black and white, but there was something so deliciously green about the light on Sunday that I couldn’t tear myself away from colour. We had torrential rain showers with bright sunshine and the most enormous black clouds, and the light was just beyond fantastic. Apologies for the vaguely impressionistic look of this shot - I only had my 50mm prime lens and I think it struggled a bit with the overwhelming light. But maybe it doesn’t matter.

So here it is: my boy, his bike, his brand new bell, and some rather large trees.

englishness & ginger beer

2009-06-07T22:04:00.000+01:00

englishness & ginger beer, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

What does it mean to be English? Or American? Or Ukranian? How do we define our culture? There are plenty of people around who define our culture for us. The essence of Englishness is often illustrated by reserve – the stiff upper lip. This doesn’t sit too well with that other great English stereotype – the hooligan. My upper lip is not stiff and I have not to date illustrated any tendency towards hooliganism. And yet I am English.

For me Englishness is about ginger beer. More precisely, it is about ginger beer on a sunny day with clouds scudding across the sky and an expanse of non-geometrically composed fields laid out before you.

Open minded that I am – I put it to you that Fentimans make the best ginger beer.

i'm thinking (self-portrait)

2009-06-02T22:03:00.000+01:00

i'm thinking (self-portrait), originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I've been thinking a lot about style lately. Particularly photographic style - you know the kind of thing - what makes an Ansel Adams photograph recognisably an Ansel Adams photograph. We probably all have favourite photographers (or even photographers we don't like) whose style we can instantly recognise. And it's led me to wonder what my style is.

I love interpreting landscape through my lens. I love the challenge of capturing the magical moments of birds, I can't resist trying to capture a fraction of the beauty of a sunset. I'm inexplicably drawn to horses and flowers, and increasingly, I am drawn to black and white - partly because the influence of some truly astonishing talent here on flickr who focus almost exclusively in that medium. So what's my style? The honest answer is that I don't know. Maybe I'll never get one! My most popular or "interesting" images here on flickr certainly don't have one stylistic theme or one definable characteristic…

I'm a huge fan of Seth Godin’s blog which is creative, provocative and inspiring in equal measures. Seth is very influential in marketing circles - although the relevance of his blogs go way beyond that. In response to comments about who might be "the next Seth Godin" he replied:

"I'm still trying to be pretty good at being 'this' Seth Godin, so I wish people who want to be the next one a lot of luck. There's never been a next Elvis Costello or a next Jill Sobule. There wasn't even a next Chuck Berry or a next Charlie Chaplin ... I think the most productive thing to do during times of change is to be your best self, not the best version of someone else."

Well said Seth.

Miami Skyscraper (Espirito Santo Plaza)

2009-05-27T22:02:00.000+01:00

Miami Skyscraper (Espirito Santo Plaza), originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I’m on a few different social networking sites. And I find them useful, interesting and absorbing – all the rest of it. But here’s the thing. When I was on LinkedIn I began to feel dwarfed by other people’s job titles. How do you compete with someone who is called Leadership Coach, Facilitator and Organizational Effectiveness Consultant? Or here’s another one: Senior Creative Strategist & Experiential Designer? I kid you not – these are real job titles. Maybe you’re not the kind of person to feel dwarfed by other people’s job titles. But most of us have insecurities. And social networking sites are one area where it’s easy to succumb to the fact that your once spotty classmate is now running a multi-national company.

We spend so much of our time trying to be something that others will be impressed by. I suggest you give up. Where does your worth come from? Here’s an ancient Chinese proverb that I’m making up on the spot: He who seeks worth from others is on a path to self-ruin.

I heard the other day that the company Gore-Tex has only one job title – common across the entire organisation – Associate. If you get a business card from anyone at Gore-Tex it will merely have:
James Burden
Associate
Gore-Tex

And Gore has been on the Fortune list of 100 Best Companies to work for every single time that list has been published.
Go here to see why.

Facebook asked me the other day to “say something” about myself. What do you put in that box? Do you use the five lines to describe your professional career? To describe your large and impossibly well-behaved family? To describe how you singlehandedly brought about peace in a small Middle Eastern country? Me? I put “I make photos”.

The Melting Sun

2009-05-26T22:01:00.000+01:00

the melting sun, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I haven't taken any sunset photos for quite a while - difficult to come up with something that is original and remarkable. Not that I think this photo is particularly original or remarkable - but it's not often you get the chance to see the sun melting on the horizon like this. And I craved some colour today. Do you get days like that?

blue sky thinking... walking on tree tops

2009-05-21T22:00:00.000+01:00

blue sky thinking... walking on tree tops, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I'm at a small conference/forum at the moment in the US. There is a wonderful amount of creative and enthusiastic thinking going on. I've heard the inevitable cliché of 'blue sky thinking' mentioned a number of times - the incredible thing about this forum is the ability of those involved to turn the thinking into doing. I hope you experience a blue sky doer today!

Personally I'm in a win-win situation. I'm giving a 110%, pushing the envelope and really trying to deliver on maximising customer satisafaction in a totally web2.0 kinda way. At the end of the day it's all about the low-hanging fruit.

If you want more great clichés then visit www.squidoo.com/businesscliches - truly absorbingly wonderful. Enjoy.

Glen Etive

2009-05-11T21:59:00.000+01:00

glen etive, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

We all have special places. Those of us who take photos often go back to these places to try and find that elusive shot - that new angle. This is my place. Glen Etive is one of the most beautiful places in the British Isles.

It breaks some of my landscape composition rules. But to be honest that's what I like about this shot. I like how I can't see what's round the corner of that tree. This is a photo that draws me in, that makes me yearn, to turn my head to the right and watch the sun setting over the distant hills.

I wish I was there today.

My Son and the Plesiosaur

2009-05-07T21:58:00.000+01:00

my son and the plesiosaur, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

This is my son at the Natural History Museum in London. His question today: "Why did they cut me out this shape?"

Answers on a postcard...

The End of the Rainbow

2009-05-06T21:57:00.000+01:00

The End of the Rainbow, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

A dark stormy day on the Island of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. I know this is a really dark photo - but it really was that dark! I've already upped the exposure by a stop and a third.

I feel sorry for the house. He was so nearly a pot of gold!

What's Black and White and Blue all over?

2009-05-03T23:18:00.000+01:00

it's not a dandelion, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I like this shot. It conveys what I think about the world. There is black, there is white - and there are some tones in between.

The Leaves of Late Spring

2009-05-02T23:16:00.000+01:00

the leaves of late spring, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

There's a tree at the end of my road which has the most beautiful soft translucent leaves I've ever seen. For me it is the sign that summer has started. These leaves only last a few weeks in their translucent state then they become quite ordinary.

I hope you see something extraordinary this weekend!

Hint of a Horse

2009-04-30T23:15:00.000+01:00

hint of a horse, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

No-one has ridden these horses. You can see it in their eyes.

if you go down in the woods today...

2009-04-27T23:11:00.000+01:00

if you go down in the woods today..., originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I love forests. Somehow no matter how small they seem from above they always appear to be vast when you're in one. This is my newly favourite forest - just south of the Cairngorms in Scotland.

My First Munro

2009-04-19T23:10:00.000+01:00

my first munro, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I've just got back from a week's holiday in Scotland. I climbed a munro. I rested. I relaxed. I had a fantastic time and actually feel better than I have in a long time.

The munro was The Cairnwell (standing at 3059 feet), and the view was amazing. The photo doesn't do it justice.

Cape Point Cormorant

2008-11-10T23:07:00.000Z

cape point cormorant, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

As you stand on the cliffs at Cape Point in South Africa, looking out at the pont where the atlantic ocean and the indian oceans meet, there is the most tremendous wind shooting up the cliffs. The cliffs are huge and there are large numbers of cormorants nesting on the cliffs. As they approach they adopt the most wonderful position with feet extended to try and maneouver to their precarious ledge.

There aren't many moments when you feel like David Attenborough - but this experience felt like I was observing one of nature's marvels.

The Standing Stones of Calanais

2008-11-01T22:41:00.000Z

the standing stones of calanais, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

Get a load of this. These stones are older than Stone Henge - yet there are no crowds (no-one at all actually), and you can walk right up to them and touch these stones that are millions of years old and were put in place more than 5,000 years ago. Unbelievable. This place is amazing.

Rubha Huisinis

2008-10-24T22:40:00.000+01:00

Rubha Huisinis, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

The beaches on the Isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides are stunning with sand that looks like it has been untrodden for centuries.

It almost felt invasive to photograph it...

The Stillness of Bubbles

2008-09-08T22:37:00.000+01:00

the stillness of bubbles, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

Five people died this weekend due to accidents related to the heavy rain and flash floods in the UK. We were in Lincolnshire this weekend and it did indeed rain and rain and rain. But in the middle of it all was a spell of sunshine... and five bubbles...

House Martins in Flight

2008-08-08T22:33:00.000+01:00

house martins in flight, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

House Martins move very quickly, and that's part of their beauty. What a waste to try and capture them in perfectly frozen motion. That's not what a house martin is about!

The Flatiron Building

2008-07-08T22:27:00.000+01:00

the flatiron building, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

Here's another shot from my 2001 trip to the US. This is the iconic Flatiron building - one of the first skyscrapers to be built. When it was completed in 1902, it was the tallest building in New York City at 285 feet. The tallest skyscraper today is the Burj Dubai and that stands at 2684 feet - nearly ten times the height.

This is the photograph that began it all

2008-07-08T08:08:00.000+01:00

This is the photograph that began it all, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I took this photo on my first trip to the US (back in 2001) and it began a love affair which is still with me today - with both photography and the US. I cannot get over the vastness of scenery that you experience in the US. This moment was particularly special. Having severely overestimated the number of gas stations that there are on highway 1, I was running on fumes. I finally found a place to fill up, a place to stay for the night and this scene was waiting for me!

This is a seminal photograph for me. I had taken no photographs of note before this one. I had borrowed an old film SLR at the last minute to take on my trip. Making this photo out of this scene affected me deeply and got me hooked on both photography and trips of solitude.