Hi everyone!
As subscribers to COMPENDIA, you’re some of my favourite people, so today I’m writing to you with a special offer!
You may not know but, alongside my writing, I’m also a keen photographer. The roots of my passion for photography are not quite as deep as those of my passion for words and stories, and neither do they go back quite as far. Nevertheless, I’ve owned cameras for almost as long as I’ve owned pens, and have aspired to take better photographs with almost as much fervour as I’ve wanted to be a better writer.
In some ways, my journey into photography mirrors my journey into writing. For a long time I practiced, but felt endlessly frustrated. Though the pictures I was taking were improving, they still didn’t feel anywhere near as good as I wanted them to be. I learnt as much as I could. I read books about photography, and studied other photographers. Yet still I was frustrated.
Then, over time, I started to go on courses, and saw a real improvement. But the turning point came a few years ago when I realised (note, realised, not decided) what kind of photographer I wanted to be. I like landscapes, and I like portraits, but that wasn’t what I wanted to do. I wanted to document life in my photographs, in much the same way as I wanted to document it in my writing.
My passion was for street photography, and armed with that knowledge I stopped bothering to try to take other kinds of photographs (other than with my phone, or at the special request of family). I concentrated wholly on that one area, and began to see real improvement.
I think it’s probably true of most artistic or creative endeavours, if not most things full stop. In order to become an expert in something (and that’s a journey I’m still on, I make no claims for being at the pinnacle of achievement quite yet!) one has to first learn as much as possible about the subject, and then to hone in on the area of particular interest. To look through the wide-angle, if you will, before zooming in.
Anyway, I love my photography now. And it feels like it really complements my work as a writer (and more of that in a future issue, I think). And so, after a long time spent deliberating, I’ve decided to launch a store, in order to sell prints of my best work. AND as a subscriber to this newsletter I’m giving YOU a sneak preview.
You can take a look at the store here. All but the standard sized prints (4.7”x7”, or 12cmx18cm) are available only in limited quantities. The largest size (A1), exists only in a run of 25 (numbered) prints, for example, so once they’re gone, they’re gone!
What’s more, as a supporter of COMPENDIA, I’d like to offer you 10% off all orders in the store. Just use the discount code SUBSCRIBER10 at the checkout. The offer is available until March 1 2023, and can’t be combined with any other offers.
Take a look, and let me know what you think.
Cheers!
Limited Edition Prints Available!
The movement in the bird snap is eerily beautiful.