The Photo Brunch Shoreditch / 01

I’m so excited to write this post, and to show you some photos of my first ‘official’ Photo Brunch last Saturday. I had a great time, and I’m so glad everyone else seemed to have as well. I had Emma, Laura, and Lisa come along (Jo was meant to join as well, but sadly didn’t feel very well). It was nice having a small group of people to start with, it felt more intimate and I got to really focus on everyone and help them out with their cameras.
I seriously enjoyed teaching and sharing my knowledge, and it was so great to see that all three of them really got it, and understood what I was telling them about camera settings, and how to achieve certain photo outcomes.

We met at Dishoom in Shoreditch for brunch, which was great. I initially wanted to go to the Breakfast Club, but it’s usually very busy on weekends, so I decided that I needed to be able to book a table. Dishoom was just as good - I especially enjoyed my Chocolate Chai.

After having a chat and enjoying some breakfast I talked everyone through the spreadsheet I had created, including the basics of photography - aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.
Although you can read up a lot on these settings all over the internet, I think it really helps having someone explain everything in person. Plus, you get to ask questions and actually try it out on your camera while getting on-hand help.

Another great thing about meeting with a few people to go out and shoot, is that it gives you the freedom to actually stop and take photos (quoting what Emma wrote, because it’s such a good way of saying it). Quite often I find that if I’m out with a non-photographer person, I don’t want to stop all the time, as I feel it must be annoying for them. And if I’m on my own I don’t usually find the motivation or enthusiasm to just go for a wander to take random photos. And of course it is just a lot more fun going for a walk and taking photos with like-minded people.

So, we had a really great time (it was sunny, too) - a big thank you to everyone who joined.
If you want to come along to the next one, it will be on 8 February. You can book your place right here.

Paris / 05

(See Paris / 01, 02, 03, 04)

We were hoping to go up the Eiffel Tower the night that we did the boat tour (since we ended up right in front of the Eiffel Tower) - but by the time we got to the ticket offices it was actually quite late, and we wouldn't have had enough time to go all the way up.
So... we came back the next day. We walked up to the first and second platform (it's cheaper), then had to take the lift to go all the way up. We must have spent at least a couple of hours up there, since we got to see Paris while it was still light outside, saw the sunrise, as well as the night lights.
I usually feel a bit afraid of heights, but it seemed to be ok once we got up to the second level. Walking up the stairs was a bit scary, as well as taking the lift up. You go higher and higher and the lift just doesn't seem to stop. Once you're all the way up and you've been there for a few minutes you kind of get used to it. Still, it was freezing (!!!), and of course I didn't have a jacket with me or anything since the day was so hot. So, tip number one: take a jacket with you (it's so windy up there). Tip number two: Take some food with you, or eat before you go up. ;) I was also super hungry. And cold + hungry isn't a good combination. Plus the height... So I was definitely glad and very happy when I was down on safe ground again ;)
But I did enjoyed the amazing view over Paris!

Paris / 04

Although this is part 04 of my Paris pictures, these ones are actually still part of our third day there.
Louis' mum really wanted to do a boat tour on the Seine (after seeing something about it on TV in New Zealand), so we did just that. It was actually pretty cool, better than I expected it to be (maybe that's because dinner afterwards came with it). ;)
It was fun seeing all the people sitting along the bank, some just resting, others dancing and partying.

Oh by the way, I would love to own this old red Citroen car below (either this one or an old VW Beetle! Please!)

(See Paris part 01, Paris part 02, and Paris part 03, Paris part 05)

Paris / 03

(see Paris part 01, and Paris part 02, Paris part 04, Paris part 05)

Most of the pictures in this post are from our third day in Paris. I convinced Louis to get up early in the morning with me to walk up to Sacré-Cœur, while there weren't many tourists around yet. I also love being up early in the morning - the atmosphere feels great when everyone's still asleep and the sun is rising.
Usually it should have only taken us about 5 minutes to get up the hill, but I took my film camera with me (as well as my digital one), so of course I got distracted taking photos on our way up there. Unfortunately I couldn't remember if the film in my camera already had pictures on it (since I hadn't used it for a long time), but decided to give it a go anyway.
Well, after a while I realised I had taken quite a lot of photos, and the thought kicked in that maybe my camera didn't actually have any film in it at all... So once we got to Sacré-Cœur I just had to check. Of course, there was no film inside. Bummer.
Oh well, at least I knew, and I still had my digital camera with me, as well as 'another' roll of film. So on our way down I took more photos - digital as well as film. Only thing is that wounding back the film later on was really hard and it felt like it was stuck somewhere inside the camera. Definitely shouldn't have felt the way it did. Anyway, film's always a bit of an adventure, so we'll see what it turned out like - if there are any pictures on it at all ;)

I'm planning on showing you a couple more sets of pictures of Paris, and then I'll go back to more usual posts. I hope you've been enjoying seeing lots and lots of travel photos so far. If you're planning on going to any one of these places and you need some advice or tips you can always let me know. Happy to help out!

Paris / 02

More pictures of Paris. There's not too much to say really (other than the usual 'we walked a lot', 'saw a lot' and ate some delicious éclairs). I've just got loads and loads of pictures to share, so here is part two. Enjoy.

We came across this pigeon man on Rue Montorgueil where he was feeding what felt like 500 pigeons. Kind of a peculiar creature.

(See Paris / 01, 03, 04, 05)