Why we do it.....

Yesterday was one of the most exciting days I'd had in a long time as a photographer. I had been thrashing out ideas and spider diagrams for two days trying to write a story, trying to isolate a theme, trying to make a coherent film and I was struggling. There was too much I wanted to put in, too many stories I wanted to tell and I couldn't think of a way of stitching them all together so that it would make sense, not only to the viewer, but to me!

The start of my research.

I took a break that evening to do a night shoot for a poster I'm making for a local American Football team that are starting up. I began planning for it and waited for it to get dark so I could begin shooting. I decided to take a shower first and as I was sensually running my fingers through my hair, it came to me! Let me take you back to the start and where this all began.

One of the images for my photo essay.

Around a month ago I decided I wanted to make a film, but not just any old film I wanted to do something that was important to me and that would connect with millions of people. I knew it had to be a factual film as I am no script writer and I don't have the budget to make any sort of blockbuster, so I decided that my subject was going to be passion and emotion in sport. I had used this as my subject for my photo essay when I went through training at RAF Cosford and it was something I was passionate about not only as a fan, but as a photographer as well. With ideas bubbling in my mind I knew I had to begin writing sooner rather than later! Then about two weeks ago I came into contact with a wonderful women on Twitter called Loretta Livingstone. She had tweeted me about some pictures I had posted about the Great British Bobsleigh team and when ever someone tweets me or comes into contact with me on social media, I like to check out their profiles, one to see how they found me so I can use it to expand further and two to check they aren't spammers. So I checked out Loretta's profile. Turns out Loretta is a very talented poet and she has written several books two of which called "Hopes, Dreams & Medals" and "Ice & Fire - The Passion and Fun of Winter Sports", sounded perfect for research reading for my film. So I approached Loretta to get a copy and a week later (thanks to military mail) my book arrived.
During the bank holiday I set about getting stuck into my research and reading. I was making

spider diagrams, writing down buzzwords and reading psychology papers. None of it was helping. I felt that I was getting away from the reason why I was doing this project, the way sport makes us feel. So I decided to do some research into myself and watched the main sporting events of the weekend. The Monaco Grand Prix with its grandeur and speed, it's history and danger and the drivers you love and hate. The edge of your seat start, will everyone make it

My new "think tank"

through the first corner? Will there be crashes? The uncertainty of the re-starts and the audacious over taking attempts. I watched the Champions League final with two teams I do not support, yet I still invested so much into the game. Dortmund the underdogs versus Bayern the German powerhouses! The excitement of the end to end stretched football, last ditch tackles, penalty equalisers and that late winner by a vanquished hero. This is why I wanted to make this film, because of the way sport made me feel!
I began to read Loretta's book and immediately pulled out two poems which I thought would be perfect for a segment of the film, which I had put down for the RAF Luge team. However I still didn't have a clue where to start or finish it, or where on earth I was going, until I stepped into the shower and all became clear. I can't make a film on sporting passions and emotions because you cannot rationalise them. Why do we invest so much in sport? Because we love it, the thrill of competition the underdog stories, the triumphs and the falls! The film I wanted to make was a short, powerful film that encapsulated all of that and I would love Loretta to write a poem to narrate it! 

Loretta's book with my pointless research

I tweeted her late that night with the proposal, not expecting a reply or anything close to a draft for a day or two, but when she tweeted me the next morning saying she had something I was blown away! Already? This I have to hear! She phoned me up and asked to read it down the phone to which I of course agreed. She began reading and immediately I was hooked! This is amazing! She finished reading and I took a look at my hand, I was shaking. Shaking with genuine excitement, I could picture every scene, imagine every shot it was perfect! I cannot wait to get started!

Now the work can begin, once Loretta has the poem copyrighted and she is happy, I will begin storyboarding the film and begin shooting and that is where YOU come in! Are you a budding athlete or a professional athlete? Are you a die hard sports fan that goes to every game? I want to hear from you! It's for people like you that I am making this film because we love sport! 



I will be keeping you updated on the films progress through my blog, Facebook and Twitter accounts as well as my Google+ so keep it here to find out the latest.
Also please please please go and like Loretta's Facebook page, follow her on Twitter and buy her books at the links below.

Thank you

#whydowedoit     

Treasure chest books - www.treasurechestbooks.co.uk

Dambusters 70

On the 17th May 1943, 11 Lancaster Bombers returned to Royal Air Force (RAF) Scampton in Lincolnshire after successfully completing Operation Chastise, the bombing of the Eder, Mohne and Sorpe Dams in Germany. 9 Lancaster aircraft and their 56 crew did not, 53 of which were killed.
This week marked the 70th anniversary of the “Dambuster” raids led by Wing Commander Guy Gibson. I have been heavily involved in this week’s commemorative flypasts by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) from the media side which has been an honour and a pleasure. I have seen some amazing imagery come in from my colleagues and edited some awe inspiring footage. Amongst it all though, I have been able to capture some pictures of my own.
Before this week, I had been very dubious of phone photography. I didn’t want to do it as I saw it as a threat to professional photographers and thought it wasn’t very good. I said in an earlier post on this blog that I had got the “instagram” app and this week it has proven to me how valuable my iPhone is as a camera. Due to the fact I am recovering from a dislocated shoulder, I can’t carry around the large professional cameras we usually use, so I am restricted to my iPhone and instagram, but I could not be more pleased with the results.
I have attached a selection from this week, telling the story from my perspective, waiting and seeing home the Lancaster from her flypasts, going on board and collecting equipment and remembering our fallen heroes. I hope I have done their memory proud.
If you would like more information on the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight then visit their website, links can be found on my website www.danielherrick.com
On there are photographs and videos produced by myself.





Lest we forget.

Research begins.

Today I began research into emotions in sport. I have downloaded a few psychology papers on how athletes use emotions to help them in winning and competing as well as how negative emotions can destroy even the best of athletes performance. Some fascinating reading that I cannot wait to dig into, however it is not the only side of sport I want to look into. As I watched the FA Cup final this weekend, I was absorbed even though I had no invested interest in either team. I saw how social media was awash with new Wigan fans cheering on the underdog in this David and Goliath battle and it got me to thinking, why do we like these stories? What makes us support teams for 90 minutes that we otherwise wouldn't? Then I saw why I wanted to make this film, that goal, the winning goal, in the 90th minute, the crowd in pure ecstasy, people going mad and losing all their inhibitions and going mad!
Sadly I support teams that have never won major trophies so the closest I can actually come to this was when I saw Newcastle draw 4-4 with Arsenal, or when Lewis Hamilton won the British Grand Prix and the World Championship. That's where you guys come in! I want to hear from you about your experiences supporting teams that have won trophies. Have you been to Wembley and seen your team lift a prestigious trophy? What did you feel?
I also want to hear from you if you are on the other side and have lost at a final. Supporters make sport and that's why I want to mainly focus on them throughout the film.
Finally, are you or do you know any fanatical supporters? People who go to watch their team come rain or shine no matter the distance, who spend every penny they have on their team, or have any team related tattoos.
If you would like to get in touch please visit my website www.danielherrick.com and use the contact page to tell me your story. I look forward to hearing from you!

Hadrians Walk

I have always wanted to walk across Hadrians Wall and I finally have a reason to do it! Me and a few collegues have decided to raise money for a very worthy cause in Reubens Retreat, a charity founded in memory of Reuben Michael Graham. For more information on the charity visit their website following the link below.
We are planning to spend 4 days walking across the wall, but as I am in charge of the route it could take 14! We will start out from the Carlisle end of the wall heading back towards Newcastle. Along the way I shall be videoing and photographing our progess and will be posting the result to you on our triumphant return.
To sponsor me use the contact form on www.danielherrick.com and I will get back to you upon completion.

Stay tuned for more information and the route we plan to walk, and visit www.reubensretreat.org to support Reubens Retreat and learn more.
You can also visit my Just Giving page and donate here.

Working Title

EXCLUSIVE!

I was sat watching the new Iron Man 3 film last last week when an advert for the British Film Festival popped up with the trailers. I sat there and thought, "I want to be involved in this." So I have decided that I am going to make a documentary on a project I did during my NVQ Lv3 in photography, "Emotions in Sport". I want to get behind the fans and players motives and relationships with their sports, teams and what it feels like to feel the pressure of the thousands of eyes staring at you.
My research begins today and I will bring you updates and photographs throughout the process to hopefully bringing you the film next year.
I also want t release a book of images along with the film so keep an eye out and if you want to get involved with this project in any way feel free to contact me at contactme@danielherrick.com

The Instagram Era

Well here it is! My Instagram virginity has been broken and this is the result. Now on the face of it, it is just a snap shot taken of a figurine sat in my window, however is this the beginning of something big, or am I adding to not only my own downfall, but the downfall of all professional photographers?
A few weeks ago I was disheartened when reading an article about the New York Times putting Instagram images on its front pages. I have been on a personal campaign for a while now stating that things like this could be the end of photography as we know it, as it opens the doors for anybody to be able to do it and lowers the earning power that professional photographers actually have. It's a tough enough business without things like this.
Recently however, my opinion has turned slightly. I decided to read a little more into this shoot and into other Iphoneographers around and discovered that there is still a lot of skill involved in getting these images. The ones of the New York Yankee Baseball players were actually taken in a toilet believe it or not! They are really well lit using professional lighting and really well posed, by a portrait expert. Compare these with your average toilet images you see on phones, granted usually taken by drunken people on a night out, but the quality is vastly different.
So what I guess I'm trying to say is, I still have hope that professional photographers like myself have a chance to do what we love and not have work stolen away by the smart phone photographers. Images still need good composition, lighting and to actually be good and that is where a working knowledge of photography and a talented eye is unsurpassed.
Keep an eye out for more Iphoneography from me in the future and please follow me on Instagram danielherrickpictures.

Here is a link to the New York Times Story http://petapixel.com/2013/04/02/ny-times-puts-instagram-image-on-the-front-page/0

If you have any Phone images that are up there with those taken on Digital SLR cameras, then please feel free to share them on here in the comments box, or follow me on Twitter @DanielHerrick like my page on Facebook - Daniel Herrick Pictures or +1 me on Google+ using the above button.