#Lego bevvypix
- by Bev Thomas
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- 31 Dec, 2017
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Life Through a Lens
Hello and welcome to today's blog coming to you from my Instagram 356 toy project. Today marks the end of this project and after being asked a lot as to why I have completed this particular theme well here is my story.
Beverley Thomas is a professional photographer specialising in Wedding and Portraiture. She has an immense love for photography and art, and whilst still doing her job she has fitted in a little time for some fun and captivating images, you could say it has been a visual diary for her. In particular for this project she has connected to people using her art in the form of an inanimate object. It all started from teaching and engaging children the concepts of photography. By combining her passion and teaching skills, this lead her to the creation of a self-portrait lego character she named bevvypix.
Beverley Thomas is a professional photographer specialising in Wedding and Portraiture. She has an immense love for photography and art, and whilst still doing her job she has fitted in a little time for some fun and captivating images, you could say it has been a visual diary for her. In particular for this project she has connected to people using her art in the form of an inanimate object. It all started from teaching and engaging children the concepts of photography. By combining her passion and teaching skills, this lead her to the creation of a self-portrait lego character she named bevvypix.
As a visual artist bevvypix began using a documentary approach, in the same way you would document your days in a diary, she disregarded the traditional written approach and began capturing the moments, she uses digital technology whether is is her iPhone or her professional Nikon DSLR camera. As 2017 began, so did her day to day life as a photographer and a family woman. Combining these two worlds as her daily life, therefore creating this set of images over a 365 day period.
The images of bevvypix induce a subliminal effect on the psychological mind, therefore creating a visual idea, whilst challenging her creative thoughts on a daily basis. Her ability yo bring a little plastic figure to life is not only enduring, fun and engaging, but reminiscent to her own childhood past and through this medium, we are invited to her life now as an adult.
Starting 2017 off with the Daily Life of bevvypix. This whole project began to take shape, each day brought a new perspective on what was about to develop. Where it would take me was anyones guess, I did not even know myself. By posting into @bevvypix instagram account https://www.instagram.com/bevvypix/
Lego bevvypix began to gain organic followers form over the world. I began to enjoy instagram more and more, seeing what other photographers were taking enlighted a spark and a desire to keep this project going for 365 days.
February 2017 It was time to Focus. I read a quote "You have to focus on what you are doing, not just as a photographer, but as a human being" this resinated with me as I try to balance family and work, like most people do I guess. I know I often get submerged in my work as I am a perfectionist.
Wedding March 2017 what way could I showcase and combine my worlds together? I am not just a wedding photographer, I have learned to survive for 25 years plus in a hard industry to compete in, I have adapted myself to enable me to take work for all types of photography including commercial and landscapes, I do not see them any different each image I take tells a story very much the same as a completed wedding day.
April 2017 End of the tax year, so what better theme to choose Retrospective and a look back on 2016, this effectively was the year I started my Instagram account and the birth of Lego me bevvypix.
May 2017 'May I tell you a story', so the Narrative theme emerged. The stories are created in pictures that became titles in their own right, dreams, nightmares, past.
June 2017 led me to upload Junebug, an image of a ladybird through barbed wire, almost resembling a rollercoaster. The theme for this month became Abstract. By placing Lego me into the environment around me and seeing the world from a tiny perspective, often using my Nikon for these as I needed to get up close and personal.
July 2017 I know lets create a Monochrome theme. Everything is simple in Black and White, even though there is no colourful images we just do not need them as the world around me was colourful enough.
August 2017 Beginning to think I am misunderstood and no one really understanding why I am still posting images in relation to a plastic toy, the theme began on Identity. My life in pictures, I am daughter, a wife, a mother, a photographer, an accountant, a creative director, a professional, an editor, a web publisher, an advertiser, plus much more.
September 2017 as the saying goes 30 days has September and 30 days we did, theming this month with Project, It was about everything I see before me.
October 2017 We need Inspiration and mine comes from photographs and music. This months theme was titled Influence. Some images are my own and some by the most influential artists of all time, well for me anyways.
I love the era of the sixties, a time when everyone was nobody, yet everyone was somebody. Photography started to take on a new form, celebrities were becoming famous and the world was evolving. Music was making history and every tune was unique. Black and white images created dramatic portraits and television was exposing into peoples homes, a time in which you could make a name for yourself and to this day still be associated with that connection, withstanding the test of time. Then came the eighties barriers were broken, music and images became more explicit, using what artist had seen before and pushing through boundaries.
I love the era of the sixties, a time when everyone was nobody, yet everyone was somebody. Photography started to take on a new form, celebrities were becoming famous and the world was evolving. Music was making history and every tune was unique. Black and white images created dramatic portraits and television was exposing into peoples homes, a time in which you could make a name for yourself and to this day still be associated with that connection, withstanding the test of time. Then came the eighties barriers were broken, music and images became more explicit, using what artist had seen before and pushing through boundaries.
November 2017 I just do what I do, I never put myself into a particular genre, how could I? my Profession takes me to places and meet people who are from all walks of life, why should I create images like everyone else has, I prefer the bespoke approach if I am honest, I would rather shoot to suit not shoot to conform, from first smiles to wedding days and everything in between, I love what I do and am very fortunate to be able to still work in the photographic Industry, in an ever changing world.
December 2017 Christmas countdown and Life through a Lens drawing to a close. The life of bevvypix has been created in this little world and we have documented our days, never missing a single posting. It has been a challenge bringing new concepts to life and I am glad I stuck it out and have achieved what I set out to do. Showing dedication and commitment just as I do in my professional and family life. Where this project goes from now, I do not know? If it was possible at some point in my life, I would love to print all 365 images and showcase them all in an exhibition, perhaps one day at the Tate Gallery! Dream, Imagine and Believe ...
Thank You for reading this blog and thank you to those of you who have followed this journey. As 2017 comes to a close and 2018 brings us a new year and new project round the corner, keep watching ... it might just be fun! https://www.instagram.com/bevvypix/
Bev x
Bev x
All images unless stated are the Copyright of Beverley Thomas Photography 2017 All rights reserved
https://www.instagram.com/bevvypix/
https://www.instagram.com/bevvypix/
Firstly, I must apologise the lack of updates on this blog but then again who actually reads? Times have been up and down to say the least, and that has played with my mental well being, especially when it has come to my photographic practice. For many years, I have concentrated on giving 100% to my passion and this is my source of income as a professional photographer. However, the pandemic has made me stop and think about sustainability within the photographic industry and just what is it all about and for what?
Photographs are not just images; they are physical artifacts. The physical form of the photographic image, prescribed by prevailing technology, determines what can be photographed, how it can be displayed or published, how it can be encountered by others, how it can circulate through public culture.
I wanted to introduce the toy photography work that I am involved with. This is a collaboration with the wonderful team over at Stuck in Plastic (SiP Link).
Having grown up in the 70’s, I thought I could find some old photographs from this time in my life but sadly, I have been unable to locate any and that makes me recall little moments that stand out in my vivid memory which helps me write this post.
In the search for the ideal image it became evident that I had seen everything before and I wanted to produce something different. My intent was to take image manipulation further away from the real but I was also aware this could come with some critic good or bad.
Having successfully completed my MA, I began to turn my focus on reflecting over my time at Falmouth University’s Institute of Photography. What became very evident is that my work is now informed and my intent is clearer than it was.
Welcome to the very first post of my new blog. On the contrary, I am familiar with writing blogs and I had initially decided to continue writing regular posts on my Photographic Critical Research Journal
, to which I started writing at the beginning of my Masters degree at Falmouth University’s Institute of Photography.
Something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue ... well there was nothing blue about this amazing wedding, it was pink and full of fun and laughter. I met Kayleigh two years ago when she started wedding planning, turned out that I know her mother and father very well but as the years went by our connections had gone in different directions. But I always knew they were a special couple who if ever my family needed them that they would be there for us, so as you can imagine I was absolutely thrilled to be asked to capture their daughters wedding day.
The Bride & Groom chose a beautiful location, the hotel is called Wolfscastle Country Hotel otherwise known as "All yr Afon" https://wolfscastle.com located just 15 minutes from Haverfordwest, in the heart of the Pembrokeshire countryside and 9 miles from our stunning Pembrokeshire coast. I arrived at 11.30am in order to get some prep photographs of Kayleigh's shoes etc and the bride and bridesmaids getting ready. When I arrived everyone was so calm and ready to go, the bridesmaids hair and make-ups were completed and they were in their dresses ready. Wearing sparkly rose gold gowns they looked stunning. The bride was still getting ready with finishing touches being adjusted. She wore a stunning wedding gown with a cathedral train made from tulle. The flowers were made by Flowers by Quita, they incorporated vintage roses and peonies. Everyone was in high spirits. Not only was it Kayleigh and Mark's wedding day but they were both celebrating birthdays.
I completed what I need to do then myself and Gill, my assistant headed downstairs to capture the groom. I had not met Mark at any of the appointment prior to the big day, so once I found him I introduced myself and to be honest, I felt like I already knew him. He had just finished formalities with the Registra and checking that the best men had the all important wedding rings. The video guys were ready, I was ready and Kayleigh was ready ...
12.20pm Kayleigh was descending down the stairs with her father, that was an emotional moment. She had given him a pair of cuff links which read 'of all the walks we have had, this one is my favourite' such a lovely moment to treasure forever.
12.30pm Mark was patiently waiting for his beautiful bride, and there she was standing in the doorway ready to met her husband to be.
The ceremony was perfect and a kiss seals the the forever moment when the Registra pronounces Kayleigh & Mark as Husband & Wife, Mr & Mrs Williams.
The Bride & Groom chose a beautiful location, the hotel is called Wolfscastle Country Hotel otherwise known as "All yr Afon" https://wolfscastle.com located just 15 minutes from Haverfordwest, in the heart of the Pembrokeshire countryside and 9 miles from our stunning Pembrokeshire coast. I arrived at 11.30am in order to get some prep photographs of Kayleigh's shoes etc and the bride and bridesmaids getting ready. When I arrived everyone was so calm and ready to go, the bridesmaids hair and make-ups were completed and they were in their dresses ready. Wearing sparkly rose gold gowns they looked stunning. The bride was still getting ready with finishing touches being adjusted. She wore a stunning wedding gown with a cathedral train made from tulle. The flowers were made by Flowers by Quita, they incorporated vintage roses and peonies. Everyone was in high spirits. Not only was it Kayleigh and Mark's wedding day but they were both celebrating birthdays.
I completed what I need to do then myself and Gill, my assistant headed downstairs to capture the groom. I had not met Mark at any of the appointment prior to the big day, so once I found him I introduced myself and to be honest, I felt like I already knew him. He had just finished formalities with the Registra and checking that the best men had the all important wedding rings. The video guys were ready, I was ready and Kayleigh was ready ...
12.20pm Kayleigh was descending down the stairs with her father, that was an emotional moment. She had given him a pair of cuff links which read 'of all the walks we have had, this one is my favourite' such a lovely moment to treasure forever.
12.30pm Mark was patiently waiting for his beautiful bride, and there she was standing in the doorway ready to met her husband to be.
The ceremony was perfect and a kiss seals the the forever moment when the Registra pronounces Kayleigh & Mark as Husband & Wife, Mr & Mrs Williams.
Since starting my MA program, I am required to keep a critical research journal in the form of a written document, so I have created another blog on Wordpress which I will continue to update on a regular basis. I have completed the first module and I am now looking at the second module.
This blog at https://beverleythomasphotographydotcodotuk.wordpress.com is being made as part of an accredited educational programme.
This blog at https://beverleythomasphotographydotcodotuk.wordpress.com is being made as part of an accredited educational programme.
