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about simon
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Simon Donnelly
Started off his career in photography in 1986 as a photographic assistant with advertising and design agency D.B.N in Birmingham England..
D.B.N was an award winning advertising agency with large drive-in photographic studio's on the site of an old toy factory in Harborne, Birmingham. It was, in it's day one of the best outside of London with a wide range of clients and facilities. Six photographers worked long hours shooting a wide variety of work from cars to room sets, It was the perfect grounding for any assistant to gain the knowledge required to be a good photographer.
The agency had two photographic studios including well equipped darkrooms and a team
of the Midlands finest Graphic Designers, Typographers &
Re-touch artists.
Simon started shooting tests mainly people orientated photographs. This was a unique situation and he would bounce ideas around with the other photographers, and his father who was also a photographer and graphic designer.
The company took Simon on after a few years training and he started shooting a wide variety of advertising photography including room sets, car photography and location work with the odd fashion and glamour shoot. With the work in hand he started to develop his printing techniques. Once confident enough to repeat the results achieved in the darkrooms to a consistent level, he applied them to the photographic work he was shooting.
He became the youngest affiliate member of the British Institute of Professional Photographers and in the process, changed their attitude's and policies on age and Photographer Licentiateship. Working as a speaker on the Kodak Pro road show he demonstrated his different style of printing and lighting. He also joined the Association of Fashion and Editorial Photographers in London where his work was featured in their "Introducing" exhibition. This is where Simon met his first agent Marie, there head hunting photographers for her clients in Paris and Germany.
Simon Donnelly
Pro - file Number 06
The company took Simon on after a few years training and he started shooting a wide variety of advertising photography including room sets, car photography and location work with the odd fashion and glamour shoot. With the work in hand he started to develop his printing techniques. Once confident enough to repeat the results achieved in the darkrooms to a consistent level, he applied them to the photographic work he was shooting.
He became the youngest affiliate member of the British Institute of Professional Photographers and in the process, changed their attitude's and policies on age and Photographer Licentiateship. Working as a speaker on the Kodak Pro road show he demonstrated his different style of printing and lighting. He also joined the Association of Fashion and Editorial Photographers in London where his work was featured in their "Introducing" exhibition. This is where Simon met his first agent Marie, there head hunting photographers for her clients in Paris and Germany.Simon Donnelly
Pro - file Number 06
‘This picture was commissioned by a hair products manufacturer. The brief was to focus attention on the model’s hair, but also to make her face look as interesting as possible.
The model was lying on a low table and we cocooned her in meters of pale coloured silk fabric. I used a large softbox above her head quite close to create soft highlights on the hair and two other softboxes one on either side of her body. I also placed white polystyrene boards all around her to bounce back any stray light.
I deliberately overexposed the shot by 1/2 stop to give It a light and airy feel. The image is printed upside down to make It look more dramatic.
Shot on a Bronica sqa-i, with a
150mm lens at f4
shutter speed of 1/60
Fujichrome 100D slide film.
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Photographerphotographer birminghamphoto tips
The Photographer October1990 photo tips
Article courtesy
of The journal of
The British Institute of Professional Photographers.
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In at the deep end: photo tips
Simon Donnelly’s ambitions and associations.
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Above: from Cibachrome
prints by Simon Donnelly
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Left: Simon's distinctive logo photo tips
In due course the second photographer left, and Simon took over the entire studio. photo tips
“A progressive move forward”. photo tips
Article courtesy
of The journal of
The British Institute of Professional Photographers.
photo tips
In at the deep end: photo tips
Simon Donnelly’s ambitions and associations.
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An affiliate member of the BIPP, but a full member of AFAEP at only 20 years old, this Birmingham photographer shows why the Institute has adopted a more flexible attitude to the minimum experience required before applying for Licentiateship.photo tips
Earlier this year — in July — the BIPP took the decision to drop rigid adherence to the three-year period of professional working required before an affiliate or non-member can apply to become a Licentiate, until further notice. photo tips
It has always been a problem for younger photographers that those associations they wished to join — perhaps to prove their independent abilities in open competition with established professionals — either prevented membership entirely or prevented application for qualifications until the enthusiasm had worn off. The BIPP has a lower age-limit for full (corporate, qualified, as opposed to Affiliate) membership of 21 years old. Until recently the BIPP was unable to consider the idea of a teenage Associate, which is now a possibility. photo tips
It has always been a problem for younger photographers that those associations they wished to join — perhaps to prove their independent abilities in open competition with established professionals — either prevented membership entirely or prevented application for qualifications until the enthusiasm had worn off. The BIPP has a lower age-limit for full (corporate, qualified, as opposed to Affiliate) membership of 21 years old. Until recently the BIPP was unable to consider the idea of a teenage Associate, which is now a possibility. photo tips
Simon Donnelly is a 21- year-old freelance from Birmingham who is an Affiliate of the BIPP. With less than three years of professional work behind him, he was not able to become a Licentiate until the recent decision was made. Yet he became a full member of the Association of Photographers (AFAEP) at 20, and his work was shown in their ”Introducing” exhibition.photo tips
Above: from Cibachrome prints by Simon Donnelly
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Left: Simon's distinctive logo photo tips
He has run his own business for just over a year, after eighteen months as an assistant following a YTS scheme which started off with signwriting, went through fairground work, and ended up as a trainee builder. He then worked for his father’s art and photographic studio, Donnelly Burns Nicklin, which has now become DBN Design Consultants. DBN no longer operates a photographic studio, but puts its photographic work out. At 19 years old, Simon was offered the chance to take over the studio premises with another photographer, or go and find employment elsewhere.
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In due course the second photographer left, and Simon took over the entire studio. photo tips
His workload now includes catalogue and editorial work, hair salons and fashion shoots. He has managed to find representatives — Heather Karmal in London and Bernstein Andriulli in New York — and his very professionally-designed letterhead uses a distinctive logo and identifies him as a fashion, editorial and beauty photographer. pho
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Most photographers at Simon’s age are content to work for others, become assistants, or freelance on a small-scale basis with a considerable amount of personal work between assignments. His sample prints are on fibre-based black and white or high gloss Cibachrome, all 1O x 8’, presented without any particular fuss in a neg bag envelope — all the hallmarks, indeed, of a photographer used to dealing with ad agencies and picture editors.
The range of portfolio examples sent to The Photographer is limited, and much as would be expected from a young photographer — fashionable shots of girls, and commercial shots such as the Tarmac “dancing” black and white which have an equally high fashion and style content. The brief was from an ad agency asking for a different interpretation of the headline
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“A progressive move forward”. photo tips
We print it here to show the standard which can be achieved by someone who might otherwise be in first or second year at college, or if the entry-age for many students is considered, yet to take a diploma or degree course. photo tips
“I think I’m doing very well compared to other 21-year-olds in terms of earning a living — it’s been very hard with all the overheads in the first year, and hard to convince the bank manager; I had to set up overdraft facilities and so on to get me off the ground”, he told us.photo tips
“Birmingham is very quiet for my sort of market — there is basically no fashion work around, and there is not much editorial work, so I have agents. I want to see how well I can get myself represented in New York and abroad, and maybe make a move, but I’m not sure on that. I’m earning a crust in Birmingham, but I don’t want to be worrying where the next job’s coming from. photo tips
“I have just done the rounds of the ad agencies in Manchester and I have had a brilliant response, with work to quote on. His decision to specialise is part of his path to success.
“I think I’m doing very well compared to other 21-year-olds in terms of earning a living — it’s been very hard with all the overheads in the first year, and hard to convince the bank manager; I had to set up overdraft facilities and so on to get me off the ground”, he told us.photo tips
“Birmingham is very quiet for my sort of market — there is basically no fashion work around, and there is not much editorial work, so I have agents. I want to see how well I can get myself represented in New York and abroad, and maybe make a move, but I’m not sure on that. I’m earning a crust in Birmingham, but I don’t want to be worrying where the next job’s coming from. photo tips
“I have just done the rounds of the ad agencies in Manchester and I have had a brilliant response, with work to quote on. His decision to specialise is part of his path to success.
Fashion and beauty photographer Simon Donnelly experiments with different films and unusual printing techniques to produce stylish images with an original feel.
Age was no restriction for British photographer Simon Donnelly. At 19 he set up his own photographic company and studios. Within three years he bad already earned commissions from clients in the European fashion centres of Berlin and Paris. Now he’s poised to take The world by storm with his fresh and inspiring portfolio of fashion and beauty shots.
Simon’s progression from complete novice to professional fashion photographer is inspiring in itself. He left school with little or no experience of photography, but managed to land a job as an assistant in a large studio. Having bought an old Pentax SLR, he set about teaching himself the basics of photography. ‘You should always show other people your work when you’re starting out,’ he suggests, because you learn from their comments. Also, gaining good responses to your work is the best way to build up your confidence
Clued up
After only two years assisting and learning the ropes Simon struck out on his own. His experimental approach to fashion and beauty shots soon attracted clients, and proved especially popular abroad ‘It’s too easy to copy other photographers’ work — so nowadays I avoid looking at fashion magazines and photographic books. Instead, I tend to work closely with stylists and make-up artists to come up with truly original images, he confides.
Simon’s advice to budding fashion and beauty photographers is to learn about printing and processing. ‘It’s essential to get ‘clued up’ on the printing side. It’s one thing to record an image on film, but the way in which it’s printed is just as crucial to the finished look.’
Article courtesy of TIME-LIFE BUCHER, AMSTERDAM
PRESS CUTTINGS
THE BIRMINGHAM POST
Designs for today. photo tips
Finger on the fashion trigger.
CAROLE ANN RICE focuses on the young hot shot photographer who is poised to snap up the fashion market in Birmingham.photo tips
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Young hot shot Simon Donnelly Is putting the world of fashion into focus
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Below: Simon sets up a shoot for his winning entry Into the Kodak Exposure competition with models Miss Birmingham Jeanie Frith, left, and Sonia Green, right.
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As soon as you walk into Simon Donnelly’s photographic studio you know that you’re in a fashionable environment.An original 1950s juke box gleams with colourful buttons and chrome from the narrow hallway; gold lurex curtains hang from the small model dressing room and the monochromed walls hang with painted faces and pouting lips..
The whole style and decor perfectly reflects the function of the studio which concentrates on fashion and faces. and the fashionable face of the trigger happy young photographer behind these images completes the picture. photo tips
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Nattily dressed in classic black T-shirt, jeans, suede shoes and neat gold earring, and with a short spiky hair cut Simon is set to put Birmingham’s fashion world firmly in the frame.phot
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Simon gained first hand experience of photography when he worked is his fathers studio, which Is located next door and this was his education instead of the traditional route of college followed by other professionals.photo t
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“This has been my college, working here with Birmingham's finest photographers and learning from them the different techniques and effects.
His portrait and fashion work are given an extra dimension with his experimental techniques where he can tone black and white prints with a blue and brown tint, add canvas textures to ordinary photographs and hand tinting pictures to add special effects.photo tips
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Simon gained first hand experience of photography when he worked is his fathers studio, which Is located next door and this was his education instead of the traditional route of college followed by other professionals.photo t
ips
“This has been my college, working here with Birmingham's finest photographers and learning from them the different techniques and effects.
His portrait and fashion work are given an extra dimension with his experimental techniques where he can tone black and white prints with a blue and brown tint, add canvas textures to ordinary photographs and hand tinting pictures to add special effects.photo tips
Since setting up as an independent photographer he has taken photographs for actors and models cards, set up a photo shoot for the retro clothing shops Houghton’s where he used tungsten lights to recapture the nostalgia of the 40s as well as travelling around the country to undertake Interior design Photography.photo tips
Birmingham,wedding photography Birmingham,wedding photographer Birmingham,birmingham photographer,wedding photographer,west midlands,photo tips,tips,photo,prints
Snob value photo tips
But despite his apparent talent Simon has found that the Midlands agencies still prefer the prestige and, curiously, the expense of using London photographers. It’s so hard to get good paying work in fashion photography in Birmingham.
I can match the same quality and style as the London guys yet its hard to convince the agencies to shoot here, It Just seems that there’s snob value attached to working with Southern based photographers. photo tips
Preferring to take people pictures Simon’s portfolio includes pictures of Sir Nigel Roberts the writer and doctor on the QE2 and members of Black Sabbath.photo tips
Simon’s picture of the winner of the Face of the Midlands competition organized by Raymonds hair dressers can be seen towering across bill boards of the Bullring and his work can be seen on the cover of Amateur Photographer magazine in July. The studio has an in house make-up artist Amanda Jade, who is competent in all styles of hair and make up but specialises In event garde effects.photo tips
Despite being a novice business man he has a no nonsense approach to his company and has produced an order form, and price lists detailing the complete costs…This ensures that both the client and Simon are fully in the picture when it comes to paying the bill.photo tips
At present Simon is traveling around the country on a mission to change the misguided notions about London Photographers and bring good fashion accounts to shoot in Birmingham, and if given time, he is not successful he feels he may be forced to move to the south or perhaps New York where several agents have already expressed an interest.photo tips
He keeps his trained eye all the fashion glossies to keep in touch with new ideas and admits to adopting a few of them himself. The famous faces that emerged from the Swinging Sixties, such as David Bailey and Lord Litchfield, should perhaps step aside and make way for the new wave of photographers that are developing.photo tips
I can match the same quality and style as the London guys yet its hard to convince the agencies to shoot here, It Just seems that there’s snob value attached to working with Southern based photographers. photo tips
Preferring to take people pictures Simon’s portfolio includes pictures of Sir Nigel Roberts the writer and doctor on the QE2 and members of Black Sabbath.photo tips
Simon’s picture of the winner of the Face of the Midlands competition organized by Raymonds hair dressers can be seen towering across bill boards of the Bullring and his work can be seen on the cover of Amateur Photographer magazine in July. The studio has an in house make-up artist Amanda Jade, who is competent in all styles of hair and make up but specialises In event garde effects.photo tips
Despite being a novice business man he has a no nonsense approach to his company and has produced an order form, and price lists detailing the complete costs…This ensures that both the client and Simon are fully in the picture when it comes to paying the bill.photo tips
At present Simon is traveling around the country on a mission to change the misguided notions about London Photographers and bring good fashion accounts to shoot in Birmingham, and if given time, he is not successful he feels he may be forced to move to the south or perhaps New York where several agents have already expressed an interest.photo tips
He keeps his trained eye all the fashion glossies to keep in touch with new ideas and admits to adopting a few of them himself. The famous faces that emerged from the Swinging Sixties, such as David Bailey and Lord Litchfield, should perhaps step aside and make way for the new wave of photographers that are developing.photo tips
Creative powers photo tips
“The quality of work produced by the established photographer doesn’t deteriorate over the years… but I will say that their creative ideas do…l Just want to concentrate on doing good fashion and beauty photography and try and stay in the Midlands, but I admit that my mind is telling me that it could be too much of a challenge.” sighs Photographer Simon. photo tips
The creative powers that be such as the thriving throng of agencies minutes away In Edgbaston, will soon realise, that the cultivated Image of London photographers It Just camera trickery and that you don’t have to travel for real talent.
Simon Donnelly
Pro - file Number 48
This particular shot is 48 in a series of 50 taken from Simon's forthcoming book "Reverence"
REVERENCE by Simon Donnelly
a book about imaging and technique
A retrospective look at commissioned & non commissioned work taken over the last twenty years. Packed with photographic tips for aspiring young photographers. This book describes a wealth of different lighting and camera techniques and
explains what pitfalls to watch out for when using digital and image manipulation software and a few tips for creating your own stunning photos.
available from 01/01/10
The creative powers that be such as the thriving throng of agencies minutes away In Edgbaston, will soon realise, that the cultivated Image of London photographers It Just camera trickery and that you don’t have to travel for real talent.
Simon Donnelly
Pro - file Number 48
‘I tried out Polaroid 55 film on this shot. It’s a black and white sheet film that gives an instant print and a negative, the negative gives a high quality enlargement with an attractive border. I made a print onto colour paper from the negative and used the enlarger’s filtration controls to get the rich brown tone. I lit the model with a spotlight and a soft box. The man at the back was lit with two soft box strips and I focused a tungsten spotlight on the background.’
Shot on a Sinar 5x 4, with a
210mm (standard) lens at f5.6
shutter speed of 1/60th sec
on Polaroid 55 instant print film
210mm (standard) lens at f5.6
shutter speed of 1/60th sec
on Polaroid 55 instant print film
This particular shot is 48 in a series of 50 taken from Simon's forthcoming book "Reverence"
REVERENCE by Simon Donnelly
a book about imaging and technique
A retrospective look at commissioned & non commissioned work taken over the last twenty years. Packed with photographic tips for aspiring young photographers. This book describes a wealth of different lighting and camera techniques and
explains what pitfalls to watch out for when using digital and image manipulation software and a few tips for creating your own stunning photos.available from 01/01/10
editorial & Fine Art Photography Photographerphoto tips
Birmingham Advertising Portraits PR Editorial Photography Studio,Location Specialised People Photography. Publishing Advertising, Private Collections.
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Birmingham Photographer Simon Donnelly All about Simon including early works and press editorials from England, Europephoto tips