GIVEAWAY: Win two A3 Framed Prints!!!
I still can't quite believe it's Christmas already, it certainly sneaks up on you! As this time of year is all about giving, I decided it was time for another giveaway! I regularly try to let everyone know that I really appreciate all the support I get, but nothing says 'thank you' quite like giving away some free stuff, so I'm giving away two A3 framed prints!
The two images featured are from our recent bout of snow and offer views of Colmore Row and Temple Row looking particularly Wintery! So what do you have to do to win? Find out below...
HOW TO ENTER:
Entering couldn't be simpler, head to my Facebook page, find the post about the giveaway and either 'Like', share, comment or tag a friend (or all of those!). It's really that simple! A winner will be chosen at 6.00pm on Christmas Eve! Follow me on Facebook - CLICK HERE
PICKING WINNERS & COLLECTING PRIZES:
The winner will be picked at random using WooBox or a similar app. The winner will be contacted within 48 hours and arrangements made for the winner to collect the prize (it will be in Birmingham City Centre so please make sure you will be able to collect - though I will, where possible, help with delivery if it is easier, though there may be a cost).
TERMS & CONDITIONS:
- The competition is open to anyone via my Facebook page.
- Each individual may enter once with a 'like, comment, tag or share'. Multiples, i.e. a 'like, comment and a share' by one individual will still only be classed as one entry.
- The prize is not open for exchange or exchange for monetary value.
- The competition will close at exactly 6.00pm on Christmas Eve, 2017. The winner will be chosen at random and will be notified within 48 hours of the competition closing.
- Delivery - Where possible, I will try to assist with getting the print to the winner. However, I accept no responsibility for the cost or condition of the framed prints being delivered. Where possible, I can arrange to meet individuals in Birmingham City Centre to hand deliver the prints. For national & international shippings, delivery will be arranged by the recipient at their own cost. I am happy to provided reasonable packaging for the item but any further costs will be accepted by the winner.
- The competition is in no way endorsed or run in conjunction with Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Youtube. the competition may be suspended or terminated without notice at the discretion of Ross Jukes Photography and no alternatives offered.
- The competition is for the prize documented and no alternative or cash alternative will be offered.
- By entering the competition, you are automatically deemed to accept these terms & conditions.
FINALLY...
Thank you once again for all of your support, I hope you have an amazing Christmas and good luck!
VIDEO: Birmingham - The City Under Snow
It has been a crazy few days here in Birmingham with a deluge of snow and cold weather gripping the city. For us photographers, the wintery weather has been a real treat, making for some great images!
With rain forecast and temperatures finally due to rise (a little!) the snow should finally be on it's way. For many, in particular, the emergency services, this news is very welcome. However, I thought I would run out and grab some video before it goes!
I only had a couple of hours to spare so I headed to Edgbaston Reservoir with the hope of a nice sunrise, and I wasn't disappointed! The reservoir looked great, lined by snow-covered trees. Best of all, due to it being around minus five (that's what my phone said at least!) I had the place practically to myself, well apart from the wildlife!
After exhausting every shot of the reservoir possible, I jumped on a bus and headed to the City Centre. Thankfully, many of the main roads/paths were now clearing making moving around a little easier. However, there was still enough snow & ice around to keep you on your toes (or your back if you're not careful!).
The snow has been fun but like many, I'm looking forward to it melting so we can get back to some kind of normality! Though judging by all of the great images I have seen on social media, it may feel a little boring without it! See the full video below and don't forget to click the link to YouTube and hit Subscribe to see more videos from me! Stay safe & warm ;)
Important Christmas Information
Does anyone else feel like the years are getting shorter? Christmas is once again upon us and that means the inevitable rush to get everything finished off and sorted so that we can finally calm down and enjoy this festive time of year!
Last day for Print orders:
If you are considering buying a print, then you don’t have long to place an order! The last day for placing a print order to ensure delivery before Christmas is Sunday 10th December 2017 - Any orders placed after that may not be ready in time to be delivered before the big day.
Can’t see what you’re after?
As always, any of my images can be made available for print so if you can’t see an image you are after on my shop page, don’t despair! Just contact me and I will be happy to make alternative arrangements for you!
How about 2018 calendars, Ross?
Well, I had planned to do a calendar this year and had even started mocking up images etc. However, life did that nasty thing of getting in the way and unfortunately, finding somewhere to live and going through the subsequent move meant that I did not get the calendar finished in time! So, I am afraid there will not be a calendar in 2018. I promise I will start prepping 2019’s calendar from January 1st!
Alternative gift ideas:
Please also be aware that I also offer a range of 1-2-1 tutorials and also do a gift voucher, so if you are looking for alternative gift ideas to prints, there are some other options! If you would like to use one of my images for an alternative use, such as printed on a mug or maybe a cushion (if the mood takes you!) then contact me and I can work something out!
I have also teamed up with the good guys from the Culture Card to bring you a very exclusive offer, which you can find more details about HERE
One last thing…
I will do a proper ‘end of year’ post but I would just like to say a massive ‘thank you’ for all of your support. It keeps me going and it goes without saying, it is much appreciated! Have a great Christmas!
The end of an era...
St Paul's Square is, for me at least, one of the most beautiful parts of Birmingham and I have been very fortunate to call it home! However, this weekend that all came to an end as Laura (my girlfriend) and I moved out. We haven't gone far, less than a five-minute walk, but for me, it may as well be a hundred miles away.
Six years ago (almost to the day) Laura and I got the keys to our first home together a little less than a year after meeting. As soon as the apartment came on the market, we snapped it up and have been enjoying the views over St Paul's Square ever since. The place was almost perfect for us. However, it wasn't ours and we wanted somewhere of our own.
So why is all of this important? Well, for the last few days I've felt really down about the move and the more I started thinking about it, the more I understood why. We had been through so much there, good and bad. We had made a home for ourselves and it was the impetus for me to get a new job and certainly made me take my finances more seriously! It was like a security blanket for me after losing my Mom and is possibly the only place that has ever felt like 'home' since leaving my childhood home.
Most importantly though, it was one of the main reasons I ever picked up a camera! Many people probably know by now that I started out a little over four years ago as a car photographer. Yet it was my 'practice' shots of Birmingham that really got me motivated to push my photography further. Many of my first images were of St Paul's and are still some of my most popular.
So needless to say, I am going to miss the old place. I am going to miss the views and waking up in the morning, looking out of the bedroom to see 'what the sky is doing' and deciding whether to go out and take pictures! However, the new place may not have the same views or the character, but it sees us move deeper into the heart of Jewellery Quarter and is undoubtedly a great move for us and one we are very fortunate to be doing! Obviously, I will still be taking pictures of St Paul's Square, but it will always have a certain special place in my heart... Here are just a few of my favourite images...
Random Rally fun and a little-known fact about me...
Earlier this week I got the chance to go to the DayInsure Welsh Rally preview day. As many of you will know, I am also an automotive photographer - you can see more HERE - so I often get invited to this kind of things. However, this one was particularly special as I always wanted to be a Rally Driver, but never could because my eyesight isn't good enough! In fact, I don't actually drive for that reason (I know, I know - car photographer that can't drive, what a joker!).
However, there was also another good reason why this was special to me, as I got to meet a childhood hero, Nicky Grist, who had played co-pilot to some of my all-time rally heroes (and incidentally, nearly ran me over some twenty years prior at the RAC Welsh Rally with a certain Mr Juha Kankkunen!). All-in-all, it was a great day out and I would love to go back for the actual rally itself, but here is a little highlights video of my day....
Read all about the day at Dayinsure Welsh Rally
IgersBirmingham - World Photo Day
I have said it before but the photographic community in Birmingham is amazing! Igersbirmingham have played a huge part in developing this community, so when they arranged for a 'Picnic in the Park' to celebrate World Photo Day, I was always going to attend.
However, rather than taking photos, I'd planned to do a short film about the IgersBirmingham community and what it means to individuals to be part of that community. instagram has no doubt altered the course of photography and not only made photography 'cool' but also accessible to the masses. However, one of the most impactful parts of Instagram is the communities that it has spawned.
All across the world, groups of 'Igers' meet up on a regular basis to take photos, explore amazing places and socialise. We are very fortunate to have one of the strongest communities in the UK and I am very proud to call many of it's members my friends and close friends at that!
To celebrate World Photo Day, there were a host of events including a portrait session hosted by Martin O'Callaghan (@OCUK), a nature trail by James Benwell (@JimPanda) and access to the roof of the local landmark, Fort Dunlop. It was exciting to try new styles of photography and one-minute shoot models using smoke grenades and then on to Wild Ponies playing in the heather, topped off by a rooftop view of our amazing city!
Special thanks go to Fraser & Beth from IgersBirmingham, Martin & Jim for their expertise and Sutton Park/Fort Dunlop for being amazing hosts. Thank you to everyone that attended and made the day special and to the wider community for doing our city proud! I'm sure we all look forward to seeing were IgersBirmingham and photography in the city go next!
Don't forget to check out the hashtags for the day - #igb_meet_picnicinthepark / #igb_mett_fortdunlop / #fortdunlop100
National Freelancers Day
National Freelancers Day
I recently teamed up with accounting software company QuickBooks to share my tips for National Freelancers Day on 8th June. QuickBooks have provided their range of accounting software to small businesses and self-employed people for a number of years. QuickBooks will be sharing a host of tips and interesting insights into the life of freelancers via their Resources Page - Why not claim your free thirty day trial of QuickBooks Software - HERE - Below are a few of my tips, why not share yours in the comments below.
Ross Jukes Photography – National Freelancers Day
Ross Jukes is a freelance photographer based in Birmingham. Ross has been self employed for several years and has worked with large multi-nationals such as HSBC through to small independent retailers in his home city. Ross shoots Landscape and Automotive work and carries out all aspects of running his business, from the day-to-day client work through to the Marketing, Invoicing and admin of running a business.
Tip 1) Get Creative
This is probably an obvious one coming from somebody that works in a creative field but I always try to get creative with all aspects of my business. In particular, I try to think of creative ways to market myself. Thankfully, I produce a very visual product so it is easy to think of ways to distribute imagery, but I’m also not afraid to try a few ‘old classics’ such as giveaways and competitions.
Tip 2) Think Ahead
I, like many other freelancers, always have to keep one eye on the future. I always like to keep an ‘emergency fund’ just in case things go bad or a piece of equipment breaks and needs replacing at short notice. However, ore importantly it means that you generally don’t get any nasty surprises. This is particularly true when completing Tax Returns, it always pays to have an idea of what will hit you at the end of the year so you can start saving in advance. If possible, just deduct the estimate Tax after an invoice has been paid and leave it in a separate account!
Tip 3) Get Organised
I am a really busy person and lots of clients need everything done immediately so it’s really easy to get distracted and let things slip. Therefore, it’s crucial that I stay organised. A few ways I do this is keeping on top of my calendar, generally using the Google Calendar app which is really easy to use. I also keep a Whiteboard with current and upcoming projects. I also make sure that I keep my desk space tidy and regular clean and maintain gear, including making sure everything is charged and ready to go before each job.
Tip 4) Have Fun
I am very fortunate to get paid doing something I love. So most of the time it is great, but there are still the times that everything gets a little bit crazy and you feel like the pressure is getting a little bit too much. It’s times like this that I make a conscious effort to go and and shoot for myself, just take a long walk and grab some photos or maybe plan a trip to the countryside. It may sound counter-productive to take some time to yourself but it really helps clear your head and make sure that you are still enjoying things!
Why not claim your free thirty day trial of QuickBooks Software - HERE
'I Love Jewellery Quarter' Instameet with IgersBirmingham
If there are two things I love it's the local photography community and the Jewellery Quarter. So when the two things met, well 'instameeted'(?) I knew good things would come of it. The guys from IgersBirmingham teamed up with JQ BID to arrange a special kind of instameet that would allow 100+ local photographers access to some award winning businesses.
You can watch the highlights below but it goes without saying that it was a pleasure to see all the 'usual suspects' as well as a host of new faces who all added to what was a fantastic day! A big thank you goes to IgersBirmingham for putting on another amazing event, JQ BID for being great hosts, all of the businesses that opened their doors and Rebel Uncut for letting me steal their drone footage!
IgersBirmingham - www.igersbirmingham.co.uk
JQ BID - http://jewelleryquarter.net/jqbid/
Sunrise? I think I mist it...
Someone once said something quite profound about 'best-laid plans' and after planning an early morning sunrise shoot for the weekend, it suddenly rang true. The Friday had been one of those beautiful Winter's days where it was sunny, yet with a definite chill in the air to keep you on your toes! After checking my weather apps, Saturday look good around sunrise and when a couple friends asked if I would be up for an early morning shoot, the answer was a resounding 'Yes'.
Sunrise above Birmingham New Street Station from Grand Central
We planned on meeting on top of the Grand Central car park to get a shot looking back across New Street Stations spectacular roof, beyond the Rotunda and out towards where the sun would rise from. We agreed to meet at 7.30am and I got there for about 7.25, a good 40 minutes before sunrise. I started grabbing some images to capture the warm oranges and purples in the morning sky but couldn't help notice the big band of cloud across the horizon- a photographer's nightmare!
By 7.35am when Fraser, Jon and Martin met me on the top floor, the sky had lost all of it's colour and had been covered by a thick blanket of low cloud - it had literally changed that quickly! What had been intended as a nice glorious sunrise had now become a dull, grey washout. However, determined not to waste our early start, we planned on walking along the canals to Gas Street Basin in the hope of capturing some atmospheric images.
One of the biggest challenges with photography is the weather, learning to adapt to different situations is essential and we could easily have called it all off and gone for a fry-up, which was a mighty tempting idea indeed. When we reached Gas Street Basin, it was well worth our perseverance. The mist added a new layer of interest, by obscuring many of the buildings in the distance and adding emphasis to the things in the foreground.
Another added bonus to shooting at that time of day is how quiet it is, with the occasional jogger or dog-walking breaking the silence as they come by. The absence of people makes for a nice image but finding a solitary figure emerging from the mist makes for a very nice image indeed. We made our way around past the ICC, Barclay Card Arena and round to the Birmingham Canal Old Line. It always amazes me how a few minutes walking can seemingly transport you out of the City Centre and into a typical 'rural' image, if you look beyond the maisonettes and concrete walls that line the edges of the canal.
We made our way back through the ICC, passed the library and spent a few minutes capturing images by the 'Paradise' development. A solitary man in a hat made for a great street image as he crossed the path behind the Paradise development and must have felt like a celebrity as we all rushed to take his picture, shutters firing away. Breakfast was calling though so we decided to head back towards Grand Central and grab some food on the way.
Victoria emerging from the fog in Victoria Square, Birmingham
There was just time for one final shot and probably my favourite from the day as we passed Victoria Square and saw Victoria herself standing proud with the Council House shrouded in fog behind her. The image looks very nostalgic and if it were not for the crane in the background, it looks like it could have been taken a hundred years ago. As we devoured our breakfast we flicked through our cameras and were generally pretty pleased with the outcome. It just goes to show that a little perseverence can often pay off.
Birmingham's Growing Photography Community
One of the biggest challenges in photography is that it really helps if you are a 'people person'. Whether you are just shooting for fun or if you want to make a serious career from it, at some point you are going to need to interact with clients, contractors and the general public. This can be a real challenge and if you are a little shy, like me, it can be a real barrier!
Birmingham Skyline + Photographers = Instameet!
Photography is naturally a solitary pursuit and that suits the introvert down to the ground. However, if you want anyone to see your images and get feedback, you need to start interacting with people. Friends and family will always tell you that your pictures are the best thing since sliced bread. This is dangerous, I lived off these kind of compliments for way too long and only when I got some honest 'they're a bit rubbish' feedback, did I really get my act together and try to improve!
So what if there was some amazing way that like-minded people could get together and discuss images, share tips and generally chat about photography? Well they do exist, in fact, Birmingham is awash with them! We are fortunate to live in a city that has a strong creative sector which celebrates local talent and actively aims to assist those that want to learn. Digbeth and the Jewellery Quarter are creative hot spots where you can't walk down the street without tripping over new trendy start-ups.
Instagram has changed the photographic landscape and done more than just make photography accessible to the masses, it has made it a genuinely 'cool' activity. More people than ever are understanding the subtle rules behind creating an image rather than merely 'taking a snap'! Even the major players on social media (Birmingham Updates, IChooseBirmingham, Independent Birmingham, Brumpic etc.) actively promote local talent and regularly share some amazing pictures of our city from the local photographic community.
All of this sounds great but there is one final bonus, the real 'cherry on top' which is that 99% of people I have met, are genuinely nice people. Many of these people, I now class as close friends and enjoy socialising with (even when we leave the cameras at home!). I was at an 'Instameet' organised by IgersBirmingham at the weekend and it was genuinely amazing to meet up with people that I haven't seen in a while and also get to know a few people who were attending for the first time.
We are very lucky to live in a city that celebrates creativity and the photography community is incredible. Everyday there are new names springing up and providing spectacular new ways of seeing our city and the suburbs. Whether you are just starting out with photography or an old-hand, I would strongly suggest getting involved in one (or more) of the local groups (Instagram is a good place to start) and sharing your experiences with like minded people. If you're really unlucky, you may even bump into me at one!