Recruiting Angolans
This weekend just passed I spent some time taking photos at a business event run by a London based company called Elite International Careers. They specialise in international recruitment events and this one was specifically for companies working in Angola.
There is a law in Angola that companies must recruit one Angolan national for each foreign national they employ. For this reason, Elite IC runs events like this one to bring together Angolans in other places (like London in this case) so that they can talk to companies who would like them to come back to Angola for work. Many of the companies are large energy companies with huge workforces.
Over the course of the weekend event, candidates could meet prospective employers, participate in workshops, attend talks given by company representatives, and even have job interviews. Many candidates were offered jobs during the weekend, which is a great success story for Elite IC.
The workshops were a particular favourite of mine, with the participants split into teams. The first activity was to form a bobsleigh team that could move together as a unit from left to right whilst moving forward. The second involved being given half an hour to build a giraffe from just newspaper and sticky tape. The tallest (stable) giraffe was deemed the winner.
Here is a selection of my favourite shots from the weekend.
Print Ordering & Sheet Changing
I've just signed up to SmugMug to allow me to offer my clients an easy way to view the photos from their event, wedding, or other shoot and order products.
Products range from 6 by 4 inch prints to large wall canvases, right through to t-shirts and mugs.
Check out my SmugMug page by clicking on the 'Shop' link in the top navigation.
In other news I'm spending tomorrow afternoon in the Bullring shopping centre, Birmingham, where I'll be photographing members of the public trying to change the sheets on a double bed as fast as they can in a competition being run by Dunelm Mill. I think hilarity may ensue!
Have a great weekend everybody!
Photography Lessons & Walks
Being a freelance photographer, I guess I shouldn't be surprised that I'm often asked by people if I will show them how to take better photos. I'll then give them a quick tip and they'll be very grateful and happy with how great their photos look.
Given the fact that every Tom, Dick and Harry has a camera now, and many of them now have digital SLR cameras, I figured it's time I did my bit and helped. It saddens me when I see people all over the place with SLR cameras using them in nothing but their automatic setting.
People never take it off full 'Auto' mode. Shame!
Well I'm going to do my best to help wean people off automatic and onto the more advanced modes of their cameras.
I'm now offering two different ways for you to learn how to take better photos with your nice digital SLR:
- Individual one-on-one coaching.
- Group photo walks.
One-on-One Coaching
Perfect for someone who has recently got their hands on a digital SLR and wants to learn how to make the most of it. After all, there is so much you can do with your camera - it's a shame to leave it in automatic mode.
One-on-one photography lessons also make a brilliant gift to someone who has just got a new camera or anyone who wants to kick start their photographic journey. At £75 an hour, they also represent great value. Book yours now by sending me an email.
Group Photo Walks on Sundays
Small groups with no more than 5 participants mean you get to learn a lot in a short space of time. We'll go for a two hour walk around somewhere in London and I'll teach you all how to begin to make the most of your digital SLR's more advanced features. I'll help you make sense of all the buzz words so you can just get down to taking better photos of people, places, action and more. More affordable than one-on-one coaching, costing just £60 per person for two hours. For more info check out my Learn page or to book in just email me.
L'Oreal Young Scientists Meet The Right Honorable Vince Cable
On Thursday afternoon I spent an hour in the office of Vince Cable, the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills. He works in the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills. I was in his office taking photos of a meeting he had with 8 school students of varying ages who had attended an event called Unconference. They were a group of young science students brought together as part of the L'Oreal Young Scientists initiative. At this event they had discussed, at great length, the participation and interest of young people in science in the UK and what they think could be done to improve it.
Their conclusions from Unconference were presented to Dr Cable and a lively group discussion took place. Dr Cable took great interest in their findings and was delighted that there was such enthusiasm for improving the level of interest in science amongst young people.
