Photography is very much alive (UKC post)

Photography right off the bat is an incredibly skilful artform to me, it brings things to life and is so much more than just 'point and shoot.' It can capture a moment which may seize to exist ever again, it can proceed to manifest the exact emotion of that moment felt by those who are in it and finally, it can distil a memory on a piece of photography paper bringing back the event and making it seem so very real.  Not only can it represent an embodiment of a fond memory, it is true that as the old saying goes a picture is worth a thousand words. No matter how much you try and describe a scene to someone who did not witness it, a photo can do this without much the same effort. This is one of the reasons why I feel photography will never die. Moreover, it is constantly evolving; iPhone cameras are a true representation of this. Apple is constantly churning out new phones each with a sharper camera to rival its competitors as cameras are important to the everyday man. Plus, film photography is being revived too, and as much as it is an arduous task getting the apertures and ISO’s right, the result is worth it (if you do it all right)! Firstly I am especially drawn to war photography, perhaps because my innate morbid curiosity is heightened for some reason. Despite it frequently depicting the true horror of death and destruction I alongside these components see something that represents composure. I am not saying that I do not acknowledge the true meaning of the photo which is to represent war I am however saying that war photography is fascinating and the best war photographer in my eyes is Robert Capa (and not just because of the alt-j song).

Robert Capa

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The story of Robert Capa is one that is as interesting as the photo’s he took. After fleeing Nazi Germany for fear of his life as he was of Jewish faith he moved to Paris where his photojournalism career began. He covered the Spanish Civil War and World War II alongside many other small conflicts. Capa’s photography was highly commended and he was awarded the Medal of Freedom by Dwight Eisenhower, the 34th US President. His photos remain moving even to this day, capturing the horrors of war that often became some common and banal. But Capa, in my eyes captured the war in a different way. Like his infamous ‘The Falling Soldier’ capturing the life and death of a Republican soldier fighting in the Spanish Civil War, it captures the exact moment where life has ended. Yes, our modern cameras could do the same today with a ‘fast burst’ mechanism, but Capa didn’t have that. He had film, and film is incredibly difficult to shoot with (at least that's what I've found); if the aperture or the focus is a little off then the shot is ruined. Thus making ‘The Falling Soldier’ a masterpiece of war photography, and Capa a name to define and shape the photojournalism we know today. Capa was killed after he stepped on a landmine in the First Indochina War in 1954 aged 40, but I believe his legacy will continue to thrive. His name will always be known in photojournalism, I think at least.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

falling soilder.jpg

                                                                                The Falling Soldier - Robert Capa

Chloe Sheppard

Now onto some more light-hearted pastel photography. Instagram photographer Chloe Sheppard creates dreamy shots with a film camera giving them an earthly 1970s quality. Sheppard often casts ordinary girls as her models making her artwork more relatable to the everyday woman. Her photography takes a more relaxed approach, allowing the models to lounge in chairs or on the floor making her photos are soft and pretty. Being the young age of 21 Chloe is already beginning to make a name for herself in the industry, after photographing some big names like Kate Nash, Charli XCX and Dylan Sprouse it is clear that she has talent. Her visuals and her fresh girly take that is so distinct in her Instagram images have helped her in this sense, as finding a place in the vast photography world is hard one can imagine. In much the same sense Sheppard has found a place in many young girls lives as her images often depict the realities of life as a young woman today. Owing to her success she has put up exhibitions and has even directed and produced a short film entitled: ‘A Much Better Illusion.’ A significant achievement in Sheppard’s life was this film, despite it being her first time shooting on 8mm and 16mm colour film she still produced something tangible and it was in my opinion just as beautiful as the photo’s she takes. 

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                                                                                                                            Chloe Sheppard (@eolchsheppard)

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                                                                                                                                   Photos taken by Chloe on @eolchsheppard

You can watch 'A Much Better Illusion' here!

William Eggleston:

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A recent discovery of mine has been the true gem of William Eggleston. He dabbles more in colour photography making his photos pop and intensely bright. As you can see in the mini collage I have created down below, the reds and maroons are the brightest components of all the pictures. It is no surprise the photographer has been named an icon, a legend and most notoriously as the ‘Godfather of colour photography’ by the New York Times, which I myself find to be the perfect term for him. At 77 years old Eggleston is proven to have a good eye for composure as seen in the incredible images he has taken and continues to take to this day. Plus, he was asked in an interview if he knew who Kim Kardashian was; he didn’t which makes me instantly rate him.

Photos taken by William Eggleston (Left photo of William Eggleston)

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Sustainability: Why should we take more notice?

Sustainable fashion is growing rapidly in conjunction with the design and philosophical movement of being ethical. But what is sustainable fashion and why should choose it?

What is sustainable fashion?

Sustainable fashion is often characterised as a ‘slow fashion’ due to the resources and materials it uses. For example, ‘slow fashion’ is often is made of durable products such as cotton and linen meaning that the goods are of a higher quality and last longer. Sustainable fashion is synonymous with this slow fashion.

Fast fashion however, is what sparked the wave of slow fashion. Fast fashion is often associated with cheap clothing that follows the trends and often ends in landfill sites when they are thrown out. These landfill sites stretch miles longs and are polluting the Earth. The UK based charity WRAP has estimated that £140 million worth of clothing goes into landfills each year, and a staggering £30 billion worth of unused clothing is still sitting in our wardrobes nationwide (WRAP, 2018).

Why should you buy sustainable clothing?

Fashion has always been known to be a big polluter of the environment, in fact it is the second most polluting business after oil.

The industry alone consumes vast amounts of water as seen in the staggering 2,700 litres of water needed to make one t-shirt. Beyond this, the fashion industry is said to contribute to around 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions due to its carbon intensive supply chain and production process. Greenhouse gases lead to the Earth getting hotter as they get trapped in the atmosphere, resulting in climate change.

Dominque St. John, fashion PR said: “It is not only important to care for our environment but also to know where our clothes come from. We now live in a society where we question how good we feel and more companies offer transparency. It is also about morality.”

Polyester production accounted for around 40% of total fashion industry emissions in 2014. All of this again culminates to climate change which is an issue widely covered in today’s media. If we choose to change our habits to become more sustainable today, then not only are we helping the Earth, but we are also futureproofing it for future generations.

Sustainable fashion is not only beneficial to the environment, but it is also is socially ethical. For workers in the developing world’s textile industry, sustainable fashion means higher wages as the goods take longer to make. This a step upwards from ordinary fashion as the goods produced for stores like Primark are often produced cheaply and in bulk which translates to lower prices for the consumer but also lower wages for the workers who are making the goods.

Evelyn Leow founder of Lily and Lord, an ethical and sustainable children’s wear brand said: “Sustainability usually involves ethical production meaning higher wages and fairer prices throughout the supply chain adding to cost.”

Ms Leow added that it had become easier to supply sustainable clothing as there was more demand.

“These days, one can source sustainable materials more easily quickly and widely.”

How can you transition into buying sustainable clothing?

First, have a look in your closet and see what you have already got. The clothes which you don’t want to keep take them to the charity shop if they are in a suitable condition. The ones which aren’t fit for charity you can see if they are recyclable.

After you’ve sifted through your existing clothes, you can either look into sustainable clothes from stores or you can go one step further and go to a thrift store. Thrift stores are great places to get unique clothing, but always be picky in them; try on the clothes at the store and try to make an outfit with the piece and then buy it. It’s easy to overload in thrift stores because you can get some really funky pieces but it’s harder to create an outfit with vintages clothes. So be sure to mix and match outfit choice using your wardrobe at home to see if the clothes are worthwhile in your closet.

If something you have bought, sustainable or not, doesn’t quite fit right, try not to throw it away. Instead attempt to alter it. This may seem like a daunting feat, but you can learn things quickly on sites like YouTube or from your family. It can also become a very rewarding hobby as you get a finished product that fits, plus it’s a very sustainable and fashionable method. If you don’t feel like getting the needles and thread out you can ask someone you know to alter it, you never know who has a sewing machine knocking around in their house.

Ms St. John recommended some stores which already sell sustainable clothing. She said: “Stella McCartney is already an excellent example of sustainable fashion with her eco-friendly fashion line.

“In the world of E-commerce, Rent the Runway offers shoppers through a subscription service access to an online wardrobe. More services like these will come up as consumers will take advantage of the benefits of updating their style quickly without having to throw away their clothes.”

Larger fast fashion companies like H&M, Zara and Nike are now working towards producing more sustainable clothing. This move will take a long time to be enforced, but nonetheless it is a step forward to a brighter and more sustainable future. It also signifies the shifting moral of High Street stores to provide better quality clothes for the ordinary consumer.

We, as consumers have a conscious decision every time we buy a piece of clothing to check whether it is sustainable or not. We all need to take advantage of this choice and choose the option if we can. It will help to sustain and preserve the earth. The impact of the fashion industry on our Earth is colossal and something we cannot ignore so please choose sustainable, be sustainable, live sustainably.

Evelyn Leow: https://twitter.com/lilyandlord

Dominique St. John: https://www.instagram.com/dominiquestjohn/

Please fill this out if you can spare two minutes!

Hey guys,



So as I have previously mentioned I want to write for a living (more specifically for a magazine). At school I have adapted this love into a projects for my Extended Qualification and as a source of primary research I have created a survey. I would love it if you guys could fill out if you can, it's only 3 questions and shouldn't take you longer than two minutes: EPQ Photoshop Questionnaire

EPQ Photoshop Questionnaire

EPQ Photoshop Questionnaire



Thank you xx

A Fresh Start...

Hello,

If you're reading this then you are either a dedicated reader who has patiently waited for me to fricking upload for the past couple of months or have somehow stumbled upon my blog. Either way welcome (back)!

My New Years Resolutions are very few and are not at all challenging (well 4 and 6 are but the rest are mundane):

1 - Take my makeup off before bed - I know I'm the gross being who forgets (or is too lazy - mainly the latter really) and I have promised myself to start taking better care of my skin.

2- Take more baths - like full on baths with bubbles and bath bombs and all that jazz because sometimes I'm annoying and I forget to relax which is really bad for me (and anyone else tbh). P.S I do have a shower every day if that caused any confusion

3- Finish a damn notebook - this needs to happen like right now

4- Ace my mocks - I'm not talking about all A's (that would never happen lets be real), but I am trying really hard to get grades I am happy with. A LEVELS ARE SO FRICKING HARD - there's a lot of work/content to memorise and I should do it after every lesson but who has the time.

5- Organise my life - basically get a shit tonne of pretty stationary for my desk and then never use it hence point 3

6- Look after my blog and not neglect you guys - I have wanted to restart my blog for so long - today I had a long talk with my dad about it and he said I should in my free time but I have so little. I'm meant to be revising Economics right now but I wanted to write so bad I thought fuck it.

I really want to get back into posting more but please bare with me.

Thank you the few of you reading this

Love Amber xx

MY NCS STORY!

Hey guys, so today I'm going to talk to you about my experience on NCS and what I have learnt from the experience!

NCS = National Citizenship Service - it's a great way to meet people close to your age and to do something worthwhile in your summer. NCS is open to 15-17-year-olds and also looks fab on your CV which makes you more employable. Win win!

My experience, in general, was great. The first week was inevitably the hardest. I'm pretty much a home bird and rarely stay anywhere other than my house (except for sleepovers). This meant that the week residential away from home was super hard. Don't get me wrong I loved the activities with my team and my mentor was really supportive but I just missed home. Also, I was in a team with 14 people that I didn't know but I realised that everyone is in the same boat so I made a few friends. I'm no social butterfly though!

Week 2 was a lot better. I stayed in University accommodation which was really fun! Also, the girls in my flat were all lovely. On the first night, we had a Come Dine With Me evening where 3 groups of 2 had to make a dish and I really enjoyed going to the shops with my 'flatmates' and choosing what to make. Unfortunately, I had to leave a day early from this week so I missed the First Aid course with the army! I was gutted.

I much preferred week 3. My team and I met at a nearby college and planned our social action project. This meant that after each day I could go HOME! The social action project is where you and your team set a weeks worth of fun events in order to help raise money for a charity. We chose Newlife as the money raised is used closer to home. I also ran all the social media aspect of our campaign so most of my work was done at home.


Week 4 was by far the greatest. On Monday we bag packed at large superstore and I loved it. The customers were very generous and I loved the whole idea of giving something back to the community. Tuesday was a great night we hosted a party with two other teams and had a whole lot of fun. Wednesday was Super Sonic Boom which is an event for teenagers - we held an awesome bake sale. On Thursday was the sponsored 10-mile walk - we raised over £200 alone on this event. On Friday, however, we had planned another bake sale but the rain came  and threw us of our plans. Our mentor, however, said that we had all done our 60 hours and let us have the day free.

Overall I've learnt social skills as I didn't know any people in my team and now a few are very good friends. I also learnt that giving back to the community is such a rewarding feeling!

If you live in the UK and are aged between 15-17 sign up now for next summer! What are you waiting for?

Find out more: http://www.ncsyes.co.uk/

Thanks,
Amber
xx

MY GCSE RESULTS!

Sorry pals that this one is a little late, i've just been caught up in the whirlwind of results!

I didn't get what I expected to get nor what I hoped for. I have been a little down the past 24 hours but that's normal - results do not determine your life.

I know that some people got a billion A*'s and I can honestly say that I am happy for them. Considering all the things that I have been through the last year (hospital related) I am pleased with myself. I do however feel as though I could've put more hours in the prep for each exam.

I am getting 2 papers remarked as I was one of the A - I'll point those out down below!

Religious Studies - A
Economics - B
English Language - A*
English Literature - A
Maths - B
Media - C
History - B (one of the A)
Science - A
Additional Science - B
Geography - B (one of the A)
Statistics - A
ECDL - Distinction (equivalent to an A)

All in all : 1 A*, 5 A's. 5 B's and 1 C

However if the remarks work in my favour I'll have 7 A's and 3 B's (fingers crossed)!

So those are my results - i am thankful that I passed all my subjects!

What did you get if you opened your results for any exams!

Thanks,
Amber

If you would like a post on how i feel I could've done better on some exams and how I achieved the grades I did then comment below!

GCSE RESULTS DAY TIPS! ARGHHHHHHH!

JUST FINISHED NCS (it was ok, but I really wanted to do a post on this topic so bear with me)

So many of you in the UK may have already opened the dreaded brown envelope the Thursday that has just gone. However the majority of you may have the anxious wait until the Thursday that is coming up. I am one of those who are anxiously waiting.

Thursday 25th August: GCSE Results Day and to be honest I am bricking it. I know that in family that there is no competition but my brother set the bar quite high. And as I am from an Asian background I feel as though the pressure is on me. However my parents are not like most (stereotypical) Asian parents. They are not expecting anything from me, like my brother. They said that they would be happy with whatever I get.

The pressure I feel though is not from my immediate family it is from others like aunties in particular. I feel as though they are expecting less from me because of a) my brother and b) my past health issues!

I am determined to prove them wrong but all of that proving lies in the brown envelope. I need 6 C's or above to get in to the college I want to which I want to believe I have achieved.

I know that I will be super nervous when I open my results BUT remember that grades don't define you at all! Just keep that in mind when you open the envelope.

Here are a few tips I think will help you survive results day:

1) BREATHE - it's not the end of the world if you don't get the grades you wanted there are options to re-take and re-mark your papers!
2) DON'T BRAG - I remember one of my old friends coming in to school showing of her older brothers grades and I just stood there and didn't say a word because it's not for the whole word to know what my brother got. I think if someone asks you what grades you got you should tell them. Also don't start asking people who look really upset what they've got with a big grin on your face. Instead comfort them.
3) DON'T COMPARE - People are different, you've probably learnt that through your whole life. This then leads on to the point that some people may have done better/worse in the same exam. WHO CARES! It's what you've got and that all should be focused on, so what if Sally down the road got an A* and you got an A.

Breathe, stay calm and GOOD LUCK!

Also I hope the people who did open their A-level results on Thursday 18th August got what they wanted!

Lots of love,
Amber
xx

HOW TO MAKE: STARBUCKS ICED COFFEE

You may have seen on Twitter that possibly every British person was using the hashtag 'hottestdayoftheyear' which meant everyone was melting (including me)! It was even trending!

So I made a cold drink in order to cool me down and it deffo worked. 

Here is the method I used to make my Starbucks Iced Coffee. I kind of made up as I went along and the end product was decent enough to share with you!!

IGNORE THE SECOND COFFEE IN THE INGREDIENTS LIST!

There you have it, a super cool and refreshing iced coffee! I'm not much of a coffee drinker but I loved this - even if I do have a slight headache now. Oops! Make sure to share this recipe with your friends!

Previous Post: HOW TO HAVE THE GREATEST SUMMER SLEEPOVER! Recipes and more.

Thank you for reading!

Amber

x

HOW TO HAVE THE GREATEST SUMMER SLEEPOVER! Recipes and more.

Grab your best friend(s) and just have fun. That is the base for a really great sleepover and this will never change. However there are few things to make your sleepover memorable! Today I am going to share to you guys what I think will make a great summer sleepover.

Weather:
Now I know this isn't in the control of you but sometimes you're lucky and sometimes you're not. It's all about using the weather to the best of your ability! If it's sunny then make a den outside and fill it with cushions or blankets. Fill it with food and have the best time ever. However if it's raining (like it always is where I live - England) then set up a den inside. Make it all cosy with all of the cushions, blankets and duvets you own, decorate with fairy lights and then just have fun!!

Ambience:
I know this may also depend on the weather however this mostly applies in if it is rainy or getting nearer night. I feel as though a good ambience is set through candles and mood lighting. This means dim lights and scrolling through Instagram with a movie in the background. I also feel as though lighting can change atmospheres so it can be manipulated to change the mood.

Food:
No great sleepover is completed without food. It doesn't have to be extravangant - it could be as simple as a few snacks and providing dinner. Snack ideas I would reccomend are fruit skewers (maybe with chocolate drizzled over), nuts, crisps and any other nibbles. Dinner I would always go for the safe option of pizzas. However not just Dominos - be creative and make them your self.
Here's something I saw on YT:

For 1-2 pizza you will need:                     

1 packet of ready made puff pastry          

Tomato Puree

Cheese
Spices of your choice
Toppings!!

Method:
1. Get your pastry on your surface
2. Put some tomato puree on your pizza (how much is up to you) leaving a 1 inch edge around the sides.

3. Season your base with salt, pepper and any other spices - i like peri rub, oregano and some chilli flakes.
4. Then put whatever cheese you want - I just went with red Leicester as it is my favourite cheese ever.

5. Then add your toppings - easy as pie!

6. Put in the oven at 180º celsius gas mark 4 365º fahrenheit for 20-25 minutes but keep an eye on it at all times!

It's as easy as that!

Then after we were fed and watered we wondered over on to Netflix and watched a movie. We watched a movie that is oldie but a goodie, in fact I watched the first time I ever went to her house!

And then we of course stuffed our faces with junk like chocolate and popcorn. Can I just point out that this was the nicest popcorn ever (even better than the cinemas)!

The movie was hilarious and we both had a good laugh. Sorry Fridays post was a little late, I scheduled it for 5 but forgot to press publish like a doughnut, so apologies.

ALSO DO YOU GUYS LIKE THE NEW HEADER AND LAYOUT OF THE POSTS?! I really like it!

Previous Post: The Nice Events 🇫🇷 and My Thoughts | Real Talk - good read

Thanks,
Amber

SIDENOTE PLEASE READ: I might post 3 times a week now because I feel as though I am publishing too much content and over saturating my blog, so is that alright guys?! I also feel as though I am rushing my posts in order to get them out to you so if I had a day to construct a post I feel as though it would read and flow better!

POST DATES: MONDAY, WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY 9:30 AM

NEW POST TIMES! 9:30 AM

Hey peeps so just a quick lil update that my posts will have a new publish time! It is now 9:30 as I have  noticed more interactivity in posts posted at earlier times!!

SOOOOO LONG STORY SHORT - NEW POST TIME 9:30 AM

The Nice Events 🇫🇷 and My Thoughts | Real Talk

I did have a post ready for today but after what I heard this morning I felt it appropriate to share my feelings on the events.

🇫🇷    

I woke up today to hear of Nice and the devastation it faced overnight. I felt sick to my stomach and I thought 'again?' And that thought in it self made me realise something, that terrorism although terrifying it has become normal in today's society. And I hate it so much.

🇫🇷

I know that everyone is grieving the lost victims and I know that everyone is devastated but something has to implemented in the government to at least help prevent these attacks. I know that this is not simple but progress on this has to be made.

🇫🇷

10 out of the 84 victims were children. Small children that had their whole life ahead of them. The terrorist who carried out the attack targeted children, how sickening is that. And another horrid fact of yesterdays events is that many of the children that were injured in the attacks have now be orphaned. There parents killed for no reason other than selfishness.

🇫🇷

I find it all too much to handle, all too much to hear and all to much too bear. The hurt faced by victims and their families. The hurt faced by the world as well is too much.

🇫🇷

Full awareness I feel has not be reached. Celebrities need to utilise platforms in order to make there followers become aware and educated of their surroundings.

Thank you for reading,
Amber