So I'm also in Liverpool's 800th birthday calendar

cyKey · 2 Nov 2006 at 14:13

This is soooooo going to seem like I'm showing off now but

I read this post on the Art in Liverpool blog which mentioned the Culture Company was looking for original artworks by local artists for their Liverpool 2007 800th birthday calendar. Quite something. I sent them about 10 photos of various, non-hdr, images from around Liverpool hoping to get in. They came back to me and picked my least favourite image. It was an IR shot from last October taken with my Sigma 10-20. Now I don't do many IR shots with it because you need a very long exposure which creates a stupid hotspot and it just doesn't look as nice other IR shots. So I did some work on it to remove the hotspot and sepia toned it so it didn't really look like an IR shot in the end. To date, this is my single biggest sale earning me £500 for 1 single image. Just goes to show what can be done and that people do pay good money for good photos. I still retain the copyright too. I've been sitting on this since March waiting for the calendar to come out

I'm really honoured as its quite a historic calendar really. How many other people can say they're in the 800th birthday calendar for any city?

The text says...

Liverpool's Grace.

The 3 Graces are the iconic figures of Liverpool. People all over the world recognise them as a symbol of Liverpool, a symbol of everything Liverpool has achieved over the past 800 years. They see the Beatles, John Lennon, two football clubs, two cathedrals and most recently, they see a Capital of Culture like no other. For this photograph I wanted to create a feeling of a timeless Liverpool. A dark stormy day to show that no matter what Liverpool's skyline, its 3 Graces, will always be standing as a symbol of a great city.

Raymond Lin · 2 Nov 2006 at 14:18

congrats pete, yet again some achievement

p.s. we have the same keyboard and mouse !!!!!

ElDude · 2 Nov 2006 at 14:22

Show off

As I've not looked in depth at selling photos (mainly because I'm well aware my shots are not upto much and I'm very fussy, which is why my site hasn't got new photos added for months!), how do you go about selling yours? Online or approach people? In general I mean, you've told us about that one

Just curious

Richard T · 2 Nov 2006 at 14:22

so, you've been busy then!!

well done again Pete

cyKey · 2 Nov 2006 at 14:24

Raymond Lin said:
congrats pete, yet again some achievement

p.s. we have the same keyboard and mouse !!!!!

Ta. Best combo imho

ElDude said:
Show off

As I've not looked in depth at selling photos (mainly because I'm well aware my shots are not upto much and I'm very fussy, which is why my site hasn't got new photos added for months!), how do you go about selling yours? Online or approach people?

Just curious

In this case I approached them as they were looking for things. Try contacting local galleries. Never hurts to try.

Richard T said:
so, you've been busy then!!

well done again Pete

Oh yes. Got other things brewing too.

Mohain · 2 Nov 2006 at 14:26

cyKey said:
Just goes to show what can be done and that people do pay good money for good photos.

You're telling me. I've just had a hard time negotiating 3 shots for £5,000!

cyKey said:
How many other people can say they're in the 800th birthday calendar for any city?

11

Congrats again dude. I'm sure this is more than making up for some of the little gliches you've experienced recently

cyKey · 2 Nov 2006 at 14:27

Mohain said:
You're telling me. I've just had a hard time negotiating 3 shots for £5,000!

Show off!

11

Yes I have just been informed of that too

Congrats again dude. I'm sure this is more than making up for some of the little gliches you've experienced recently

It sure is.

ElDude · 2 Nov 2006 at 14:28

Bah I was gonna make that 11 comment when I thought about it

Mohain · 2 Nov 2006 at 14:38

cyKey said:
Show off!

Buying not selling, unfortunately.

cyKey · 2 Nov 2006 at 14:50

Mohain said:
Buying not selling, unfortunately.

Ah

Still, congrats to the seller.

Johnny|lucidcomposure · 2 Nov 2006 at 15:23

Congratulations, Great image too. I think you should return to more of this photography. I like your HDR stuff but I think it just goes to show that traditional photography (okay well IR but still) Is still very much a strong point of yours.

hoodmeister · 2 Nov 2006 at 15:32

tbh pete it's a cracking shot - and it's the stupid long exposure which makes it, *** with dem sweeping clouds.

Good on you sir.

cyKey · 2 Nov 2006 at 16:31

Fstop11 said:
Congratulations, Great image too. I think you should return to more of this photography. I like your HDR stuff but I think it just goes to show that traditional photography (okay well IR but still) Is still very much a strong point of yours.

Yeah ideally I'd love to just that they generally look terrible. I got lucky this time I think.

hoodmeister said:
tbh pete it's a cracking shot - and it's the stupid long exposure which makes it, *** with dem sweeping clouds.

Good on you sir.

Ta. I really honestly didn't like it but I guess I was just too close to it. Took an outsider to see the potential it had.

AdWright · 2 Nov 2006 at 16:39

cyKey said:
Ta. I really honestly didn't like it but I guess I was just too close to it. Took an outsider to see the potential it had.

It's a nice shot and I think it is very recognisably your style, ie wiiiide with dramatic skies. Perhaps here on OcUK we're all quite used to this kind of shot from you, but the general public don't see very many images in this style, so this was probably one of the reasons it was picked.

Well done!

Out of interest, can we see the other shots that you entered?

Scam · 2 Nov 2006 at 17:47

I have to say it looks excellent in the calendar, judging by the pic you posted. ..As if we didnt hate you enough already

Colin_da_Killer · 2 Nov 2006 at 19:57

Nice achievement again but I have to say that the photo doesn't appeal to me in the slightest :confused:

Broadbandplacey · 2 Nov 2006 at 20:34

congrats another good achievement and another good payday

although... i may be a thick peasant but that image doesn't automatically make me think of liverpool, as i've never seen them before!

Scam · 2 Nov 2006 at 20:40

Thining about it, what time of day was that shot? There's no one about at all?

cyKey · 2 Nov 2006 at 20:43

Broadbandplacey said:
congrats another good achievement and another good payday

although... i may be a thick peasant but that image doesn't automatically make me think of liverpool, as i've never seen them before!

WHAT?! Its the Liver Building and co. The first thing you see arriving to Liverpool by boat. Its THE iconic figure of Liverpool.

Scam said:
Thining about it, what time of day was that shot? There's no one about at all?

IR = long exposure = moving people don't show up.

ranarama · 2 Nov 2006 at 21:19

Well I like it even if the others don't. Probably because I love these really wide angle shots after getting the Sigma 10-20. It's well deserved to get a place in the calendar.

OT - A question that I've never had answered...Why are the Liver buildings pronounced like diver yet the city is pronounced to rhyme with giver. Or are there actually no connections between the names and it's just a coincidence?