A Selfie

• Photographer
  Don Hooper, United Kingdom
• Studio
  Photography by Don Hooper
• Instagram
  https://www.instagram.com/photography_by_don_hooper/

The idea for this picture came from seeing the Kings of Leon at the Milton Keynes Bowl.
My daughter had bought tickets to take me to see them as a birthday present and although
SLR cameras were not permitted I did have a small pocket camera that I used to take
pictures of the event.
During this time I had wanted to take a picture of my daughter and myself together,
therefore, for the first time ever, I took a selfie.
As a result of this it gave me some ideas to do a similar thing but using my SLR and to
stage it to achieve a creditable photograph.
The image was taken at my home address using just the natural daylight provided by the
window in my loft. I also used a black throw blanket as the background and with the light
behind me I started clicking away with the camera, hand held, at arms length and at
different angles.
I had to keep checking the images on my computer to make any adjustments to my stance,
look, light etc until I was happy but I did not realise how heavy it was to hold a camera
with straight arms until I spent the morning doing this, therefore relieved to get it
sharp and in focus.

Don Hooper, photographer with 45 years experience, International Multi Award Winning and widely recognised within the industry; receiving accolades in London, Paris, Moscow, Berlin, Budapest, Tokyo and America. Specialising mainly in Black and White, his world as we see it through the lens, captures life in a contemporary form; exposing the sensitivity and beauty nature possesses. With the intention of fabricating both stillness and movement within his shots, Hooper over the years has built a diverse body of work where his creative flare and eye for the bewildering shines through.

Awards The New York Photography Awards 2024 - Silver - Nature - Landscapes.
The International Photography Awards 2023 - Honourable Mention - Nature - Trees.
2023 ReFocus Awards - Honourable Mention - Fine Art - Black and White.
2023 European Photography Awards - Honourable Mention - Black and White - Fine Art.
London Photography Awards 2023 - Honourable Mention - Fine Art.
Broadway Arts Festival 2023 - First Prize - Landscape.
London Photography Awards 2022 - Gold Winner -Black and White - Nature.
15th International Color Awards 2022 - Nominee - Landscapes.
Muse Photography Awards 2022 - Silver Medal - Black and White/Landscapes.
Muse Photography Awards 2022 - Silver Medal - Black and White/Nature.
New York Photography Awards 2021 - Silver Medal - Black and White/Landscapes.
16th International Black and White Spider Awards - Wildlife - Nominee.
7th Fine Art Photography Awards 2020/2021 - Nature - Nominee.
14th International Color Awards 2021 - Nature - Nominee.
14th International Color Awards 2021 - Nature - Nominee.
Tokyo International Photo Awards 2020 - Nature - Honourable Mention.
Budapest International Foto Awards 2020 - Nature - Bronze Medal.
15th Black and White Spider Awards 2020 - Architecture - Nominee.
PX3 Prix De La Photographie Paris 2020 - Nature - Honourable Mention.
13th International Color Awards - Architecture - Nominee.
Budapest international Foto Awards 2019 - Nature - Honourable Mention.
14th International Spider Awards - Nature - Nominee.
International Photography Awards 2019 - Architecture - Honourable Mention.
Minimalist Photography Awards 2019 - Long Exposure_Fine Art - Honourable Mention.
Moscow Foto Awards 2019 - Architecture - Bronze Medal.
Fine Art Photography Awards 2018/2019.
International Color Awards 2019 - Fine Art.
Monochrome Photography Awards 2018 - Portraits.
Monochrome Photography Awards 2018 - Fine Art.
13th Black and White Spider Awards 2018 - Silhouette.
Neutral Density Awards 2018 - Special Category, Long Exposure