Category: Youtube

3 of My Camera Bag Essentials

I recently did a series of videos of my camera bag essentials which I posted on my YouTube channel.

Instead of the usual items like cameras, lenses, flash, etc., I focused my attention on the stuff that as photographers we tend not to mention, yet they form a part of our day to day essentials.

The items mentioned in these videos are things that I carry around in my bag and have proved to be very helpful when I am out an about on a job. I hope you find these videos useful.

#1 – Weather Proof Trousers

These have really come in handy especially when caught out in bad weather during a shoot. As I tend to shoot a few sports matches or events, I have been caught out a few times without any protection especially when in the pitch. These trousers have kept me dry and I love how they don’t take up too much space in my bag. Also, they were quite a bargain having picked them up from Lidl some time back.

Buy similar trousers here – http://amzn.to/2DUq3RW

#2 – Lens Cloths

These cloths come in quite handy when you need to clean your lens on a job. The use of clothing is not recommended, but sometimes you get caught out. One thing I didn’t mention in the video is how to clean the cloths, a tip I got from another photographer. You can throw it in the washing machine with clothes that don’t need conditioner like swimming costumes or you can hand wash them using hair shampoo (with no conditioner) to get the grease and gunk off them.

Buy a full cleaning kit with the cloths here – http://amzn.to/2nOAzV3

#3 – Small Bags

This is more of an upcycling tip. When I travel, I get to collect the toiletries bag from the airlines and some are pretty good that I decided to use them as organisers for my cables, memory cards and other bits and bobs as I have been thinking of getting a media organiser. These small bags just work out well and they don’t take up space in my bag and they also fit in my working trouser pockets very well.

Buy a media organiser solution here – http://amzn.to/2nZXIDZ

Well, there you have it. Those are my 3 camera bag essentials to make my life on the job that much easier. More videos in the series coming soon. So be sure to subscribe to my channel for updates.

What camera bag essentials or essentials to you have in your life? Care to share some tips.

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#CameraBagEssentials

Lumiere London 2018

   

This is an annual event that happens in January in London. In 2018, the art light installations were up for four nights from the 18 – 21 January and they were switched on from 5.30pm – 10.30pm.

This year, the family and I braved the cold streets of London see the light installations. Looking at the Lumiere London map, I settled for King’s Cross area as it was an area where we could see a few installations and the station wasn’t far. Just incase the little legs of my babies decided enough was enough. We were meant to go to Trafalgar Square, but the cold, cries of “I am hungry” and the crowds just let that plan slide. There is always next year…no?

Here are a few shots I took of the installations and a vlog with more. So, scroll to the end to watch it and ENJOY!

lumiereldn_2018-1lumiereldn_2018-3

IFO (Identified Flying Object) by Jacques Rival (France)

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Waterlicht by Daan Roosegaarde (The Netherlands) – this was one of my favourites.

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Entre Les Rangs by Rami Bebawi / KANVA (Canada)

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On our way how, the tunnel to the station had this wall of light. I wasn’t sure if it was part of Lumiere or not. It was cool though!

What fun and exciting things are happening where you are?

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#LumiereLdn2018

Re-Intro to My YouTube Channel | NEW YEAR TINGS

Starting my YouTube channel was one of the most difficult things I did last year. It was and still is equally hard trying to get myself to put up consistent content.

All that is changing moving forward. I really want this to work and I am determined to make it work. All my fears and doubts about having my own channel will have to be stemmed somewhat.

So, my latest upload is going to address that and I am hoping that you will join me on my journey as I share my photography and lifestyle with you.

AAANNNDDDD…..I want you, the audience, to engage with me. Leave your comments, ask questions, let me know what you want to me share with you, etc.

LET’S DO THIS!

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#PersonalGoals

IT’S OFFICIAL…

   

…I am a PHOTOGRAPHER!

Not that I wasn’t before, but it will all make sense shortly.

Ok…let me explain, I have been really caught up with events and my attention to this blog has slacked big time. I have a very good excuse though and I hope you will all forgive me.

Well, since my last blog post, I have gone and graduated, with honours, from University. I even did a whole vlog about it and in case you missed it…here it is:

So, I am forgiven, right?

I have been busy preparing for life after university and adulting, that this blog had to take a back burner for a while. I am back though and I will try as much as possible to keep you lot updated.

So yeah, my graduation happened and as a present to myself, I went away (without the kids) to visit my family in Poland (vlog on this coming soon). It was a much-deserved break after slogging away in Uni for the better part of 5 years. I am now back and ready to hustle.

Going to university was not a decision I made lightly especially when trying to be a wife and mother, it can get really tough. How I managed to get through it all, only God knows, as I was on the verge of quitting a few times. I wrote about joining here and the lessons I learnt here.

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” – Benjamin Franklin

So there you have it, folks, I am now officially a Photographer and it’s on paper. I am super proud of myself for seeing this part of my journey through despite the ups and downs.

Here is to life after uni! 🍻

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#IAmAGraduatewithHonours

Review | My Cleanse Experience – Simple Green Smoothies

    

DISCLAIMER: This is my personal review of the Simple Green Smoothie Spring Cleanse aka Fresh Start Spring Cleanse 2017. Some of the words used here are from SGS to guide the cleansers (like me) write a personal experience on doing cleanse.

In My Own Words

I have been following Simple Green Smoothies since 2015 when I was looking for ways of improving my diet after having my second child and also introducing vegetables into my kid’s diets. After doing a few internet searches, I found Simple Green Smoothies. As much as they are based in the US and I live in England, that did not matter as I like how SIMPLE their recipes and guides to a healthy you are. It so happened that when I signed up for their newsletter, they were about to start their 30-Day Smoothie Challenge in October 2015 and I knew that would be the start of an interesting journey when it comes to healthy eating.

Well, that is a story for another day.

Fast forward to 2017, here I am looking for a way to get my healthy eating habits back on track and I get a newsletter from SGS about the Spring Cleanse. I have seen them do a cleanse pack before, but I was so reluctant to try as I was so busy with my studies, running a household and just trying to stay on top of things. Now that I have more or less finished my degree, I decided that the timing, although not perfect, was as good as any. So I took the plunge and signed up for the Fresh Start Spring Cleanse aka #FS21. The cleanse was a 21-Day programme from 3 – 23 April 2017, but you can still join the cleanse and start when you are ready. The disadvantage with that is that you will not be part of the Facebook Group that was created for the cleanse as it helps with getting support from other people trying the cleanse. My opinion would be to wait for the next cleanse as you would definitely benefit from having that moral support from other cleansers. The temptation to fall off the wagon is great and seeing that you are not the only one struggling when temptation rears its ugly head can be a relief.

Carrot Cake Warrior Bars
Smoothie Fruit Packs
Groceries
Mixed Greens with Strawberry Herb Dressing
Herbalicious Hummus with Veggies

So, for me, the best way to give my review of the cleanse was to do a video diary. Just me talking about how I feel whilst doing the cleanse, the recipes that I liked and didn’t like and the lessons I have learnt along the way.

White Bean Chard Skillet
Carrot Pineapple Green Smoothie
Black Bean Zucchini Tacos
Baked Hash Cakes with Peas
Apple Cucumber Mint Green Smoothie

Apologies for the long review. Also, some part of the edit the audio does not sync with the video and I could not fix it. So, for that, I am sorry! 🙈

Towards the end, I did the following as per SGS’s questions for the review:

The Intro – Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? (ex: where you live, family, job, kids, pets, passions, dream vacation, anything that excites you really )
My Hesitations – What hesitations did you have about buying Fresh Start?
Favourites from the Cleanse – What was your favourite part about the cleanse?
Recommendations – If you had a friend who’s not sure if they should do Fresh Start, what would you tell ’em?

Indian Coconut Curry with Brown Rice
Carrot Cake Warrior Bars with Herbal Tea
Veggie Pizza with Quinoa Crust
Cream Machine Smoothie
Asparagus Quinoa Salad with Dijon Vinaigrette

In the words of Simple Green Smoothies

Fresh Start (spring) is a 21-day cleanse created by Simple Green Smoothies. This positive transformation program is for you IF…
• You’re ready to stop making excuses and take charge of your health.
• You want to feel energised, confident and well rested, so you can feel amazing in your body.
• You’re willing to skip highly processed ingredients and empty calorie meals.
• You believe health is a journey and you’re looking for a system that you can stick to without feeling deprived.
• You’re willing to invest a little extra time in the kitchen, knowing that healthy and nutritious meals take some extra lovin’ in the oven (no more “cooking is a chore” excuses).
• You’re excited to get out of your comfort zone (trying new foods, resisting temptations, giving up caffeine and alcohol).

Join the cleanse: http://simplegreensmoothies.com/cleanse

So, have you done a cleanse before or are you planning to? Please share your thoughts.

I hope you enjoy watching the vlog.

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#FreshStart21