February Challenge - People at Work

We’ve had great fun over recent months creating Community Challenges and seeing the wonderful response as you share your lives and experiences through photography.

For our next challenge, we have chosen the theme 'People at Work'.

We know this will take some Blippers out of their comfort zone but we are sure you will rise to the challenge!
This could be the florist in your local market, a taxi driver in the city, your pub landlord or workers on a building site.

This subject can, of course, be interpreted in so many ways but knowing what an imaginative lot Blippers are, we are sure you will surprise us with your originality and come up with ideas we hadn’t even thought of.

Just to help get you started with your challenge, here are a few basic tips:

- Equipment really doesn’t matter. You can take great photos with a mobile phone, compact camera or a budget DSLR with a kit lens.

- Whatever camera you use, make sure you know your way round it without looking at the buttons and dials. Or better still, set it up for the conditions before you start and then you can concentrate on your subject and pressing the shutter at the right moment.

- If you are setting your camera up manually, try using a wide aperture, a fast shutter speed and continuous shooting.

- Technical knowledge is always useful but imagination and creativity tend to produce the best results. 

- Communicate with your subject. Candid photos often work well but equally a quick chat with your subject beforehand, explaining what you are doing and asking permission can often break the ice and result in a far better image.

- Sometimes it’s better to simply photograph the person, other times including their work space or tools of the trade can enhance the photograph and help them to tell their story.

- When composing your shot, try to avoid unnecessary clutter. Just moving slightly can remove an unwanted litter bin or make sure that lamp post isn’t poking out of your subject’s head.

- Getting down low and looking up at your subject can give added strength to a portrait.

- Stay safe. Never put yourself in danger to get a photograph. If a person objects to you taking their photo, a polite apology and walking away is usually enough to diffuse most situations.

- And the final and most important tip is, always have fun!

If you would like to include your 'People at work' images, please tag a maximum of two images #BCPeopleAtWork between 19th February and 29th February 2020 (no entries submitted outside these dates will be considered).

And, if you’d be happy for us to share your image on social media, you can also add the tag #OK2share.


As always, we look forward to seeing your photos!

Photo: Puppet Maker, Taman Sari, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.