This last month has been the best month!

I have been living in Townsville for over a year now, and i can honestly say i have never truly experienced the magnificent life that actually occur around this part of this big Australian landscape. When you have one person to share everything with, it can really open your eyes to all the things you are missing out on and make you enjoy things more than one all ready did.

I don’t want to make you feel as if you have no business reading this considering I’m actually writing too my girlfriend and dedicating this post for her.

But this is my blog and that’s who I am, and i hope that’s the reason you are here in the firs place.

Working on a new series.

During the next month, I will be working on a portrait series of pictures. I’m trying to gather as many people as possible! I’m looking for anyone that is interested. I have one picture to reprecent the idea and direction I will be working in.

This is a picture of me where i reflect the motion of myself. The motion being the portrait. This is exactly what i want, only i want one of you!

In the dark space

Today, I shoot a picture in the water with Ashley Briggs. This was an idea I’ve had for a few weeks now and i figured it was time for me to do it.

Thank you Ole Martin Wold for helping out with the light and Ashley Briggs for being the model for the shoot.

New Location.

I’ve recently moved closer to the Townvsille city. I really like the place so far! It also opens for more photo opportunities for me as well.

Down by the strand, 5 min form my new place.

Ashley, Ole and me having a couple of beers at one of the many locations down by the strand.

Typical street area in North Ward.

Took some long exposure pictures down by the rocks out towards Magnetic Island.

Looking forward to getting settled down here for the time i have left in Australia!

When it comes to having new and creative ideas, It’s not always easy coming up with new materials on the spot. It takes training to be able to work with new material. I personally believe that all people, no matter what they do for a living, as a hobby, ect. everyone have the ability to be as creative as the next one. I think that people can chose and with practice and training, everyone is able to think creatively.

Everything has to come form somewhere, and sometimes you are not prepared for it. There are a few times one idea comes so fast to me that I’m not even aware of what it came form. From that situation, i have to act in the moment and just work with the idea i have as long as the creativity is running trough my bloodstream.

There are always something that seem special to some than others. Even tho the things you make may not seem interesting and new to you, that might not be the case for others. I want to post my pictures as i feel it’s a good way for me to publish my work and that it could be and small source of inspiration for others to create something amazing.

So to everyone out there, create, express and publish you personal and individual without holding back. Keep the inspiration source flowing!
A few weeks ago i got this inspirational rush going and made something new form pictures I’ve used for a different shoot. I was just playing around, and eventually i got an idea and started to make another small series of pictures.

I’ve chosen to name this series “The Dreams”

Thanks to the models:

Ashley Briggs

Alissa Oats

Andrew Ward

You guys did a great job!

If you are located near or in Townsville;

I will in a few weeks start a portrait series with a variation of different people. If you are interested in having your picture taken and helping out giving me some portfolio material, pleas send me an e-mail at krakstadfoto@gmail.com

Thanks for checking inn guys!

So lately, uni just started again. We are inn our second week and I’ve already started working on out different courses and assignments.

One of them being studio photography, basic lighting and setting, including food photography and still life objects.

I have some experience in this field form the last two years back form when i studied at NKF at Trondheim in Norway.

I enjoy the different assignments since i love working in studio! There are so many different things you can do and so many ways to create and develop different light. Call me a nerd, but i find it fascinating and entertaining!
Form the last few week in the course “Digital Studio”, this is what I’ve/my groups have done so far;

My first try (in a long time). Long exposure in a total dark studio just using a softbox with external light to light up the subject.

Same thing form the picture above this one, only with a light source on the gray background. The light in the background have a higher kelvin tone (or cooler light), that’s why the background turned out blue.

Using one light source. A flash with a soft-box. By triggering it twice on a long exposure i managed to get a more three dimensional light setting.

Same thing as the picture above again. Just a different set up and reversing the lighting. 

The second subject I’ve been working on this semester is the “Creative Exchange” subject, where I’ve been chosen out as the title; ‘Director of Photography’. Meaning I’ll be responsible for handling the camera we will be using. Out self claimed assignment is to make a music video for a band in Brisbane. I’ve so far been responsible to create a company logo, business-cards and our website (maybe more to come).

I’m really happy about the look our group have so far, and i look forward to working with the music video idea and shooting it.

This is our logo and Business-card so far;

I’ve tried to keep the logo design simple and easy with big and power full fonts.

I really like the look of the business cards! I tried to create something that looks professional and caches your eye.

(Logo on the front, and details on the back)

We created a facebook user your our production team. Befriend us if you’d like here:

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002699169523

I also did some self-portraits as i was in the studio the last few days. (Man it’s hard to do on a 1.4ƒ)

Yeah i know i look serious.

Well, this is what I’ve got for this time, hope you enjoyed it!

Cheers!

This week has been a lazy week form my side, i wish i would have done more with it. So now I’m sitting here and writing interview questions for a journalist assignment for uni and writing blog for the first time this week.

Tattoo is done!

Starting of with my tattoo, which now finally is done! I’m really happy with the result and I’m from now on going to only wear v-neck t-shirts!
The roses turned out great in a dark red color. Even though that was a painful place to get a tattoo I’m really glad i got it and i can’t wait to get my next done! (Still have no idea what to get then.)

As you may can see, I’m pretty beaten up in the area around the collar bone.

For those who wonder. There is no deep concept or meaning behind the tattoo, i just like the subject, and that’s a good enough reason for me to get it.

I actually kinda sad it over now, so i can’t wait to get started on another project!

My book!

The second thing that happened last weekend was that i ordered and go my own photography book, containing the three last series of project I’ve been working on the last year.

Here is some pictures of it and what it contains.

I designed it myself, keeping it simple and dark with a main focus on the logo on the front and the  pictures in the book.

All in all pretty happy about the result. It was expensive to make, but I’m willing to sell it if someone is interested.
(I’ll be selling it for 250 (AUS) dollars.)

The book contains some of the pictures I’ve posted here earlier. Here is some of the pictures:

]]> http://kraakstad.wordpress.com/2011/07/07/tattoo-pt-3-book/feed/ 1 kråkstad IMG_8045 Book Eremophobia 3 While they Sleep 1 two4 Eremophobia 4 http://kraakstad.wordpress.com/2011/06/30/article/ http://kraakstad.wordpress.com/2011/06/30/article/#comments Thu, 30 Jun 2011 11:13:50 +0000 Kristoffer Kråkstad http://kraakstad.wordpress.com/?p=286 ]]> Hey guys!

The last few days have been rich, a lot of thing have been going on and there is a few things coming.

Starting of with uni, where i’m now going trough a intensive photojournalism course, where I’ve decided that I’m gonna do a band report. I’m gonna follow a band for over a week and try to cover every aspect of their every day. So that’s gonna be my everyday for some time ahead. So I’ll post the report and the pictures on here when I’m done with it.

Second, I turned 22 this Wednesday the 29th, it was celebrated with cake and criminal minds on tv, I’m hoping to maybe celebrate some more this weekends as I hopefully gonna go see Karnivool live at the Venue in Townsville.

And third. This month, I was published in Mayhem Magazine, where i got my own two sided article about me and my work. I was really exited and it turned out great! Thank Ashley Briggs for writing an article on me!

Here is a picture of the article.

Three of my personal work was posted in the article. Hoping on doing some prints of them later on.

See you soon!

Two weeks ago i got my first tattoo, that was just the outlines. Proud as i am of my own design, i needed to share this.

And this Tuesday i got shades done for it as well!

I’m really happy about the result so far, and i love how it turned out on the wings!

Next time (in two weeks) I’m gonna get shades and color on the roses and leafs (+ heart in the birds chest/details)
The colors will basically be black, red and skin white (and green leafs) and i think it’s gonna turn out great!

Hopefully i’ll be finished two weeks from now!

Some time ago i was walking around just snapping pictures around Townsville, think i have to do it some time soon again!

Thank, that’s it for this time!

See you soon!

Last weekend I took some pictures at the Venue here in Townsville, capturing a live concert for a couple of friends on mine. They play in a band called CHOM or Cold Hand of Malice.

They are some of the first people I met since I came to Australia and I’ve been taking some pictures for them over the time. I made a music video for them as well, about a half year ago.

Taking pictures at concerts can sometime be a huge challenge considering the light setting, and you always need to be prepared to capture the moment, as there is no second chance. I chose to shoot without flash to capture playful pictures with movement and distortion.

Backstage entrance, getting the equipment ready.

Number five on the list, band backstage getting ready to preform.

Justin the drummer rigs up the drum kit.

Dave (guitar and vocal) get’s ready as well.

Andrew (guitar and second vocal) in a heavy breakdown.

Tom (bass) to the right.

Dave and Andrew in deep concentration.

Handshaking the audience after playing.

Andrew getting ready to leave after they was finished playing.

You can find the rest of the series at Kristoffer Kråkstad Photography

After they was finished playing, we took some promo pictures.

Tattoo

A couple of weeks ago I got my first tattoo (still in progress). Basically the tattoo is a crow’s skeleton with symmetrical wings and a bunch of roses on top. There is no deep meaning behind the tattoo, I just like it. I designed it myself and then my tattooist redesigned it to make it look better. I’m really happy about it and I can’t wait to get it done!

Moments before i got it on for life.

The before and after result.

Tomorrow i’m doing more to it!

Spider

I was cleaning in the garden yesterday when I came over this big bastard! I was almost as big as a hand (not kidding!). I Guess Aussies are used to this kind on spiders, but that thing freaked me out!

Big ass spider AKA. Golden silk orb-weaver.

This is it for this time, hope you enjoyed it

Cheers

- Kris

So latley we’ve been working with panoramas on our subject at JCU, not something i haven’t worked with before, but it’s definitely something fun working with!

Some of the pictures i chose to deliver for the task i did take when i was home during Christmas last year. One of them on my way back to Norway.

The following pictures are the outcome of the assignment, and a small story with the picture.

First panorama:

This is the first one, taken in Kuala Lumpur – Malaysia. Me and Ole Martin stopped by the central of Kuala Lumpur on our way back to Norway. After looking at our options which was: 1: Being trapped for 10 hours at the airport, spending every agonizing hour drinking coffee and trying to stay awake. 2: Just walk around every duty free shop in reach, just looking at things with no intentions of actually buying anything. 3: If you actually were interested in buying something whey would somehow find a reason to why your credit card is not working. Or 4: Step outside and engage and breath in a new and interesting culture.

The choice was easy, not to say the least. Taking the express train from the international airport to the KL towers, or better known as Petronas Towers, walking through it’s seven story, (probably) one kilometer long shopping center and taking the local sub train from station to station. Just to check out the amazing and exiting culture and life in the capital city of Malaysia.

Second panorama:

This is a panorama taken near by where i live, just a 5 minute walk from my house in the steets of Condon – Townsville. All though, this is in an small water drain going between some houses. Safe to say, i was fast to get out of there after taking the picture considering that the time was 2 0′clock in the morning!

Third panorama:

This panorama on the other hand gives me a way better feeling than the second panorama. Mainly because of the fact that this is where my love is currently living. What started out as a fun idea of working at a small island on the cost of northern Norway, became more of a serious plan. I went there, event though i knew i  just got to spend about two and a half days there, i will never regret it! <3

Fourth (and last) panorama:

At the time i would love to go home, even if it just was for a few hours! This is still the same island just on the other side towards the mountains of Lofoten. My hear starts beating hard just as is think of this place and the memories i have from this place.

So as some of you might know, I’ve been working on my new project “While They Sleep” for a while now, and things aren’t going as fast as i planned.

A lot of assignments comes in the way of doing my personal projects and so i have to extend the production time for each picture. Even though a lot of time goes to playing video games (whatever makes me happy, right?). I really love to work with this project and I’m currently looking fore more people to join the floating party!

The model is Andrew Ward, one of my good friends form Blight street. I must say he did a really good job on the photo shoot and made it rather hard for me to figure out which picture of him that was the most awesome! Great job Andrew!

This is picture number three in the “While They Sleep” sequence and i really hope i can continue working on this project soon!

Now it’s time to hit the bed, crash, sleep, have nightmares about a freaky two headed schizophrenic Charlie Sheen or whatever you wanna call it.

See ya’ll later!

This first project started out with one individual picture as a try out.

From this, I went to producing four more pictures as a series. This series is called “Flying Dreams” (2009)

Thanks to Lene and Emil for modeling!

Later that same year i was assigned a new assignment at NKF (the school i was currently studying at). And here i wanted to try something new and different.

So i made a narrative portrait series called “Neighborhood” (2009 – 2010) 15 – two part picture series.

Here are a few of them.

I really enjoyed working with this series and i would love to do something similar to this soon!

When i was finished with the project i made a book out of it.

That’s it for this time, more pictures coming up soon.

- Kris