MEL'S BLACK AND WHITE PORTFOLIO

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2010-03-16T07:57:00.001-07:00

Portugal Through My Eyes by Mel Sewell | Make Your Own Book

Editorial, Black and White Photography Magazine

2010-02-27T08:18:00.000-08:00

Portugal Through My Eyes

Mel Sewell
Blurb, hardback
Blurb.com/bookstore/detail/725665

Photographer Mel Sewell describes Portugal as Europe’s best kept secret. His passion for the country shines through in this large collection of black and white images.

Sewell has an excellent eye for patterns, shapes and shadows. He sees the symmetry in a concrete staircase, the patterns in pavements and office windows and the shapes in a bridge stretching across a river. Shooting in black and white adds power to his pictures by emphasising the shadows across a garden path, the delicate contrasts of a hothouse at night and the different tones in a church in the heat of the day.

Subjects photographed range from sandy beaches and rugged coastlines to street scenes and urban architecture. There are very few people here, but the atmosphere of the country, its beauty and mystery, are caught on every page.

Portugal Through My Eyes is produced by specialist publisher Blurb and the picture reproduction is excellent. The book does not have an ISBN number but can be ordered direct from Blurb.

Mark Bentley, Black and White Photography Magazine.

Paying with PayPal

2009-11-03T03:09:00.000-08:00

Purchase any of my prints from any of my websites with PayPal. Decide on what you would like to purchase, send me an email to mel_sewell01@yahoo.co.uk and I will send you a proper PayPal invoice. Fill it in and Bob's your Aunty.
Good luck. (Actually it is a cinch, check out their website, you can even pay from your mobile and it is totally secure.)

Portugal Through My Eyes media success

2009-11-01T07:17:00.000-08:00

Somebody out there likes my book.
Following on from the abfab launch that the Museum of Photography (www.cpf.pt) in Porto gave me and the powerful publicity put out by Quercus (www.quercus.pt), the hits have been going crazy on the page counter of the Blurb page. And I now have a copy of the book in the museum's library.
I have also managed to get into 36 media on the back of it, including a newsflash on Portuguese TV (at prime time), as well as a massive piece of publicity on a German website and next month Black and White Photography magazine will be doing a review.
Hope you all like the limited edition prints that are now available (just in time for Christmas).

Portugal Through My Eyes Special Edition Prints

2009-10-23T07:30:00.000-07:00

"Cliffs" - Boca do Inferno
To follow on from the launch of my book at the Museum of Photography (CPF) in Porto last month I have produced a portfolio of limited edition prints (limited to 100 copies) of the image from the front cover of the book.
These are printed Giclée, A4 on Hahnemuehle 188gsm Photo Rag, acid free paper to the same high archival quality that I give to all my prints.
Each print is signed, titled and dated in pencil on the front and in ink on the back as follows:
"Cliffs" - Boca do Inferno
Quercus Special Edition x/100
Mel 2009
They will be sent first class post (postal strikes notwithstanding) within 5 days of receiving payment.
£50 ea. inc p&p to anywhere in UK and Europe
If you would like to take advantage of this promotion please email me at mel_sewell@yahoo.co.uk.

Portugal Through My Eyes

2009-09-22T10:03:00.000-07:00

Well I leave for Porto on Thursday morning to set up the launch at the Museum of Photography in Port, or as they call the place Centro Portugues Fotografia (www.CPF.pt). They have sent out invitations from their/my mailing list and so I hope someone will turn up. They have already posted news on their website, so if you go to their homepage and scroll down the left hand side you will see 'Lancamento do livro Portugal Aos Meus Olhos'. On Thursday I will be interviewed by Agencia Lusa, which is the Portuguese equivalent of Reuters and on the launch day (Sat 26th) The heavy brigade and their publicity crew will attend from Quercus (www.Quercus.pt), who are the premier Portuguese environment agency. Complimentary Port will be served.

2009-08-22T08:30:00.000-07:00

Portugal Throu...

Black and white ph...

By Mel Sewell

Book Preview

Click anywhere on this Blurb 'badge' and go direct

to the book on Blurb, which now shows the whole book.

Portugal Through My Eyes content

2009-06-15T03:56:00.000-07:00

Dear All,
Below you will see most of the images from the book, in case you were titilated by its preview on Blurb, then hopefully this will leave you feeling a little more satisfied.
Total satisfaction GUARANTEED on purchase of top-quality book.
Quickest way to access it is to go direct to blurb.com and then enter Portugal Through My Eyes in the search box. That will then take you directly to my page. If you do buy, please let me know so that I can keep track of the number of copies sold at mel_sewell@yahoo.co.uk.
Thanks.
Mel

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2009-06-15T03:31:00.000-07:00

Portugal Through My Eyes

2009-06-14T07:38:00.000-07:00

Yes folks it is finally on-line and therefore available for purchase.
There are four ways you can get there and see the super page-turning preview of some of the pages;
1. www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/725665
2. Go to the Blurb.com homepage (www.blurb.com), > Bookstore> Fine Art Photography>Search add book title, or quicker still just go to the home page and enter Portugal Through My Eyes in the search box.
3. Google and enter Portugal Through My Eyes.
4. Click on the Blurb logo on this Badge which will take you straight to it.

Portugal Throu...

Black and white ph...

By Mel Sewell

Book Preview

Launch of "Portugal Through My Eyes"

2009-05-29T06:48:00.000-07:00

Yes folks, it is all now organised.
My first book "Portugal Through My Eyes. Black and white photographs by Mel Sewell" will be taking its big bow when CPF (that is Centro Portugues Fotografia: www.cpf.pt) launches from its premises in Porto on Saturday 26th June. There will be snacks and Port wine and you can also look at the other exhibitions in their beautiful building.
If you would like to come along please e-me: mel_sewell@yahoo.co.uk
There will also be a series of other events including a launch in the UK (tba) and several mini-launches, the first of which will be at Divine Wines, Wincanton, Somerset, UK on 26th June. Please e-me if you would like to attend this too.
I'll keep you updated about these other events.
Keep watching this space and I'll load some of the images from the book which is 160 pages, hardcover, 13x11 inches landscape, with all plates in black and white.
A percentage of the take will be donated to Quercus, the Portuguese environment agency. (http://www.quercus.pt/)
The book will also be available to purchase on-line at www.blurb.com but it isn't 'live' yet. I'll update this site as to the availability.

Portugal Through My Eyes: Update

2009-04-28T09:39:00.000-07:00

Yes, indeedy. The 2nd proof arrived precisely when Blurb said it would.

And after viewing a number of the re-scans of the 2 1/4 shots I realised something was amiss. It seems that the ICE programme on Epson's scanners doesn't take too kindly to high contrast.

So I had to rescan nearly all of the second half of the book without ICE. And damn near perfect it was too.

Loadsa detail.

Today (28-04-09) I finalised all changes.

I am now booked to go and see the Museum of Photography in Porto (see www.cpf.pt) where the major launch will take place. I'll also be seeing the guys at Quercus (see www.quercus.pt) who are Portugal's No1 environment agency as they will also be giving their support to the publication.

I expect to have the final, agreed version up on the Blurb site, for sale by the begining of June, at which point I'll send an email to all.

Even hotter news

2009-04-02T05:34:00.000-07:00

The book came, enthralled me with the quality of the printing (thanks to Blurb) and then I settled down to a solid month of slog getting it 100% right, which included a solid week of my software refusing to do what it was told (much frustration). So the 1st revise was sent off last Monday 30th March and will probably be back with me by about 10th April. Keep watching this space for further news.

HOT NEWS

2008-11-12T04:57:00.000-08:00

YES FOLKS, HOT OFF THE PRESS!!
I have been beavering away for the past couple of months on the design, layout and production of my first book, which I'm hoping will be ready in the next three weeks. It will be 11 inches high by 13 inches wide and have 160 pages. It will be a hard cover, with dust cover and contain around 60 black and white images. Title: 'Portugal through my eyes. Black and white photographs by Mel Sewell.' And yes, all the images will be of Portugal, taken during my 13 year stay there. Signed and numbered. Price will be about £105 plus postage. I'll keep you informed.
Also the tiny hamlet in which I reside is going to have a new gallery, which will open on December 3rd and I have been invited to exhibit a few pieces for the launch and after. Watch this space.

Grand Pier at Weston-super-Mare burns down

2008-07-29T03:39:00.000-07:00

Yesterday fire struck the pavillion and entertainments end of the Grand Pier and razed it to the metal supports. It will take years to rebuild it, but the owners Kerry and Michelle Michael have vowed to do the job.
My images 'Soft Pier' and ' Pier View,' below are a reminder of how it was earlier this year (winter).

Frome Arts Festival/ Black Swan Arts

2008-07-03T04:30:00.000-07:00

I will be exhibiting seven prints at the Black Swan Arts Gallery from 4th July as part of the Frome festival. See details on my other blogsite at www.paintography.blogspot.com

ONCE IN A LIFETIME OFFER

2008-04-19T05:42:00.000-07:00

Portugal Special Edition

An exhibition of recent prints by Mel Sewell at Off The Wall Gallery, Alte, Algarve

Official opening (by invitation only) Thursday May 1st, 2008 at 1800 hrs.

Exhibition runs for one month until June 1st after which the gallery will be a permanent exhibition and exclusive stockist of Mel’s work in the Algarve.

Some of the work on exhibit will be from the Tavira Collection, which can be seen at http://mels-special-editions.blogspot.com
This Special Edition is only available and may only be purchased from Off The Wall Gallery.

Extra Special Promotion: As part of this new relationship any of Mel’s work, from any of his websites may be purchased at a once-off offer price of €150 (including packaging in a tube and posted to anywhere in the world.) Only from May 1st to June 1st 2008. All transactions must be through Off The Wall Gallery and can be purchased with PayPal.
Each print will be signed and numbered, but limited to an edition of 12, with the image size no larger than 175x265mm and printed on Hahnemuehle 188gsm, Photo Rag, A3+ paper.

RSVP
Off The Wall Gallery: Susan Searle,
tel; 00351 1917160921,
email; kindredspirit@sapo.pt

Mel’s various web pages:
www.paintography.blogspot.com
www.melsbwportfolio.blogspot.com

Spring that looks like winter in England

2008-04-08T07:53:00.000-07:00

The past few weeks have been a matter of testing the usual patience of a landscape photographer. In other words 'no light,' or 'wait there might be some light,' or 'no there isn't going to be any light,' or 'there's an exposure problem.' Compounded by the lateness of the UK summertime - instead of the lovely 30 degrees that my friends in Lisbon have been basking in we have had snow, minus 4, clouds, wind, rain, hail and freezing wind - all in the space of 48 hours. In between I stood with many layers of t-shirts, sweaters and jackets and a wooly hat, with purple fingers, out in those wild, exposed spots, just to get...anything.

Hope you like these additions.

They are all available printed on Hahnemuehle 188gsm Photo Print paper at A3+ (329x483mm).

The image sizes are:
Soft 1-3...216x289mm
Low Tide...232x312mm
Pier Walk...232x310mm
Dangerous Current...150x349mm
Soft Pier...234x324mm
Pier View...195x367mm

They are all priced at £650+vat.

AND YOU CAN PURCHASE THEM VIA PAYPAL. Just send me an email and I will send you an official PayPal invoice.

Dangerous Current and Pier Walk were shot at Littlehampton and the others were shot at Weston-super-Mare.

Hope you like.

Mel

Soft Pier

2008-04-08T07:45:00.000-07:00

Dangerous Current

2008-04-08T07:36:00.000-07:00

Pier Walk

2008-04-08T07:35:00.000-07:00

Low Tide

2008-04-08T07:33:00.000-07:00

Pier View

2008-04-08T07:32:00.000-07:00

Soft 3

2008-04-08T07:30:00.000-07:00

Soft 2

2008-04-08T07:27:00.000-07:00

Soft 1

2008-04-04T11:29:00.000-07:00

Buy any print easily and securely through PayPal

2008-04-04T11:13:00.000-07:00

Yes folks all you have to do is send me an email with your requirements and I'll send you a PayPal invoice. Easy peasy.

Further Work of Easter Release

2008-03-19T09:02:00.000-07:00

Above work titled:
Temple 1 (top)
Temple 2

Each image in the Easter Release:
Print; Tritone A3+ (329x483mm)
Image; 204x304mm
Paper; Hahnemuehle 188gsm Photo Rag
Medium; Giclée Print
Price; £750 + VAT

Easter Release of Previuosly Unpublished Work

2008-03-19T08:49:00.000-07:00

Prints, from the top:

Church Steps

Garden Bench

Pavilion Garden

Spanish Border

Mel's Special Editions

2008-03-12T07:52:00.000-07:00

A new set of limited edition prints (different size, finer paper, bigger print run, happier price) of some favourites.
Go to http://mels-special-editions.blogspot.com/

Hotel Guardiana

2008-02-29T06:41:00.000-08:00

Ansel Adams admitted that if he took one good photo a year he would be happy and I always maintained that wasn't good enough for me. On reflection it depends on what you define as good. So, now I have a new benchmark by which to judge all my images - it is this one "Hotel Guardiana". I believe it is one of those rare images capable of showing the entire range of zones, in other words everything from black to white and all the shades of grey in between. And perhaps this is the ONLY good photo I have ever taken.

Printed B&W, or tritone. Available now. POA.

Colour portfolio

2008-02-29T04:08:00.000-08:00

If you would like to view some of my colour work please click here: www.paintography.blogspot.com

Girl On A Bicycle

2007-09-03T10:09:00.000-07:00

Camouflage, Vanishing Point, Menhir, Pig Sty, Free Energy, I am Dwarfed, Windbreak, Blustery Day

2007-04-06T11:12:00.000-07:00

Puente Nuevo, Nice Bridge, Speed, Sun Trap, Take a Break, Votive Offering, Ticket Seller, Cat Feng Shui

2007-04-01T10:37:00.000-07:00

2007-03-19T06:02:00.000-07:00

Limited Edition Boxed Portfolio NEWS

2007-03-19T05:53:00.000-07:00

Great News.

I have managed to get my act together and create the long-promised, limited edition boxed portfolio.

The collection, complete with archival porfolio box, signed and numbered will be on display at the Eyestorm Gallery, Exeter from 29th March until 12th May. If you would like to go and view, please look on the Eyestorm.com website for address and contact details.

Each image is printed on A3+ paper.

Above this news item you will find the set as it will appear at the gallery.

Thanks.

Mel

Limited Edition Boxed Set

2006-12-23T09:28:00.000-08:00

Hoping to produce the whole 35 images in time for Easter 2007.
Each copy will be signed and numbered and the purchaser will receive all images, as well as text, enclosed in this beautiful box.

Wet and Wild

2006-08-16T06:22:00.000-07:00

A Touch Surreal

2006-08-16T06:21:00.000-07:00

Double Take

2006-08-16T06:20:00.000-07:00

Brighton Rocks

2006-08-16T06:19:00.000-07:00

Tidal Pool

2006-08-16T06:18:00.000-07:00

Barmouth

2006-08-16T06:17:00.000-07:00

Perspective

2006-08-16T06:16:00.000-07:00

Space

2006-08-16T06:13:00.000-07:00

Ground Cover

2006-08-16T06:09:00.000-07:00

Secret Place

2006-08-16T06:08:00.000-07:00

The Windmill

2006-08-16T06:07:00.000-07:00

Dedication

2006-08-16T06:06:00.000-07:00

Splash

2006-08-16T06:05:00.000-07:00

Dunes

2006-08-16T06:04:00.000-07:00

St George's

2006-08-16T05:41:00.000-07:00

Quayside

2006-08-16T05:40:00.000-07:00

Rocky II

2006-08-16T05:39:00.000-07:00

Tranquility

2006-08-16T05:38:00.000-07:00

Es El Mio

2006-08-16T05:37:00.000-07:00

Twisted Trunks

2006-08-16T05:36:00.000-07:00

Jaws

2006-08-16T05:35:00.000-07:00

Wave Power

2006-08-16T05:34:00.000-07:00

Baranco Ligeiro

2006-08-16T05:32:00.000-07:00

Tree Study 2

2006-08-16T05:31:00.000-07:00

Almost Biblical

2006-08-16T05:30:00.000-07:00

Marooned

2006-08-16T05:29:00.001-07:00

2006-08-16T05:29:00.000-07:00

2006-08-16T05:28:00.000-07:00

Gnarled

2006-08-16T05:27:00.000-07:00

2006-08-16T05:26:00.000-07:00

2006-08-16T05:25:00.000-07:00

2006-08-16T05:23:00.000-07:00

ABOUT ME

2006-08-16T05:22:00.000-07:00

Is man destroying the planet?

How much will it change in our lifetime?

My desire is to capture the beauty of nature wherever I go.

If I can depict it in harmony with man, so much the better.

Mostly black and white.

My current work is a limited edition, boxed, portfolio of 21 A3+,
black and white images, signed and numbered.

Exhibitions

1984 Visions Gallery, London
1985 Aspects Gallery, London
1987 Richmond Gallery, Windsor
1989 Mayfair Gallery, London
1994 Galeria 12a, Lisbon
1995 Galeria 12a, Lisbon
1996 Expoarte96, Lisbon
1998 Galeria Potthoff, Lisbon
2001 Own website
2002 Represented by Britart/Eyestorm
2004 Docklands Development East, London
2004 Galeria S.Rita, Sintra, Portugal
2005 Paintography Blogsite at www.paintography.blogspot.com
2005 CAD05, Cidadela de Cascais, Portugal
2005 Photgraphy course lecturer, Portugal
2006 Saatchi-Gallery on-line at www.saatchi-gallery.com
2007 Black and white images Blogspot at www.melsbwportfolio.blogspot.com
2007 Eyestorm Gallery, Exeter: "Retro" limited edition, boxed portfolio of 21 A3+,
black and white Giclée images, signed and numbered. Also on exhibit "Train," "Traffic," "Station" and "Azenhas do Mar."
Sherborne Gallery, Sherborne: Open ’07 ‘Margins’ Exhibition - "Mud" installation of 42 images.
Thelma Hulbert Gallery, Honiton: Evolver Magazine Competition finalist – "Pool"

Publications

1984 Blitz, London
1985 Creative Review, London
1994 O Capital, Lisbon
1996 O Capital, Lisbon
1996 DNA magazine, Lisbon
1999 Atlantis magazine
2007 The Western Muse Magazine
Art in Devon
Black and White Photography Magazine
British Journal of Photography
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation website
Evolver Magazine

Awards

1997 Sierra Club, honourable mention
1998 Volto ao Mundo magazine, Portugal:
Honorable mention x 2,
Best black and white landscape,
Best finalist.

Collectors

There are over 70 collectors of my work, worldwide.

Contact

Mel Sewell,
18, Deanesly Way, Wincanton, Somerset BA9 9RG.
T: 01963 31757
E: mel_sewell@yahoo.co.uk