Author: mikecassellphoto

An Evening With A Minx…part one

A few weeks ago I had the chance to try out a new local studio, about 10 minutes from home instead of the 50 minute journey.

A small studio, but very well equipped, complete with an infinity wall, nice and bright white.

The model for the night was Kez, who is also know as Miss Minx. Not worked with her before so this was first. She was easy going and up for trying out some idea that were very clearly uncomfortable, but with a smile on her face she obliged.

So a few images from the night below  these are from the first session that we did together, there was a change of outfits, for another sessions, but more of those in part two…..

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Playing About

With some spare time, I have decided to have a go at putting together a composite image using Photoshop CC2018.

Watched a few videos on line, but mainly got the idea from a talk at last years Photography Show. Took 10 months for the time to be right, but worth keeping these small nuggets of information, you never know when they will be of use.

So the first task was to get my images, all taken against a black backdrop with a single flash and  large rectangular soft box. once set the light stayed the same.

Second step was to line my my four willing volunteers, in this case, the grandchildren. Could never get them all to stand still for a few minutes so the idea of a composition was perfect.

Third step with the shots now in Photoshop was to put them together, this was bit trickier than first thought, but after a few failed attempts, I soon got the hang of it, and first image produced. I then started to do another one, this time of my two sons, along with my niece and nephew, an idea for a mothers day present.

No off to try some more ideas out, below are the resultants.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Annual Visit

So earlier this month it was the yearly pilgrimage to the show that is ‘The Photography Show 2018’ held at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham.

For a change I decided to go on the Saturday, so expecting a crowd, got there before it opened, only to find, yes there was a crowd waiting to get in.

I like to get there early as the first stand that I head to is the Adobe Theatre, and tickets for the talks go like hot cakes. I got my tickets to the two talks that I was most interested in and then was able to relax into the show itself.

There was a real buzz around, something that I had not noticed in previous years, could be down to a Saturday visit rather than my normal Monday.

Also as a change, left my DSLR at home, and just replied on the phone. Much easier than carting a DSLR about.

I really enjoyed the shown and realised that after 5 hours there, I had not made it halfway through the stands. There was just so many good talks/demos going on at the main stages and also the trade stands., as well as impromptu shoots, the cocktail camper van being one.

Overall, a really good visit and already looking forward to the show next year.

 

 

 

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An evening with a Vampire….

OK, not a dramatic as the title suggests. As in an earlier blog, I have joined the ranks of Purple-Port and dived in a set up a shot with a local model who goes under the name of….Vampire Princess…..

This was the first time that I had arranged a shot, so was a bit apprehensive. Once I meet the ‘Vampire@ any thoughts I had was soon put to the back of my mind, and we dived straight into the session.

I had booked for an one hour slot, and before i knew it, the 60 minutes had gone, just as well as bang on cue, the batteries in my flash gave up the ghost. I was a bit surprised that they only lasted the hour, but when I looked at the image count on the SD card, I had some understanding, in the hour, I had shot over 170 frames….

I managed to get some good shots, a few of which are below. So thank you very much Vampire, a great introduction, and it’s not put me off doing anymore using Purple-Port.

Note – some of the images are nude, so only carry on if these do not offend you…..

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Its Been A While

Its been a while since my last blog. Been busy, we had a club meeting at the end of Jan 2018, the very last one.

David had arranged for a very interesting speaker to bring the club to an end, the local sports photographer Alan Spink (https://actionphotography.photoshelter.com). It was good to hear how he struggled to begin with , had some setbacks, but with his determination and talent managed to come though and get to the top of his game.

Well worth checking out his website, see the link above.

No pictures of my own this time.

As the club has now ceased to be, i will have to arrange my own shoots. So with this in mind, i have decided to sign up to Purple-Port. First shoot booked in a few weeks time. Here’s to it. Images to follow once the shoot is done. Watch this space.

 

 

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An evening with Bethany

In the first week of the new year I did a photo shoot with a new model, Bethany. Not worked with her before so it was nice to meet somebody new. As with all the models that i have worked with over the years, female and male, she was great to work with, understood the image that I was trying to achieve.

Throughout the session she never complained once, even when we ventured into the building away from the warmth if the studio, it was cold……..As other shoots in the same venue, the goods lift was used, not quite frosty in there, but with all the metal, and the clothes she was wearing, cold….not a question it was a fact.

We a few changes of outfits she gave three different looks, from a very sophisticated look to grunge, it appeared to be all so easy for her, she did it with such grace.

The evening was a great success so a big thanks to Bethany, she was an absolute star to work with.

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The Last Post…….of 2017

So this is the last post of 2017. The year photographic speaking did not go to plan. I had so much planned to do ,but some how, life got in the way, note to self, be more selfish with your time, make more me time, and sometimes, sod the rest.

 

I have a few shots planned for January 2018 and with ides already in the melting pot for late, this time still life, well sort of still, but no people involved, sometimes working with models is not all it is cracked up to be.

 

Any way i digress. A few week ago we got a lot of snow, well for the UK it was  a lot, probably for a lot of people out there is was just a light covering. I did allow me some time to capture a few images of our semi-tame squirrel, who we feed on a very regular basis, so below are just a few images of him/her in the garden.

Many thanks and a happy new year to all out there.

 

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More of Marra

As stated in previous posts, I seem to find little time to do the editing, finally got around do doing some more of the shoot with Marra back in September 2017.

There are still some more to do, as well as images from other shoots.

Now where did I put the keys to the time machine……..

 

 

 

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Shawna, it continues

As stated way back when, some more images from the shoot with Shawna at the Strangetown Studio in Birmingham.

 

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ill a few more to go….

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More of Jason

Finally got around to editing more of the images taken way back in September with Jason Segade, still have some more to go through. Strange, that editing images seems to be a very laboriously task, one that seems to be put off until the images turn from a straight forward task to a momentous input of effort. Still have more images from the other two models, Mara and Shawna to go through. Have posted some of their images already, and with shoots planed for December and January the workload will soon start to mount up.

I enjoy the process of taking the image, from setting the lights to directing the model to the final press of the shutter button highly enjoyable and often get lost and oblivious to time. Whilst I try and get the image right in camera, there is always a small amount of editing to do, either cropping or converting to black and white.

Still, one must press on, so here are a few more images from the shoot.

A big thanks to Jason and to David Rann.

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