A day with the animals

A few years ago I was able to attend a photo shoot at small cats wildlife centre in Hertfordshire.

Not having done this before it was a new adventure and hopefully new skills to add, as well as good images.

The format of the day was to stay with the tutor and listen, take the advice and then get the shoots.

One of the main benefits of doing a shoot like this with no members of the general public about is that you are allowed to ‘go beyond the first line’. So being behind this you are up close to the cage. That extra metre makes a hell of a difference, if you felt the urge you could have put your hand into the enclosure, would have come out with a few fingers missing, so was not tempted to do this.

Being so close enabled me to eliminate the bars of the cage, resulting in a more out in the wild feel to the pictures. Still being mindful that if they wanted to, they could still do damage to you or the equipment.

It was a very good day, with some great experience, if anybody was thinking about attending one of these, then go for it, you will not be disappointed.

Anyway, just a few images from the day are below, enjoy…..

April 27, 2017 0

The Photography Show 2017

Well today was the day I made my annual pilgrimage to the Photography Show at the NEC Birmingham.

For a change I arrived before it opened, there was a speaker in the Adobe theatre that i wanted to see/hear at 10:15,and if anything like the previous years, you need to get there early to grab a seat. They are always very well attended, the speakers know their stuff, and they do not seem to suffer the technical gremlins that other speakers seem to have at the show. I was not disappointed, picked up some nice tips that i shall be putting into practice both in Lightroom and Photoshop.

There seemed to be a real buzz about the show. All the stands seemed to be doing trade and some real bargains to be had, I know that I splashed the cash on a few items for my small studio. Just got to find the time to use them now.

Although I took my camera i did not get chance to use it much. I made the mistake of making my purchases early, so had to lug them around. Maybe they should get a package creche for next year. i for one would use, even would pay for it as well. I know that of the items i brought, there was very few left, in fact only one left after my purchase.

Hats to Photoshoot Magazine catwalk show. The effort that these guys and girls put in is phenomenal, and the models have some reals guts to walk out and face, what must seem like a baying pack of photographers, I for one would not do it.

So here a few images from the show, enjoy.

March 20, 2017 0

It’s been a while

It’s been a while since I posted, life seems to have got in the way and somewhere posting took a backseat, thinking that I will post tomorrow, but that day never seemed to come around, till today. Its been quiet on the photography front, so here is a few from a studio shoot I did a while ago.

Must make more of an effort and try to post on a regular basis, and try some new techniques.

One thing to look forward to is the Photography Show at the NEC next weekend. Ticket have arrived and I am all set. If it is anything like the last few show, it should be a good one, post will follow.

March 12, 2017 0

A brief trip to Brighton

Late in November I had cause to be in Brighton for a few days. Not a planned photo trip but on other business that did not leave much time to see the town and its highlights. A meeting that went la…

Source: A brief trip to Brighton

December 3, 2016 0

A brief trip to Brighton

Late in November i had cause to be in Brighton for a few days. Not a planned photo trip but on other business that did not leave much time to see the town and its highlights. A meeting that went late into the night and the bar afterwards that eat into free time I had planned. However the hotel was right on the front so an early wake up call to have a brisk walk in the fresh and very cold morning air was planned.

As I did not have my main camera with me, I used my camera on the phone, editing afterwards using a combination of snapseed and Nik software apps on the PC.

I only saw a very tiny bit of Brighton and will be planning a more organised trip there in the New Year.

Hope you like the pictures.

December 3, 2016 1

A few days in….Milan

So last month we managed to get a short city break into Milan, Italy. Not been to this part of Italy before so a new adventure awaits.

So the first thing, the weather, it was overcast, dull, drizzly, but surprising, the temperature was mild, so with umbrellas in hand we managed to get around the city. Not the best weather for taking photographs, lot of rain spots on the lens, and with the cloud skies and low light, bright images were not on the list, so i decided to look for mainly black and white images. At least with the cloud and having to put ISO up, it give an excuse for the grainy look and feel to the pictures.

Even in the poor weather the Duomo was impressive, and well worth the climb up eh stairs to the roof. Even on a dreary day the views were good, i can just imagine what they are like on a clear cloudless day.

The shopping arcade next door, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II well worth the visit, even brought the wife something from Gucci…well from the cafe there at least, but in my mind that qualifies.

So below are just a few of the pictures from the few days, not as many as i was hoping for the weather put paid to that, and at times the rain was too heavy, just not worth getting the camera out, never even got chance to use my new travel tripod, brought especially for this trip. Oh well, just have to think if another city break to use it on.

November 15, 2016 0

The Big Little Ale Company

Last weekend i was asked to take some pictures for a small start up firm, The Little Big Ale Company.

They were doing a festival at Ironbridge, Shropshire. The mobile bar is run by Alex and Sam Love, and judging by the amount of people buying the beer, they look like they are going to make a great success of their new venture.

I can recommend the Duck Blonde beer, very nice on a warm sunny day, I was not alone, it was the first beer to sell out.

Taking the photos proved to be a bit tricky, the light was very bright and the trees in the park were casting some long shadows , giving very bright areas and dark areas next to each other. I found that by using my feet and moving around, this could be eliminated.

Also getting in close proved to be effective as well.

Here’s to the next event.

Good luck Sam and Alex.

September 21, 2016 0

A dress rehearsal shoot

Back in July I was given the chance to cover the dress rehearsal for a local amateur theatre group at the Price of Wales Theatre in Cannock, Staffordshire. The brief was to get as many images as I could. A tall challenge.

I did not want to use flash as this would have not been effective due to the distance from the stage and the performers, plus, if I was close enough to use any flash, it would have cancelled out the stage lighting and not really captured the colour of the evening.

So i opted for a high ISO, ranging from 800 to 3200 and used my feet to move around rather than stay static.

The evening was a great success, and i think that i got some good images. The performers were great and from what i am told, the actual show was very well received.

I have put just a few of the many images that i took on the night and hope you enjoy the, I thoroughly enjoyed attending the rehearsal, and finger crossed i get the chance to do it again next year.

I must pay a big thank you to Emily Walt for giving me the opportunity to attend, plus to all of the performers who didn’t seem to mind me too much, thank you all and best wishes for the future.

September 11, 2016 0

A change from the normal

Its been a while since my last blog, somewhere along the way, life got in the way and i have not found the time to do any blogs, and i have got quote a few to do. But lets get this one on there onto the wild wild web.

A few month ago i was asked by a good friend if i could take a few photo’s of his step-daughters wedding. After a short time to ponder it over ( 5 seconds) the answer was a responding yes. Now i was well out of my comfort zone. I am used to working in a studio with one/two models, not a baying mob of wedding guests. What could go wrong…….

As it turned out, nothing. It was a great day, mind you the bride and groom helped, Sophie and Josh were great and really cooperative. For my first wedding shot, they certainty made it very easy. OK, the image below is not the bride and groom,but the bride and step-dad.

The venue was just right and the weather, well considering this was June in England……is was perfect, bright blue skies, no rain….makes a change for an English summer.

So below are just a few of images from the day

So thanks to Sophie and Josh for allowing me to record their special day.

September 5, 2016 0

A morning at Church……

Last weekend I was part of a small group who carried out a location shoot with a local model. The setting was an old church near Enville in Staffordshire.

Late C18. Roughcast brick; plain tile roofs. Gothic revival building in the form of a church with cylindrical west tower and 2-bay ‘nave’. Tower has 3 pointed windows with cast iron frames, each side of the nave has a panelled and nail studded door with 4-centred arch, and amural cupboard with acutely pointed arch and boarded door; full-height
pointed eastern entrance with double door, nail studded and formerly half-glazed.

Interior. Pointed arch to apsidal chamber within the tower.
Erected in memory of William Shenstone who worked on the landscaping of the
grounds during the 1750’s and 60’s.

It is a very atmospheric location and the model played her part well, dressing up a ‘little red ridding hood’. Images from the shot to follow in a separate post.

So for now just a few images of the building, well just some of the small details.

The building is well off the beaten track, and is one of those hidden gems, that needs to stay hidden. It is a testament to the craftsmen of the the 18th Century that it is still standing. When you consider where it is and the fact that it has been there for over 200 years, well worth a visit….if you can find it…happy hunting.

July 11, 2016 0