The Derby Telegraph interviewed me last week about my “Sealines” exhibition currently on at the Derby Cathedral Centre. Today this was published in the paper and online! You can see the online story at the This is Derbyshire website.
Given the recent fun with Instagram I have been trying out some new photo apps on the iPhone and came across snapseed from Nik Software (now owned by Google). Nik have been around for ages in pro photography software so I was interested to see what they had to offer the app market. snapseed is a bit like Instagram but with even more ways to adjust and change your image , and all in full screen as well. Frames, Selctive Adjust (a bit like Nik’s control point technology) and Drama (for the HDR look) are just some of the ways this app differs from Instagram and others. I will be giving it a good go and posting my results here soon! Meantime here is one…
Snow Gnome – snapseed photo
Not long now till Banks’ Mill Open Studios! Come along for a very special offer from me – if you book an hour shoot in the studio with me during Open Studios then you can have it for half price, just £25.
This is a great opportunity to have a studio shoot at a great price. Maybe you need a business portrait or something for the family, a personal image for your partner or an update to a model portfolio, or maybe just a fun Christmas present for someone. Whatever you would like come and chat to me at the Mill and arrange a shoot or give it as a gift.
I will see you 23rd-25th November; meet me and book in x.
When I was contacted by Savox UK about a photo shoot based around their range of communications equipment accessories for uniformed services (police, fire, security, military) I was intrigued. Savox are based ion Derbyshire but are part of a global network specialising in communications devices for extreme situations. They supply the headsets and microphones to attach to walkie-talkie devices. The clever part is that many of these allow the operator hands-free operation and can be virtually invisible in use.
Savox had arranged a full day of shooting with an actor and clothing supplied by Polease, a uniform leasing company who have worked on Casualty, Four Lions, Lewis, Silent Witness and many others. So it was going to be fun!
Luckily the weather held for the day and over 1000 final images processed they were very happy with the end results. I can’t show you everything (top secret!) but here a few images from the day.
I have now launched a new service aimed at fine artists working in 2D and 3D to photograph their work. If you are an artist an need your work photographing to a high standard for creating limited edition prints, gallery submissions, art cards, web site images, brochures, books and portfolios then this is for you.
For 2D work, as well as creating the images, I can print fine art giclee archival prints on museum grade paper up to A2 in size; and all for a very reasonable cost. I am happy for the artist to sit with me during the printing stage to approve the colour matching for limited edition prints.
If the artwork is too large to transport to my studio then I can go to the artwork, where ever it is! This is particularly useful for large scale paintings, sculpture and installation work where moving the piece may be impractical.
I have already worked with a number of fine artists photographing their paintings and sculptures with great success. I can also produce separation prints for screen printing and acetates for etching.
So if you, or anyone you know, are an artist looking to make more of an impact with your work and maybe sell a range of limited edition prints do get in touch! Here are some examples of work from artists I have already worked with.
From time to time I get to work on projects just for the fun of it. Recently I was in the studio with Oona and Sian and we came up with some great new ideas – mostly based around Sian’s amazing make-up work. It is always good to collaborate with other creative people without the pressure of having to meet any deadlines or a particular style. We went from a simple lingerie style right up to black body paint and glitter – quite a day really! A few of the results are below.
Finally I can announce that with Helen Rose and Holly Booth we are going to present our first Photography Workshop in August! Full details can be found at our f3.3 Facebook page and event but here are the details so far…
Are you struggling to get to grips with portrait photography? Want to learn more about how to use natural light and capture the best from your subjects? Need to sharpen up on your knowledge of aperture, shutter speeds and ISO? Then this workshop is perfect for you!
Join us at the stunning Willersley Castle (situated in the heart of the Derbyshire Dales) and learn how to improve your photography skills through a variety of workshop sessions. Three professional photographers will guide you through the day and will be on hand to answer all your questions, plus you’ll receive refreshments and a two course lunch!
SCHEDULE FOR THE DAY:
We’ll start the day with an introduction to the three photographers (Helen Rose, Ewan Mathers & Holly Booth) their work and backgrounds. You’ll also learn to get to grips with your DSLR / Bridge camera and shooting in manual. (Followed by a refreshment break)
Our first session of the day will be outdoor portraits in the grounds of Willersley Castle with a gorgeous couple! Learn how to photograph a couple in an informal way, working in a variety of natural light and weather situations, plus tips on how to capture the best from your subjects and make them feel at ease in front of the camera.
Lunch time! You’ll be treated to a two course lunch within Willersley Castle (which is included in your booking fee).
Our second session will be focusing on indoor portraits, working with a model you’ll learn how to use natural light indoors, advice on composition plus tips on poses and how to direct a model. (Time for another refreshment break!)
The final session of the day will be a chance for you to have your portfolio reviewed (if applicable) and receive feedback on your photographs from the day, plus time to put what you’ve learnt into practice by photographing the other people in the group. We’ll round the day up with feedback and you’ll get to go home with a free professional print of your favourite image.
TO BOOK YOUR SPACE:
Spaces are £129.00 (this includes refreshments and the two course lunch)
We are limited to 12 spaces so bookings are on a first come first served basis. To book your space please email us on f3.3workshops@gmail.com
Last Thursday I got a text asking if I might be available for Monday in London, hush-hush, no details. Intrigued I said yes! The text was from Jennie at C W Sellors the jewellers so I knew it was going to be something good as I cover their Christmas Wishes event each year at Chatsworth House (remember Joan Rivers turning up?!).
Once I said yes I was told that I wold be photographing TV presenter and actor Donna Air in a huge spider themed jewellery piece designed by catwalk designer Scott Henshall and made by the team at Sellors. Diamonds, Black Diamonds, Jet and 150 year old vintage Victorian jet were all included in the fabulous piece.
So off we went to an hotel in the heart of London to wait for the moment when I could have a few minutes with Donna to photograph her before she was to walk the red carpet. As is the way of such things there were many delays, changes of idea and adjustments to be made but with half an hour to go before the red carpet I met Donna and we chose a plain background in the hotel to allow the dress and the jewellery to really be shown off to their best. Donna was great and easy to work with so in a few minutes we had what we had come for. Then I had no time at all to get two images downloaded, edited and emailed to the press. So little time that I actually left the MacBook on the reception counter while running to get into the blacked out Mercedes with it’s engine running – much to the bemusement of the hotel receptionist!
Also in the car was Hofit Golan, for Fashion TV, who was wearing another of C W Sellors spider creations for her red carpet stroll. Armed with AAA passes we strolled up the red carpet in Leicester Square just taking it all in. Lemar popped up behind us along with TOWIE cast members and lots of others walking up to the go beneath the giant spider and into the cinema. The AAA tickets also got us onto the balcony with Rhys Ifans, Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone from the film. Also about were Benedict Cumberpatch and Anna Friel. After all that fun we watched the 3D movie and it was great!
So here are the two images I did in two minutes while rushing for the limo…
Donna Air in Amazing Spiderman Dress designed by Scott Henshall
And here are a few iPhone pics from the red carpet.
Hofit Golan at Amazing Spiderman London Premiere
Amazing Spiderman London Premiere
Amazing Spiderman London Premiere – Donna Air – Scott Henshall
Derby University Fashion department go each year to the Alternative Fashion Week in London with a selection of garments made by their students. This years theme was ‘Blue’. Holly Booth and I were asked to photograph the collection for a long line up shot. This time Holly took the photos and I have done the editing into the complete picture and here is the result:
Alternative Fashion Week – ‘Blue’
Having acquired a Nikon D800 36 mega pixel camera recently I have been constantly asked – how is it performing?! Well here are a few first thoughts – I LOVE IT!!
It even makes a lovely sound when I press the shutter. I just feels right and I have had to do nothing about changing the way I work on a shoot having used Nikon for nearly 30 years. The only thing I have done is to speed up the MacBook, with an extra SSD drive inside, to cope with the big files and try to take less pictures to save on memory.
Low light shooting seems fine to me and will be a big help where flash is not appropriate. Super sharp in the studio too. Lots has been written about this camera but all you need to know is it works very well and produces the usual high quality images that you would expect from Nikon. Like all Nikon D-SLRs you can out on practically any Nikkor lens ever made since the 1950′s and it will work. THis means that with careful shopping around you can get some fabulous lenses that are are good or better than some of the new ones. I found the Nikkor 70-210mm f4 from 1986 – big, heavy and beautiful!
I_am_Nikon_D800
