A British Summer
February 6th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
Old photo time tonight!
I was walking through Green Park a couple summers ago, and saw this sight, which to me perfectly illustrated Britishness. I love the “it’s summer and I’m using the deckchairs, even if it’s raining” stubbornness, along with the drizzliness that typifies our summer.
I found it this evening and it made me smile, so I thought I would share.
A day and night beside the sea…
July 9th, 2011 § Leave a Comment
I don’t often get to see the sea, so when I do it’s quite a treat.
(Photo taken at: 1/2000, f/3.5, ISO 125)
This photo is sadly not mine, I was too busy blowing the bubbles.
Photo by the wonderful Becky, edit by me.
(Photos taken at 1/2000, f/1.7, ISO 125)
Becky’s Molly enjoying a run in the sand.
(Photo taken at 1/4000, f/1.7, ISO 125)
The sun was setting as the tide went out..
(Photo taken at: 30", f/9.0, ISO 100)
But by midnight it was high enough for this to be the view from the end of the garden.
A perfect end to a perfect day.
The Tiger Gala
June 30th, 2011 § 1 Comment
In March I was asked by Wildaid to take photos at the Tiger Gala, a black-tie charity fundraiser hosted by Wildaid, Born Free and the Environmental Investigation Agency, three charities working together to highlight the shocking truth about the desperate plight of the wild tiger, and to help raise funds for conservation efforts.
Photographing people, some well-known, all dolled up in their black-tie best, there to enjoy great entertainment and give generously to a touching cause… I was excited about this assignment.
Sophie – Headshots And A Walk In The Park
February 13th, 2011 § 1 Comment
This week it was like Christmas all over again, x50. I’ve finally been able to replace my stolen lenses! Never again will I take my equipment for granted.. it’s been five days and I’m still giddy with excitement.
So the timing couldn’t be more perfect for the wonderful Sophie to request some headshots for her acting work. Naturally I jumped at the opportunity to try out my new lenses, and to have such a lovely model for the afternoon.
Our first stop was the British Museum, where I’ve always wanted to test how the glass roof of the Great Court diffuses the light. I wasn’t disappointed.
Look at the smoothness in the lighting! Like we’re under a giant softbox. Delicious.
(Photo taken at 1/250, f/2.2, ISO 100)
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Because sometimes miracles do happen…
November 27th, 2010 § 1 Comment
I have a beautiful new Canon 550d!
I didn’t expect to be able to buy a replacement camera until at least the beginning of next year. Never, ever again will I take owning an SLR for granted.
I’ve been working every day since I buying the camera and haven’t had chance to use it apart from during lunch breaks and on journeys home, but I’m loving it already. It definitely feels an upgrade from my 450d in the way it works, even without the rather big addition of the movie mode. My degree was in filmmaking but I’ve never had anything of my own to film with, so this is a very exciting thing for me to have! I can’t wait to test it properly.
Today’s wanderings after work, taken with a 50mm 1.8 prime:
(Photo taken at 1/1250, f/1.8, ISO 200)
(Photo taken at 1/125, f/1.8, ISO 800)
(Photos taken at 1/40, f/1.8, ISO 800)
Autumn Walk
November 20th, 2010 § 3 Comments
The days are drawing in closer, and nights are growing long and cold.
I took advantage of a rare Saturday off work and went for walk in the woods with my brother to enjoy the last of the autumn.
(Photo taken at 1/320, f/6.3, ISO 320)
I love this season. It may be cold, but the colours are rich, the air is crisp and loaded with the rich smell of the fallen leaves that drift into heaps by the side of pathways. I refuse to grow out of jumping in these drifts, far too much fun.
(Photo taken at 1/60, f/5.6, ISO 320)
8 reasons to carry a camera everywhere
July 20th, 2010 § 33 Comments
If I leave the house without my camera, I feel like I’m missing a piece of myself. I know not everyone feels that way, so here are some more visual reasons to have it with you at all times:
With your trusty camera at your side you -
1. – are always able to capture those special memories as they happen.
(Photo taken on a phone camera - no exif available)
2. – will never miss a sunset!
Sunshine and Imperfection
July 20th, 2010 § 2 Comments
A few weekends ago, I was helping I was helping a friend with a music video project. Filming with him is always fun, he’s great to work with, and he has a drool-worthy range of equipment that I would be over the moon to own. As the day went on, however, I found myself getting frustrated by the… I don’t know… the preciseness of everything I guess.
Being a professional filmmaker, at least in projects like this, makes it all about using the perfect lens and ticking shots off the shot list. I missed the spontaneity of my usual photographic style. (My filming and my photography are interchangeable in my mind, the only difference I see between the two is that one of them moves.)
A few days later I went to stay with my very lovely friend in the fields of Norfolk, and we made our own film using her D90. Shedding the constraints of perfection, we used purposely dodgey, over-saturated colour settings to shoot shaky, handheld footage through a lens that had a smashed UV filter. We captured snippets of anything that caught our eye as we wandered through fields, jumped into rivers and trailed along the beach. It was so freeing and so, so much fun.
The finished video is imperfect, and I love that every moment is entirely unique to us. A four minute window into our very own summertime.
All together now… awww!
May 19th, 2010 § 11 Comments
Life has been hectic lately, and I haven’t been able to get out much with my camera. I’ve missed it dreadfully, so when I woke to sunshine and blue sky this morning I decided it was time to do something about it. I slung my camera in my bag, hopped on my bike and went off to see what’s new in the world.
My favourite discovery of the day was two gaggles of little goslings (Did you know a group of geese is called a gaggle on the ground, and a skein in the air? I didn’t.), one group a little older than the other. Each group had two guards standing watch, bobbing their heads at other birds, and me, in warning if we stepped too near.
(Photo taken at 1/250, f/4.5, ISO 400)
I fell in love instantly and filled my entire card with gratuitous photos of the little balls of fluff.
(Photo taken at 1/500, f/5.6, ISO 400)
