Day 1 Favourite Song

Mumford and Son: Little Lion Man

Day One of the Facebook song of the day challenge

I have played Mumford and sons album endlessly over the last year. I had not heard of the until they played at Adelphi club. I had the chance of getting some tickets. Unfortunately I had not heard them and never bothered. It was a couple of months later that radio one had them as the artist of the week. Then I could have kick myself.

Rate yourself and rake yourself,

Take all the courage you have left

Wasted on fixing all the problems

That you made in your own head.

I love the lyrics on the entire album. Folksy with a dark edge to it.

Chocolate and Photography

This year I had set a goal that I wanted to get back to enjoying my photography. I have started a 365 day project

All though I have missed a few days due to work pressure and working nights I am still enjoying it. Been creative and unique every day I have found challenging. I have looked at several websites for inspiration. One I have enjoyed is Don GIannatti @wizwow

He runs Project52.org and gives a weekly assignment and a deadline. The one I wanted to do I missed the deadline because I want to take my time and do it while I was off work on annual leave.

The assignment was to shoot for a local cafe with the theme chocolate and the finished image was to be square.

So here is the basic set up. 430exii on sync cable. Shoot on manual. Shoot at between 1/4 and 1/8 power. A Jessops 360afd on slave, At 1/4 power for background. And a vivitar 285hv camera right for fill.

Last Live Hull at Street Life Museum?

Managed to get to another Live Hull gig at the street life museum in Hull. Unfortunately this is going to be the last one. But I'm sure this won't be the last we will see of Live Hull. There is to much talent in Hull for it to fall silent.

I watched the 10 o'clock show a couple of weeks ago and it made comment on how for every pound invested two are made. They also stated that during the second world war Winston Churchill was advised to cut founding to the arts he said "what are we fighting for" (quote from http://supportthearts.co.uk/).

 
This point is made in a museum. We can learn from history. During this recession more and more kids are struggling to find work, or a creative out let. The Warren project does this and more. Over the last two years I have seen young adults working their arses off to make these free concerts work so they can showcase their talents on stage. And take pride in themselves, their work and also their city.
These concerts cannot stop. There is to much talent out there going to waste.

February 2011 in Pictures

Second month of the 365 day project year two is now completed. Been quite a busy month had fun shooting a vintage wedding dress shoot was interesting to see how other photographers work. Missed a couple of days due to work and night shifts.

Here's a Flickr slideshow for February. Here is the link if you want to know how its done.

Vintage wedding shoot part 2

This is the second part of the blog for the vintage wedding dress shoot with Linda Davey. 1st part here showing close ups of flowers by Leafy Couture.

I had 1st made contact with Linda through Facebook group for small Yorkshire businesses. She had organised a photo shoot at Ingrow Vintage Carriages Trust Museum. So we went hoping to meet a few people that are involved with the wedding industry. I had not bargained for how much talent you could get in one place. The work that had gone into the shoot was stunning.

I spoke to Rob Booker who was the primary photographer about locations and lighting for the shoot. He had some very clear ideas of how the shoot would happen due to train times. The museum is part of a working line and has operational steam engines. The staff there are fantastic they where very helpful in giving suggestions of locations for the different shots we wanted.

The shots that I got are all natural light shot with a Canon 5d Mark-2 with a 24-70mm-L lens. Due to weather and train time tables we shot at a quick pace to get the shots and not let the models get to cold. All post production is with Adobe Lightroom.

Thanks to:

All the Staff at Ingrow Museum

Linda Davey at Dresses At No. 9

Flowers and Headpieces Leafy Couture and HF Couture

Hair styling by Donna Judson

And Rob Booker for letting me shoot with him Rob Booker

Vintage wedding shoot part 1

This is the 1st of two blogs. Last Sunday I attended a vintage wedding dress photo shoot with Linda Davey of No.9 dresses based in West Yorkshire. It was the 1st time that I had met Linda in person. We had sent several emails and Facebook messages. She seemed very excited about her launch of the new vintage range of wedding dresses.

This 1st blog is to show the work of Sarah Richardson from Leafy Couture. Judging from this selection of bouquets and posies her work is fantastic. She is the florist at a wedding I am covering in a few weeks. I am looking forward to seeing more of her arrangements.