This was our first visit to the Cantley House hotel Wokingham.
Claire & Will were a fantastic couple and even though it was very cold they were still “up for some fun”! Thank you for asking us to record your lovely day.
For some while now I have had the idea of a shoot based around the theme of Vampires and Twilight films. I found a location near to me which is a very old mausoleum on Okham common.
For most of the shoot I was using Off Camera Flash as the light was very low. Deepi from Beauty Republic did the fantastic make up and Ben Madle did a fine job of the hair. My model on this occasion was Eloria Bennett.
After the last two studio sessions I decided to try some other backgrounds on two of the images that I had taken in the studio.
I used Topaz Remask to cut the models out from the backgrounds. I liked the idea of using Urban Grunge type backgrounds. I think it works but would like to know what you think?
Back in December last year I had a go at creating some 50’s Hollywood shots and whilst I was quite pleased, I found that I hadn’t got the lighting quite right. So recently I decided that I would have another go. This time I paid much more attention to ensuring my metering was correct and NOT “chimping” on the back of the camera.
Again I was using my Bowens Gemini lights and used a number of different modifiers from Snoots to Barn Doors or simple hard reflectors. The key to getting the effect I found was to try and get a hard transition between the highlights and the shadows.
This time we had a new Hair Stylist who is the daughter of a friend of mine. I have to to say she was terrific and want to say a special Thank You to her. So thank you again Kate Healy you are a superstar!
Also a special thank you to my two models Holly & Emma!
Trying to recreate a 50’s Hollywood shot
Another interpretation of a Hollywood look
Anyway I have posted a couple of ones that I felt worked.
Let me know what you think.
For some while now I had been wanting to try and shoot a Studio Session using the same kind of lighting techniques that was used in the 50’s for Hollywood Style Fashion Studio’s. They used very hard lighting with very short shadow transitions. I had seen some old images in an old Picturegoer magazine and I have tried to recreate the poses and lighting styles that was actually used then. I have to say I found it a lot harder than I had thought.
A selection of images from the day.
Hollywood Style Lighting showing hard shadow transitions
I was recently asked if I would like to photograph a local band by the name of Isles at Jagz in Ascot.
Never having tried live music photography before I jumped at the chance. I took my Canon 1D MK1V with me rather than the 5D as I knew that I would need to use high ISO, particularly as I would be shooting with available light. I threw a number of lens into the bag, a 50mm f1.4, 85mm f1.8, 24-105mm f4 and a 70-200mm f2.8 but stupidly I forgot my wide angle 16-35mm f2.8 which was a big mistake.
I liked the idea of giving a retro feel to the shoot and wanted to try some funky angles and treatments to the finished images. All the images were finished using Lightroom 3 and I have used a number of their preset treatments like antique light. I think if I had had the wide angle lens I could have got more extreme perspective. Oh well next time maybe.
Any feedback greatly appreciated.
- Short Eared Owl in flight
I have recently discovered an area close to where I live where there appears to be approximately 6 short eared owls living.
From local birding contacts they appeared to have arrived some time in early November.
Yesterday afternoon I decided to head out and see if I could get any shots. Unfortunately the lighting was not great and although I saw a number of the owls they were quite a long distance away.
I think these two images are the best of the bunch.
Eagle Owl in Flight
I am not sure if you are like me but I become very attached to the images I take and have a real problem in deleting the images that are really no good. This year my New Year’s resolution is to religiously delete the ones that don’t make it. The problem is sometimes you look back at what you thought was rubbish and then you find one that somehow was a “keeper”. An example of this was recently I was desperately searching for an image to put into a club competition when I came across this image from about 2 years ago on a shoot I did on a Canon Pro day at the Barn Owl Centre in Gloucestershire. Strangely enough it got me a top score of 10. Now I am not so sure about my New Years resolution
As normal the weather over Christmas has not been very good which has been disappointing as I had 10 days off and wanted to get out with my camera and take some shots.
I decided yesterday to head over to the wetlands and wildlife centre at Barnes even though the light was awful and the skies were very grey.
I took my 500mm telephoto and thought I would at least practice trying to get some birds in flight. I was quite pleased with the result of this Herring Gull that I managed to bag. I had to dodge and burn a bit but think the result justifies the effort. Hope you think so too?