My best friend's wedding

So this weekend just gone, I photographed a great friend's wedding party in West Sussex - but it was so hot that it looked more like a farm in Africa than in England! Their lush green lawns were replaced with parched brown grass but I did manage to find a little avenue of green to the side of the house for that quintessential English look. My friend got married in the Caribbean where she lives and ironically, it was hotter on the day of her English wedding than it was on the island of St John! Sadly they couldn't work it into their budget to fly me there but I felt honoured to be so much a part of their day here and to record this family event. Of course I did the 'line ups' as I call them but mostly love doing the candid stuff. Couldn't resist the kids having their picnic, nor a picture of the bride's 87 year old aunty who still travels the world and communicates with her boyfriend happily on text! At the party, we also had a well know cricket commentator, Abramovich's helicopter pilot (my son, being a chelsea supported, was impressed most impressed!) and of course the American groom and his family who were just great, really lovely people....not to mention 'my' English family too!

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English Summer

You just can't beat a hot English summer!

Waiting......

I love this image not least of all because it is exactly how I feel today in the follow on of my car accident 3 weeks ago......thankfully I'm ok now, but am bored and fed up of waiting, waiting, endless waiting on hold to car insurance, gap insurance (thank god I took that out!), car hire, solicitors, car dealership etc and so forth.

This young girl was actually waiting for me to photograph parents, godparents and baby at a recent christening job - whilst they were working out who was going to be in which photo, I saw this girl and thought to myself what a brilliant image it would make - not only her expression and composure but also the textures of the corrugated iron and wooden bench - I pictured it in black and white as I took it too. Often these sort of images won't come out as you wanted because they are a rushed image, but this one was spot on - well, for me anyway!

Lighting and Portraiture II Course

At the weekend, I went on the Lighting and Portraiture II course with Phil Richardson of Melen Studios. Our subject for lighting was firstly inanimate objects and then the lovely Kayleigh who was far more fun - or funny, is a better description!

Phil showed us how to set up our own lighting set up for the product photography, first starting with styrofoam shapes and then moving onto trickier shiny objects. The reasoning behind the round and square styrofoam was for us to play around with moving the lights to create shadows and thereby creating the 3D effect. The coffee tin proved much harder due to the shiny surface but again, we had to move lights around and photograph from a certain angle to get a clean shot without our reflections in.

Then onto Kayleigh who made for some interesting photos. In the first instance we learnt how to create a white background using the lights and a light meter and then we created other shots with a darker background but using a snoot and coloured paper to create a coloured 'halo' effect around her head. Phil was great because instead of setting up the shot and letting us just photograph it, we had full control to move lights and direct the model how we wanted - both of which is not easy but then if you don't do it yourself, you never learn. Kayleigh was great, so professional, which helped when it came to suggesting poses, but she was also very happy for us to direct her as well, no matter how odd it seemed to her! In all, it was a great day, lots of fun and learnt lots. This course is one of many that are incorporated in Melen Studios Diploma course based in Gaddesden Row, near Potten End, Herts. For more info, see Phil's blog (linked to mine) or go to http://www.melencourses.co.uk/

My first ever blog...

Finally I have entered the world of blogging! Through my life, I've often written diaries or little bits about what is going on in my life but the idea of 'blogging' (great word!) is something I have resisted for a good couple of years wondering who on earth would be interested in other people's lives! But actually, I guess it's much like having a camera in your hand recording people and events....only this way you are writing about it. Having started my professional life as a chef, then worked in travel, I am now a photographer and just love that I can capture moments in time that can never be repeated. And so let the blogging begin....... :)