Rare Night Out

Anyone who knows me also knows just how much I like good quality music, I love to go and see live bands in concert of all genres but I really appreciate good Jazz played in small clubs and venues.

Saturday night was a rare oppurtunity for Alison and myself to go out, as I am usually working, but I had deliberately kept this weekend free as Curtis Stigers was coming to town and playing in our local flea pit the Palace theatre.

I was never a fan of Curtis in the early nineties when he had a string of rather mediocre hits here in the UK. I think it was his awful hair cut(or lack of it) and his bad collection of waistcoats but he was not for me. I was convinced to go and see him by Alison, as she had not had a night out in ages, I must admit I was really impressed, he is a very talented performer, and supported by some extremely talented musicians he absolutely stunned the audience.

He performed a range of tracks from his back catalogue as well as some of the newer stuff on his latest album, but I was most impressed by his covers, most of which were better than the originals.

Unfortunately photography is not permitted at the palace, so I don't have any images to post, but at least it gave Alison a night away from the camera.

Newark is hosting its annual Jazz Festival in a few weeks, something I am really looking forward too, I will be able to get some great images of the performers as they tour a range of pubs and clubs around town. I can't wait.

Two weeks old and oh-so sweet

Canon 1D MkIIN 24-70 mm set at 70 mm

After a busy couple of weeks I finally managed to get to see my new baby niece, Niamh Emma. She absolutely gorgeous, an expert at sleeping, (she must take after her Dad for that one). Brought into this world with the help of a surgeons knife, she is happy, and fitting fit, and keeping her parents, and Grandparents, busy. Mom is also doing fine, with strict instructions to keep still, I arrived to find her power-washing the patio(Mom that is, not Niamh), a bit sore but active as ever.

Canon 1D MkIIN 24-70 mm set at 70 mm

Niamh is the families’ first daughter; the two older brothers are very protective of her, even though they themselves are only 4 and 2 years old. I can see her being very well looked after, God help her first boyfriend.

The boys were busy helping their Dad build a new playhouse in the garden, as soon as the roof was on; they disappeared, only to reappear hauling their bedding into the garden. Apparently they wanted to spend the night in the new playhouse.

Canon 1D MkIIN 24-70 mm set at 50 mm

Helping Dad whack a few nails in....

Canon 1D MkIIN 24-70 mm set at 70 mm

Look at those eyes

Canon 1D MkIIN 24-70 mm set at 70 mm

Climbing a ladder, with help from Nana

Canon 1D MkIIN 24-70 mm set at 24 mm

New windows

Canon 1D MkIIN 24-70 mm set at 70 mm

Must be a bigger hammer in here somewhere

Canon 1D MkIIN 24-70 mm set at 24 mm

Out comes the bedding

Canon 1D MkIIN 24-70 mm set at 50 mm

Time for bed, probably not.

Big Skies

Canon 1D MKIIN 24-70mmf2.8 set to 24mm

Using colour to enhance your composition can be a useful tool to improve your images. One of the most effective ways of using colour is to use a single blanket of one hue to cover the majority of your frame, and then accent that colour with another.

Skies can produce some wonderful blues, depending on the direction of the sun, and the time of day they can be soft pale pastels or super saturated sheets of solid colour.

Canon 1D MKIIN 24-70mmf2.8 set to 70mm

I originally saw this image a simple black and white image, but when I downloaded the file from my 1DMKIIN, the blue just jumped out at me, a simple vignette and the image was complete.

A Few Days Off...

This Year I deliberately made the effort to spent Easter with my family, something that was almost always an impossibility, but this year I managed it.

Alison and I decided to get off our backsides and get away from home and go walking. We have always enjoyed walking and climbing but the last couple of years have been difficult to fit the time in. As we have done anything particul;arily difficult for quite a while we decided to stay fairly local and visit the Dark Peak area of the Derbyshire Peak District. Great hills, with loads of fantastic pubs, perfect.

Considering I used to be a volunteer member of a Mountain Rescue Team, and I was extremely fit, I really puffed up the first hill, Alison lead the way for quite a distance, but I soon found my pace and we managed a stroll along quite nicely. Our main summit was Mam Tor, the site of an ancient Bronze Age fort, which can be easily reached from the road, but we decided to attack the hill from the far side, which is much steeper and much more satisfying.

Lucy and I at the summit of Mam Tor.

On the summit were a large group of Parapenting enthusiasts, enjoying the thermals, one landed very close to use which upset Lucy,my Labrador, and set her off barking madly, but no harm was done.

The walk was over in a few hours, much shorter than we had planned, but this gave us plenty of time to enjoy the food in a local pub and enjoy a pleasant drive exploring the area.

Lucy recovering from her walk

We hope to continue walking this summer, when work allows, there is something special about the hills.

Lincoln Wedding and Event Show




Just a short post to thank all those who came to visit my stand at the Lincoln Wedding and Event Show at the weekend. I had a great day, met loads of new couples and a even a few who have contacted me previously.


My stand was postioned between a Fetish Corset manufacturer and a Teddy Bear stand. A change from the usual exhibitor at Wedding fairs, but at least we had a great time. I met up with several other photographers, and exchanged ideas and discussed the future of the business. Some of us are considering an evening out on the town, something I am really looking forward to.


Thanks again everyone, hope to see you all soon.