Nicola and Neil Engagement Session

Sunday it poured down, and to be honest I wasn't in the mood for getting drenched, so I was really glad when Nicola and Neil were also concerned I was going to drag them outside. We decided to stay inside.

The couple have a great home, incredible soft light poured in through French windows into the stunning contemporary reception area, so my job was made easy.

Both were a little nervous, but were soon put at ease and within minutes we had completed a whole range of poses. I tend to use the e-sessions as more of a practice photo session, rather than a dedicated shoot, so we practiced different techniques for getting spontaneous smiles and giggles.

Before long we had acheived just about all I needed to do, so we had a play with some ideas the couple wanted. Best of all Nicola and Neil were happy with the way I operated, and were more confident about spending time in front of a camera.

This was a perfect example of why I include a portrait session with my album packages.

Claire and Adam..........Sometimes its all in the detail

Here are few of my favourite shots from Saturdays wedding that I have processed so far. I was so struck by the location, the light and the fine attention to detail that I had to post a few images early.

Thrumpton Church was simply gorgeous, a perfect example of an old English Church, its tiny interior was subtly lit through some amazing old stained glass. The interior was very dark in places, but was beautiful where it mattered.

A stunning Bride in a simple traditional dress, given away by a very proud Mum, lovely.

A simple service, were the congregation also vowed to support the couple, extremely touching.

The Rose Garden was a stunning location for everyone to chat and mingle, the weather held off long enough for us to shoot the groups in this idillic location.

The Library provided a the perfect location for a few old fashioned portraits of the couple, as well as allowing the guestes to soak up the atmosphere of the location.

All in all, I had a fantastic day, the perfect couple at a stunning location, I could not have asked for better.

Newark Jazz Festival

Canon 1DMKIIN 120-300 f2.8 set to 300mm

Newark has become the location for one of the Uk's premier music events, those of you who have read my previous posts will already be aware that I am a huge music fan. I managed to use the oppurtunity to photograph some amazing artists from all over the Uk and abroad. Artists played in pubs, clubs, bars and restaurants all over Newark, some of the events required tickets, but most were free, opening up Jazz music to thousands who had probably not enjoyed the experience before.

The ultimate experience was the oppurtunity to see the great Jazz Legend George Melly, the wonderful blues singer, who had not been well recently, performed at the Palace Theatre. He was being filmed by the BBC for a documentary, and he was the ultimate entertainer even though he had to perform from a wheelchair.

Canon 1DMKIIN 12-24 set to 12mm

Canon 1DMKIIN 12-24 set to 12mm

Canon 1DMKIIN 24-70 set to 70mm

Canon 1DMKIIN 24-70 set to 70mm

Canon 1DMKIIN 24-70 set to 70mm

Canon 1DMKIIN 24-70 set to 70mm

Canon 1DMKIIN 120-300 f2.8 set to 300mm

Canon 1DMKIIN 120-300 f2.8 set to 300mm

I won't go into details, but I hope you like the images. More will be posted on my main site later this week.

Jammie Dodgers and Fogburn......

Alison and I decided to take a quick break and make the most of a quiet few days before the busy summer season kicks into gear.

Canon 1DMKIIN 24-70mm set to 70mm

We managed to get booked into a very nice little cottage in Coniston in the lake District. As usual with the Lakes the weather was changeable, erring on the side of wet, but on the whole the trip turned out to be the best idea we had in ages. It was a very relaxing and stress free few days away from e-mail and telephones, well worth the money.

Canon 1DMKIIN 24-70mm set to 24mm

We spent a few days on the hill, but most of the time we just toddled about the area, wandering around the lakes and mooching around the shops. We did have a wonderful evening on the solar powered Coniston Launch, this super quiet tourist boat took us around the Lake as the sun set, we even enjoyed a bottle of wine. Lucy was very well behaved, especially after we let her look over the side at the water.

Nikon P1 compact camera

Our only really wet day was the day we decided to climb the Old Man, we took the miners track past the old workings to the top. It was quite a site to see the disused buildings that have fallen into disrepair, it must have been an extremely arduous job working moving green slate and copper ore on the mountain, especially when you have to walk all the way up there to start your working day.

Canon 1DMKIIN 24-70mm set to 24mm

Canon 1DMKIIN 24-70mm set to 50mm

Visibility was down to less than 20 metres on the top, Lucy, who had behaved wonderfully on the journey up, had become covered in a fine layer of mist that had frozen on her whiskers. As we sat out of the wind enjoying a cup of tea and a jammie dodger I could feel my head getting warm. When we got down it seems that even though the weather was poor I had still managed to burn the top of my baldie head. I should have put on my hat earlier.

Canon 1DMKIIN 24-70mm set to 24mm

Canon 1DMKIIN 24-70mm set to 24mm

Changing Seasons

Canon 1DMKIIN 24-70 set at 70mm

One reason why I particularly enjoy walking my dog Lucy, is getting the oppurtunity to connect with the great outdoors and watch the seasons change. Here are a few images from yesterday, Lucy was doing her thing in the undergrowth, so I took the oppurtunity to do mine.

Canon 1DMKIIN 24-70 set at 70mm

Canon 1DMKIIN 24-70 set at 50mm

What an fantastic job

Canon 1DMKIIN 24-70 lens set to 70mm

I am always amazed at just how lucky I am, I may not be, financially, the richest person in the world, but I am rich in another respect. I get to meet some of the most interesting, and inspiring, people as well as getting involved in some fascinating projects.

Last week I got to meet Scott, he is an inspiration to all of us who want to better ourselves and do something for their local community. He was a mineworker for 15 years, working a tough physical job, in extreme conditions for long hours and for very little pay. After many years of soul searching he made the decision to do something different with his life and he went back to school. Now 5 years later he now teaches the very course he did, and now inspires others to make the move to improve their own lives.

Canon 1DMKIIN 24-70 lens set to 70mm

A simple decision on his part not only enabled him to improve his own lot, also means that others get to improve their lives. His ability to communicate with, and encourage, others was quite apparent, his friendly attitude proving popular with his students and those he works with. He is someone that we should all aspire to be like.

Good Luck for the future Scott, you are an inspiration to us all.