Tired, busy and preparing for the Annual Exhibition

It seems like ages since I last put a post up.  It may have something to do with the fact that my computer is in storage while I re-model my house.  Thankfully that is now coming to an end and I should be back home.

Photography wise it has been extremely busy!  A while ago I posted about an unusual job.  Well, the job was for the Nelson Branch of the Salvation Army.  They requested a group photograph to celebrate their 130th anniversary.  I was more than happy to oblige and due to the amount of good work they do also waved my normal sitting fee.

A couple of weeks ago a couple of friends and I took a night off from our usual camera club meeting and did a diversion in to Blackburn Town Centre to do some night photography.  I got some shots that I really like.  Here are a couple.

In the coming weeks I have been booked to give several talks.  One is a return to the Salvation Army to talk about my photography.  This one is also going to be the first outing of the finished Remnants project.  I've one location left that I really want to shoot and add to the collection to completely finish the project but the end is almost in sight, which to be honest is a bit sad as I have really enjoyed this one and still haven't thought of a follow up.

The second talk is for the camera club (Blackburn & District Camera Club).  A couple of us are going to a talk about those photographers that influence and inspire us.  I'll post after the talk as I don't want the subject to yet be know.  All I will say is that the opening line of the talk is 'In the words of Monty Python "Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition"'

This is the time of year for the Camera Clubs Annual Exhibition and just as the other memebers are, I am busy preparing.  We can enter up to 10 prints and 10 digital images.  The hard part is deciding what images to enter in which category.  It's one where you have to put aside your favourite images and try and second guess what a judge will like. The entry night is next Monday so good luck to everyone involved.  I will give reports as and when judging starts.

As far as competing goes I think this maybe my last year for a while.  There are a few photographic challenges that I want to complete over the next few years and the pressure of competing doesn't help.  So it may be time to step back a little and concentrate on what I want to achieve.

Anyway, we shall see what happens!

Never work with children or animals!!!

The old TV/Film/Photography addage is never work with children or animals.  I never really got that; yes, they can be hard work but actually, I quite like that.

The trick, for me, is to spend time with them.  Rolling children and animals in for a quick shoot doesn't work and doesn't produce great shots.  I don't mind if I spend an hour or a full day with them, so long as I come away with the shots I want, I am happy.

Yesterday afternoon, I did a photoshoot for a friend and a client that I have done work for previously.  This time it was their little dog, who was a nervous little fellow.

A little time spent and we came away with some lovely shots!  Now to the editing suite to get the final images ready.  Will post one or two when done!

Busy, busy, busy!

Well, its been quite a while since I last entered anything on to my blog and really there isn't much to tell!  Live has been so hectic that I haven't even had chance to pick up a camera properly apart from a couple of jobs for clients.

In the next few months some interpretation boards are going to be installed in Borough of Pendle's parks containing an array of my images including landscapes and wildlife shots.  Will post more nearer the time.

This week sees the start of competition season at Blackburn & District Camera Club.  I have four images entered in the digital projection section.  Will post results sometime next week.

This week I accepted a job for a rather unusual but interesting assignment.  I'm keeping it a bit close to my chest at the moment but I will reveal all in the coming weeks.

From This Point Back - Day Two

Early start this morning!

I had to pick up some prints for a client so it was off to the lab almost before the sun was up!

As part of the order I had some of my other stuff attached to the order.  I'm really impressed with the print quality so I have added them to the exhibition first thing this morning!

Autumn Morning





One from the archives!  The Lamp & The Light

What a gorgeous morning!  Shame I don't have time today to go out with the camera.  Let's hope there are more like it!  In fairness I did manage to get a couple of shots.

Yesterday afternoon was spent on a portrait shoot for a client.  Instead of being the traditional studio shoot we decided on a location session with a special treatment added to the resulting images to fit in with the decor of the clients home. 

The session went very well with a a variety of shots that I am sure the client will enjoy.



Remnants project well underway

Sitting on Herders Cross

Over the last year I have been working on a project entitled Remnants.

Remnants is a photo-study that explores mans relationship with stone and its effect on the landscape of Lancashire.

The project began with a short series of images based around the vaccary walls of Wycoller and has since expanded to incorporate stone features of varying ages from all over the old county of Lancashire.

Remnants is mainly a monochromatic work with a few treated colour images added to break up the continual moody monos. 

The photo-study is not just about stone.  Although there are very few images that include people in them (namely a couple of self-portraits) the people are there in a different way.  Their legacy is there, you just have to look from a different view point.

Another point that has shown up that I did not realise is the project follows a socio-religious path from Pagan worship sites to the rise of Christianity to it's death and the religion of captalism.

Remnants will be completed at the end of this year or early next year with the release of a self-published book by the same name.

More of the Remnants images can be seen on our fotothing and flickr pages.