APCO VISAT HP

NEW HEIGHTS

After a good spell of weather (at last) I have managed to start paramotoring. It will open a new way for me to create some awesome photography and although it does away with the silent flight of paragliding, the accessibility and opportunity it offers for me to go where I want and create images from the air is perfect. Lets see what's possible to capture! 

PICTURE PERFECT - PART 3

COSFORD AIRSHOW 2013

With what started as a marathon voyage to get into RAF Cosford concluded as an excellent day out with my Dad. Nearly 4 hours to get into the show that is only 1 hour drive from my parents house, but it was well worth it.

I have amazing memories from the airshows as a youngster and I remember my first encounter with a fast jet as if it was yesterday, the twin jet engines being the loudest sound my young ears had ever experienced as the jet departed RAF Fairford with twin afterburners blazing and rocketing into the sky and disappearing into the clouds within seconds leaving a wake of car alarms shrieking and an astonished young lad wondering how anything could be so fast and so loud!

It was great to take my Dad to an airshow and with the sun shining and awesome displays from all the pilots it was a Sunday well spent! Take a look at a few shots from the day below.

THE BUSHCRAFT SHOW 2013

Just finished 3 days shooting at the Bushcraft Show 2013 at Elvaston Castle in Derbyshire. The Bank holiday brought much needed sunshine and the event was very successful and busy. The work load was tough as I was producing video and photography and could have done with the ability to be in two places at once. I will thank Anne though who was a great help throughout the weekend!

The images look great and I am positive the edited film will look just as good. I even managed to eat a live bug at the Bear Grylls stand. Actually tasted pretty good!

The organisers managed to fly a group of Massai dancers over from Africa (who they and a bushcraft school have been working with out in Africa) so they could perform traditional dance. They sold beadwork and there was a charity auction to help raise funds for there village back in Africa. It was a great experience to see them dance and the auction raised several thousand pounds. 6 out of the 7 dancers had never been outside of there native village and I couldn't help but smile to see 7 traditionally dressed Massai dancers stood eating baked potatoes from the spud van, it was good to see and the whole event would have been an amazing experience for them. Great work!

See www.thebushcraftshow.co.uk to get any details for the 2014 show.

SILVERSTONE RALLY DRIVING

An awesome Birthdays present from my parents to do a rally experience on a circuit next to Silverstone. I think this is about the only time I have been happy for the weather to rain. You can't drive a rally car without some good mud! It was extremely fun, starting with a circuit with one of the instructors to explain the turns and the hand break technique on the corners and then it was my turn to do 8 laps of the circuit.

It was a great bone shaking experience and after a couple of laps it was possible to get the speed up. Very noisy and bumpy as you would expect from this kind of driving and just as I started to get the hand break turns smoother and the corners memorised the laps were over! It was a great gift and one I very much enjoyed and will remember for a long time.

My Dad also took a circuit as a passenger with one of the instructors to get a taster experience. He enjoyed the lap!

Great fun!

BREEDON PRIORY HEALTH CLUB

Just finished a day photographing Breedon Priory Health club. A health club in Derbyshire that has new ownership and a very nice renovation. The job went well and the images have turned out great and both myself and most importantly the client were very happy with the results.

Just a couple of shots from the day.

PICTURE PERFECT PART 2 - FEATURE

I have completed my second of four photography feature that is being published with the Bushcraft and Survival Skills Magazine. Its good to share a little knowledge and hopefully inspire a few people to think more about there photography. Plus its always nice to see you work published.

30th BIRTHDAY

Right, I'm going to come clean, I have posted this under my birthday date of 30th of March. Truth is, its now nearly June so that's almost two months since my last post and I have back dated the post! Still, never mind and lets get onto the post...

My Birthday was celebrated with family in Birmingham and then followed by an awesome trip into Snowdonia National Park.

My parents had hosted the meal and we had a top-notch Chinese meal with all the trimmings. I wanted a few bits to set the party atmosphere so ordered a few paper lanterns and joked with my Dad about making a table decoration. But my Dad being the creative guy he is delivered a stunning paper dragon made of 100's of pieces of paper and it was amazing! A true talent.

The night was great and everyone enjoyed themselves. A big thank you to my parents for a great meal and Birthday and thank you to everyone for the gifts.

Anne and I then ventured across to wales to the Snowdonia National Park camping and exploring. Below are a few pictures from the trip and its clear to see that the weather and mountains were spectacular. We also explored along the coast on the Lleyn Peninsula. An all round great trip and memorable 30th Birthday!  

PICTURE PERFECT PART 1 - FEATURE

This is the first of four features I am writing for the Bushcraft & Survival Skills magazine based on a beginners guide to photography. The first issue covers cameras and equipment. I will post the others as and when they are complete.

LIVE IN LEEDS

Willy Mason

Ventured up to Leeds on Friday night to see singer songwriter Willy Mason over from the US. 

Held at The Wardrobe in central Leeds, being a very compact venue mixed with this genre of music made for a very civilised gig.  

I decided to take a tricky and light camera setup to see if I could grab a couple of nice shots and challenge myself with this awkward setup. 

Using a fast f1.4 manual focus lens to make use of what light was available resulted in a good few shots that I was pleased with. The large aperture resulted in razor thin DOF and the manual focus was ultra tricky. 

I love the mood and ambience captured shooting in such an environment and I couldn't help but indulge in capturing some nice bokeh patterns from the lighting at f1.4.

30 DAYS to 30

I am 30 years old at the end of this month. I wouldn't say I was too bothered about getting to 30 but it does hit home how fast life flies past! I think its time to really focus and get that further list of achievements nailed. First on the list... up my game on the blues harp?