TIME FLIES - A NEW YEAR

Ok, so my New Year's resolution was to keep on top of my blog. With less than 30 minutes left before the start of February I guess I got off to a bad start! January has been pretty much wet and windy, with a brief spell of warm weather (for the time of year) and ending with a huge dump of snow leaving the UK stressed and at a stand still! The snow has now gone and it seems to be gale force winds with the odd thunderstorm thrown in to end January 2013.

I have managed to get a good start on my time lapse project that will be running throughout 2013 (see image below) and I am dreaming of Spring sunshine so I can get some proper motorbike touring in the bag. Roll on Spring!

Note to self: must keep blog up to date from now on.

Love the 5D (MKII)

At last I have got my hands on a 5D (MKII) (Plus lots of other amazing kit) and I am loving the results!

What can I say, this new equipment is really bringing a new dimension to my creative work. Two weeks until we go to New York State to give it a real test run!

Happy Birthday Dad!

Big Birthday for my Dad. The folks spending a couple of days with me in the Peaks.

FIRST SHOW REEL

I have released my first show reel!

Take a look at:

http://vimeo.com/36269497

First Meet - Peak Photo Group

Today was the first meet of the Peak Photo Group that I have organised. Very windy but a good day. This was the comment I left about the day...

A very windy day but a successful meet. Nice to meet the folks who attended, a very friendly bunch. The weather provided some dramatic lighting and we all managed to get some good pics and learn a few things. Good food as well! Until next time................

White Diamond

Watch here, please read the info to understand the concept! http://vimeo.com/35431404

"This is a short film with a bit of a twist. A good friend approached me with the news he was planning to propose to his girlfriend. He carried on to tell me that he was hiring a screen in The Electric Cinema Birmingham, where they would be watching a film (a Birthday gift to her) and asked if I would help him create a cool short piece to display at the end of the movie for the build-up to him then proposing.

We wanted him to star in the short film but wanted to try and keep his identity masked until the end, to create an element of surprise. The Idea of the film was to show the process of what he had done to get to the stage of asking the question, i.e asking her Dad for permission and obtaining the ring, to the ending with him preparing himself for the big question and finally the reveal (which was shot within the exact location to where they were sitting at the time of watching the film!) To add some drama and to make it interesting, we incorporated a vintage theme with a twist of artistic license and as it was being played on the big screen, used some big cinema music. With a simple budget, a lot of laughs and a little time, this is what we created.

Did she say yes? Thankfully she did! So congratulations and all the best to them both for the future!

Created by me:
Andy Childs www.clockworkcloud.com

Featured:
Electric Cinema Birmingham: http://www.theelectric.co.uk/

Music:
Setting Sails - Orchestral Filmmusic Collection by Marc Teichert
http://www.jamendo.com/en/album/67944

Gone With The Wind - Filmmusik by Weighless http://www.jamendo.com/en/album/45867

(Note: Seems to be a lot of whiskey drinking, beer drinking and then driving going on in the film - Dutch courage, remember it is only a film, we didn't and don't condone it either!!)"

New York, New York (State)

An exciting commission in New York has been confirmed for Late April. That is all I will say on the subject for the moment, but it's going to be an awesome trip!

The Peak Photo Group

I have setup The Peak Photo Group on the Meetup website. Designed for social networking, and to build skill sets from beginners to advanced. The Peak District National Park is an amazing place to create art and meet new people with a passion for photography and the outdoors.

http://www.meetup.com/THE-PEAK-PHOTO-GROUP/

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Wishing you all an adventurous, exciting and prosperous 2012.

These are my first pics of 2012, intense weather over the Peak District National Park results in some beautiful and moody captures.

MURMURATION - DANCE OF THE SKY

Always wanted to witness a murmuration and today was the day. Left 3.00am (I took my Dad, he was impressed by the display but not the 3.00am). AMAZING!

Here is some info about the film:

COMING FEB 5th 2012

A short film capturing the magic display of the murmuration. Occurring during the winter months here in the United Kingdom, starlings travel from Northern Europe to escape the harsh winter weather and stay until roughly the end of Feb, where they will then return home.

Each morning the birds leave together in sometimes numbers reaching the millions and reform at dusk where they will regroup in large numbers. If you are lucky they will put on a magic almost fluid display of swooping and diving until the decision is made to land at the roost, where the birds will shoot from the sky, diving into the marshes until the next morning.

For the science behind the murmuration please do a simple search within the internet to find the answers. There is plenty of information out there, but I believe the true reasoning is still somewhat of a mystery.

Released on Feb 5th 2012 an exciting short film capturing the magic of these displays. One not to be missed and a true wonder of the natural world.

http://vimeo.com/32462664

GLIDE TRACK

This is a sweet little bit of kit. Home built, works a treat, have had some good test shots from her so looking forward to lumping it up some mountain to add an extra 5kg to my load ;) its all in the name of art.

Keep an eye for future shots in my films, yep this is the culprit.

Cool little vid:

http://vimeo.com/32475596

NEW BOOK

Here is my new promotional book. 64 pages, A5, full litho printed. Looks great. Nice to have a physical book printed and to have a flick through. Want one? Drop me an email.

andy.childs@clockworkcloud.com

HIDDEN WATERS

An adventure to fish the remote and beautiful tarns of the English Lake District. Featuring Paul Richardson - Brand Manager & Designer for Wychwood Game.

http://vimeo.com/30457070

WAITING FOR THE SNOW

Whilst waiting for mother nature to deliver the Winter snow and let us ski, we wait patiently and decide to make a short film about what we love best. Flying.

http://vimeo.com/26698009