April 2012

16th April 2012

Lovely Easter break in Palma Nova Majorca, now refreshed and raring to go.

So whats on the schedule for the rest of this month...A wedding blessing this weekend with a wonderful couple, Alex and Dina, lots of processing to catch up on and, hopefully grabbing the opportunity to get out and about to make more wonderful images.
In the meantime here are a couple more for you to peruse. Please feel free to comment on if you wish

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Looking north into Newcastle along the Swingbridge, with the Castle in the distance and the High Level bridge to the left

The last remnants of the evening light glistening of the Sage along Gateshead Quayside

A lovely view of Newcatle late evening

6th April 2012
For the record..........here we are into April already. The weather has been so quirky, we have had wonderful warm summery days, cold wet and windy weather and snow all in a very short period. On top of the that alot of the country is suffering from a drought and a hosepipe ban has been enforced.

Time to talk about one of life's more important areas....photography. Everywhere you turn people have cameras capturing a moment in time, taking something special that they maybe able to look back on and enjoy. And I think its wonderful that so many people enjoy this creative art, but what really gets my back up is when you have set everything up, the camera is primed and ready on the tripod, you have checked and rechecked your composition, taken a couple of test exposures and made any minor adjustments and now you wait for the moment......... the right moment which maybe a very short window of opportunity but, you instinctively know its just about there when.....some ignorant so and so, who may I add has been standing watching what your're doing, decides to wander right in front of the camera at the most critical time and before you get the chance to take a shot he's gone and the moment has gone with it. So please be aware and considerate when us photographers are spending - sometimes ages - setting up and waitng for the right moment to capture a scene, which may only last a fraction of a second.
There thats my moan out of the way, you have to sometimes.

I am including more images from the Lake dirstrict, and nearer to home, Newcastle. 

I just love the lakes and never get fed up with its amazing scenery, I could easily spend the rest of your life there taking photographs and being memerized by the incredible views. Here are a couple more, this time from Friars Crag on Derwentwater.

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Newcastle

Its actually amazing when you have a good look around at some of the beauty we also have nearer home. Ive recently spent some time capturing new images of Newcastle and around the quayside which I would like to share with you.

Some of this new work was taken at one of my favourite times of the day - dusk. Mixing a blend of wonderful views with the late dregs of the ambient light and the street and building lights.

Compare those to the sinster looking images which I captured when there was a heavy fog hanging over the river Tyne. These images were captured between 6 and 7.30ish. Its actually amazing to see people still staggering around after a couple of drinks in the town. A special mention has to go to a friendly young chap who stopped for a chat walking home along the Tyne Bridge. He was interested in what I was doing as well as being into photography himself. As he stood there the smell from his take away pizza hung in the air - I really wanted a slice and was disappointed that he didnt offer me a piece. Its hard work being a photographer at times!!. But also nice to see that not all young people who are drunk are thugs...............just greedy.

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March 2012

March 2012

Where does the time go?
There are literally not enough hours in the day. Ive been quite busy of late so feel its about time I gave some time to my blog.....not that I get alot of feedback but, its therapeutic and lets you know what Im up to.

In my last blog I said  "So whats next for the blog......I shall be processing and posting images from Durham, Staithes and Whitby, watch this space"
So, I'm going back to February (well I suppose its no too far back is it). I hadnt had alot of time recently to do some new stuff but, in Febraury I managed to grab a few spare hours and got up early to capture the early morning in Durham.
The night before I checked my kit and felt quite excited about getting up early (strange bunch us photographers). The alarm goes off (I was actually awake) after a restless night pointed the car in the direction of Durham.
It was a very cold but beautiful morning. The early morning light bringing out the wonderful contrast of colours

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February was also the pre-wedding shoot for Andrea and Russell in Harrogate. They brought along their two wonderful children and not forgetting the dog. A wonderful family, cant wait to do their wedding in May at Holy Island
The weather wasnt at its best but after a quick chat and a get to know you in the pub we headed off to Valley Gardens park.....a first for me, must go back there though when the park is alive with colour it's a beautiful area.

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Whitby

A visit to Whitby late afternoon in February.

I had anticpated the weather to be better but the problem is its so changeable this time of year. It was windy and at one point it wasnt worth getting out of the car as the rains started. I was about to give up when the rain eased - off to the pier. Judy had to stand behind me with a huge golf umbrella to protect me and the camera from the strong winds and spray coming off the sea.

This is couple of the images

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Staithes

Also in February I went to the beautiful fishing village of Staithes - one of my favourite places to photograph.

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Derwentwater...more images soon.....



February 2012

Monday 27th February 2012
Still lots to catch up on and not enough hours to do.
Quick catch up - Been really busy of late, I even managed to get out and do some landscape work too, I was so excited to get out images to follow later from Durham, Staithes and Whitby.
I have updated my web site to include lists of events and fayres I shall be attending this year. This weekend, I shall be attending the following events and would love to see you there:-

SATURDAY 3rd MARCH 10.00am - 4.00pm, Washnigton Arts Centre Craft Fayre, free admission and parking
SUNDAY 4th MARCH Wedding Fayre at the Masonic Hall Chester-le-Street DH3 3DU 11.00am - 5.00pm, FREE ADMISSION

I have just finished processing images from the latest pre-wedding shoot at Harrogate, with the lovely Andrea, Russell, their two wonderful children Katie and James and not forgetting the dog - I shall post a few images quite soon.



Sarah and Michaels Wedding

Finally finished the post processing work on Sarah and Michaels wedding images.

These two lovely people were married at Washington Old Hall at the end of January.
The day started off at Sarah's mum and dads house for the wedding preparations. Everyone appeared totally relaxed and under control which makes my job alot easier. I started with a few shots of the shoes, flowers, perfume etc before grabbing a couple of shots of the bridesmaids and Sarah's lovely mam and dad and not forgetting Sarah and Michaels son Flynn, who was taking it all in his stride

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Then it was off to the wonderful Washington Old Hall to meet up with Michael and his best man Keith. Both guys appeared very super cool and relaxed. Unfortunately with the wedding taking place late afternoon it left little chance to get many shots outside plus, our great British weather wasn't on its best behaviour, however a (very) small break meant I got one shot of the guys outside before capturing more inside the Old Hall

The service was lovely and very atmospheric in the Old Hall.

After the lovely service It was time to capture soem intimate moments of the newly weds on their own.

The pressure for the Bride and Groom is off now and so its time for a few drinks and the reception. A wonderful time was had with live music from the incredible voice of Jeff Dingle (a runner up in one of the American X Factor series), give him a google and listen to his wonderful voice.

And finally a few compilations from many of the images taken on their wonderful day.

I really enjoy putting together all the images from a wedding its such a privledge and an honour to be a part of a couples wonderful day. And I hope you enjoy looking through some of them.

So whats next for the blog......I shall be processing and posting  images from Durham, Staithes and Whitby, watch this space.

January 2012

Out at Last - 28th January 2012

At last I managed to get the time to get out for some early morning photography. I must admit though I could quite easily have turned over when the alarm went off. But how pleased I was when it was such a beautiful crisp morning. The following images where taken before and during sunrise in Newcastle. I hope you enjoy looking at them.
Dont forget to leave a comment.

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The first image of the morning. I liked this viewpoint and the light was becoming quite interesting although a bit of a challenge to get a balance bewtween th ambient light and street lights. I knew that the slow shutter speeds would create light trails giving life to the scene.

Looking across the Tyne Bridge to Newcastle. A slow shutter speed helping to create movement from the bus passing on the right hand side. The pre-dawn light balanced against the street lights

Morning has broken. The sun rising over the Sage. This viewpoint providing a mix of architecture from the old chimney pots to the more modern Sage and Blinking Eye bridge.

Happy New Year - My first Post of 2012

I hope you all has a fanatastic Christmas and enjoyed celebrating seeing in the New Year. I, like alot of people I have spoken to have said, how quickly the last year has gone. The strange thing is yes it appears to have gone really quickly but in reality it just can't. I can always remember my wonderful Man and Dad, bless them, saying the same thing when I was a young lad, - yes I was young once.
For me it has gone quick and I think thats because I threw myself into my work and always had something creative to work on for my personal collection, or  a wedding to capture, or a tuition.

Since my last posting I have completed a winter wedding of a lovely couple Heather and David. The service was held at St. Bedes in Sacriston followed by the reception at the Baltic on Gateshead Quayside. The whole day was wonderful and went without a hitch.....well I say without a hitch, I got a parking ticket for not displaying a ticket. I had actually purchased the ticket but in a state of excitement - when I spotted the Bride and Groom arriving at the reception - I forgot to display it. I did appeal against it but the lovely people of Gateshead Council were having none of it.......thanks guys for your festive cheer and good will to all men bah humbug.

Anyway, onto the day itself. The day started at Heather's mum and dads house. I was amazed how calm everyone one was. I was made to feel most welcome and enjoyed catching the early preparations of the day.

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Then it was off to the church a mere 3 mins away, if that. It was clear on arriving at the church that the potential for doing alot of outdoorsy shoots weren't looking too good because of the very cold wind and the potental of rain, the last thing anyone wants is to hang around in the cold and rain waiting for your truly to take a few pictures. However, the boys were brave and we managed a few shots outdoors.

The service was conducted by a friend of Heather and David's and it was full of love and fun.

The reception was held at the Baltic Centre for Arts on the Gateshead side of the river Tyne. Hats off to Heather and David for braving the cold for soem great shots outside.

The day finished with some great speeches and the first dance was from a Beetles tribute band.

All in all a wonderful day....(apart from my parking ticket.....grumble grunble).

I would also like to give a mention to Lillian Pargeter. Lillian has been receiving photography tuition from me for a while now - and has produced some wonderful images (some of which she has printed onto canvas in her house). Lillian is so dedicated and always looked forward to getting out and about taking photographs either with me or, when out with her husband Dave. She also has a temporary home studio where she loves working.....love your enthusisam Lillian. However, Lillian has been unable to get out for a while and I just wanted to say that I look forward to getting out with you soon and wish you a very speedy recovery.

A mention also to Sandra Case. Sandra, who like Lillian has been having regular lessons and I think (fair to say) that her photography has improved immensly. Sandra drags her husband Taff around when she does her photography (just to carry her ever increasing camera kit lol). Keep up the great work Sandra. Here are two of her latest images from Warkworth Castle and along Hadrians Wall that Sandra has sent me recently.

Ok thats it for the moment. Back to processing more work. Hoping to get out and about myself soon its been a while with the wedding business as well.....but Im not complaining. Keep snapping!!.