December Blog Updates and a years round off.

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Well its been and gone, the Mariah Carey season again and with minimum fuss thankfully. Amy and I both had a quiet Christmas with one of Amy's Traditional, Untraditional Christmas dinners. No Turkey (its just a tough as old boots, fat bastard chicken!!!) for us. Pigs in blankets and Chinese spring rolls all around.

At the time of writing this blog we are now between Christmas and New Year with a time to reflect on what is coming up in 2025. I have already booked in with the studio for a series of dates in the new year up until May and hope to have some exciting shoots to do.

We are looking forward to travelling down to see my parents at this time of the year to see 2025 in. I hope also, weather permitting to be able to do a bit of landscape photography. We shall see …. fingers crossed.

The FIELD WORK vanity project book has been published and met with good approval thankfully. So on that basis I plan to do a few more in the new year. How about a Tyler Dyce retrospective special since I have done the bulk of my work (56 shoots) with her many moons ago?

So I shall be brief and wish you all seasons greetings I hope you enjoy this years ends round up and see you all soon in 2025.

Seasons gratings everyone.

X

Lujon Rael Portfolio 2024, A Year In Review Slideshow

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As its the end of the year its a chance to have a quick look back at what we have achieved this past year in shoots. Slightly less shoots than we did the year prior, but quantity never trumps quality so I hope I have hit the mark this year. Just as little foot note the music I have used for this slideshow for a track by The Patti Smith Group called 'Because The Night' and it was the first record I purchased as a young teen in Kettering many decades ago. It still sounds good even now. Enjoy.

Models: Various

Music: 'Because The Night' - The Patti Smith Group

Mercybongo & Munira Model Shoot

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Mercybongo was the star of Novembers shoot and s once again the star of this Christmas shoot, but bringing with her the equally amazing Munira Model. This sensual pair of models work well together and compliment each other. They are also lovely to work with. The clothing supplied by TEMU online shop we did two sets with one being an urban feel, camouflaged type clothing and the other more classic in red hooded ,maxi dresses. Assistance on the day and thanks go to both Shadrine at Kavour Beauty and Phil at The Boardroom Studio, Derby. help was invaluable

It was all in all a great way to finish off the year on a high and as an extra bonus my old friend Monalisa Moyo dropped in to say Hi!. We will be seeing more of these models in the new year.

Until then ….

December Flower Updates

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This time of the year seems like one big procession of thankless, but none so more needed for our friends at The Bramblesrist and Flowers to yours who consistently through the year provided top quality and interesting flowers for us to snap. And this month has been no exception. We did get a gerbera again … this time a yellow one … but captured a bit darkly this month on the black and whites. The white images is more a dirty grey for some reason. I did not clean it up in Photoshop as I probably normally would, and just left it as it was. I like it. Thanks then to Amy who has also assisted me with all the flower shoots and made my life a lot easier.

Thats it for this year, so have a great New Years celebration. We will be off to watch a couple of DVDs on Sharks and a glimpse at the lovely Jools Holland with my Mum this years end. So see you all in 2025

Lujon Rael will return …. x

November Blog update, still no sight but who cares … Christmas is soon here !

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Welcome back to my little corner of the web.

Straight off let me apologies for again dishing up a short blog. Simple fact is that due to my diminished eye capacity its been a bit slow. Its getting seen to, but the Hospital is being a bit coy about if it will return? But look on the bright side …. I could be in Jail as the lyrics go to a Prefab Sprout track called 'Spinning Belinda' And besides I still have another eye so nothing stopping me just using that as I have been doing.

This month we said hello again to the lovely Mercybongo for her ninth shoot with me and Shadrine. We all went to The Boardroom Studio in Derby for its ambience and charm as we like to do. And I think we got some good stuff done that day. Oh and by the way, I am publishing a book of all the highlights I have done with Shadrine (not quite every picture), but one from each shoot. book is a vanity project and its called FIELD WORK

I hope you enjoy this months short blog and hope to show a bit more next month. I will see you all again in Mariah Carey season also known as Christmas. So be safe and enjoy the show

x

Mercybongo Shoot at the studio. 'GOLD'

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Its always a good shoot when Mercybongo rides into town. She is such a great model and genuinely happy person to work with. This is our ninth shot together and the theme this shoot was gold. Shadine was on hand to add a gold flaky texture to her face using Vaseline and gold makeup. I thought we might not get a lot done this shoot as it is very time consuming, but it turned out good timewise. It was also Mercybongos first time attending the shoot without Carl and driving herself. Well done … you can do it, nothing to worry about.

We will be seeing Mercy again in December when she does a two model fashion shoot with Munira Model. Needless to say I am looking forward to that. So thank you then to everyone there. To Mercy. To Shadrine at Kavour Beauty and Phil at The Boardroom Studio, Derby. Although Amy was not there she provided the food so another thanks to her.

November Flower Updates

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You can’t beat a gerbera …. they are such a photogenic flower. South Africas pride and joy, the gerbera never fails to impress … if a kittle over used sometimes.So thanks then to our friends at The Bramblesrist and Flowers to yours who have provided us with a wonderful selection of flowers to work with this month.They are getting the shop ready for the Christmas silly season, so thanks to Chris and the ladies at the Bramblesrist and Flowers to yours and Amy for her help.

This is a very short month again, but we will be back in December with all new stuff. Apologies once more for the shortness of it. Please don't let this put you off coming back next month.

Until then, take care and see you all again (all three of you!) soon x

October Updates and I lost a whole bunch of stiff as well as my eyesight in one eye

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Welcome back to my little corner of the web.

Its going to be a short blog this month as I had a bit of a month off. There was to be a shoot at the start of October, but due to circumstances beyond my control I had to move it to the 11th of November. On top of which I have lost some images I created for the digital art folder? Where they have gone I don't know, although I have a sneaky suspicion that I might have deleted them by mistake. Oh well. ….. And to add insult to injury to my left eyes is out of use because some blood vessels have exploded in them and covered my vision. I have been to my local A&E as well as spoke with my GP. They have done an emergency referral to Clinic 8 to have them do something about it. I am still waiting for them to contact me and now writing this blog is a little bit difficult. So maybe its a good thing its a quick one.

Just before I go I would like to say a warm thank you to my parents for traveling to see us both and take me to the Steve Hackett concert. Luv Ya x

Enjoy the blog and see you next month I hope x

Still Life Update

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This month I did manage to do some still life stuff, some of which were left over unedited from September. These are all of vegetables and past their best flowers. As always thank you to Amy for her help.

Amy's Street Photography for the 'Streets of your town' site

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October Flower Updates

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Our friends at Brambles Florist and Flowers to yours who have provided us again with some great selection of flowers to work with. A special stand out is the kangaroo feet flower. It is so photogenic and easy to edit, the shape is everything. Thanks then to Chris and the ladies at Brambles Florist and Flowers to yours and Amy for her help.

That is it for this month. Apologies for the shortness of it. Please don't let this put you off coming back next month.

Until then, take care and see you soon x

September Updates and the Cops are after me for stalking (a building) !!!

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Welcome back to my little corner of (Pentonville Prison) the web.

The seasons have changed from Summer to Autumn and the bad weather it can bring before Winter.There was a very short but welcome Indian Summer, which was nice while it lasted, but gone now. realised that I only have two shoots left this year and so should give good thought to what I am going to do next year in 2025? I know its cliche to say, but where has all the year gone?

So what is all this about the Police being after me. In truth that statement is a bit exaggerated as nothing came of it in the end. Sunday at the start of September Amy and I with James our taxi driver went out to do a bit of landscape and architecture photography. It was a but drizzly out but that did not stop us visiting a Roman hill and another smaller mound near B&Q for the landscape part. After which we drove the short distance to the Amazon Depot, because I like its design. More toi t I like all the lines that are in the design of the structure. So we stopped in front of it and then a short drive to the side of the building. There were CCTV cameras there which was no surprise and a mentioned at the time that we might get reported for taking these snaps. Sure enough we did. After James dropped us off at home he called back saying that Amazon had contacted the Taxi company and informed them that they would call the police. Apparently I had been stalking the building? Quite how you go about stalking a building I don't know and everyone I mention this fact to is also baffled by it. There was no need to panic over it as we had not committed any crime and last thing I can remember is that its not illegal to photograph a building. So I called the Police myself and gave them my details, address phone number and explanation for the call. Asking them if they want to come around and see me that would be great. Four weeks later now and I am still waiting for them. I would like to think that somewhere a more common sensed view prevailed and they realised that if I were a criminal 'casing the joint' as they say, I would hardly turn up midday on a Sunday in a taxi .. that would be pretty stupid and almost as idiotic as saying that I was stalking the building in the first place.

We got to work with a new model this month at the studio. Eva Mengling Pu travelled up to see us and the team set to work making it a memorable day with so great pictures. There was going to be a shoot in October, and none in November, but that has had to be changed around due to circumstanced in Shadrine’s family. No problem we are all go for the 11th of November instead.Thats it for the round up of this month so thanks for dropping by and enjoy the show. X

PS. OMG ...I have just heard a loud knock at my front door ? …. It could be the Police !!!!


Still Life Update

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This months Still Life images feature the dried up and dying stills from last months flower pictures. I like the quality and textures of decay. As much as rust can look great colour wise on an old piece of iron, so decay, like Autumn, can throw up beautiful hues.

Eva Mengling Pu First Shoot

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I wanted to work with someone new to me and was approached by oriental model Eva Mengling Pu to do a shoot together. She travelled a long way to attend the shoot, so only thought it fair to put her up in a hotel for the night. So come the shoot day, she was full of life and eager to get involved with the day in front. Eva was great and a pleasure to work with. Getting some almost Halloween ish sets done, although that was not the original aim of the set. There are as well as some Art Deco inspired theme shoots. Thanks then to all involved with the shoot. To Shadrine at Kavour Beauty for all the hair and beauty. To Phil Lynam and his studio at at The Boardroom Studio in Derby. And to Amy for her help and sourcing the materials. Thank you all.

Project – 'Architectural Metaphor ' Update

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This is it folks, this is what all the fuss was about!

The front, back and sides of our local Amazon Depot I have been asked why I take pictures of these, soulless buildings, but I like them. Its all in the lines. Note the lines in the walls and even the lines of the road markings. Lines lead the eye into a composition, and I am captivated by them. So there you have it was the lines Officer …. And to this day, they still have not come to arrest me?

There are also a few shots thrown in of a new building next to my GP's surgery. Very square, very uniformed.

Project – 'Landscapes' Update

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On the same afternoon that we took pictures of the Amazon Depot and caused a minor stir, we also took some snaps of a Roman hill. I say it is Roman, although I have no actual proof of this, only what my taxi driver friend James said it is one. It does look man made. As well as having few interesting trees growing on the top of it. Also taken that day is another view of a tree on a small hill (first picture) that I first viewed when Amy and I were on our way back home from our parents. It can be seen through a gap in the trees opposite the local B&Q depot. I had thought for a time that I had imagined the view from the depot as the mind plays tricks on you, but yes it was real and James and his taxi took us there to capture its fleeting splendour.

Random Stuff !!!

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On a trip into town the other week I got dropped off in a taxi as near as I could to the market place (what's left of it anyway!!) and walked the rest. This is when I took a better look at what was around me to see if I could make any pictures out of it. And I was lucky. There is a scene waiting to be captured of some beer barrels outside the back of a pub, in a blink and you will miss it corner of the lane. I stood looking at it seeing if it worked, then sat down to take its composition. It looked a bit dark and dingy, which was perfect for the image I had in mind. The results are as follows below along with a second set of pictures taken of a side of an old house, with more wall than windows and peeling of paint. I think these pictures work, but I just don't have a file they can go in on the site. So I am showing them only on this blog as extras and random stuff/ I hope you like them?

Amy's Street Photography for the 'Streets of your town' site

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Amy is still beavering away at her Streets of your town project and website of the same name, capturing shots as she goes about her business. She is doing really well at it and I am pleased to encourage her with this hobby. She not only gets to meet new people and she also is learning how to see the world through a photographers eye. Here are here latest pictures. See them also and more at Streets of your town online.