July Update, A visit to my parents, a welcome visit from the Ly and Ma family as well as time to visit to an Art Deco heaven.

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Welcome back to my little piece of the web. Thanks for returning.

So we got away for a day or so this month with a visit south to see Mum and Dad. Its always great to spend time with them as we do often get much of a chance to do that these days. We should make the effort really and it pricks my conscienience that we don't. None of us are getting any younger and time is catching up with us.

We had the extra honour of a visit from members of the Ly and Ma families to Mums house and garden for English tea and cakes. We all enjoyed it and it was especially nice to hear Amy speaking her language again. During our visit and just before we set off back to our hole, we got to see an Art Deco house in Northampton. I really enjoyed it as I love that sort of thing. You can see the images I took in the place and at its rear in this blog.

Munira returned for her eigth but not last shoot with us all in the studio in Derby this month. We got some Flamenco Dancers inspired pictures from the session.

Whilst down at my parents we got to take quite a few images, but I have not finished editing all of them yet due to not being able to get to the computer. Its the relentless heat that does me. So some of them are here and the rest will have to wait for another month. I do hope you enjoy this months collection of goodies and feel inspired to pop back at the end of next month.

x

78 Derngate, Art Deco Building, Northampton

This was a treat to see, especially as I love all things Art Deco. This is a house at 78 Derngate in Northampton designed by renowned Glasgow designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh in the early years of the last century. Its well worth a visit and tour around the building if your interested in this kind of thing as I am and in the Northampton area. It is just a pity I did not get more time to take a few more pictures, but you can get the feel for the place. See more of 78 Derngate at their website in the link.

Still Life – Minimalism

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Just three Minimalism pictures this month. A can of Heinz Beans, A banana and a splatted ripe tomato, I had originally done them for last month, but was not entirely happy with them. So we did it all again and this time it worked out.

Still Life – NEW Fractal Glass

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When drinking a Pepsi Max at my parents place, Amy pointed out the refracted light going through the glass the drink was in. It looked almost two tone with its vivid purples, yellows and greens. So I reached for the camera and snapped away at the glass (I shall let you in on a secret …. I did not know this at the time, but its actually made of plastic … Could have fooled me ….. Who Knew?)

I was going to file these under the Random section of this blog, but liked the results so much I started a new page in Still Life for more images like this when I can find them.

Munira Model 8th Shoot Shoot – Slideshow

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Model: Munira Model

Music: I Want You – Marvin Gaye

Munira Model 8th Shoot Shoot

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Oh no! its the lovely Munira Model returned for her eighth shoot. I say ,Oh No …. but it really should be oh yes as she is brilliant and puts so much into our shoots. And she is lovely with it as well, an treat to work with and know. The theme for this months shoot was getting the look from Spanish Flamenco Dancers, as well as jewellery made from yellow jelly babies. We will see more of Munira again soon as I want her to star in the first shoot of 2027 in February. She is that good. So thanks to all there. To Munira, Thanks then to Shadrine at Kavour Beauty. Phil Lynam at The Boardroom Studio in Derby and my dear wife Amy for all their hard work.

Project Update – Architectural Metaphor

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Again I have used the art deco design of the building at 78 Derngate as well as the art deco flats on the opposite side of the road. I never knew that Northampton had such great buildings by design. There is also a Rushden Lakes snap thrown in for good measure taken from outside Magazine Heaven shop.

Projects Update – Abstract

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There is a variety of abstracts for view this month, all collated at my parents house, A Radio. Bathroom towels, ceiling lights, a sofa, table lamps and some bananas. Anything off beat that I could find and add to the collection.

July Flower Updates

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This month I took advantage of a slightly cooler Friday to go get the flowers from the florists and photograph on the Saturday. Good thing as well, because it soon got warm again in the following days. Amy also added to the flowers this with something she found growing out of the pavement

I think it is actually a weed, but it fooled me, but it photograph well enough. So as always thanks as always to Chris and the ladies at he Bramblesrist and Flowers to yours and Amy for her arranging and help.

That is it again for this month, be sure to come back and see something new again at the end of this month.

Bye xx

June 2026 Updates, …. Oh the bloody heat !!!!

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I am going to keep this short and sweet here as we are on our third heatwave this year with more to come. I cannot stand the heat in the computer room as it makes the effort of editing and creating, too hard. Also it was far too hot to photograph flowers as we normally do in the small home studio. So nothing to show this month. Apologies then for this and the very lateness of the blog this month. I shall try to do better next month.

Roll on winter.

The Garden – NHS scrub land flowers

I noticed near some scrubland borders near a NHS building was a few sad looking plants that were starting to go over, but worth a photo. I am not sure what flowers they are, but they came out alright in the mix and worthy of a place on the website.

Still Life – Hush Update

Amy and I have been at it with the chiffon scarves, shaking them in front of the lens to get some results. There is a lot of red going on, so I chose four of the best to display with only two going onto the final gallery.

Projects Update – Architectural Metaphor

Here are two locations I have been meaning to shoot at for some time. One is a side staircase up to our local ASDA . The pictures of which have turned out quite well. The other is a square Church in the town that I had never realised was no longer in use. Sadly a close inspection of the place show the signs of undebatable with weeds growing on the path, That and a broken pane of glass. Shame it is a nice building.

Projects Update – Abstract

Just a few abstracts of a kettle, microwave that I have since disposed of because it was crap. The inside of James taxi and the cutty drainer in the kitchen, So a mixed bag of nothings for you.

Maryna Sedin Fifth Shoot – Slideshow

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Model; Maryna Sedin

Music; Remind Me – Patrice Rushen

Maryna Sedin Fifth Shoot

This month we got back the lovely Maryna Sedin for a fifth time. The themes for this shoot include spoon jewellery in ear rings and necklace with assistance from my Father and his friend Alan for drilling the holes in the spoons. Batman was the final theme with Maryna wearing a mask and her ever so long legs on display. So thanks then to all who were there. To Maryna Sedin and Shadrine at Kavour Beauty. Phil Lynam at The Boardroom Studio in Derby and my dear wife Amy for all their hard work.

Apologies for it being a short one this month, its just the heat is crippling me.

Be sure to come back next month for more I hope …. weather permitting.

Bye x

May 2026 Updates, Mary's Summer Garden, Ivory Flame return and and we still have not moved !!!

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Welcome back to my little piece of the web. Thanks for returning.

This month I am very proud to share with you all a very charming lady's wonderful garden, she and her husband tend to James to me all the way to the outskirts of Derby to see and capture Mary’s Summer Garden, and I am happy to show you the results today.

Miss Ivory Flame came back to the studio this month for her second shoot with the team and I with a David Bowie inspired space woman shoot. Take a look. Due to the hot weather we have been having it has taken me twice as long to edit these and Mary’s Gardens pictures. It was unbearable in the computer room with sweat pouring off me. I took my time and in short doses.

And we still have not moved. Its like an endless game of backwards and forwards between my landlady and the Council. Due to the law changing at the start of May, the landlady has had to grant us another four months grace to move on. So that takes us up to September And I doubt the council will do anything in a hurry as that is the way of things with a country in a housing crisis. Oh well …. Watch this space.

Its Amy and I'thirty eighth wedding anniversary this June. We have been together a long time. She looks after me and I love her. I could not be without her. Leave it at that. Just thank you Amy for all you have put up with.

So enjoy the blog this month and see you again soon

x

The Garden – Mary's Summer Garden

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My friend and studio owner Phil Lynam arranged it for me to come and photograph his in-laws house and garden. So on a bright day in mid May we set off the a small village outside of Derby to capture what we find there. We were greeted by a very warm and friendly Mary who was tending the garden as the taxi arrived. She was very welcoming and happy for me to wander around her spacious garden, taking as many shots as I may. It was great. A day well spent and a journey worth the time. I only hope my pictures do the garden justice and would wish to thank Mary and her husband for letting me in to their property. Thanks also to Phil for arranging the shoot and James for taking me there and back so efficiently and in comfort.

For The Other Site

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This might stir up some controversy. These images are for the other site and will be out on a new page called Porcelain Gods. The pictures are of a polystyrene head with the bag still on it that it came wrapped in. The moody lighting is simply my front room tungsten lights give it an eerie feel. Amy says they look like someone who has committed suicide, but that's not the intention and should never be taken as.

What do you think?