Still Life - Update

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Carrying on from last month still life subject where I captured some big red tulips from Mercybongos garden, here I captured them again when they had defiantly gone over, but look very much like a butterfly. Also during the shoot Amy suggested I shoot some of the many vases we have kicking around and then turned a sepia colour. Here are the results for this month. I will have to send Amy out again soon to look for more interesting old vases she can find in charity shops,

*NEW* - Infrared

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I have purchased an old digital camera that has had an Infrared filter added (or subtracted – I can not remember!) cheap digital camera see the full gamete of light including the infrared scale that our eyes do not see. Normally they have a dampener in the camera to ignore this, but here it has been changed to allow it. This then not only gives the old camera a new lease of life, but allows the photographer to take some weird looking stuff. I tried it in the studio to mixed results, but found it works best when shooting landscapes and vegetation. We used a local park to test it out and it turned all the trees and grass to a bright pink. I like it – I think it is interesting - and so will be doing more as and when I can. So here is a new project to show off the results as well as show some very old Infrared images taken decades before digital using the long defunct and sadly missed Kodak HIE 135-36 Hi-Speed Infrared Slide Film. Pictures taken are from locations as far apart as Cornwall and the West Coast of Scotland. I hope you enjoy this new project.

Mercybongo – Second Shoot

I think we have a star here. We invited Mercybongo back for a second themed shoot with us that were actually taken on the last day of April. So too late for last months update. She was great surrounded in maxi dresses and fake flowers. All plastic fantastic!) I had wanted originally to use real flowers but to purchase that many that was needed would have cost hundreds of pounds as well a transport issue and against the clock as they die away.

On this set I must make mention of the sumptuous set that was especially made by Phil Lynam at The Boardroom Studio, just for this shoot. It was so good and fitted the theme exactly using sheets, rugs and other props like cloth mannequin and empty picture frames. A mention also to Shadrine at Kavour Beauty for all her wonderful makeup and direction when putting the flowers in place. A thank you also to Amy and Carl for their assistance on the day swell.

Mercybongo will be back again in July for her third shoot coming soon .

Mercybongo – Second Shoot – Specials

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Just a handful of special 'one off' pictures featuring Mercybongo model

taken last month at The Boardroom Studio in Derby.

Project – 'Abstract' Update

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We have been busy this month with the abstract theme taking pictures of everything from Beavis and Butthead, to playing cards and Children's park swings slides and seating/There is no end of stuff to cover if you have an eye to spot it. More coming soon for this project Thanks again to Amy for her valued assistants.….

Project – 'Architectural Metaphor ' Update

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Sheffield is not somewhere that I visit very often, which is a shame as its centre has some architecture that would not look out of place in New York. Lots of flat roofs. I had cause to visit Zavod Studio in Sheffield and while waiting to gain access I was in awe of the views around me. So I took the opportunity to snap away and put them on the projects page 'Architectural Metaphor.'

There is also a solitary view of Worksop train station and an street lamp added as a random bonus thrown in.

Project – 'Sound Of The Suburbs' Update

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I have not done any images for this project for a while. So here is a few taken in and out of a train journey I made to Sheffield. Snaps of the vending machine that is card only (no cash allowed !!!!) and the station its at. I have also a picture taken of a scene shot in the early hours one bank holiday Monday of a children playground, before the screaming little brats turn up.

May Flower Updates

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There is a very grassy feel to the flower images this month. Something I have never photographed before, so a welcome first. The two grasses we have, one is quite dainty and etherial looking while the second looks like a phallic symbol with a brewers droop. But it makes for some interest pictures. Thanks then to Chris and the ladies at The Brambles Florist and Flowers To Yours. For helping me. As well as a shout out for my wife Amy, for her help and input on the shoot day.

Thats it for this month. Be sure to drop by at the end of June for another update.

Bye for now X

April Updates and a dirty rotten, lowlife scoundrel

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Welcome back to my little corner of the web.

It has been an eventful month this month with a model not bothering to turn up for the shoot. I don't wish to waste too much print time on this person as I hate scammers and fraudsters in general. The model in question I had the great misfortune of crossing paths with is Kay Carter from Manchester. She contacted me through Instagram and I had deep miss giving about this model long before the shoot, but gave her the benefit of the doubt. After all I had paid her a deposit (one she has to this day not refunded!) and everything seemed legit. So come the day she never turned up putting The studio out my makeup artist as well as myself. So my senses were correct all along. I smelled a rat and had to take it on the chin. It is my opinion that this model )who is on IG as @thatmoel_kay and PP as #Cataleya) is a practised liar and a fraudster. Keep her downwind at all times and better still give her the finger !

With the best will in the world these things happen. It was not the first time I have had a 'No Show' and I am sure it will not be the last, its just a shame when it happens. On top of which, and more than money is the time wasted by all the other people involved bringing these shoots together, Apologies to Phil Lynam and Shadrine at Kavour Beauty.

On a more positive note I got to work with Mercybongo again on a shoot a few days ago (results still in editing stage) as well as lovely new model to me Iyisha Rose. So this month has not been a complete write off. As always respect to the Boardroom Studio and Kavour Beauty for all their wonderful help. Hope you enjoy the blog this month. Lots to see …..

Still Life Update

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In the closing days of April we did a great shoot with the amazing Mercybongo who we last shot in December. She is so keen we had to get her back. She cut some tulips from her garden on the day and brought them along for the shoot. They were so joyous and bright that I had to take their pictures when we got home. So as a bonus I have captured them as a Still life set as well as the standard flowers update. Mercybongos pictures are still being edited as we speak, so should be available in Mays update.


Commercial Update

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A couple of pictures to through in this month that were commercial. All good stuff especially if you like cheesecake which I do. Thanks to all involved.

Iyisha Rose - First Shoot

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This month I was / had planned to do an improve shoot with Marie Jean Saxton at the Boardroom Studio in Derby. Sadly she was not all with it and gave her apologies that she could not make it on the day. A professional model (take note Kay Carter!) we had enough time to find a replacement model. It was only a two hour shoot with no makeup artist. Just the model, Amy and myself. With the valuable help from studio owner Phil Lynam he saved the day and pushed the lovely Iyisha Rose our way. She was brilliant. Such a great natural woman who looked great in front of the camera. The theme of the shoot was really to test out a few looks with different lens filters so most if not all the pictures are blurred. By design rather than an accident. The filters used were a UV filter smeared in vasoline. Another filter used was a Tiffen Black Pro Mist ¼ and a Lensbaby Velvet 28 Lens, all to good effect. Also in the galley are some oddly coloured images that were taken using an old digital camera, chipped to do only Infared shots. The results are odd. This might be best used on landscape.

I would love to work again with this great model and give her the full works, the four hour shoot special complete with Shadrine the makeup artist. So watch this space and thank you to all involved in this shoot.

Project – 'Abstract' Update

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A little Abstract to help the day go on. I captured on film forks with shadows, Amy's glasses and the inside of her Bosch washing machine ! Everyday items you might otherwise ignore (except the washing machine after all who goes around sticking their heads in one of them?). Thank you for my assistant Amy working the lighting for these captures.

Project – 'Landscapes' Update

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Some little beauties this month for you on this project I would love to do more on given the chance. I have a confession to make … these images are not new. They were taken about twenty years ago somewhere north of Chesterfield in Derbyshire. They have been kicking around on my hard drives all this time, with me not knowing what to do with them. Well I finally put them into use and edited them. I hope it saws worth the wait.

April Flower Update

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Its Tulip month this month at the Brambles Florist and I got my hands on a few lovelies to photograph. Added to them are a few snaps of the huge red tulips from Mercybongo and Carls garden they cut for the photo shoot that will appear in next months blog update, So all round another productive month on the flowers front. Thanks then to Chris and the ladies at Brambles Florist and Flowers To Yours for all their invaluable help. Thank you also to Amy for all her help.

T hats it for the time being, I hope you enjoyed it and see you again in May 2023.

March Updates, its happy birthday Dad. Also a warm thank you and a sweet sayonara for the passing away of Mr. Sakamoto.

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Welcome back to the Lujon Rael Portfolio blog for this month, and its been quite a busy month with another two shoots in the studio under my belt. But more of that in a bit. This month also sees my father turn twenty one again (?), or so he likes to tell us. We know he is really about a hundred and three, but we won’t let him in on the fact that we know. Joking aside, its wishing you a happy birthday and glad you like your 'Pooping Puppies' Jigsaw (it is a thousand piece jigsaw featuring one hundred and one dogs of all breeds having a shit ! I kid you not See Here).I knew that would be just up his street and preferably down wind so he cant smell the doggy does. Happy birthday Dad, love you.

On a sadder note, I caught the BBC News 24 coverage of the passing of one of my favourite musicians and influencers. The celebrated Japanese pianist and composer Ryuichi Sakamoto. He had been battling cancer for sometime, but it finally claimed his life. His music has been an inspiration to me for decades, ever since I purchased a copy of the Yellow Magic Orchestra first vinyl LP in Northamptons ‘Our Price’ record store.. To this day his music often appears in my slideshows, right here on this blog. Ryuichi Sakamoto acted in as well as scored the music to,films including 'Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence' and 'The Last Emperor.' He also created beautiful musical scores for many other films, 'Wuthering Heights,' 'The Sheltering Sky' and more recently 'The Revenant,’ to name but a few. I was privileged to see him on tour once at the Hammersmith Odeon (Eventim Apollo its now called I think?) in London, which was a thrill and the art work and front covers of his records I have tried to emulate in my photography. Here below are two such images, pastiches on 'The Thousand Knives of Ryuichi Sakamoto' and 'Sweet Revenge' front covers. I hope I did them justice?

So its thank you and a sweet sayonara to Mr Sakamoto, you left us with the beautiful sound track of your life.

So yes we managed to fill two commitments in this month with shoots down at The Boardroom Studio. Firstly with Boxer and athlete Nicolie Campbell then a second shoot with two Asian models, Supple Suki and Yoo Yoo. Both were great shoots and went well, but I owe a huge thanks to those who assist me. To Shadrine at Kavour Beauty, my makeup artist who pulled out all the stops for these two sessions. She was brilliant, just look at her work on ll three models starting with Nicole Campbells tribal look. Spot on. Thank you also to Phil Lynam at the Boardroom Studio for his invaluable input and lighting suggestions on the day. And a big thank you also to my wife Amy for being there to assist me and make all the food.

More shoots coming this month in April with a new model to me, Kay Carter and the second coming of Miss Mercybongo…. Bring hem on !

Enjoy this months blog x

Nicolie Campbell Tribal Shoot Specials

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Here are just a few extra special to wet your appetite from our shoot with boxer Nicolie Campbell on the Tribal set.