Marie Jean Saxton Fourth Fashion and Woodland Nymph Shoot

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So I do hope its clear why I split this two hour session with Marie Jean Saxton in to two halves. I could have gone for three if I needed, but then that would have been stretching it a bit. So in this section Marie is doing a simple fashion shoot with blue denims and floral jacket on, all taken in natural light at the Boardroom Studio. And another weird set of images with model as a woodland nymph. Now this is the only place you will see these pictures as they do not fit in with any section of the website. Here they are in full for your enjoyment.

October Flower Updates

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I do not know if its seasonal and perhaps because of Halloween, but our friends at the Brambles Florist pull out all the stops to get us some very different flowers this month. We always get top quality flowers to photograph from them, but there are some strange ones here today. One of my favourites is the dark red gerbera that looks as though its been through a shredder with spiky petals. One of the flowers that resembles buds on the end of two slender spikes is still opening. So I hope to get a second shoot out of them soon. So its a huge thanks to Chris and the ladies at the Brambles Florist and Flowers To Yours. You never cease to amaze me! And of course a big thanks to my assistant and wife Amy for her long sufferance and help.

So that is it for this month,. Thank you for tuning and and seeing just what we have to offer this month and hopefully see you all safely again in November.

Bye for now x

September Updates and a special mention to 'Parcel-farce'

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Welcome back to my little corner of the web.

September was a placid month again, I had wanted to go to the City and capture some architecture pictures as well as street photography. But every time it came to the weekend it was either bad weather, or we had something else to do. Maybe this October we can get down there and photograph something of interest? We did however manage to do a three model shoot at the Boardroom Studio, featuring the makeup of Shadrine at Kavour Beauty and the loveliness of Mercybongo, Munira Model and Yoo Yoo. And it was great fun with some good results … in-fact too many for publication.

Cast your mind back a few months ago when I sent a parcel containing a Camera to Romania so it could be chipped to do Infrared photography with it. The camera that was stolen somewhere on its journey back to me and I only got an empty box back for my troubles? Well we filled in a claims form that was given to us over the counter at the local post office and mailed it to the shipping company's address. After a month or so I contacted the shipping company to see how it was claim was progressing The shipping company I shall simply refer to as 'Parcel - Farce,' told me that it was with the claims department and that I should wait for them to contact me. So it was to my surprise when I contacted them again a week ago to say I have not heard a sound from them, that they tell me they never received it in the first place. So someone in Parcel - Farce lied or is lying to me I wish I could say I am surprised, but I am not. When you look at other people dealings with Parcel - Farce, its easy to come to the conclusion that they are as useful as a tampon in a swimming pool. In fairness when you read about any shipping company on liner its like reading a horror story, with very few printing the times they have done a great job. Such is the way things go, but I for one will try to avoid using Parcel - Farce any more. And fingers crossed for the smooth journey through the department concerned of my resubmitted claim. I shall keep you all informed.

I am in the studio again tomorrow, so should have something new to show you all at the end of October. Until then take care of yourselves and enjoy this months blog.

x

Still life Update

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There is only one Still Life to show this month and its the rotted corpse of last months Sunflower. We often leave the flowers to go over to see if we can get something interesting in there decay, as was the case with this flower. I wish I had got to it sooner as there were more petals on it when Amy first showed it to me. My fault I left it a little too long. It smelled to high heaven as well as did the water it was in. So here it is then, the decay of the Sunflower picture, just before it went on the compost heap!

Three Model Fashion Shoot.

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Now this was something different and took a bit of organising.

Originally the idea of my makeup artist Shadrine from Kavour Beauty, it was based on a Royalty theme. We looked into getting a throne for hire to use, but that worked out very expensive for what amounted to four hours use. So we got three models in, Mercybongo, Yoo Yoo and new model to us Munira Model. All of the models wearing and representing their ethnic backgrounds in clothing and jewellery worked well and the models were a dream to work with. Shadrine provided all of the makeup and the hospitality and cups of tea were provided by Phil Lynam at his amazing Boardroom Studio in Derby have not published all of the images here on the blog as there are simply too many to show, so here are the edited highlights that you can see in the slide-show above. Thanks them to all involved .

Project – 'Lujon Fressonique' Update

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Here are some images I actually made several months ago and never got around to editing for one reason or another. They are of model Marie Jean Saxton and again the Sunflower from last months batch of flowers. The fressonique style of editing is quite intense, so lucky for me I made a point of writing it all down and follow the instructions each time for consistency. All images taken using the plastic fantastic cheap lens Amy made. As crude and as simple as it can be, but still look reasonable quality. I hope you enjoy them?

September Flower Updates

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Something a little different for this months flower pictures, in that there are no flowers. I thought that might be a problem when I realised this fact after visiting the Brambles Florist, but actually it turned out good. So there are no gerberas or roses this month, more shapes and textures like oak leaves and poppy heads. Thank then to Chris and the ladies at The Brambles Florist and Flowers To Yours. A thanks also to Amy for all her help.

Well that is it for this month. I hope to see you back here at the end of October …. so see you soon x

Augusts Updates and 'Well he would say that, wouldn't he? '

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Welcome back to my blog and little piece of the web that is mine. Good to have you back and hope you enjoy this months offerings?

It was going to be a quite month as opposed to July, with no model shoots at all Yet back in July I was contacted about shooting with a new model Lydia Clifford and I just jumped at the opportunity. We also squeezed another new shoot in with favourite Monalisa Moyo, back again in-front of the lens. So aside from them its been an peaceful, uneventful month. I would like to add a thank you to all those who like and watch my blog. With a special mention to my father who wrote a really lovely email to me saying how he enjoyed the pictures. I do not often get a lot of comments and often met with indifference because I think people have an expectation of a certain quality of work so don't mention when they get it. I put images up on Instagram and the such which sometimes go on to get two likes- WORLDWIDE!! Now I am not fishing for compliments, applause or feeling sorry for myself, but it is always good to get feedback (good or bad). So at least you know where your going wrong or getting something right? Now I know what you might be thinking, so his father said something encouraging to him and to use the Mandy Rice - Davies quote 'Well he would say that, wouldn't he? ' But it took me back a bit in a pleasant way and it felt good. Feedback, suggestion, requests and even constructive criticism, is better than silent indifference people. Nuff said ….…...

September is shaping up to be a busy month with a three model shoot at the Boardroom Studio in Derby, organised Shadrine my makeup artist at Kavour Beauty. Get well Shadrine, we need you fit and active on the day.

Please enjoy this months blog

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So please enjoy this months blog

Project – 'Architectural Metaphor' Update

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We only managed one project update this month, but we made it a good one. Getting up early one Sunday morning we took a lift to a local college to snap away at its new facia and architectural delight. The building there used to be quite drab in its 1979s style of building, but since the face lift I personally think it is a whole lot better. There was nobody around … not a soul … not even a student, so we had the place to ourselves. I strongly hope we captured its design beauty, to show it at its best? With thanks to Amy.

Lydia Clifford – Girl On Fire RED Shoot

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Like I mentioned earlier I was not intending to do any shoots in August, but then this lovely fashion model and redhead Lydia Clifford (Girl On Fire) contacted me and I could not say no. Amy and I worked with Lydia down at the Boardroom Studio in Derby for two hours with the theme being RED.

And She was amazing ! She does dropped into posses with little need for direction, all natural and I think we got some great images of her. I would definitely like to do another shoot at a later date with Lydia again sometime, so thank her for her input. Thanks also to Phil Lynam at the Boardroom Studio and birthday girl on that day, my wife Amy.

Monalisa Moyo – On Location #2 Shoot

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It was lovely to see and work with my old friend and longest serving model Monalisa Moyo again. These images were taken on location again on what was her 30th Birthday (I first worked with Monalisa when she was nineteen!!) We have not seen Monalisa since she kick started the year for me with a January shoot in my grotty bathroom if you can all remember? So here she is on the suspension bridge and against the pink wall. I would like to tell you they were taken in an exotic country, but the reality is they were in somewhere not quite so glamorous and around the corner from me. Still they turned out nice and Monalisa looked great in her kaftan and blue dress.

August Flower Updates

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Its the end of Summer flower shoot in the home studio this month, with autumnal weather being dominant all season long. I have mixed feelings on that as I am not keen with scorching hot Summers, but we have not had a solid week of warm weather this year. Maybe we might be in for an Indian Summer I hope?

A big thanks then to our friends in the Brambles Florist and Flowers To Yours. to Chris and the ladies for all their help and assistance in beginning this months flowers to you. A mention also to my wife Amy for all her help at taking the images. It could not be done without all of you.

So that is it for this month,. See you back at the end of September for the next chapter in the adventures in photography with Lujon Rael.

x

See you next month x

July Updates, what turned out to be a very busy month and a lesson never to send parcels to Romania !

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Welcome back to my little corner of the web.

There were two shoots this month and a shoot taken on the last day of June (so technically for all sakes and purposes this month) Blessed with four great models to work with Mercybongo and Carl Tilson. Maryna Sedin and Marie Jean Saxton, they have kept me busy snapping and editing.

We also managed to travel to my parents home and see them which is always good. Not just to get away from our house, but to spend quality time with them is worth the journey. I managed to do one of the shoots on location in my Fathers lush garden as well as them taking us to Rushden Lakes for some magazine shopping and photo taking around the buildings. It was fun,Amy and I loved it, So thank you greatly to Mum and Dad x

Now here is a word of caution …. if your thinking of sending anything to another country (in this case Romania) you might want to think again about it. I sent an old camera to a man in Romania who could chip the camera so as to make it take Infrared images only. I know I already have a camera that does that, but I wanted a higher spec and it made use of my trusted old Nikon D3. So I sent it via the post office carrier (I shall not mention their name here!) at the princely sum of £50.00 only for the empty box coming back to me a few weeks later! Apparently it got as far as Bucharest and customs did not like it and sent it back, but between there and my front door some thieving turd helped themselves to it. Returning the empty box like trying to rub my nose in it! The Royal Mail recommended I call the Romania Customs and ask what happened to the camera? but that is as futile an effort as a one legged man in an arse kicking contest! Taking the piss obviously, I think they just said that to get rid of me. It worked. Although I have put a claim in, I have still not heard anything from the carriage company, and don't hold out much hope. Oh well, I guess some things just were not meant to be and I shall not do that again. Lesson learned.

Hope you enjoy this bumper month of pictures to make up for last months lacklustre offering.

x

Project – 'Architectural Metaphor' Update

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These Architectural pictures for the Architectural Metaphor project were all taken at a shopping area called Rushden Lakes. Its got some great modern design there with interesting features. I even found the back of the shops interesting as they almost looked like they were from a different planet.

There is also a really brilliant magazine shop there that sells just about every magazine that gets published, I wish I lived closer as I would visit it weekly. There are a few candid shots of my local hospital, who get really touchy about photographing the place. But I did it anyway when they were not looking and besides this might sound like a false sense of entitlement, but after all the things they have stuck in me over the years – they owe me that!.Anyway, here are the architecture pictures for that day.

Project – 'Landscapes' Update

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While being at my parents home, they very kindly took Amy and I into the Northamptonshire (Flat) countryside for some landscape shots. It was highly rewarding, if possibly a bit dull for everyone else. My favourite shots from the day were of a broken gate laying in the overgrown hedgerow and moody sky above it. Yes the sky was really that threatening, but again no rain. We also went to walk around the lakes of Rushden Lakes shopping complex and got some great pictures of the water and skies. It was fun.

Maryna Sedin – Second Shoot – In The Garden

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Here was a shoot planned many months ago and would always be at the mercy of the British weather. Lucky for us it did not rain that day until we were done. So this the second outing for amazing Maryna Sedin took place in and around my Fathers garden, on the last day of June 2023.

I had help from a great MUA from Northampton called Kerry Claire, who did a wonderful job on the lovely Ukrainian model Maryna Sedin, which went a good way to making this shoot so memorable. I must also mention my Mother for making some lovely nibbles for us all to eat at half time and of course Dad for making his garden accessible, neat and tidy for the shoot. My wife Amy cannot be left out as she was the lighting woman on every set, so thanks to her in no small way.

I do hope you all enjoy the results from this shoot?