March Flower Updates

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There is a mixture of flowers I got from the Brambles Florist and Flowers To Yours. this month, along with some random bits Amy found in the hedgerows. So we have quite a lot to feast your eyes on. I would really like to photograph poppy's, but they are so hard to transport home as the often wilt before reaching their destination. I suppose the trick might be to go see them in situ on a clear and calm day.

So thank you then going out to my friends Chris and the ladies at Brambles Florist and Flowers To Yours. As well as a nod to my wife Amy. Well that's it for this March's updates, I do hope you enjoyed them and see you again next month.

X

February Updates, welcome to all the new stuff and a sad farewell to a friend, remembering Patricia Nyajeka

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A warm welcome back to my little piece on the web

Apologies for the lateness of writing this blog, I should have done it yesterday but had been in the studio in Derby working with singer Alexis Victoria Hall so by the time we got back home, both Amy and I were exhausted. This month just gone has been a busy one with shoots and family stuff to do like the funeral of my beloved Aunt Jane in Northampton. My uncle and cousins and greater family gave Aunt Jane a good send off. It was not a morbid affair as some funerals can be and I learned a lot about my aunt that I did not know before. There was a tear jerker moment when the song 'The way we were' by Barbara Streisand played over the ceremony. And when the curtains closed around the coffin, all I could think to say was 'Goodbye Aunt Jane … and thank you x.

Hats when it hits you that you will never see her again.

Aunt Jane in our memories.

February also witness the cruel hand of fate fall on another friend of mine, Patricia Nyajeka.

Patricia was the mother of a lovely model I used to work with on many projects called Lorna Nyajeka. I got to know Pat as we called her, through Lorna, whom she was very proud of. She was born in what was then Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe in Africa, She was a good women and was only one month younger than me. She asked me once to design a flyer to publicize a class reunion in a hall of all of her friends from home which I was glad to do. I even got to photograph the event and meet the good people there. It was a very friendly event, full of warm African hospitality in an English country house. Good memories. Life does not seem fair sometimes, its very arbitrary and often cruet

so then you have to take the bad times to hold dear the good times. But its never easy in reality. My thoughts are with her family and those she loved.

A few weeks ago we got to work again with the flaming redhead Lydia Clifford at the Boardroom Studio in Derby and dot some great stuff. Sadly the second model Zoe Birtwhistle could not make the shoot which was a shame. Maybe again at some future date? So a huge thank you to all there. Lydia, Shadrine from Kavour Beauty. Phil Lynam and of course Amy.

This March has already started on a good foot with a shoot yesterday featuring awesome singer Alexis Victoria Hall in Derby and will be followed by two more shoots, one with the lovely Mercybongo and a third with male model Lee Henshaw on location. So keeping us busy.

So I would like to say a big thank you to my parents for putting us both up for the night, as well as their company at the funeral.

See you all in March for another update and I hope, plenty to view.

Do take care of yourselves and enjoy this months blog x.

Model Gallery for Lydia Clifford's Second Shoot

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Here was a shoot date with Zoe Birtwhistle in mind, sadly she was not ready with her hats that she was to model in so we have had to postpone till a later date. But not all was lost. The amazing Lydia Clifford stepped in to take the strain and so we did our four hour session with her. We have worked with Lydia before so I knew I could trust her. Her work ethic is a good one as is her time keeping and shear knowledge of her job. True to form she was brilliant and here are the results. One of the costumes was an orange pair of trousers with an orange t-shirt with the words 'RIOT' across her chest. She is also holding a bull horn as well for effect. Another look is based on an old picture I saw in a Hollywood magazine of actress and dancer Ann Margret wearing a black roll neck jumper and black tights. It was a fashion look that I thought was hood and have wanted to shoot in that style for a long time. Finally doing it with Lydia.

So thank you then to our model Lydia Clifford. Our makeup artist Shadrine at Kavour Beauty. Phil Lynam at The Boardroom Studio in Derby and my dear wife Amy for all their hard work.

Amy's stuff for the streets of your town site

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I have not done much this February with Street photography, but Amy has done stuff a plenty and its not bad. What is more she enjoys going out and meeting people to take their pictures and looking at the world through a photographers eye. is doing well and I am encouraging Amy to do more everytime she goes shopping. Viewing things around her Enjoy Amy's work here and on the Streets of your town site.

Project – 'Abstract' update

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All of these images were taken in my parents house ground floor. And most in the kitchen I was waiting for my mother and wife to come back from a shopping trip and was in an itch to photograph something so my eyes scanned the room for something abstract to take pictures of. Keyrings, curtains, stoves, toasters and other sundry things came to hand. See if you can make it out what they are?

Still Life – Update

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Yet again just a few still life images for this month, but something is better than nothing. I photographed some polystyrene hands using only room light which was a bit shitty really but it can give an interesting feel to the pictures if done right. So only three of them this month and very arty farty they are too!.

Flowers extra

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My father purchased my mum a bunch of flowers of the kindness of his heart. First time in over sixty years of marriage. His generosity knows no bounds or he has a guilty conscience about something? But seriously here are three takes of some of the tulips he purchased in abase taken in the window of the hall way. I have added them to the Garden page in the flower edition.

February Flower Updates

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Great set of flowers for this months flowers set from Brambles Florist and Flowers To Yours. There always seem to come up with something of interest and worth photographing. Often when they finally go over, you can get a second shoot out of them as dried flowers and decay. So thank you to Chris and the ladies at Brambles and Flowers To Yours. A thank you also to Amy for her help taking the pictures in our home studio (outhouse).

That is all from this months round up of stuff, be sure to tune in at the end of March for more new stuff.

Bye for now x

January 2024 Updates, welcome to the new year, a dose of the flu and a sad farewell to my beloved Aunt Jane and good, good friend Mick Skivington.

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Welcome back to my little piece on the web

It was my birthday yesterday (21 again!) and a pleasure to be writing this blog again after what seems like a very long month. Sadly this new year has seen the passing of two people in my life who I always thought would be around. My Aunt Jane passed away from cancer earlier this month leaving my Uncle, my cousins and their extended families. She was a lovely woman. She always was polite and I never heard her say a bad word against anyone, except supporters of Peterborough United. She was a huge fan and very involved with Northampton Town football club (The cobblers) and took it very seriously. This often served as a niggling point with another Uncle of mine, who did not share her enthusiasm for the cobblers.

Aunt Jane never forgot birthdays and was always good at getting me and my siblings presents at Christmas and birthdays. Aunt Jane was always welcoming when we went to her house, always making us feel relaxed . I know she will be badly missed by my Uncle Ralph and cousins, not to mention her many grand children and wider family. Her death came as a surprise to me as I was not aware of her condition, so all the more sadder. Until her passing I could never visualise a time when she would not be in my family life – she was always there. A constant.

She was a good Aunt and I still find it hard to think that she is no longer with us. I will miss her.

This month also brought the passing of a good friend of mine, Mick Skivington.

I have known Mick for many years, so much so that I have forgotten just how we first met. He was a brilliant wedding photographer and new his stuff about cameras. Initially he was Newark based until moving closer to Nottingham to be closer with his partner Sue. .

A great and well repected Wedding photogrpaher, Mick knew his trade. He was not a perfect man (none of us are) he was a man with foibles, but he was a fun person to know and above all he was my friend. Mick taught me darkroom printing of pictures in black and white, which was quite brilliant to see the photos come out of the stop baths. He was a skilled plasterer and the only man I know that could plaster a wall while wearing a three piece suit! Mick had at one time also worked as a stand up comedian, and always had a quick line in funny comments when needed. I can visualising him saying one of his pet lines when finishing a story. 'Bloody nightmare.' he would often say as a full stop. I liked Mick and will miss him greatly, but not as much as his partner and friend Sue. Like my Aunt, I always thought Mick would be here forever and i prefer to remember him how he was before his stroke. So thoughts are with Sue and rest in peace my old friend … see you again someday x

There was to be a shoot this month with the lovely Singer / Model Alexis Victoria Hall at the Boardroom Studio, but had to be arranged until the 1st March as I was very heavy with the cold at that point. On arriving back from time away with my parents, someone very kindly donated their flu to me. I intern donated my piece to Amy. We have both suffered with it, Amy taking work off for a few days during the worst of it. We are both better now after fighting it for the whole of January, but it has left me deaf in my left ear and with bruised muscles on my chest (coughing fits) as well as blood clots in the same area. Apart from that we are both fine and dandy!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank my parents for putting up with us both over the new year period, as its always nice to get away and see them. Thank you Mum and Dad x

We have a studio shoot this month (February) with two models, Zoe Birtwhistle and Lydia Clifford at the studio. So am looking forward to that, as well as anything else we might find to take pictures of. Amy now takes out the small Ricoh GR camera with her when she goes into town to shop. She has taken some great street photography images, which have been put up on the www.streetsofyourtown.co.uk website/ Also added to that website are some more images from our recent visit to Mum and Dad’s of both the journey home and from a dilapidated row of shops in ruin. All of which are below.

That is about it for this years stater. I do hope your all well and I look forward to seeing you all again at the end of February/

Take care x

Stuff for the streets of your town site 1 (derelict shops)

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On the same day as my father took us out into the countryside for some scenic shots, we stopped then at the rear of some shops in the town. My Dad had previously pointed them out as an eye sore, but I thought of them more as an opportunity for photos as you do not often get to go near enough dilapidated buildings. This site was not fenced off, rather open to the public. We did not venture too far in as it is better safe than sorry when it caves in on you. I do think we got some half way decent shots both Amy and I. My favourites are of the graffiti wall with wisps of cloud above it in the blue sky. I hope you like them.

Stuff for the streets of your town site 2 (the voyage home)

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On our journey home we travelled up the A14 to join the M1 motorway in what was bloody awful weather to drive in. It was a heavily overcast day, dank and horrible, but great to do some moody shots in/ Like the derelict house, these have been put on the Streets of your town website. The aim was to emulate the American photographer Saul Leiter style of image. Lots of dark moody looks with plenty of rain and car rear tail lights he did so well/ I am not saying my work compares anywhere near to his, but it was a fun try and I would like to do it again some day.

Project – 'Landscapes' and 'Architectural Metaphor' Update

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This years offering of landscape pictures were taken in Rutland. A trip north of Corby was taken with the help of my father to this nice little county and a very scenic view from a viaduct across the valley. There was not many people around as the area was flooded, which added to the glare of light that day. But I think both Amy and I managed to get something decent for the site as well as some shots of Kettering telephone exchange added for the 'Architectural Metaphor page. Brutal building as any, not the greatest of designs, but not a blot on the landscape as my Dad calls it.

Digital Art Update

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Only a one off offering this month with a still from Decembers shoot with Mercybongo at The Boardroom Studio in Derby. I used a lot of bokeh in the picture which is what I did many moons ago with some of the old flower shots that can be seen on the website. Its a good way to hide empty spaces?

Still Life – Update

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Just a few still life images for this month. This was a flower given to us by Brambles Florist that had a very interesting stalk. They on there own were worth a set of pictures I thought and have turned out okay I think.

January 2024 Flower Updates

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Start the year as you mean to go on with some great flowers to work with from our friends at . Brambles Florist and Flowers To Yours. The quality of their flowers is always tip top and I am very much reliant upon them for their help. So thank you to Chris and the ladies at Brambles and Flowers To Yours. A thank you also to Amy for her help taking the pictures in our home studio (outhouse).

That is it for this month. Thanks for coming back to see us and hope you drop by again at the end of February.

Bye x

December Updates and it is Christmas Again !

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Seasons greetings and welcome back to my little rant … sorry blog …. on the web

Is it just me getting older or is time moving faster? It does not seem long ago when it was last years Christmas period. So not only is it Jesus birthday but it is also the time when Mariah Carey and Michael Bublé come out to play again alongside some golden oldies from Slade and Roy Wood of Wizard. Its all a bit much for me and try my best to ignore it. But when you hear one of those tunes its like an ear worm and it plays over and over again in your head. Very annoying when you are trying to get some shut eye. As a seasonal treat the other day I ate a 'Snickers' Chocolate bar and was hugely disappointed. I can remember when they used to be called 'Marathon' bars. They were huge, so big that you could beat a man to death with one and needed to dislocate your jaw like an anaconda to eat it. Now its this small pathetic little thing that is twice the price it used to be. Or is it that I am looking back through rose tinted glasses? Never mind, nothing lasts forever … except B.O..

Its been quite a busy year this year with plenty of shoots and still more to come in 2024. I am already booked up till May. Looking ahead we will be working with Zoe Birtwhistle again in February and saying hello to a model who first contacted me twenty years ago. From Manchester the amazing singer and celeb Alexis Victoria Hall. After all this time, we are finally going to be working with each other. I just pray the weather is decent and it is not snowing?

The street photography website is coming on with even my wife Amy taking the camera out on her own and doing some great shots. So much so that I have had to add her name to the website as a contribute. To remind you all again the site is called 'Streets Of Your Town' (See it here).

That s about it for now, so here is wishing you all a great Christmas and even greater New Year. Thank then to all of the people who have collaborated on my work this last year. I could not have done it without you (for sure !). To many to mention, but you know who you are. Thank you.

Enjoy this months blog.


Digital Art - Update

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Turn back the clock to Novembers blog when I spoke about a shoot I did in the Boardroom Studio and Zavod Studio on the same day? One was with tattooed model Izzy Holliday a recreation of a panel from a graphic novel called 'Judgement On Gotham' (Judge Dredd vs Batman) where Judge Death is being tormented by his fears (Cuddly toys) With Izzy we also made a pictures with Izzy kicking a vending machine in Death Valley. picture is called 'Shit ! …. and I came all this way …?' Notice the child's tricycle and UFO's above. So who has come all this way?

Check out also pictures of taken of Xenia Model in the Debbie Harry 'Koo Koo' inspired LP, shot in her Zavod Studio in Sheffield/.The pins through her face were created by using knitting needles and added to the portrait in post production (Photoshop) edit As well as a simple portrait that stops and makes you look twice … asking what is wrong with this picture? There is also a one of digital creation featuring Mercybongo. That I will go into in the shoot section below.

Still Life – Update

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A few still life pictures for you all. I was inspired by something I viewed on Instagram of a still life using pears. I could not stop going back to it and studying the way it looked, light, angle, grain and colour. So then I wanted to do one for myself only better if I can? Here is the result thrown in with a few Still Life Daffodils I did also, but will only use one of them in the Still Life gallery (the blurred one)y. Please enjoy.