Supercar retouching...

My very good friend, Glyn Dewis, a very talented photographer and photoshop teacher, posted a tutorial on retouching supercars. So I had to try it our for myself.

The shot was taken at the end of a classic car day in Easthampstead in Berkshire last year. I think it was a Ford GTO. Glyn's excellent tutorial can be found here and his website at www.glyndewis.com, do check out his website. He also has a great youtube channel which has lots of great tutorials.

I also managed to sneak off for a few hours at Didcot railway museum recently, so I thoughtI would apply the same technique to trains...

A Portrait of Ireland's greatest landscape photographer; Giles Norman

During the summer this year I spent a wonderful ten whole days back in the homeland; Ireland. We started off in Dublin where I saw an English Premier League side; Aston Villa play Shamrock Rovers. Bit of a forgone result, but a great day out. then on to Tralee in Kerry, then on to Kinsale.

Kinsale is a fishing village just outside Cork in Munster. A wonderful town, where my equally wonderful sister-in-law, Mary lives.

Everytime I go back there I always pop into Giles Norman's Gallery. For those of you who don't know him, he is a landscape photographer that produces amazing black and white images of rural Ireland (mainly). The images are evocative of times gone by. You can see his work here.

I have always wanted to take his portrait. This time when I visited the gallery, he was there. So I seized the opportunity. I asked and he readily agreed. A time was set for the next day; the Friday before I was leaving to return to the UK. As we had driven over, I had taken a light stand, umbrella and flash triggers. Most times they don't get any use. So, Friday came and I set up the gear and took the shot. No pressure. But I am told by Catherine, Giles' wife that the  photograph below now hangs in their kitchen.

A big thanks to Giles for sitting and also for a copy (signed no less!) of his new book of photographs of Ireland. Priceless!

Happy New Year!

Usually we stay at home, have a quiet night in and watch Jools Holland on the box. This year we are braving the cold and rain and heading up to London to see the fireworks and ring in the new year in the shadow of Big Ben! Whatever you do, a very Happy New Year to all of you! I hope this years brings you all that you wish!

A Kiss for Hallowe'en...

Happy Hallowe'en to everyone. I hope you won't be too frightened tonight...

As it is the dark season, and I like taking dark photographs. Here is one based on an old Dracula movie poster.... Enjoy and thanks to Catherine for being such a convincing vampire!

Shooting The Past... Part 3

I was saving the best until last. This old MG was definitely my favorite car on a recent shoot. Everything about this old car says class, style, and distinction. What a beauty!

Shooting the Past... Part 2

Inspector Morse and Downton Abbey, this is what I thought when I first saw this Jaguar and the Rolls Royce.

Another world... enjoy...

I can imagine Inspector Morse driving through the streets of Oxford. I first saw the TV detective in the 80's and it portrayed to me what i thought was the quintessential English City; Oxford. 

It was a pleasure to shoot these cars, thought the Jag was a bit tricky. I was limited on space for the detail shots, but it was worth it in the end.

The Rolls was even trickier, its all angles and chrome, but what a Lady! This car just screams Downton Abbey!

Jerry Hall, a Tuba and some graffiti...

We had a blast down in Brighton last week with a photowalk organised by my good friend Glyn Dewis. A great photographer who is always ready to give to the community at large, go and see his work here... you can also see the excellent results of the competition he ran during the day. Well done to those deserving winners!

I was lucky enough to bump into Ms Jerry Hall...

An interesting Tuba Player...

And Brighton must be the capitol of the graffiti world; it is everywhere and very good too! 

A big thanks to Glyn for organizing a great day out and to James for being a great guide to Keith and myself!