Environmental shoots with a specific theme are such fun to do. I grabbed an opportunity to do another Peaky Blinders photoshoot in Leicester with fellow creatives. Using a suitable location can sometimes be awkward, but a local industrial area was available with enough character to make the photoshoot work. A simple combination of old brick walls and amazing outfits, with the addition of some off-camera flash is enough to get the mood right. 3 hours of shooting and some dodging of rain showers and the shoot was in the bag. All images taken with the Fujifilm X100v camera and Godox AD200pro flash.
A photoshoot with a difference earlier this year when we had the fantastic Dave Sinclair with his Swampy zombie outfits created by Clive Barzillia. A bit of minimalist lighting and smoke created a set of images with a difference.Adam England also came along with his Jason Voorhees outfit from Friday 13th, also created by Clive. No skin touchups required in this photoshoot.
A black and white themed photoshoot in the studio with Remi – Instagram: _remileigh0.
We used a combination of outfits against black and white backgrounds to give a classic contrast look with simple lighting. Remi used her experience in dance to create delicate and graceful poses.
It is great to take advantage of an opportunity to do a photoshoot with a special theme and costume, and for me the idea of a Warrior Princess themed shoot with a small group of collaborators in local woodland was too great to pass.
The wooded area is very popular with locals, especially on a nice day, but there is so much space that we could easily find a few areas to work away from the crowds.
The outfit, and especially the head dress, supplied by Sandalwoodpictures.co.uk and worn by local model Tracey was outstanding and made the shoot extremely enjoyable and quite different.
I had a wonderful 3 nights in Venice, Italy this Summer on a personal trip. It was my first visit to Venezia, and it really is a fantastic and awe-inspiring city to walk around.
The architecture and canal system with gondolas provide a perfect backdrop for photography, and you can find great lighting at any time of the day due to the narrow streets and tall buildings providing great contrast between shadow and sunlight.
The city is small and can easily be walked around during the day, although you have to navigate through the bustling crowds and over small bridges. Whilst you can become lost very quickly, you are never too far from a familiar point.
Piazza San Marco (St Mark’s Square) was always busy but not uncomfortably so, even during our visit in the height of the summer. There were long queues to visit the Basilica, and it is worth getting up early to go to the top of the Campanile di San Marco (St Mark’s Bell Tower).
I had the chance to be involved in a Leicester studio photoshoot recently using ultraviolet light and paint only. This was a new technique for me as a photographer, and took a bit of trial and error to get the correct camera settings and lighting position. The combination of UV light and specialised paint on the model gives a very unique look. The colours certainly pop against the dark shadows. Very different results to my normal style of photography.
This set of images was from a recent street photoshoot in the city of Leicester on a very warm Sunday afternoon in the middle of the 2018 Summer heatwave. I love using urban areas in cities because of the wide range of backdrops that can be used – walls, doorways, factory entrances etc. I use my small speedlights to mix artificial lighting with natural lighting to provide a dynamic looking image. The side streets of a city are generally quiet on a weekend afternoon, so we can get on with creating a great set of images without too much interest from passers-by. It is a great way to capture fashion and portrait images with a little difference.
I was lucky enough to spend 3 weeks in Florida this summer with family and friends, and even managed to meet up with an ex work colleague from 20 years ago. I do enjoy staying in the USA, with its weather, service orientated culture and fantastic facilities. Everything just works. This is my third time in the state of Florida, and we had a truly amazing holiday. I cannot wait to go back again.
We stayed with friends during our 3 week visit, away from the traditional tourist hotels and rental areas, but close enough that we were never more than 30 mins away from the main tourist hotspots. This is the communal lake and walkway used daily by residents for relaxation and exercise.
The American flag, flown proudly outside a lot of residential homes.
Lizards, a daily frequenter of the pool netting.
On route to Jetty Park Beach at Port Canaveral. Car owners Obsessive Cat Disorder.
The white sands of Florida, even on the east coast. Jetty Park Beach on a hot hot day.
A favourite spot for sea fishing at Jetty Park.
A great day for sailing at Port Canaveral.
Lazy Sunday at Jetty Park.
Looking out on the east coast of Florida. There are lots of well built coastal management solutions on view.
The weather turns quickly in Florida. Darks clouds threaten heavy rain in the sunshine state.
Fitness must be the number one pastime in the USA. Surely…
…and eating must be number 2. Or maybe its the other way round.
And there is always a Starbucks just round the corner, wherever you are.
Palm trees tower above almost everything in Florida.
There is always something to do in Florida, morning day or night. Waiting for a table at Kobi’s.
A memorable meal at Kobi’s. Chinese food cooked in front of you by the resident comic.
This moment in time could not have been more American if it tried. Standing outside an ice-cream vendor at 11pm in t-shirt and shorts, surrounded by Taco Bell and all sorts of famous American brand signs, the Doobie Brothers’ Listen to the Music playing in the background, and then on cue a bunch of Harley motorbikes drive by. It was definately an inner peace moment.
The big parks of Universal and Disney certainly know how to make a moment. We had experienced the Disney parks on a previous visit, so decided on Universal this year. The Skull Island Reign of Kong ride was very well done. The mountains in the background are just a set made of wooden panels. It looked very real.
We spend a highly recommended day at Discovery Cove, a water park where you can experience swimming with the marine life.
Beer and steaks. What else do you need ?
Steak ‘n Shake – possibly the cheapest meal of the whole trip, and it was pretty good for the money. Must be doing something right – the company has been in operation since 1934.
Dusk by the lake. Watch out for the ‘gators.
The residential amenities are pretty impressive – pools, outside gym and tennis courts are just a few.
I had never driven in the USA before, but I very quickly came to enjoy it. General speeds are much lower than the UK roads, and most people driver at a more leisurely pace than what I am used to. Roads are big, clean and well signposted.
I recently spent the day with the event planning company helping them with their first outdoor cinema event in the wonderful grounds of Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire. Although a full summer’s day event with three screenings, the most interesting light for photography came at dusk with fantastic colours in the sky, the moon out and the glow of the lighting from the screen and vendors making the whole scene wonderfully atmospheric. It is hard work setting up an event like this, but everyone had a great time with lots of applauds at the last song of the film Grease when the light really had faded.
I spent a few days in London recently and used some of the time taking in some street photography with my Fuji X-Pro1 and 18mm, 35mm and 56mm lenses.
I find street photography in London easier than some other places because there are so many visuals to work with, there are lots of other photographers (tourists) around and everyone is so busy going from A to B that you do not look out of place and can get on with taking photographs without apprehension. The weather was fantastic with the start of summer, and I used my morning and evening walks to take advantage of the fantastic light.
1. Street seller at Westminster Bridge. Prime spot and unbeatable footfall for the tourist market.
2. Cranes standing to attention across the River Thames. London is constantly changing, as much of a living and breathing city as the people who occupy it.
3. Trafalgar Square, looking at St Martin-in-the-Fields church. I sat my Fuji X-Pro1 on a mini-tripod with a 3 stop ND filter for a long exposure to capture the movement within the scene.
4. Nelson’s Columns, Trafalger Square. Watching the comings and goings since 1843.
5. Earl Haig Memorial, Whitehall. A bronze statue in silhouette.
6. Protesters opposite Downing Street. The dog is taking a great interest in something.
7. Westminster Bridge with the Houses of Parliament. Red and blue is the order of the day.
8. Makeshift memorial for the victims of the recent terrorist activities on the bridge.
9. Westminster Bridge and the Houses of Parliament is a popular location for foreign bride wedding photography.
10. The remains of the evening sunlight falling onto a building in shadow.
11. A waiter outside a cafe at Trafalger Square.
12. Nelson’s Column in silhouette. Everything is standing to attention.
13. Muriel at Southbank. Lovely colours in the sunlight.
14. A morning walk on the south side of the River Thames. Walking is so much better than using the tube when you have a camera and the weather is sunny and warm.
15. Red and black are a great combination at the National Theatre.
16. Wooden pier with a backdrop of St Paul’s Cathedral and the modern world.
17. There are over 100,000 hotel rooms in Greater London.
18. Under the bridge in the morning light.
19. The Tate Modern Gallery, Bankside.
20. The Millenium Bridge, which started off as being affectionately known as ‘The Wobbly Bridge’. It was closed for two years whilst the issue was fixed.
21. The Millenium Bridge, with St Paul’s in the background. The bridge provides easy access for commuters travelling between Bankside and the City of London.
22. The Shard, 95 storeys in total and 310 metres to the tip.
23. Morning commute through the ancient streets of London.
24. Morning trains passing through Southwark.
25. Commuters in reflection
26. Heathrow is not far away.
27. I love the sharp anglesand straight lines that modern hi-rise office buildings can provide.
28. Statue near to London City Hall
29. The Shard sandwiched between two office blocks.
30. Construction on the North side of the Thames. The Gherkin is in the mix.
31. A commuter walking towards Tower Bridge. Tower of London in the background.
32. Sunlight reflecting off a modern building.
33. The Shard backlit by the sun.
34. Pedestrians passing through developed office and shopping areas in Southwark.
35. Red is the colour in Piccadilly Circus.
36. Victoria Memorial, The Mall.
37. Bronze statue in silhouette, Victoria Memorial, the Mall.
38. Buckingham Palace in the evening. The Mall was closed off the traffic for military parade practises in preparation for the Queens Birthday celebrations – Trooping of the Colour.
39. Union Jack and the London Eye at dusk.
40. Relaxing on The Mall with no traffic.
41. Practising for Trooping of the Colour down The Mall. British tradition in all its splendor.
42. Trafalger Square at dusk.
43. You are spoilt for choice for nightime entertainment.
44. Big Ben poking up above the treeline at dusk.
45. The London Underground, a city all by itself.
46. A 30 second exposure brings life to a nightscene.
47. The night time lights start to appear on the banks of the Thames.
48. The London Eye in all its glory.
49. Lights a plenty in the evening.
50. An old ship commandered as a drinking venue on the waters of the Thames.