Flowers For Algernon

These images are from one of the most enjoyable and creatively rewarding commissions I have undertaken to date.Two talented florists, Amy Curtis and Amy Ford, took part in the Fusion Flowers Designer of the Year Competition, and asked me to photograph their work. We did 8 seperate shoots over 3 hectic days, converting lounges into studios, tresspassing on fields, wading in deep estuary mud and generally doing whatever it took to get the required shots. Between them the 2 Amys scooped 5 awards, so well done to them, and here is some of their work for you to enjoy:

Reflections On Ivor Crewe

A Wivenhoe Photography Group trip up the road to the University of Essex where the strict lines and repeating patterns of the 60's architecture would make an ideal subject for the theme of the shoot - black and white.
So, what did I do? A load of soft-focus hi-sat neo-fantasy acid-trip landscapes as seen in the gleaming 'dustbin' walls of the Ivor Crewe Lecture Hall.
'Show and tell' should be fun at our next meeting!

The Church

This post is made up of holiday snaps.
A painting of the magnificent Ely Cathedral was given to me many years ago, and I have long intended a visit. I finally got round to it, and was rewarded by some awe inspiring Norman architecture.
Like many places of historical interest, tripods are not allowed unless you pay a fee (they'd rather you bought a postcard than took some great pics yourself) but I did the best I could in the low light handheld.
I could tell you some history, but I suggest you go and find out for yourselves - the affable fellow who conducts the guided tour up the towers may even tell you where angels really have their second set of wings...

Water Wrackets

A trip to Nayland to shoot long exposures of water over rocks didn't come off quite as planned as recent rain meant the river level was too high, and the rocks were completely obscured. Still, we made lemonade...

The Blind Side

Some abstracts displaying a range of takes on the same subject shot at the same time of day.

Three Colours: Blue

A brief update this, featuring 3 more images from the weekend still life session at the Nottage. Nothing particularly unusual or quirky about these shots - they're just an example of how simple can be pleasing too (IMO). Shot with a macro lens and window light, late afternoon.

Life Of Brian

"Blessed be the cheese graters" - that's the line isn't it?
Wivenhoe Photography Group undertook a still life session at the Nottage, using ambient light (primarily the large balcony window there), and someone brought along a cheese grater. I despise cheese, but the way the late afternoon light played over and through the grater made me thing 'abstract'. The lens was a 60mm macro left wide open to blur those dots of light, and, of course, a tripod was essential.
I boosted the colour a little with Photoshop LAB colour, but not as much as you might think.
For the black and whites I applied a lith-style curve.