Thursday 30 July 2009

British summertime





Well you can always rely on the weather here in good old blighty!
All the above images are from Woolacombe in North Devon the top two where taken in October 2007 and the bottom one was taken on Tuesday August 28th 2009.
Still as long as the sun is shining in your heart ....

Monday 20 July 2009

The meaning of life - Glimpses of Nirvana

" In the darkness of the night, only occasionally relieved by glimpses of Nirvana as seen through other people's windows, wallowing in a morass of self-despair made only more painful by the knowledge that all I am is of my own making ...
When everything around me, even the kitchen ceiling, has collapsed and crumbled without warning. And I am left, standing alive and well, looking up and wondering why and wherefore.
At a time like this, which exists maybe only for me, but is nonetheless real, if I can communicate, and in the telling and the bearing of my soul anything is gained, even though the words which I use are pretentious and make you cringe with embarrassment, let me remind you of the pilgrim who asked for an audience with the Dalai Lama.
He was told he must first spend five years in contemplation. After the five years, he was ushered into the Dalai Lama's presence, who said, 'Well, my son, what do you wish to know?' So the pilgrim said, 'I wish to know the meaning of life, father.'
And the Dalai Lama smiled and said, 'Well my son, life is like a beanstalk, isn't it? "
Words by Keith Reid Procol Harum - In Held (Twas) In I

this quote from Procol Harum, I actually came across from a cover of this track by later day prog supergroup Transatlantic. Narrated before the track starts this always make me smile, so i though I'd share...

Thursday 16 July 2009

Gorgeous Forever











This week marks the return to Antonios Premier for my Gorgeous Forever Makeover promotion, something that Antonio and I started almost twelve months ago as a once a month event, Antonio and his team providing the hair dressing and make up, myself the photography.The five shots above are a small selection from my first shoot with the stylists, the b/w with red accent was my original concept for the salon display. Antonio is the tough looking fellow at the top, don't be fooled he's a pussycat really.




Friday 10 July 2009

Life is short, no time for second chances...



It seems that I spend my life searching for the next improvement, wanting to be better at one thing or another. Yet one thing I have been personally guilty of in the pass is missing chances, opportunities i could have taken but don't, shots that I could have taken but then hesitated and missed the chance. When I'm in the "zone" so to speak , working on a specific job - portraiture shoot-wedding shoot-band promo etc I'm fine totally seeing the shots and taking them without hesitation. But during a casual stroll camera in hand, I have in the past been guilty of labouring and missing out.
The prime example of missing the shot for me and the one that is currently raging me, is the little urchin girl playing a penny whistle on top if the Eiffel tower, the perfect shot sitting at my feet and I walked past. An American guy behind me, throws her a dollar and takes the shot. Now I could have doubled back and maybe I should have, but would that shot then been forced, the moment lost ?
Opportunities placed in front of you are, I believe put their for a reason. I can't imagine reaching old age and thinking what if. So dear reader, maybe we can do this together and vow to never again miss our chances in life. Whether it be a shot, a hand shake or question that you really wanted to ask but thought twice about.
Life is short, but full of endless possibilities. Our job, should we choose to except it, is to make the most of those possibilities .

Friday 3 July 2009

This ain't "rock and roll"






Yes I know there's nothing rock and roll about taking photographs of flowers and my street cred is now in tatters, but I love shooting with a shallow depth of field. And flowers offer so much colour/detail that stand out so well against a soft focus background, I just can't resist the temptation to take the shot.
Zeppelin probably won't want me for the reunion photos, Johnny Depp may not answer my calls now, but hey we had our moment didn't we ?