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Posted on April 26, 2011
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Every bride deserves a dream wedding, or at least the opportunity to create a day that is extraordinary, unique and full of memories. It’s no coincidence that the sizeable viewing figures and enormous success of recent television and film productions such as Downton Abbey, the re-made Brideshead Revisited and Atonement demonstrate that the fascination and lure of the English country house is alive and well.
Charlton Park is the genuine article and with the large windows of the main house bathed in sunshine of the April heat wave, the estate formed the perfect setting for a promotional photo shoot (with thanks to Teokath for the dresses). If you would like to come on the next wedding photography training course, please get in touch.
Posted on April 17, 2011
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We had an excellent Camera Skills Workshop on Saturday at Charlton Place, Bishopsbourne near Canterbury. After a morning of getting the theory out of the way we had an afternoon of shooting – natural light, reflected light and some artificial light. The weather changed from bright and sunny to dark and brooding – so we were able to shoot at both low and high ISO settings. If you would like to get more from your camera and would like some help doing so, then a training course or 1-2-1 session might be for you.
Posted on April 15, 2011
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Le Petit Poisson is situated almost right on Herne Bay’s beach, by the old pier. I had a great lunch there a few weeks ago and so was pleased to return for a short shoot just before the start of their lunch service. I’m not a fish person, but I devoured a perfectly cooked Sea Trout and Braised Brill. Check it out http://www.lepetitpoisson.co.uk
Technical stuff – the room shot to the front was cross-lit by bare-bulbing 2 flash heads to create a pool of light (this was rather than simply adding fill to the darker part of the room). I wanted shadows through the railings and chair legs. The dishes were shot with a single softbox from one direction, snoot and some silver reflective material as and when required.
Posted on April 10, 2011
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Great to spend an hour this morning with one of this year’s wedding couples for their pre-wedding photo shoot in Faversham, Kent. For technical info please see further down the post and if you’d like to come to the next Camera Skills Workshop on April 16th in Canterbury, you need to book now! http://cameraskills.eventbrite.com/
Shooting after 10am, the sun was climbing steadily and so the shadows were escaping fast. The first scene by the large warehouse doors near Creek Creative off Abbey Street required making our own shadows because the sun was behind the building. Light stands, radio triggers, both lights at full power and using their distance to set the ratios (it’s faster when you’re dodging the traffic because one of your stands is in the road!). ISO 100-200 and F4-F5.6 at at least 1/125th for the 24-105L, 1/250th for the 70-200L lens. UV filters off because I was shooting partially into the sun. The remaining scenes were without flash, looking for backlighting where possible and at 90 degrees to the prevailing light. If you’re interested in shooting urban street-based portraiture, please do get in touch for a training session.
Posted on April 8, 2011
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Here’s a selection of pictures from the week, only some which were in the fresh air and making the most of the sunshine. In between usual assignments and Kent 2020 I was finishing off some 1-2-1 training sessions whilst the weather was good. The next workshop is on April 16th in Canterbury – book asap HERE
So, some quick technical notes on the pictures. The girl in the studio – single light, octobox to mirror window light; the corporate studio headshot was against white but if you don’t light white and have the light source close to the subject, it falls off to grey – ISO 100, F8, Bowens 500W heads. Single softbox light with fill from white material on octobox (switched off). Outdoors at Lorenden School to take some tricky shots that another photographer was struggling with and to form part of their prospectus – shooting at 90 degrees to the light where possible. No reflectors, no flash but making use of reflected light from gravel surface, paving slabs etc – ISO 100 probably F4 or 5.6. Headshot indoors on location in dark meeting room trying to avoid reflection of the softbox and reflector in the glass – ISO 500, F8-F11 with small 250W heads. Shop interiors at the marvellous Peekaboo boutique in Whitstable – ISO 400-800 with occasional tripod and mirror lock-up. Finally, the factory. 2 x Canon speedlites triggered by Pocketwizards – one from behind subject’s head and using his head to hide it; second, camera left through a viewing panel.
