21 June 2009
Hampshire Wedding Photography - Sam and Dean, New Place
So I shot Gene and Stu's wedding in 2005...then I shot Gene's daughters wedding in 2007...then I shot Gene's daugthers friend's wedding in August 2008...now I shoot Gene's daughter's friend's friend in June 2009. To complicate things I will shoot Gene's daughter's friend's friend's former boss in July 2010. As for the apostrophe...well, I gave up on where the hell that was supposed to go a long time ago. In any event Darren and I popped down the Emsworth to cover the prep of Sam (or Samantha to some) for her wedding to Dean before returing back to New Place, Shirrell Heath (why do I always want to type Squirrell in Heat?). With the wife being out at her school reunion and kids at the grandparents I found myself home alone at 7:10. So I did what any respectable batchelor would do. Downloaded my cards, raced to play 4 holes at the golf club and came back to blog myself into Sunday. So without further delay....
It seemed a perfectly natural place for them to 'hang'
 Torturing a fly or glueing eyelashes...its a judgement call

 The only bride I've ever known to be dressed 2 hours prior to the ceremony
 shocking
 Willy Wonka was no match for my photographic charms
 Amazing what you can see through the gap in the door jam

 Not Dean...but rather his twin brother
 alas...its Dean
 The guests were comforted by the fact that in the event of an emergency Lassie could be summoned at a moments notice

 Twin brother again...and the sucking of the cheek is an ancient tear stopping technique

 Strangely, I've never actually done one of these
 The wicked entry way into New Place



 Doin' the Kate
 "I hate having my photo taken" - Sam, 20 June 2009 -- What-evah!
 Gothic architecture - £1,000,000 Using a £30 dome light in the toilet foyer - Priceless




And a few from the soon to be short haired Darren I'll give him credit...he did, at least, admit he STOLE the idea from me :)
 and hello to you as well

 Anyone else thinking Dennis the Menace?
 Darren is Young Jerry


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18 June 2009
Lorna and Charlie at Cain Manor - A Brief Encounter
Another quick client meeting. This time with Lorna and Charlie who booked me from Singapore. After we dispensed with the details I offered them one of 15 minute turbo sessions. Just a laugh and chance to see what I get up to on a wedding day. Most clients get worried about this (although champagne often quells any concerns) but its nice to say "that's it guys...nothing more complex than that". So, with all of us dressed for a day at the beach we buzzed through 3 locations in 15 minutes chatting along the way.
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17 June 2009
F!lm -- AGAIN!
Finally got around to developing a few more rolls of film from my Konica Hexar 'faux' rangefinder camera last week. Life with a max shutter speed of 1/250th is great fun (NOT). But it is kind of cool to shoot and not have a clue (OK, I do have a clue) until the disc comes back (yep, disc...don't bother with prints).
All the black and white images are shot on Ilford XP2 which is a 400 speed film. Most shots needed a 3 stop ND filter to keep it under the 1/250th of second.
The colour is Kodak Ektar 100. With a my 3xND it makes it a 12 speed film. Hilarious concept to a digital photographer.
As with all my film scans I will remove dust and scratches and I will use a few levels adjustments. But that's it.
First are some photos of Evan and friends etc:
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15 June 2009
Surrey Wedding Photography - Katie and Mike - Bury Court Barn
Back to The Barn at Bury Court (or is that Bury Court Barn...I can never remember) on Saturday. It was about 4 weeks since I'd been there. Not much had changed...it still one of the best venues in Surrey...scrap that, perhaps in the country. Of course I might be a little biased (close to home, on the recommended suppliers list and have a great working relationship with the folks there). As usual the barn was in top condition which meant that everyone could simply get on with having a great wedding. Luckily Mike turned out in his 5 o'clock shadow. Apparently this a plus point in his house...I simply get moaned at. Oh how the other half live. Thanks to Kaite and Mike as well as their guests for making us feel welcome.
 On the list of shots that get you killed as a wedding photographer...this ranks quite high
 Shoe(s)
 SumpinOuttaNuttin
 Driven is one work you could use to describe Katie...
 ....Pleased is another
 No great photo...just Katie helping Gran with a drink of water
 Oh no!!! Not those big little Bridemaid eyes...I'm such a SUCKER!
 Mum finished the croqueting...or is that crocheting....let's just call it buttoning up
 Peeping Bob
 Dresses to thrill
 Ade attempts to keep a safe distance whilst Rebecca goes bananas at the first glimpse of Katie in her dress
 There's a magic light spot in the processional at Bury Court Barn. Got it!

 IMHO, the more interesting signing of the register shot
 Any harder and her head might just pop off
 It seemed only I got the celebrity significance of Katie's dad being sat next to her at the top table
 When I see a laugh like this I think of that chap from the Apprentice who admitted to peeing in the boardroom
 Two naturals
 Revisting me 'new' spot from last time
 Damn Kate (not Katie)...not a reflector in sight
 Copyright Kate Jackson - 2009
 When I was a wee boy photographer, I hated receiving lines. I was so naieve :)
 See what I mean!
 Checking out the dodgy photo wall of shameThe one thing about when Darren and I work together is that Darren and I work magnificently together. We rarely ever turn up in each other's shot and never get in each others way. I suspect those few times I took a ruler to his forehand really did the trick (only joking...geez people). But as I watched Nicky from Jacaranda close the curtains I knew I had a chance for a great framed shot. The curtains slowly started to close and just as they got to the A+ spot some knucklehead walked in front of me. OK...as you can see it would have been a waste anyhow as Mike's eyes were closed and a split second later I did get another shot. I just thought it was highly amusing -- and you...well, you're bored to tears.
 Get a haircut :)
 OK..its never going to be a Rob-art (sigh) collectable but its a recording shot
 With little hesitation, this chap raised his hand with pride when the question "raise your hand if you've filled your trousers" came from the other side of the table
 On second thought...I may just crop that a bit...but for now, this is still a winner for me
 I just loved the attention everyone had during the speech

Separated at birth


 Oh Mike...please don't tell me you raised your hand too? Ewwww!
 Toilet humour runs a muck
 Elvis has left the building....
 ....carrying a cookbook
 I get this look from women all the time...no...honest
 Watching a grown man eat string really is a great pastime
 Proving Katie is the Ace in the pack (groan, groan, groan)Now a Few From DarrenSpeaking of the peeing and the Apprentice (and most notably James from the Apprentice) I was struck by a comment that probably helped James get dumped from the show. In the question "what can you bring to Sir Alan's company" James answered, "ignorance". Of course this got old Clive the interviewer's jerk juices flowing and he ridiculed him senseless. But I do appreciate what James was trying to say. Wisdom is something that is valuable but at the same time crippling. It can stop you from taking a risk or chancing a situation which, if it comes off, will make you seem as if you're a magician of sorts. Darren is my ignorance (yes, that is a compliment). He tries things without the fear of failure or the wisdom to know if it will work. I see so much of myself in Darren that its quite scary. In that, I try to always remember that ignorance as a way to stay fresh. For that I hope I he stays ignorant for a long time to come.
He's now officially the Bury Court Barn Gallery Master
 Pure Ignorance! I Love IT!
 Its an iPhone luv :)
 I'm glad I've finally got him out of taking photos of the camera taking the photo...but here are 3 shots of people take photos of other people that all work
 Great scene setter
 Mike was well aware of the plan to kick him in the ....
 As they said in Top Gun "Darren...you can be my wing man anytime"
 I was keen to remove the car park...Darren had other ideas.
 Learning the values of receiving lines
 The entrance of Casper, the friendly ghost, and his beloved bride
 Nice shot
 The fact he likes shooting the kids is fine by me
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