Not always the best way to start up again after 4 weeks off.  But I'm now primed for the winter season.  Things here are moving fast.  We got planning permission for the garage conversion.  With that came an emergency shed order, delivery, clear out the garage and move loads to the shed.  We've now got a conservatory full of appliances...living life without a large fridge (the one in the kitchen is a built in student sized fridge) or a washing machine (stepping up to the plate is Nic's mum).  Building works starts on Thursday...oh, and we had all the hedges out the front removed because they were horrible.  Can you tell Nicola is nearing the end of her pregnancy.

Speaking of the pregnant one...we met up to swim last night (Evan was at his Grandparents).  I left a tad early to sort out dinner.  On returning home I get a tearful phone call.  "I've fallen, come help me".  I returned to the leisure centre to find a very friendly family waiting with Nicola.  She had been rushing and slipped off the curb.  Luckily she landed on her hands and knees.  She was still very shaken so we called the Grange Birthing Centre and had them have a listen to the baby's heartbeat.  It was just a precaution and everything was fine.  Its time Mrs B slowed down a bit...don't you think!

Anyway...each wedding has its own entry...just to make linking easy.  See ya!

Claire and Derrin were a referral from Kate and Ben whose wedding I shot a couple of years ago.  Great to see them as well as various parents.  Always warming to see familiar and friendly faces.

Now...the quest to work in as many Bond themed comments as possible. 

I wonder is seeing this much of the dress...is not enough

M(mmmmmmmm)

Q -- Why hang shoes on a shower cubicle      A -- Because I try hard to use Plenty O'Tooles

Sod it...I'm not really a big fan of the Bond films any way...I GIVE UP!

I've been to Cain Manor many times...but I had never seen that ickle window before!

Bridesmaid Cam

Shoe!  Move on...nothing to see here

Final touches

Me thinks I've seen that staircase before!

Cain Manor's window of awesome light

It's an odd job...this Groom lark

I've now opened Wikipedia for Bond references...can you believe there was a character named Dr. Holly Goodhead ... that is incredible!

I learned a long time ago...you never shoot the Cain Manor exit at floor level

Pussy Galore

You are right to be confused!

The 'other' Cain Manor window of Magnificent Light

You have to admit...he's got a golden eye

Where the green came from I have no idea!

It's no Astin Martin...but it'll do

THIS PHOTO CANNOT BE EXPLAINED!

Awwww...young love

Miss Moneypenny

Ladies and Gentlemen...Steve Brookstein

It was so nice of Davina to join us

Clearly..she too has just read the list of dodgy Bond character names

Meet Mike...he's always turned on

Stars in your....forehead?

In the calm zone between the end of the speeches and the evenings disco...STRICTLY COME DANCING!

Quantum of Silence

And a few from the Boy Wonder ..... Darren

I set Darren the task of the cake...I wasn't disappointed

Catching guests before the ceremony

Timing is everything

He wasn't impressed with this shot out of camera...I'd be interested to see what he thinks now

Nice context shot

Better angle and better than mine

Everybody shot!

A bit more of the WT(H) shot

Bearing witness to cruel and unusual detention techniques

STOLEN...(from me)

Good catch D

Strictly Through The Window

Its always a moment of slight hesitation.  "Hi, my name is Andy, I'm a photographer and I'm getting married."  Oh dear, here we go again.  In some ways, shooting the wedding of another wedding photographer is quite easy.  They know the score, the challenges, the rules.  But we're all a little bit different.  They also generally get a different type of package to the general public...one that includes handing over the files and letting them do all the work.  My only problem is that I feel a significant part of what I do that makes me interesting happens in the second part of the phase...that being at the computer.  I care more about content then composition...emotion more than exposure...candor instead of colour.  As a result I always have to fiddle with a few files.  Just so everyone knows what I saw and the way I saw it.  So...in a break from tradition....in futile quest to ensure that poor Hazel gets to see some of her wedding photographs sooner rather than later (yes, we photographers are the worst at processing our own images) I have created a wee secret slideshow.  To view it you need to have been at the wedding or know the couple.  To access it type the following into your browser:

http://www.shootinghip.com/slideshows/[ANDY'S LAST NAME]

clearly, replace [ANDY'S LAST NAME] with the his last name...

However, for everyone else...here's a normal blog entry

A full head of hair...

...but only half a face.  Brides go to such extreme lengths!

As Barry Benson Bee would say ... "Box Light"

Totally Rad(iator)

Perhaps my most interesting flower shot ever...and for the record, they flowers were there to begin with

Case in point...in the original Hazel's arm is also in the reflection...not any more!

We're goin' on a ... Autumn Holiday

Fare dodgers!

TFL would be so proud

At least someone bought a ticket

The bus lady has to stand there to stop people from hopping on...the fact that Routemaster busses are no longer in service should be a clue.

Same to you ... pal!

A moment's silence at the closure of the Brass Rubbing Centre

Pre ceremony drinks -- YES WE CAN!

Push Bar To Open

Shooter to the left of me, shooter to the right...here I am, stuck in the middle with you

You just know he's thinking "if I was shooting this wedding...."

HOT (el)

Ye Olde Windsor Guildhall Motion Blur Exit Shot -- Opus # 4

I'm 'stuck' (groan) for words

The lovely Great Fosters Tithe Barn

Whilst wondering around I came across this room...from the outside.  I then became that dude out of Die Hard in an attempt to find access to it.  Cha-ching!

Andy, whilst being the biggest camera mug of 2008, was able to turn it on like an underwear model at any time

H&A -- remember what I said to you whilst I was lying on the floor

Fantastic Frank Sinatra impersonator...English as you like and once the show started as convincing a New York accent as I've ever heard

Hmmm...can I have a flake with that?

Smooth tones...soft served!

Frank managed a rare thing...dancing -- BEFORE -- the dancing

Shooting the speeches wasn't what I would call...easy.  With a 3ft 2in ceiling on hobbits could stand up under there!

Speaking of which...meet Grigory Brandybuck of Buckland

Bloody hell...these days, everyone thinks they're a photographer...although, I suppose with this wedding...they actually were!

Guest flash cake shot rim light yummy yummy

Don't forget the secret slideshow folks...

Thirteen years ago tomorrow, my dear wife to be left me standing at the altar...for a whole 20 minutes...before she decided to show up.  At first I thought it was a test...or perhaps she was having second thoughts.  But 13 years later I can tell you, with all honestly....she just chronically late for everything.  Go figure...

So yes, you read that correct.  Nicola and I will have been married for 13 years (as of tomorrow).  We're off for a few days, leaving Evan behind.  He didn't seemed too fussed this morning as long as he gets to go swimming with Granny and Granddad.

Nicola is starting to 'nest'.  So many jobs, so little time.  Her Dad has finished decorating Evan's new room.  The wardrobe is up and most of his things are moved.  We're only waiting on the new curtains and his new bed to arrive.  The switch isn't going to be an issue.  He is so excited about moving.   He's going through his toys looking for things to give to the baby.

Lately its the things Evan doesn't seem to understand that gives us the most laughs.  Anything that we've done before is prefaced with 'last night'.  So instead of last time we went to the park its last night we went to the park.  Perhaps more amusing in person.  However he did ask Nicola "mummy.  do you have your puppies?".  Naturally being pregnant, certain anatomy changes and she found it hilarious (as did I).  Luckily for us what he wanted to know was whether she had her poppies.  He's quite into poppies and Remembrance Day.

Our very own Power Ranger (which is strange as we've never EVER seen Power Rangers)

For the past 2 weeks, the train set has taken back its number 1 status

The Young Controller at work

"What's that?"  Mummy is home!

Remembrance Sunday in Petersfield Square

Off to the memorial

OK...not great...but OK

Later, at Alice Holt, Evan does his own marching

Cuddles with Mummy

If it can be cliimbed...Evan will climb it!

On Saturday night, we made pizza

Ahhh...the dawning of the age of Aquarius is upon us.  Last night, my fellow compadres voted in the 44th President of the United States of America (please, upon re-reading that last statement, do stand up and place your hand over your heart and on completion say "God Bless America").  Who would have thought 4 years ago that the US would see its first African-American president.  What would MLK (that's Martin Luther King to rest of you) think?  As for me...I thought W was a shoe in...oh...did he run?  Anywho...I hope that the world and, in fact, the emphatic Obama supporters know that the change, whilst easy to say, ain't a bed of roses.

For the past week I've been asked a bazillion (yes, that's really a number) times if a) I voted and b) if I did, who did I vote for.  Well, to answer your questions...(its almost as if I read your mind).

a)  I did NOT vote...I don't live there, it ain't my call, I don't have to reap the benefits or the consequences
b)  Had I voted I would have voted BO...not, not body odour but Barrack Obama.  Hey...the US needs change.  Not to be unpatriotic but lets look at it this way.  George Bush Sr...fighter pilot, crap president.  George Bush Jr...fighter pilot (National Guard), crap president.  Bill Clinton...draft dodger (or so the claim goes), great president, great statesman, partial to a bit of nookie (hey, who ain't).  John  McCain...fighter pilot...well, we'll never know, huh.

NOW...WATCH THE DARN VIDEO! Click below to watch'n'roll. (once the new window opens, wait a minute, then find the play button at the bottom of the screen)

(please understand now, my tongue is firmly placed in my cheek...the music, or at least the chorus really should have really made you laugh...if it didn't, you a) don't understand my 'hate' of shoes or b) understand that my 'hate' is a bit of inside joke)

That don't impress me much!

Oh dear...my son...the navigator.  So we're heading towards Farnham on Saturday.  We hadn't told Evan where we were going, only that we were going to buy his new bed. 

About 3 miles down the A325 we get:

"Daddy...this is the way to Farmum"

"Yes, Evan, this IS the way to Farnham.  You are a very clever boy"

(Short Silence)

"Daddy...this is the way to Alice Holt awell"

"Wow, Evan...you're right...this IS the way to Alice Holt.  You are such a grown up boy...well done."

"Daddy...this is the way to Poo awell" -- massive giggles

Right...well, at least he proved he's still 3 and 1/2 years old!

Tooting One's Own Horn

Back in September I shot the wedding of Sarah-Jane and Jonathan...last week, I got this:

"The photos are incredible and had me in tears watching them! (Tears of happiness of course) As for the music you chose... its as if you know me?
 
All the pictures were perfect and even better than we ever imagined! And believe me ... we imagined great things from you Rob! :0)

Thank you so much for everything! I am SO pleased we found you - your Wedding pictures are one things you should splash out on, they are for always after all :0)
 
We have also had so many people by the way asking for your web site address as so impressed.... future customers without a doubt! :o)"

Naturally I replied and in Sarah-Jane's reply back it just kept on coming :)

"It is a glowing endorsement Rob, but I mean every single word! Both Jonathan and I were speechless as we sat watching the DVDs....... I cried, Jon even welled up, ha-ha, In a manly way of course ;o)
 
"Beautiful" is a word I'd like to use to describe the pictures, however this still doesn't do the pictures justice! Somehow the word beautiful... isn't enough to explain how we feel about each photo you took!
 
You truly are such a talented man, with an eye that captures the most natural and purest of memories... that I am in awe of your talent!

Thank goodness we found you! And your family are lucky to have you!
 
Please do use the enclosed to post on your blog... its the very least we can do for you, after all you have done for us Rob!!!
 
Thank you so very very much!
 
AMAZING!"

Sarah-Jane and Jonathan

So...what about my cryptic blog entry title.  Well, Nicola is in cloud coo-coo land at the moment.  Pregnancy hormones do wonders for the brain.  On the way home the other night Shania Twain's "That Don't Impress Me Much" came on the radio.  Nicola professes that she doesn't understanding why there is a line "I bet you kiss your carving knife...I mean, how stupid is that".  To which I really tried hard to convince her it was not about a knife but rather about kissing his car good night.  But she wasn't convinced.  Even on hearing it she still believed she was right.  It wasn't until I mentioned the lyrics before the line that she (begrudgingly) conceded I was correct.  For the record:

You're one of those guys who likes to shine his machine
You make me take off my shoes before you let me get in
I can't believe you kiss your car good night
C'mon baby tell me-you must be jokin', right!

Sorry for being so quiet lately.  I've been enjoying a bit of slack time.