This blog entry goes out Sunday instead of Monday.  Almost no verbage, just to say hey and hope you like this weeks entry. 

Claire and Ted -- Rowledge and Bury Court Barn -- Friday, 3 October, 2008

It was a little early to start the whole S-Club 7, Reach for the Stars routine!

For those who know I hate shoes...there's a few in jokes this week

Sensible shoes

Same place, different subject.  Claire, bless her, lost her voice.  A bit of lemon and honey actually did the trick!

Getting a few of those Thank You cards out of the way early

Oh look...a pair of shoes just happened to be on a door...why, for goodness sakes, would that happen?

Says to herself "you look good baby...uhuh!"

Confused....you should be!

You don't want to know what might happen if she removes that finger!

Ted and the Best Man privately heckle guests for their interesting head wear (or maybe I'm just making that up)

A shot from my new 'Vicar-Cam'

Fleur! (or something like that)

One of those "darn, it didn't quite work" which suddenly went to "oh, baby....that's so much better!"

Ted seems so very pleased to see me...or what that Claire?

Checkmate!

An Irish Blessing...just awesome

Lucky enough to make it through boot camp, these two were off to impress the judges at Cheryl's house in...ooops...sorry, wrong blog. (guess who's NOT watching X-Factor again this year)

I debated including this picture...A LOT!

An understandable reaction to a irresponsible guest throwing confetti in your champagne!

The choruses (is that a word) of "you didn't waste any time" just kept on coming!

Caption competition...entries by email

The warm sun and Suzanne's (Bury Court's owner) spectacular garden

I'm sure I've been here before!

Yep...looks quite familiar!

And my secret Bury Court hideaway!

The only toastmaster (Ted's Brother) to use a champagne glass and a lighter to summon the troops

Ted lines up for a 'boys' shot

I know, I wanted to squeeze those cheeks as well...the little one was rather cute too!

Ted does the rounds

One of like, well, one, shots of the outside of Bury Court I've ever taken...Can you believe it?....

...clearly not!

Not only was 'Vicar-Cam' new this week, but so way 'Lay-on-Floor Cam' as well

It did produce some interesting angles

Ted looks a lot (from this angle) like David Cameron...

Just be glad it ain't Peter Mandelson :)

Charlie Daniels!

Most weddings I make sure that I post a few images from my trusty sidekick and all around good guy, Darren.  Unfortunately I was really up against it on Monday and with his files in various places on different computers it wasn't possible.  So instead, I wanted to post a few more images from Sarah and Jonathan's wedding which were all taken by 'The Boy Wonder'.

Sarah and Jonathan -- Shot by Darren (aka The Big D and Boy Wonder)

I told him to shoot this...then he said "I already did"

Clearly he hates shoes as well

Ickle moments

He had a thing for Yule as well

This was one of 4 or 5 included in the On the Day presentation

Ahh...I see myself a few years ago in that shot

Gettin' brave and shootin' at 1.8....I like it!

I love this...its so random yet meaningful

When I first saw it I said, "but dude, you've blown it out" to which he said "I was going for their faces".  OK, I'll shut up now.

Same here...smarty pants

I bet her hair was lovely after an hour of this

So...I'm in processing the On the Day and Darren says "should I got out to rest of the receiving line".  My first thought was "this should be interesting".  But clearly his story that he looks at the blog every week rang true.  I shed a small tear :)

Magic, Magic, Magic!  For this you've earned an extra can of V next time out!

See...he's got the 'eyes' thing going

This is far better than anything I got during SJ's mum's speech

Its all about timing...did you buy a watch?

Nice one D

2 great shots from the first dance

When Darren first started coming out with me (November last year)...there was a certain randomness to what he took.  I wouldn't say I'm the best mentor.  I pick him up, we shoot, he carries, I drop him off and his only bit of tutoring comes in a) my blog and b) a few choice one line nuggets of info.  But each week there's something better, something more insightful in his images.  Thanks again BW!

How 'bout them Skins!

Apologies for my senseless jibe towards my brother in law...it has to be done.

I really need to boogie so I'm just going to post some images from the weddings this past weekend. 

Sarah and Jonathan -- Lane End, Buckinghamshire -- Saturday, 27 September 2008

On Saturday I did an 'On the Day' presentation.  So the guests and B&G have seen a fair few images.  However, I wanted to still blog a few for everyone else.  In some instances I've selected different images than I selected Saturday night.  So there's something for everyone.

Also...a big thanks to Cheryl and Pascal who recommended me to Sarah and Jonathan (and I suppose Darryl and Sioban who recommended me to Cheryl Pascal...I'll shut up now)

First...yes, she's seen it and yes, she thinks its funny

Sometimes I even wonder how I get out of the reflection

My new image branding clearly doesn't work on every image :)

Go on...just one verse from 'The King and I'

My name is Michael Caine...and I am a nosey neighbour

Funny...I don't remember everyone being so serious

One of my favourite shots of the year

The problem with getting ready too early...you can't stop fiddling (her words)

Folks often look to me for advice on tying a crevat...at which point I feign an illness and excuse myself with great haste

I hate to use the same joke as a few weeks ago...BUT....Y-M-C-A

"Count to 10, then come find me"

Splitty arrives

Sadly the ride from the house to the church didn't provide enough time for a fry up

As a final test the girls from FYEO arrive but Jonathan has none of it

Casper is escorted down the aisle by Dad and Pa

The Best Man, sadly, failed the FYEO test

I don't often get a view point like I did on Saturday...interesting but not always unobstructed

Making a mad dash to the VeeDub

Had it been legal Sarah would have had a tough choice on her hands

Granny gets giddy

Ye Olde Daughter-Father Look

Smiles all 'round

Bagel!

So as not to leave the evening guests out the Best Man's speech, complete with colour coding, found its way into the bar

GeeQueue from the Gents Loo

Right...so, the timetable was never going to allow us to do the 'couple' shots before the meal.  I knew it would be dark but I figured we could do something.  Inside I found the Gent's loo...cracking (pun unintentional).  But after that, well, doing the on the day presentation I hadn't really had anytime to scope.  So we literally went outside in the pitch black.  I tried one thing and it bombed...I had seen the gazebo and when they mentioned I thought, "let's give it go".  First shot was 1/6th of the second.  I managed to get it down to 1/30th...but this would have been better with a bit of colour in the sky.  9:00pm at the end of September...no chance.  The lights were flood lights at the venue so there's shadows being cast.  The story continues later on...

...there wasn't much I could do for this scene to get rid of the banister shadow but...

....I could change the emphasis a bit...

So now we're pretty well DOA.  Why I was being so thick I don't know but then Jonathan suggested a light on the side of the building.  I don't know if this is what he had in mind, but the second he said it I knew exactly what I wanted!

Yowza!

And this...well, I was in heaven!

DAMN YOU...NOT AGAIN!  Chesney Hawks I HATE YOU! (not really)

Nina and John -- Meonstoke and New Place -- Friday, 26 September 2008

I suppose this one needs an intro as well.  I first placed a card in a corner shop in Fareham in 2004.  'Wedding Photographer for Hire'.  Perhaps the most useless form of advertising going but within a few days I had a phone call.  Jo and Ben, brave as they were, took a chance and booked me for their wedding.  Clearly liking what I did I shot Ben's sister's UK blessing, a friend of Jo's mum's daughter, Helen and Dog (aka Paul), Vicky and Steve and I think a few more but its all got too complicated.  Figuring that there were none left I was delighted to get a call from John asking if I was available.  I saw so many familiar faces, not to mention Matt and his cool hat (he's the dad of the little guy you'll see shortly) -- the hat is almost as famous as he is.  So...to the whole clan it was great to see you all again and who knows, maybe we'll see each other again sometime!

How lucky have folks been these last few weeks with the weather?

A true piece of art...and the painting ain't bad either

A new concept in shoe shots...get'm whilst they're on!

Dress Noir

Seeing the dress for the first time...but hey, the Bridesmaids dresses were pretty cool themselves

Mr Black, Mr Orange and Mrs Green

The Best Man -- apparently

Mum greets guests on arrival

Every time I got near him, he ran away...fine then!

It looked cool but it only a 1 horsepower engine

Ah...I do admire the effort that some folks make!

John gets his first glimpse

Now man and wife, the vicar stops a certain 6 with a leaping over head catch

Its always a bonus when the reader makes eye contact with the B&G

According to the EXIF data I'm something like 25 meters away...it made for, surprisingly, some of the more interesting signing of the registers shots this year

Off on the long ride to the pub...all 150 meters of it

Finally got him!

A pre-reception, reception at the Bucks Head, Meonstoke...check out the boozers bottom left

Now moving on to another form of transport I think they were a little surprised to see me

With time to kill before the guests arrived (and with John in the loo), I got to work

Having been to New Place before, I knew that would happen

The receiving line is now in full swing

As you can see, I've got a little somefink for the entry way...

I dunno

I had never seen a hornet in real life before...I'm just glad it wasn't my beer!

Writing wedding wishes on the back of the placenames...hadn't seen that before

Is that not Tommy Lee Jones in No Country for Old Men?

Clearly, its not just Evan who loves a bit of Van Halen!

I couldn't quite get the best view during the speeches...but I reckon it worked out OK in the end

I wouldn't want to watch Bambi with John's mum I can assure you!

The cake stand reflection on the ceiling rather amused me

No, I'm not referring to the 80s pop song by Ashford and Simpson but rather...well....read the last post and work it out for yourself.  In the end it all worked itself out (quite literally).  The doctor (and by the way the text for the doctor story pn the previous entry was written on Sunday night) said there was little they could do and that he was happy in himself, not dehydrated and had a good SATS (which is quite amazing as he's only just in pre-school -- or have I got that wrong?).

Anywho...just a quick to share 3 pictures I really loved from a portrait shoot I did with Helen, Dan and Oliver on Monday.

Helen, Dan and Oliver -- Old Portsmouth -- Monday, September 22, 2008

He was best when asked to be 'active'

With a live wire like Oliver, its best to have as many eyes on the situation as possible

Mini-Clooney!

Time for a haircut


One of the few times he didn't wince


I love the falling hair


Off to the park after fiddlesticks


He's graduated to the big boy swings

The very first shot of the day...oh, after Darren and I enjoyed a rather lovely Magnum ice cream with the family

No...honest...I really hate shoe shots

Shortly after they also pulled a rabbit from a hat

Lately I've been into classically bad compositions that actually work...here I love the ghostly reflection of Charlotte on the left and bottom of the actual reflection

ZZ Top once sang a song about the above

Like 10 seconds before there were at least 8 people in the room...then it was just us

Proof you can do it...even without Live View

On tonights episode of 'Beneath the Veil'....

"I've got a 10er on Man City 6, Portsmouth 0" -- "It'll never happen"

Darren:  "Where should I go",  Rob:  "Um...go up in the gallery" -- famous last words...don't worry, the magic of Photoshop will undo those most unwise decisions

So begins a rather strange infatuation with Evan's (that being Evan as the Best Man Evan) shoes...when I first realised that his name was Evan he asked me "What should I call you?" to which I replied "Daddy!"

Fortunately the church has installed rumble strip traffic calming to alleviate the risk of a multi-bride pile up

The low September sun...magic

No great shot...but I really do love the "Sorry about that"

You know you are onto a winner when you show a B&G a grubby alleyway with muck, cobwebs and rust and they say "sure...that's why we hired you"...ah, Heaven!

"Camera 1, Camera 2, Camera 1" -- Wayne from Wayne's World

Martin had a certain aura about him all day

I learned all about Charlotte's A-Level in photography and the many weekends her and her Dad spend in breakers yards...a woman after my own heart!

See...that even lower warm September sun

Toast!  Not really, its champagne...its funny, because in certain shots Evan looks a dead ringer for Lewis Hamilton

I rarely ask a couple to ever do anything else once they sit down..but golly, if I find something really tasty...just trust me!

I'm convinced that B&Gs could say anything and the table would still be captivated during the 'Greet the Table' sessions

The meal looked filling to me so why a 4th course of bubbles were required is beyond me

A friend of mine sent me a shot a few weeks ago of the after dinner mint challenge...start it on your forehead and wiggle your face to eventually get it to your mouth....I never thought I would actually see it myself

...once it starts, you can't stop it!

Taking 'Greased Lightening' a little too far

Chesney Hawks has a lot to answer for!

Shake your money maker!

FONT size=3>Last week I wasn't able to pop up Darren's images.  I felt really bad.  So today I've made sure I got some of the boy wonder for everyone to enjoy.  So...without further delay...

A Few of Darren's from Saturday Awell (that's how Evan -- my son, not the Best Man) says As Well

I get overcome with joy when I see things I say to him come out in his work

Uh oh...

Great shot of the Bride

Proof that its not what you shoot but how you shoot it...did somebody make a booty call?

Another Lewis Hamilton groupie just before she discovers the truth

Catching the other (and some may say better) angle of the bridesmaids Sorority girl squeeze

They are all from South Africa...which perplexed me when I started to sing 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot' and Martin joined in

I love this angle of the 'everybody' shot -- Nice work Darren!
 

Its been ages since I posted something that didn't lead to a wedding.  So today I post...just because.

Being a Dad is great fun.  I mean there's the teaching him to ride a bike, or pronounce words more clearly...or perhaps expanding his musical vocabulary.  Case in point, on the way home from nursery on Tuesday he asked for 'the airplane one'.  'Buddy, we're almost home' I reply.  'OK, can I have the disco one?'.  Knowing I already had a CD in the player from Sunday night (I didn't leave the wedding until 11:15pm with a 1:50 ride home...I needed some 'juice') I suggested we listen to Van Halen.  Initially I get a blank stare but eventually I get 'OK, let's listen to Van Halen'.  To say he enjoyed the open drum sequence on 'Hot for Teacher' would be an understatement.  He enjoyed, even more, my air guitar and the two of 'jammed' the rest of the way home.

I now own a piece of Apple kit that integral to my business.  Yesterday, with my contract on T-Mobile expired, I've moved to O2 and an iPhone.  What a nifty gadget.  In many ways I was bummed to leave T-Mobile.  I mean, my phone did what it needed to do...email, calendar, text...sadly it didn't do one important thing....actually work in my house.  T-Mobile were even going to offer me another £5 of a month.  But ultimately I had to go with something that did and the iPhone won.  I've downloaded a few things from the App Store...at the moment my favourite App is Shazam...hit listen whilst a song is playing in the ether and in about 20 seconds it will tell you the track, the title, the artist and a give you a link to buy. 

After Evan and I had out Hot For Teacher jamathon it was time for bath...and a quick phone call to Auntie Sandy.  So here's some pics.   See ya!

Talking to Auntie Sandy

You can get an idea what the left hand is playing with...and to my surprise shortly after this was taken I got the message "wow Daddy...its big now!"  Crikey!