Hi Everyone.

A few of you will be aware that I spent some time in Tallinn recently. Well I today I am launching a mini project of photography from that trip. It is my take on the architecture of Tallin, some old some new a bit of a mix really.

You can view the images by clicking on the image below.

Any comment would be very welcome.

A couple of months ago I was asked by Lorraine at Fresenius Kabi Ltd & Calea UK Ltd based in Runcorn, Cheshire to produce a series of corporate photographic portraits of the board of directors. We had two dates we could work with when all the board where together. A date was set at the end of last month. It was a Friday afternoon.

I arrived an hour and half before the shoot to scout for various locations that could be used. I had eight people to photograph so I decided on four locations, photographing two people in each. It took a bit of organising because some of the locations would be better suited to certain people and we had to get the timings right as the subjects had appointments booked.

After I had decided the locations I set up lighting in each of the four and waited for my subjects.

Everyone was great, as is usually the case nobody likes to be photographed but I got them to relax and soon enough they began to enjoy it. I probably spent around 10 minutes per person

From start to finish it took a good four hours but I have to say the results are worth it and more importantly the client was happy. You just cannot rush these things.

Here are some of the results

I was asked a few weeks ago by Ian Hewitt of Heritage Painting if I could produce some photographs for his website and general promotional materials. Heritage Painting is a company that paints trains (well locomotives actually!!). Ian set the company up last year to cater for the growing demand for the painting of preserved locamotives. He and his team have worked on quite few prestigious projects recently including the Rocket and the Flying Scotsman.

So the brief was an open one, I had free reign and a day with Ian and his team. They where working on a class 37 diesel locomotive. I decided to shoot in black and white, for artistic and practical reasons (mixed light sources, cramped environment, dust, volatile materials etc.). I kept it as simple as possible, I used three lenses and kept a wide open aperture to pick up as much available light as possible.

By the end of the day I was filthy, the camera was filthy, the lenses where filthy, but it was a great day. I even got the chance to paint one of the snow ploughs at the front of the engine (geeky fun you understand!!).

Here are w few of the shots and the comments form Ian

“Just had chance to have a look at the images you sent across.All I can say is that they’re bloody fantastic!!

I love the fact that it shows us in our normal enviroment yet captures
how we do the work”

I am going back next week to get more work in progress photographs  of the class 37

I have never really been one for photographing landscapes, sunsets, et al. I was always under the impression (wrongly may I swiftly add) that it was the preserve of the enthusiastic amateur. I was once an amateur and never ever photographed a sunset.

Well a couple of weeks ago I decided to take myself off to the Lancashire coast, it was a stunning day, one of those cold winter days where the light is low and weak, with incredible blue skies. I knew that the sun would be setting around 4pm, so off I went.

I arrived quite early and decided to do some beach and promenade shots. You might be interested to know that Cleveleys has a wonderful new concrete sea front.
Anyway, the sun started to set over the Irish sea and the light was changing every second, it was a very calming experience almost like meditation. I usually spend my day tearing up and down motorways and generally rushing around, so this was very strange indeed. I sat and for well over an hour watching the changing light occasionally shooting a few frames.

Here are some shots from that day, I personally feel the images are very calm and as you can tell I still did not actually photograph the sunset!!

Any thoughts and comments are more than welcome.

St Walburge’s Church in Preston, Lancashire dominates the surrounding area, it is in fact the third tallest spire in England (and the tallest spire of any parish church in England). It was designed by Joseph Hansom (of the Hansom Cab fame) in a gothic revival style and opened in 1854. I have to be honest, I knew nothing of the church until very recently when I was chatting with a very good friend who believes it is one of the most beautiful churches in the UK. It does have an air of elegance and an almost ghost like appearance, especially when viewed from a distance.

Time for a project methinks, so I have made a start. I am not sure where I am going to take this but here are three images from my first visit to the church.

Thanks to everyone at the church who where very helpful indeed.