Photography Workshop

Phew, life seems to be settling back again after holiday and the Big Chill.
Since then I've done a couple of portraits, another workshop and of course the Malvern photography class is still on for another couple of weeks. Just booked in another Eastnor Castle wedding for next June too so I'll be looking forward to meeting up with the couple later in the year for their pre-wedding shoot.
Here's a shot from the workshop last weekend in Dymock.


This is all about creating a starburst and using a bit of designer flare. I've also given it a slightly over the top brown/yellow hue for that retro look.
We had good fun on the workshop despite the freezing winds in the morning. Perseverance pays in photography and we had superb light in the afternoon.

Looking forward to going out for another half-day workshop in Ross this weekend and I'll be exhibiting at the wedding fayre at Worcester Cricket Ground on Sunday if you want to come and say hello.

More Big Chill pictures

Here's a link to the Flickr stream for the shots I submitted to Brum Live from this year's Big Chill festival. Not sure what's happened to the review or if it's going to appear at some point but these are the pics. Feel free to browse/comment etc.

Big Chill 2009

Here's some of my favourite shots from the Big Chill festival this year at Eastnor.
(I didn't get back in time for the zombie film by the way!)

Hafdis Huld from Iceland. I saw her 2 years ago at the Big Chill and also did some portraits of her so it was good to see her and the band again.


Youth from Killing Joke playing with Indian collective Suns of Arqa on the Open Air Stage.

John Cooper Clarke.

Fun in the bubble foam pit at Sam Sam the Bubble Man's Bubble Inc. stand.

The No Fit State Circus!


I always like to get this kind of shot. This is Ska Cubano in the Coop tent/stage.


Chillers enjoying Max Romeo's amazing roots reggae set.


More giant bubbles from Sam.

Daevid Allen from Gong. Superb being able to see them and re-live some of those psychedelic moments from my youth!!
I've done a review for Brum Live so hopefully that should appear on their site soon. Not sure what pictures they'll use but once it appears click on any pic and it will take you to the full Flickr stream for a few more. I might add some to my main site too, especially one or two of Amadou & Mariam. They were the highlight of the festival for me and I can't stop playing their album "Welcome to Mali".

Time to Chill

It's that time again already!
I've been quiet on the blog front because we've been off to Italy on hols. Had a great time, drove far too much (3200 miles in a fortnight), ate too much ice cream and generally got very hot. It was nice to be out of the English rain but 35 degrees all day long was a bit exhausting!
Will probably put some holiday pics on my Flickr stream but for now it's back to work!

So today I've been down to Eastnor Deer Park to get my pass for the Big Chill and have a look round the site. It's a bit muddy but sun is forecast so I'm sure we'll be fine. Hoping to get back there later this evening as they are filming a massive Zombie film tonight with loads of the crowd made up as zombies. I narrowly avoided being zombified myself but was able to politely decline on the grounds that I want to be the other side of the lens!


The campsite is great with Eastnor castle as a backdrop but I think we made the right decision not to camp this year. Watching everyone struggle up the hill to pitch their tents brought back last year's painful memories!! As I live so close I'm taking advantage of being able to come home to a bed and a shower :-)

The boys start the weekend as they mean to go on.

If I get back down there later I'll try and get some zombie pictures. If not, watch this space to see the festival unfold over the next few days. I should be putting some reviews on Brum Live too if all goes to plan.