Hollywood meets Great Haywood

I've had a heavy cold (or man-flu) for a couple of day and been off work, today the boredom got the best of  me (and feeling a little better) I decided to have a go at editing one of the shots from my 40s themed studio shoot. so I had a good shot from the Studio and I wanted some stonework for the background, so on a recent visit to Shugborough I found the perfect specimen at Great Haywood.  So I masked, cloned, smoothed, liquified, burned and blurred to get this.....

And this.... 

And here's an early quick trial with a background from London:

Obviously it's always better to get the model at the location..... maybe next time?

Comings and goings

Just thought I'd let everyone know what I've been doing over the last couple of weekends.....

the week before last I was in London with the Level 4 group to see the SWWP convention, and after some cityscapes:

And this Saturday I've had a great studio shoot with Holly in the Style of the 40s hollywood glamour...

Alice take 3

Decisions..... which one is best for the book titles comp?

Alice in Wonderland - my take on it

Have been thinking about the next club comp as it's book titles this time...... throughout the year I've looking round open to any opportunity for a book tittle pic, whilst I was at Whitby I saw this girl dress as Alice so I got a image of her . Then months earlier I had some door images from Calke Abbey, my daughter toy bugs bunny for the rabbit and a quick tour of the Burton wash lands one dinner with my flash and voila an masterpiece is born, well maybe. I painted a coat on Buggsy, put my watch pic in his hand some dodging and burning, and some resizing........

what do you think?

I was thinking of putting some cards in there as well but I haven't got round to it yet?

It's Pants! says Steve

During our trip to Northumbria I noticed this and liked the texture of the peeling paint and wood against the new red life ring, Steve said it was pants! but I not sure if he was jealous because I got it first ........ what do you think?

Kelly's eyes

Just been looking back a some studio shoots with kelly and I'd forgotten just how sexy Kelly's eyes can be......

Elegant Time

Just messing about late a night with my 50mm f1.8 prime lens, I had forgotten just how good it is....

Daughters new dress

Today instead of .... oh no dads got his camera out! my daughter says 'can I be a model'? I thing this had something to do with her getting a new dress and coat and the aquisition of a swivel posing stool (something to mess about on)? well those that know me realise that I never miss the opportunity to take pictures...

200mm at f2.8 ISO400 1/160 sec with one speedlite bounced to fill

And to celebrate they did a little dance 

some radial blur and Gaussian blur erased back

Carriages and the Castle

I've been thinking of what to do for the upcoming set subject at my local photography club competition of 'old and new' Whilst I was on holiday in Weymouth we went to Corfe castle and it's neighbouring train station, now I know steam trains aren't that new but in comparison to the castle I think it will pass as being new enough..... what do you think?

Calke walk...

5 people turned up for the Ticknal walk, nine miles, 60 shots and probably only one or two that worked, the one below is one of the first. a very hot day, the shop at the reservoir was closed so the cream tea at Calke was very appreciated. 

Look a lesser spotted photographer

theres always one straggler 

Well you've got to get one pic of the posse