Focus on Imaging

Focus on Imaging, is a Photographers dream and I can't help being drawn to it each year.  its great to find new suppliers, test out the latest gadgets and meet people who you have been in contact with though business....usually in the electronic format.

This year was the first year in quite a while that Ian and I were travelling alone.  In the early days i travelled with college friends, then photographer buddies.  In more recent years my dear Dad accompanied us....a day out that he thoroughly enjoyed.  On one occasion I had decided I wanted to investigate sublimation printing, Dad came joined us for the day.  Now one thing you should know about my Dad, is that he couldn't help but be drawn to tools.  It Didn't matter what type of tool, they needed thorough investigation on his part.  On this particular trip, we were looking at heat presses....adorned with a large ' DO NOT TOUCH....HOT sign on the top.  Needless to say, we ended up spending the next couple of hours in the accident unit as Dad needed to see if in fact it was hot.....with the entire palm of his hand!

Some of you may know, I lost my dear Dad 18 months ago, I miss him terribly and can't help but think of him each year when Focus comes around. 

Last years trip to Focus was a new one for me.....My Mum joined me.  Ian stood aside as we had just moved house and Mum treated me to a

Lakeland Photographic Holidays. 

We had a lovely time but the first day started on Focus Day....disaster.  So, not wanting to miss it, Mum & I decided to pop in on route.  It was lovely share with her my favourite trade show.

Anyway, back to this years show, as I say, a rare opportunity for Ian & I to travel independently.  He is my rock....always there to give me his opinions and to encourage me to invest in the right areas.  This year was no exception.

We booked a B&B....less said about that the better, and travelled up the day before the show to take a wander around Birmingham.  Now ordinarily, I am not one to travel with my camera but, as last year I had seen the Bullring with Mum, I was highly jealous that I didn't have my camera with me...so this time I was a little more prepared.  It is these photographs I thought I would share
I hope you like them.

Oh yes....my shiny new purchases.

I am eagerly awaiting the imminent arrival of two Lupo HMI heads for the studio, two new skyrails....for the studio.  I finally got around to purchasing a speedlight power pack.....always wanted one of those and I can't wait to try out my new camera holster....I'm sure I will feel like a cowgirl but on  brighter not my shoulder will no longer have to bear the weight of my camera.

Quick studio update

The builders have been hard at it this week. We now have drains and walls. Rumour has it we will have a roof next week and first fit electrics in about 10 days.

Studio Update

A quick little update pic....starting to progress now

The wall has now gone!

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The weather is being kind to me...not so much the builders as it is absolutely freeeeeeeezing outside.  Luckily the snow has not put in an appearance...nor has the rain so the studio is making good headway.

The pipework for the new cloakroom is in, the foundations have been dug and concreted and this week saw the arrival of the brickies.  We now have a brick base in readiness for the walls to be constructed.

Today proved the toughest day yet.  How do you get a whacking great concrete lintel down for 10ft overhead without the whole structure falling into a big heap? 

1st stage....knock off all the bricks and hope the whole thing doesn't come crashing down....it certainly wobbles a bit! 

So the bricks are off, the garage is still up now comes the major dilemma....the lintel itself!

Time to call in for reinforcements, your scaffolding buddy.

Up goes the scaffold frame

Three heads are better than one.

The day just gets tougher and tougher.....time to break it up so it can be bought down.....about 2 hours of chopping and bashing and the jobs done!

That's it for today.....seems the walls are coming down tomorrow...yippeeeee!

Studio Update - Day 3

The builder arrived three days ago and bought the freezing weather with them....poor souls.  Cups of tea aplenty, I ventured out today to collect the empty mugs they seemed to be stockpiling and was shocked to find two of them were half filled with ice!

I thought I would pop outside for a brief moment (very brief as it turns out as really is cold out there) and take a quicksnap to show you what they have been up to.

 The foundations have now been dug and rumour has it they will be filled tomorrow to allow time for setting over the weekend....that is if minus ten degrees will allow it of course.

This picture was taken this morning....since then there has been deliveries, collections and more digging as we now alo have a trech leading to the drain in readiness for the new cloakroom.

Preparing for our New Pre School Graduation Service

 I have been pondering for a while how I was going to conjure up some little people to help me with a very important job......posing for advertising material for our brand new Pre School Graduation service launch this year.  After all, how can you advertise a service with nothing to show what you will be offering?

I was having a chat with my child minder sister Lynda, and she came up with a great suggestion...she would ask her mindee parent's if I could 'borrow' their children.  I was chuffed to bits when three parents agreed.....Thank you Mummies & Daddies.  

Well, today was the day and, after loading the car, I hit the road to Tadley...a 54 mile trip in what proved to be the foulest weather I have experienced in a long time.  The traffic was horrendous and there was a stage when I didn't think I would arrive in time to get any photographs.

Check out my sister's blog as she has done a fab job writing about my mornings work.

Munchkins & Mayhem - Lynda's Blog Click here

That has saved me a bit of writing and she is far more eloquent in her words than I am.

 What she doesn't have is the final images....yet that is, as I have promised her that I will send them in her direction as soon as I find a few minutes.  In the meantime I thought I would let you have a sneeky peek at a few of the finished photographs.

If you are interested in booking our Graduation Service, please drop me a line

tina.allingham@ntlworld.com

Buffs Bash

Friday evening saw the annual RAOB dinner/dance at Thorngate Halls in Gosport.  We were once again invited along to photograph this special event.  For those of you who are not in the know, the Buffaloes are a group of people who do some fantastic work for charity.  they are so super friendly and we always feel so welcome.  Lovely to see so many familiar faces back again this year.

If you would like to take a look at their website please visit

http://gosportbuffs.tk/

Meet David....our liaison.  Great bloke, fab at organising and a frequent flyer for our photographs!

As we all know, you can't manage it all on your own so I thought I would share a snap of Ian strutting his stuff at the computer.

Don't you just love candid photography.  I am always pleased when I can find time to wander around snapping the realtionships between friends, and photography characterful faces.

Of course a formal evening wouldnt be complete without a few formal photographs

Happy Birthday to Ian who was celebrating his 72nd on the night....hope you liked your prezzie lol.

Once again, many thanks for booking our 'Shoot ur Guests service and we look forward to seeing you all again in the future.

Please don't forget your photographs can now be found online.

Buffalo Photographs- click here

On your Doorstep

Isn't it amazing the beauty that surrounds you when you open your eyes and look?

Feeling a tad stuffy, I yesterday decided to grab a camera, one lens and head off for a wander down the road to Portchester Castle.

Portchester Castle is about a mile from me, but it is a lovely tromp across some fields then down by the waters edge.  I was a bit disappointed to find the tide out....perhaps I should have checked that bit out ....but maybe then I wouldn't have found the images I did ( or got off my bum for a walk!)

My first photograph....not the best technically, made me smile.

Check out the name!

Patterns

Pretty I thought....simple but appealing

And finally the castle ...not often you can find it without people so I took the opportunity whilst I could.