A Little Help Needed

I have cowered away from competition entries in the past but, as I curled up with my new Practical Photography magazine, I couldn't help but be drawn to this months competition.....dereliction.

Armed with camera, tripod, filters and all the other paraphernalia that tends to accompany me on my outings, I headed up to a local building which has become derelict over the past few years. I won't mention where exactly this building is as I think its beauty should be preserved.

There is something unnerving about entering a derelict property and outbuildings. An eerie silence all around and the only sounds are flapping wings of the disturbed pigeons. This building is a fascinating place.....stuck in the 1950's. I had my Dad and Daughter with me as no gal should travel alone to these places...you never know when the spiders might get you! I could have spend hours exploring but, as my daughter got VERY spooked, spent about 20 minutes before leaving the building.

Anyway, my trip asides, I am hoping you could help me decide if any of my photographs would be worth submitting to the competition. I thought I might set a poll just to see which photo you favour. If you think they are not good enough, please just let me know with a comment ( don't want to make a fool of myself now do I?)

A-Rusty Kettle

B - Mangle

C- AGA

D - Rotting Curtains

The Winner 'A Typical Britich Summer 2009'

Congratulation Mum on winning your first photo competition. Perhaps now you can believe in your photography skills.

Well done to all the entrants, the photos were great and it just goes to show what a clever family I have!

The Winning Image

Thank you to all all our visitor judges and Mum, your prize will follow shortly.

A Typical British Summer Competition Submissions

I never knew my little family competition would prove so popular.....a late runner gatecrashed in the form of my Mum.

The theme of the competition set was ' A Typical English Summer'

I am now pleased to be able to post all their submissions for you to admire.
After a few last minute submission hiccups here are the final nine pictures ready for judgements.

Please post all your comments and place you vote for your favourite image before 21st August 2009. The final winner will be announced on Saturday 22nd August

GOOD LUCK

A-Friends

B-Yellow Flower

C -The River

D-Ice Cream Heaven

E-Playing in the Park

F-Diving

G-The Lily Pond

H-Bowls

I-Just The Two Of Us

Jon-Paul & Izy - A Sneaky Peak

Congratulations to Izy & Jon-Paul who were married at Fareham United reformed Church , followed by a fun reception at the Lycees Hotel.....great staff by the way!

Another first for me with both venues.....and a first wedding with uniforms. Who would have thought that a man in uniform cannot sit down! I had a great time on Saturday and I have to admit.....couldn't have had a better bunch to work with. Cheers guys for indulging me with my whims in spite of the heat, ow you managed to cope all day in uniform amazes me.

Now I know I shouldn't, but i just can resist. After hunting down Izy and Jon-PAUL on Sunday to let them know their secret wedding gallery password, I was hoping to open up the main wedding gallery for you all to have a look at before the happy couple headed off to Disneyland on Monday. No such luck! No, email in my inbox, no text on my phone.....no nothing to say that all their guests could have a look in the gallery. A dilemma!

Now, I think I will be forgiven for letting you have a sneaky peak at a few of the photographs lurking in the gallery.....a little something to whet the appetite.

Thank you so much to Sam for calling me on Sunday...it was lovely to hear from you and it is nice to know we were appreciated for all our hard work on the day. I have to also give a little mention to Jack.....I need a Jack at all my weddings. A great help with all the organisation. Never has group photographs run so smoothly.

Congratulations to you both and thank you for inviting me to share in your special day

Family Rivalry – Photography Challenge

My Daughter has finally left for her annual holiday to Granddad & Grandma's house in Tenterden. Now why would this event make my blog pages you may ask? Well, Justine seems to have inherited her Granddad's competitive streak and has asked that I set a photography competition for them whilst she is away. Rather than keep this among ourselves. I thought it might be nice for others to see what they have been up to and to help judge their work

Rules of the game

• No hiding each other's equipment
  
• No stealing each other's shots
  
• Three images from each contestant are to be emailed to me by Friday 14^th August
  
• Images can be taken on either SLR or point and shoot cameras
  
• All submitted images must fit in with the given theme
  

The judge (me) will be looking for technical capability, artistic flair and an image that fits in with the given theme.

What is this theme? (I know my daughter has been badgering me for the theme title to get a jump start on the competition…tut tut Justine)

TYPICAL ENGLISH SUMMER

Please feel free to post you comments about the photographs when they appear.

GOOD LUCK XX

Peter-Sam & Theresa's Dive into Marriage

August is ordinarily considered a pretty safe bet weather wise for a wedding day. Friday 31st July.....warm and sunny, Sunday August 2nd.......warm & Sunny......I can't help but feel that saturday August 1st was a little early prcatice for a Peter-sam & Theresa's Maldives diving honeymoon.

I have to be honest, I am a bit of an avid weather watcher on the lead up to a wedding and, forever wanting the best for the happy couple, I tend to hop around different weather channels and fix my mind on the best on offer ( a little naive perhaps but I am always the optomist) After scouring all weather options, I had no choice but to admit defeat and accept that Saturday was destined to be 'nice weather for ducks!'

My kit bag had all the usuals but in additon, one camera coat and an extra 3 umbrellas were added. I usually add a spare pair of trousers for myself (a nasty experience with a muddy puddle at an previous wedding) but this time I thought 3 sets of clothes may be prudent (this wedding had a river , and from past experience we know that me mud and water don't mix)

Car packed, umbrellas at the ready we headed off to the Kings Community Church in Hedge end to meet the boys for a few early photos. I was glad to see that they were not dispirited by the drizzle and were happy to pop outside for a few snapsA little brighness on a rainy day!
With the weather getting wetter, the guests were escorted from their cars by very kind gentlemen with umbrellas......it made me smile and I couldn't resist taking a quick snap before heading in to prepare for the Bride's arrival ( after all, rain and Brides should be kept well apart)

Still raining I decided to set up for a couple of arrival shots in the louge room ( Thank you to the church for being so kind as to jiggle a few things round for me) Theresa arrived and there was just time to capture a couple of formals before she was heading up the aisle (apparently 15 minutes late......sorry Peter-Sam ;)

Forever the optomist, I had been hoping that the skies would clear and the sun would pop his hat on. Now I am not greedy, I would have been just as happy if the rain had just gone away.....but no......still raining when the Bride and Groom imerged a Mr & Mrs.

Now as of yet I don't think I have mentioned that the reception venue was Bossington House. Bossington House is a beautiful house in stunning grounds. I had popped up to visit the venue on Thursday and, had been told that the only suitable place for photographs in the wet would be the dining room. The dining room would be fine for the smaller groups but I knew that I would have serious difficulties squeezing in larger groups so had opted to shoot a couple of the large groups at the church before we left.....little did I realise just how large the groups would be. Room was still a bit tight and, as time was short, decided to abandon ship and head straight out to Bossington in the hope that conditions would improve.

THANK YOU....weather lifts in time for a few much needed photographs.

I love this photograph.....just thought I would share that!

The caterers said 4pm for the meal....4pm the heavens opened again ( I reckon they had had a private word with him upstairs!)

As if there wasn't enough of the wet stuff.....a little more to make you smile.

When the rain puts in an appearance on your day, a little smile will bring back the sunshine.
My Morning Greeting

Richard & Janet - Wedding Showcase

A little artistic imagination can go a long way. Wedding albums have changed throughout the years. No longer do we have to abide by the traditional rules and have one overlay ed photograph per page in an album design of years gone by.

Each wedding has it's own personality and as such, deserves an album personal to the day. Wedding guests travel from far and wide and as such, many may not get to see the finished album. With this in mind, I have decided to showcase an album of my favourite images. I should point out that this is NOT the final design as the happy couple are yet to decide which images are to be incorporated.

ENJOY!