Upon a visit to London I went to Covent Garden where the street entertainers are varied and interesting. This is a photograph of one of them, he had some very witty lines and made several people jump by barking at them.

photograph of a street entertainer in Covent Garden

When it comes to landscapes generally the best light to take such photographs in is either during the one to 1.5 hours before sunset or during the one to 1.5 hours after sun rise. At this time of day the light turns from being very bright and white to a softer light with a hint of orange or pink and it is not so contrasty. Compare the 2 shots taken below, one was at 3.00pm in July the other was about 8.00am in October. In the midday(ish) photo St Paul’s is very bright and white and the contrast between that and the shadows under the bridge is great. In the photograph taken early in the morning St Paul’s is much less bright and the sun is still low enough to almost be under the bridge so the shadows are not so dark, so the contrast is much less and therefore easier on the eye. The early morning shot is much warmer, the midday shot looks a little cold even though the sun was out.

photograph of the Millennium Bridge about 2 hours after midday

photograph of the Millennium Bridge about 1 hour after sun rise

I was so impressed with the shape and form of a pregnant lady that I just had to put this photograph on the website as well. You don’t have to be recognisable to be photographed in the nude.

photograph of pregnant lady in the nude just showing bottom and bump

St Anne’s Manor Wokingaham is an old building that has been extensively enlarged and so it is hard to see where the original building is. As a modern hotel it is very functional from the outside and very comfortable on the inside. From a photographic point of view it has a nice area out the back of the hotel with a fountain and some very high trees for shade and clean backgrounds. See the photograph below to get an idea of what the property looks like.

photograph of St Anne's Manor Wokingham

At the carnival in Venice the 2 ‘ladies’ below appeared on at least 2 occasions dressed in the most beautiful ball gowns. Each time I saw them they were wearing different dresses. They were both loving the attention and loved being photographed.

photograph of man in drag at Venice carnival

photograph of man in drag at Venice carnival

Tylney Hall is always one of my favourite venues for photographing weddings, there are so many different areas that can give different backdrops and surroundings are beautiful. Not only that the staff are very attentive and the decorations are in keeping with the style of the property. At night it is lit and the water on the fountain at the front glows.

photograph of Tylney Hall front at night

I exhibited at a wedding fair at Donnington Valley Hotel Near Newbury yesterday and for a modern hotel it is very picturesque. The front is not very interesting but round the back are a couple of ponds with a bridge over it, a fountain and it backs onto the golf course so there are lots of shrubs and tress for shade in the event of bright sunshine and the inside is fairly light in the event of rain. Whilst there they kept coming round with canapes which were very nice, so if they are anything to go by the food will be good as well. Below is a shot of the pond area at the rear, it was not a particularly bright day so it is not the best shot in the world but it gives you an idea of the place.

photograph of the rear pond area at Donnington Valley Hotel

I was so impressed with the inside of Windsor Guild Hall that I thought I would put another photograph of it on my website for viewing. It is quite a stunning venue and the registrar was fantstic really made it fun and interesting.

photograph of Windsor Guild Hall inside the main ceremony room

Some of you are probably thinking you can get a friend or reletive to take your wedding photographs, yes you can, but I have heard so many stories from people who are disappointed by the end result, that when they come to the second marriage or the wedding vow renewal one of the first things they book is a professional wedding photographer. So why do we do it so much better than your friends or relatives?

well where do we start:

1/I have all the right equipment for the job, including spare camera, spare flashes (in case the main one stops working (things do happen)) and studio lights in the event that we have to take the photographs inside. What will uncle Fred use if his camera breaks or he drops it or he forgets to charge the battery. I also have a camera with a battery that will take over 2000 pictures before needing re-charging, does uncle Fred? How many will his take (with flash).

2/ I take most photographs with flash to ensure that all are beautifully lit with highlights in peoples eyes. Will Uncle Fred make sure you look that good?

3/ I am fully trained in how to take supurb wedding photographs, I know how to arrange the people and how to deal with the awkward members of your family that never want to be photographed.

4/ I have often been to the venue before and so know the best places to use, will uncle Fred go and reconnioture the venue? I doubt it.

5/ I can make sure that all the images when printed are colour corrected, i.e. take the redness out of those indoor shots, make those awful grey days seem a liitle warmer than they really were.

6/ I have a vast array of poses that I can use to make for more interesting photographs, not just stand you all in a line like Uncle Fred will. I know how to use differential focus to make things more artistic and when to use a fast shutter speed to capture that moment in motion.

7/ I can supply the end result as a beautiful album to treasure for ever, that you will want to open time and time again, not just pass on a pile of 6×4 inch prints that end up curled up in  a box for ever more, unloved and un-viewed.

8/ I am fully insured for public liability (in the event someone falls over me or the equipment I use) and I am fully covered for indemnity.

9/ And in the event that I cannot make the day due to unforseen circumstances, I have an array of excellent photographers that I can call on in order to make sure that you have someone there that can do the job for you just as well as me, well almost!!!! What will you do if uncle Fred doesn’t turn up?!!!

I had a wedding with a difference on Saturday; the couple were married in the Guild Hall at Windsor which is beautiful and the registrar was fantastic, she had a great sense of humour and was so relaxed it was terriffic. The couple, the parents and myself then walked through Windsor taking photographs on route with the castle in the background, got some great shots. We arrived at the river to be greeted by a boat decorated with ribbons and balloons and champayne for everyone on board. There was also a speed boat provided which I sat in so that I could get shots of the boat and the couple and Windsor castle. We alighted at Windsor race course and had some great pictures there as it is so open with lots of nice trees for shade and pretty flowers in the flower beds. Below is just one of the shots from the river.

photograph of the couple in the boat and Windsor Castle and the wheel in the background.