I have finally choosen the albums to replace those supplied by Spicer Hall field who recently liquidated, they are now populated and prices sorted ready for the new wedding fair season. Call me to arrange a time and date to view them. Basingstoke 01256 333205 or the mobile 07818 858217, photographs coming soon on the prices page to show youwhat they look like.

wedding album photograph layout

I went to the Brighton Gay Pride Parade on Saturday and had a fantastic time, what a great atmosphere there was, so much like a carnival and I got some great photographs here are a couple for now. There was a fun fair and a couple of stages with bands performing live music all free.

Panning is a technique used to give the idea of movment and to capture a fast moving object. It works best when the object to be photographed moves across in front of you from left to right or right to left. You focus on the object and follow it movement and at the appropriate point press the shutter to capture the object as sharp as you can whilst at the same time keeping the background blurred to give the idea of movement. It is very important that you follow the motion even after pressing the shutter button as with all sports the follow through is important. Getting the speed right is the hard part particularly with fast moving objects like sports cars. (also if you have Image Stabalisation on the lend with 2 types remember to turn off the horizontal stabilisation).

Below is a picture where the speed was just right the carriage driver is just sharp and the background is completely blurred.

correct panning

Below is a photograph with the speed too fast so nothing is sharp.

photograph too blurred

Below is a photograph where the panning motion was too slow (probably due to too fast a shutter speed) so the image is too sharp.

The above photographs were all taken at Farliegh House near Basingstoke during the carriage driving trials, the driver is Karen Bassett who was warming up before the cones part of the competition.

Just a reminder that there is a wedding fair on 13th September 2009 at  Donnington Valley Spa Hotel,  I  will be exhibiting there if you want to come and meet me before booking an appointment.

Newburys’ registry office is in Shaw House, the inside of which is small but beautifully decorated. The registrar is very friendly and makes the ceremony mean something (they don’t all achieve that). It is fairly light and airy inside. the outside has a small patch of grass that can be used for photography with shrubs as a back drop but the sun glares into this space at certain times of day and the rest of place is grey rendered walls, not very pretty from a photographic point of view.

Oakley Hall has at least 2 rooms in which it can hold civil ceremonies and the photograph below shows the larger of the 2 rooms. The grounds outside are beautiful and provide some interesting spots for photography. There is plenty of parking and it provides a delightful atmosphere in which to hold your special event.

photograph of Oakley Hall Basingstoke civil ceremony room.

Dummer church is a lovely ancient church in the centre of Dummer village, it is small but perfectly formed, with a balcony from which to get a birds eye view of the proceedings.

photograph taken inside Dummer Church from the balcony

I have have made several trips to London and each time I take photographs they always look different. The last trip I got there about 20 minutes after sun rise and so had some amazing light (with clear blue skies). I managed to see the London Eye with the most beautiful soft organge light on it and took this photograph.

photograph of the London Eye 1st thing in morning

Every wedding or civil ceremony I have done in the main rooms at Tylney Hall has always been enhanced with a simple ceremony involving the lighting of candles by the bride and groom. It makes the rather short and impersonal civil ceremony a little more personal. A nice touch to aperfect day.

photograph of bride and groom lighting candles in civil wedding ceremony