WOW! What a weekend! Over 133,000 visitors over the 3 days setting a new record. If you’ve reflected some of the light I was throwing around at MCM Saturday, THANKS! I’ll be uploading an album here soon. Thanks to Aiste Garbauskaite for letting me take this Maleficent shot.
If you can’t wait for the album check out my profile on Facebook
I’ve started handing cards out as I’m looking to get some “Me Time” back in the studio again. If you’ve been handed one please take a look at some of the past shoots and get in touch.
I love attending these conventions and getting some shots of the Cosplayers. I’m still undecided as to which character I’d go as but have some ideas forming. I’d shot a single fisheye image last time, this year it was time to try a full 360. Thankfully everyone kept really still for the 4 exposures so there were very little stitching issues.
I’d got an OlloClip to test thanks to my friend Paul’s review on ForbesLife minutes before. I wanted it so I could go more wide angle with my iPhone 6, as an alternative to the dSLR or G11. The clip can stay on my key ring at all times, so even if I pop out without photography in mind I’ve got a choice of lenses. It’s got issues, the DoF isn’t that great, but for the size and convenience it’s great for simple snaps.
I returned to the spot a little later to see Claud and his companions packing away, seeing this sculpture being broken apart was heartbreaking, the marble eyes giving it a lifelike look that 100% sand wouldn’t have.
Back at MCM Comic Con today I’d been wandering around without any particular destination and found myself back at the autograph table of Sarah Louise Madison. Sarah had said yesterday that she’d be sans hat today so I asked for another shot. A couple taken we had a little chat and something made me look to my right. I knew I was at Comic Con, surrounded by other whovians, by my inner voice still asked “No, it couldn’t be, is it?“. Yup, Steven Moffat was feet away looking at another table with his son. Sarah walked over and said hello. My inner voice screamed “Photo Op!”. Sarah needed only the tiniest bit of convincing.
An “Excuse me please Sir..” from me to Steven and he agreed. Seconds before he’d declined an autograph to someone else on the grounds he was looking after his son so I’d been expecting a polite no. Maybe he agreed because it wasn’t for myself? Regardless – Result! Thank you Steven for making the exception. This one’s for you Sarah, I will check out Cops and Monsters! Keep doing what you do with Dr Who Steven, I’m looking forward to the Peter Capaldi years.
Don’t get me wrong, I love doing my Google Maps Business View work (Street View inside), but having to blur faces always feels wrong. It’s what we all use to greet each other, show our emotions. So when I took a break from work to see friends at MCM London Comic Con this Saturday I knew I’d be enjoying myself. Here’s a few favorites and the gallery. If you’re in one and want a copy feel free to get in touch. I’ll be back Sunday, if you want a shot just ask.
1&2: The best headpiece of the show. This young lady and her father parked next to me in the morning, I didn’t get to see the full costume until the evening. Awesome eh? 3: Like the idea of PREDATOR Dark Ages? I do! Check out @Predator_DA and see the teams first trailer.
4: Fellow Whovians DON’T BLINK! You may not recognise Sarah Louise Madison without her makeup but she’s the lead weeping angel. 5: I loved how the blacks and reds of this photographers stop matched the black and red Canon theme. And just as I was about to shoot his daughter wanted in on the photo 🙂 6: these girls asked if I was taking photos for others and did I charge. Hell no, MCM is my time off the clock! Their father is a fellow Trekkie, apparently he likes shouting “Shatner!” to get the rest of the family to overact a little 🙂 7: Clive Double had these four acting out an attack. Gruesome! 8: Gary Nicholls blew me away with the steampunk artwork he’s creating. A set of limited edition prints on aluminium.
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While on a very short break with family to Holland to see my step son Laurence we spotted a number of forms of wheeled transport being used by the locals, much of it human powered. Thousands of bicycles, a few long board skate boards and the odd person on roller blades. I loved the fact that they all queued up in the cycle lanes. I was travelling light camera wise but had the G11 over my shoulder and realised what was going to happen just in time to get this shot. There had been a third person, a guy on a moped at the back, but he’d been impatient and jumped the lights leaving only the ladies. Looking back at what I’d seen it makes for a better image anyway as the two ladies are on the thirds lines.
Processed in Lightroom 5.
I’ve not been in the studio for what feels like a lifetime! IT Contract and Google Business Photos are keeping me busy all hours 7 days a week. Today I was reminded of a past shoot by a friend Stella. She’d come along with her photographer daughter Phoebe and had become my impromptu stylist. Stella posted a link to a video on my Facebook timeline with the message “See if you recognise anyone in this video…” The link was to Manchester bank The 1975‘s video “The City”, a song that’s getting a LOT of airtime on XFM in the UK at the moment.
Busy with some work but ready for a tea break I powered up my personal laptop and listened to the tune, only half watching while I checked out something on a clients server. Then my subconscious kicked in with a “You know her, that’s Lucy!” (FB) and I had to rewind to the start. Get yourself a cup of something and have a watch 😀
Sir Norman Parkinson CBE, was a celebrated English portrait and fashion photographer. Regarded by many as the father of modern fashion photography and major contributor to the images published by Vogue. Google have paid tribute to him with this lovely Google Doogle on what would have been his 100th Birthday. Rather than copy lots of text from other sites please read Sir Parkinson’s entry on Wikipedia if you’re not familiar with his work.
If you’re in London between now and May 12th and would like to see some of his great work get along to The National Theatre for Lifework: Norman Parkinson’s Century of Style. Admission free. 020 7452 3400.
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