Photo Rebel

Ken walking across the bridge to meet with us...

As we were on the bridge, this became the first location for the shoot.

Catching moments when there was nobody on the bridge quickly became quite challenging.

I had planned this image when I photographed the Newtown Carnival a few weeks ago.

There's always an opportunity to do close-up shots like these...

While we were near the bridge, decided to put my camera to work on some wide angle shots.

The same scene from a high view point. Used Photoshop to create a different look and feel to the image.

Ken almost looks like a bouncer in this frame.

The wonderful world of flash, gels and colour temperature adjustments.

Time for Hannah and I love how this image looks in Black & White.

Before I shot again at this location at 'the wall', I asked if Ken wanted similar images to what he had seen before. He instantly said yes, so we quickly went to work I tried a few other angles.

You can see how much Ken was enjoying the shoot. We all had a really good laugh...

I might try more shots like this in future...

The crazy things you can do with a wide angle lens!

Mixing flash with ambient light. Yeah!

More flash with ambient light techniques being applied here.

The flash is actually placed behind Colin.

Time for more close-ups...

Hannah is being lit with a large 1.8m x 1.2m reflector (as are the next few images).

The establishing shot of where we were.

We bought the roses before the shoot as a prop.

Hannah & Colin are just great together and wonderful to photograph.

Shortly after taking this shot, we moved on to another location not far away...

In the past we had a few issues in getting this location to work properly. But with 3 flashes and a decent amount of ambient light makes all the difference.

A wide shot with Hannah & Colin.

Then a quick few moments to squeeze some natural light shots before we moved on.

Near the river I shot this in low light. ISO 800, 1/80 sec, F2.8.

I just love this photograph! Hannah's look is priceless.

Found a nice smooth blue metal surface... perfect for this kind of shot.

Just when we thought the shoot was over... we headed into town and I took the opportunity to take a few more frames before it was really over for the day.

Shot in natural light...

Used flash to backlight Hannah & Colin and I love the shadow on the wall!

I'm really starting to enjoy taking these kinds of images. This is what I'm calling a perspective shot. Hannah and Colin cannot actually see each other, but it is implied in the photograph.

The portrait frenzy started with this simple natural light frame of Sarah.

Then it was time for a little bit of flash light.

Then back to natural light with Corrine.

Bradley poses in this shot in the same location.

Now is was time to start doing some group shots. Used 2 flashes to light the same location.

Still using 2 flashes I managed to light everybody in this frame with an added bit of post-production madness

I used 2 point lighting in this frame of Corrine.

I love how the tree top is just visible in frame to encompass Corrine and Bradley in this brother and sister photograph.

A slash of flash to light Corrine. Its amazing how many different shots you can get from a single location.

With the same flash setup as used in the previous image and a slight change of angle gets another shot on these stairs.

I like how the tree branch with the red rose on the left breaks up the texture of the wall to balance the frame with Sarah wearing her red top.

I took a while to find a pose that worked for this water well garden feature.

After we were finished with the stairs and surrounding garden features, it was time to move onto new locations.

Okay, now I'm getting quite excited with this wall and using a combination of colour correction and colour effect gels on the flashes together with a colour temperature adjustment on the camera.

I like the blue with a hint of orange colour combination in this frame.

Sarah was great to work with and was she was quite patient while I tried new lighting techniques and camera angles.

I really like the door texture in this frame! Enhanced it during post production.

Sometimes I wish I had 3 flashes. But still... I'm quite happy with how this frame looks.

Bradley and Sarah are not a couple but never-the-less, I like how this frame works.

A slight change in pose makes another nice frame.

The last frame of the day...

This was the very first location of the day. not even 10 meters away from the meeting point at a coffee shop.

This was taken straight across the street. The green jacket and the green car work well.

We were aiming to make the scene as if it was in Cuba. I desaturated this frame though.

There you go... Cuba!

A splash of flash, a bicycle and the wonderful Sam.

Yes... this door was huge!

A natural light image at the same door as in the previous image.

A little more close-up and a slightly different angle.

Next it was the canal and the bridge out of focus.

2-point lighting was used in this frame and a wonderfully simple background.

I love the embrace of Sam and Bas and how the lines on the wall help the composition.

Up-close and personal at the same wall.

I really like the fake door. Perhaps I should build one!

Natural light image of the same location.

I just love this low angle frame. Thankfully I had my Canon 5D mk II camera to be able to take an image like this. I continually got frustrated with the 40D and the 1.6x crop factor of the sensor.

A desaturated colour version of the Black & White images.

Damien showed a lot of repeatable techniques and stairs is something I've not really taken advantage of in my photography. That will change!

Same location but with a flash providing a bit of kick light. Bas's expression is great!

I really love this frame! I love Sam's expression!!

A simple wall and a straight forward pose.

Same wall made to look like a gritty street scene!

Another frame I like as the window adds a little something...

I stole this framing idea from Damien... Where the framing is so bad that's its almost good again.

We made this normal scene look like it might have been taken in the Mediterranean.

We used Damien's Orbis Ring Flash to create this frame. The last frame of the day.

This was one of those random moments when a resident across the street took this frame with his camera. He printed it out and came over to surprise us with it! You can see me near the mini and Damien talking to Graham Law while he's taking a frame.

The group at the end of the day...

This was taken a few meters from the coffee shop we met in.

Not far away was a canal, a perfect opportunity for a portrait!

Time to get personal...

Can you feel the passion?

Still at the same location near the canal.

Then it was time to move on... This was a simple wall with a splash of flash!

Increased the exposure for this frame.

Okay, another wall... but the fake door adds a little mystery.

I really like the framing of this image, even though it probably breaks all the rules!

I like the contrast the wall provides in the framing of this image. Although it probably separates the couple as opposed to showing togetherness.

I took a few moments to explore other angles and I just like this image. I like that the bicycles are in the frame also.

Something a bit alternative. Same location as the previous image.

Another angle of the previous image.

Moving on to another location. Sam and Bas were sitting on some stairs which you can just see in shot.

I like Bas's expression in this frame.

A close-up of the previous image. The kick light you see on Sam's hair was provided by a flash.

I love Sam's expression. Especially in the colour version in the next post.

Almost the end of the day. I really like the way Bas is holding Sam.

I like the low view point of this frame.

My first setup with flashes on stands.

Same location using a different camera angle.

Still in the same location but turned off the flashes for a natural light image.

Still in the same location. Natural light image. ISO 1600, 1/125 sec, F4.

I love this image! Shooting at F4 is quite addictive!

Always on the look out for different camera angles. Love this frame.

Earlier in the day we spotted this great blue door! Tried a few flash setups as well as some natural light frames. Natural light worked best.

A nice simple frame.

Then it was time to wonder over to the centre of town. This was a single flash setup and I was finally able to work the wide angle aspect that the 5D mk II allows. This frame has a bit of a fashion feel to it I think...

Same location but with the flashes turned off and from a different angle.

Then it was Colin's turn and went for a more contrasty look by lowering the ambient exposure.

The same flash setup as the previous frame. ISO 400, 1/80 sec, F8.

Onto another location and took this frame with a 200mm lens on a monopod.

Then it was onto my favourite wall and setup the flashes on stands.

Natural light frame. You don't always need flashes...

I absolutely love this frame! Just how long does the wall go on for.... Flashes turned back on...

Hannah and Colin enjoying the shoot...

The last location was the main bridge in Newtown over the River Severn.

The last frame of the day before heading for a nice mug of hot chocolate.