Local Press Life

oh well, better luck next time...

Went to Windsor Park to day to photograph the Irish Cup FInal. Coleraine vs. Linfield. We lost 2-1 after a fantastic first half going 1-0 up, and then giving away 2 goals in the 1st 5 mins of the 2nd half. :(

quick portrait.....

Went for a job this evening, to photograph a football team in the sauna......  Thankfully it didnt happen!
a: because its so damn steamy, its nigh on impossible, and
b: there was the possibility of slipping towels......

Anyway, as is the norm, I got asked to shoot some different pictures "seeing as i was there already"  It was a shot of  Steven Carson, Coleraine FC player, who just been  crowned player of the year, amongst other awards.

I found an empty red wall, and cleared away a bit of clutter, lined up the trophies and sat him down. this was the 2nd shot. 1st one was to chimp the lights with my hand.  550ex on a shelf behind, and a 580ex through a shoot through brolly camera right.  Backlight flash, as always is set to manual, in this case 1/16 power and the Brolly light just on ettl. 125/f8. handy.

heres my willing and always ready stand in model/light meter. I wonder how many hands are photographed all round the world every day, for this reason?

Cozy pub...

I do loads of advertising feature photographs. Makes up a large proportion of my day to day work at the paper.  Have to say that i probably enjoy that area of the job most of all.  Its a good excuse to get away from the usual grip and grin cheque presentations, and groups of schoolkids.

Its also a great excuse to play with lighting.

This was a tricky one, as the conservatory at the back was in full sunshine and the interior section was lit only by a small stained dusty window, and the fireplace...  I decided that as long as i could clearly see the furniture in the sun room, the windows could blow out. this let me get a large enough aperture to record the flames in the scene. final exposure was 1/80 @f5.6. This left the room totally dark, with just the flames visible, but the sun room as i wanted it.

the room was then lit with two flashguns, one through a shoot through brolly at the fireplace, and one 580ex sitting on the stairs, set to bounce of the ceiling beside the light fitting.  The bounced light gave me some nice highlights on the leather seats. Was pleased with this one, and so was the Pub!   

load of rubbish...

Theres times I get called about a 'story' and just groan. The same old stuff seems to come up again and again, and it can be hard to get motivated.  You just have to remember that the 'story' is actually very important to the people involved. 

Had to go get a shot of some rubbish, that the council is refusuing to clean up, and blaming everyone else. (as usual)  ....As is the norm, in things like this, its never as bad as the people in the story make it out to be, so in order to make them feel like it was worthwhile, I have to make it look impressive........

....or at least i try. :)

Were off to Windsor Park..

We did it. Coleraine are through to the Irish Cup Final. Was at the game tonight, at Ballymena's showgrounds, and we managed to beat Donegal Celtic 2-1, after 1/2 hour of extra time. Class. What a game!  roll on May 3rd, for a grand day out at Windsor park....

:o)

Bangor Camera Club..

A big up to Bangor Camera club! Went down last night to have a chat about shooting with flash, and was really pleased to see so many turn up. Its great to see photographers getting together, to share ideas and knowledge. I'll have to go back! thanks guys...

self portraits..

I spend so much time in schools, and at this time of year its even worse, because its open night's time again. All the primary school kids and their parents flock to the high schools to see whats on offer, and the schools try and tempt them with exciting science projects and the like.

so, as usual, i have to try and make interesting and creative pictures out of nothing. Well, i suppose there is plenty to shoot, but you just have to look for it. anyway, heres a couple of students from the Art department, with their self portraits.... :o) funny how it takes people a while to realise what your trying to create, and its great to see their reactions, when the penny drops.

muck and rain...

Another day, another soaking. Squelching through the mud to photograph a Schools Rugby medallion match. it was a late booking, and i was told not to bother if i didnt want to.....

I dont shoot a lot of sport these days, and  like any skill, you use it, or you lose it, so off i went. The weather was quite bright, if a little chilly, but as soon as i waded along the side of the pitch, on came the rain. :(

Shooting with a 300mm, its always a waiting game, as there's no point in taking pics of distant players, but i thought id play with some different crops today, and entertain myself while waiting for the action to come closer.  anyway heres a couple of snaps from the game, and the muck and the rain.  and black and white, just cuz i like it. :)

Self arrangement...

It never ceases to amaze me. When you take out a camera, in certain situations, people just seem to leap into predefined stereotypes.  Here's one such example. A formal event, with the guys in black ties, and the girls in posh frocks, absolutely no direction from me......

Now what compelled the girls in this shot to pout and pose? It Certainly wasnt me! lol. Is this how the young people of today want to be seen???

Pause for thought...

Perhaps theyd rather be seen like this! LMAO....
(faces blurred)

F***ing scumbags....

Talk about a mixed up world. Was outside court this morning to get pics of two child abusers who were appearing there, and a shot of a guy who stole a car, and then killed a pedestrian....

After missing the shot a couple of days ago, due to a hood pulled over his head, i'd pulled up near the gates of the court this morning to get a pic with the long lens. The press pack were there already for the two who'd be appearing on child abuse charges, so my long lens approach went out the window. Sadly i missed him on the way in again, due to a hood over head, and an umbrella put up to hide them.

the crazy thing is, that as we snapped away, flashes blazing the couple shouted "F*** off, you F'ing scumbags"  "f'**ing SCUM"....... 

errmm?? hang on a minute, what are you in court for????

anyway, score 1-0 to me. i got them on the way out!  lol. i'll not post their pic here, but here they are with their umbrella.