Yet another sunny Saturday

Is there such a thing as an Indian Summer? Who cares as the sun shone all day today and we were out there enjoying it to the full with a winning Lacrosse match in the morning, a slightly roundabout drive to the Chalfonts and then to see Evelyn and Fagan and a wonderful walk in the park in Hillingdon. The image above shows Fagan in his executive mobile as we traveled to the park - woof!

Hannah's team was the only team to win this morning and after that match, the Year 11 First team borrowed a number of Hannah's teammates and narrowly lost 5-3 even though Annabel scored a vital goal.

When we walked Fagan around the park, Hannah and I traded shots as we took the Lacrosse sticks with us and practiced short and long throws. We also saw a group of screeching, bright green parakeets that must have escaped from a cage somewhere as well as two World War Two fighters that were displaying over Northolt Aerodrome with the diesel drone of their engines so unmistakable.

Gone are the days . . .

 . . . when large Dental Companies would "bribe" future Hygienists and existing Dental Departments (Guy's Hospital) with all expenses paid jollies abroad! The year is 1989, the location is Venice and Sinéad is the photographer. My darling wife and a dozen or more soon to qualify Hygienists were wined and dined for a week in Italy - not a bad gig if you can get it.

We unearthed this print that I made from a colour negative, probably shot through a Konica A4, that I inherited from Ed and passed on to Sinéad. The print was originally Black and White but I couldn't resist adding the sepia to enhance the mood.

Refurbished and re-celled!

Battery technology has improved dramatically over the years, obviously due to our total dependence on consumer electronics. Sometimes the humble battery needs a helping hand and this is when I turned to the Quantum Battery 1+ pack shown above to specifically power one of my Nikon SB800 speedlights (flash gun). This was purchased from Robert White about four years ago and has been heavily used at weddings, corporate and commercial shoots but in the last six months I have noticed the charge not being held by the unit. This is the classic sign that the batteries are nearing the end of their natural life and need replacing.

There are two ways to do this:- the first is to replace the entire unit or more economically, replace the cells within. Take a wild guess which option I chose! The next stage was to track down someone who could replace the cells and after a fruitless Google session, I rang the company I originally bought the battery from. They were incredibly helpful and they would be able to forward the unit to the importers who would do the work. They also suggested that I mail the unit to them immediately as the importers are attending Photokina in Cologne, next week and that any repairs would be delayed if not carried out this week.

I quickly and securely wrapped the battery, included a covering letter and walked down to the Post Office and Special Delivered the unit to Dorset. To my great surprise and delight, I received a call from Robert White the next day at lunchtime, stating that all work had been successfully completed and if I would pay, they would send the unit back. A few numbers later and I was assured that the battery would be with me the following morning and of course it arrived safely and seems as good as new.

Makes me think that as long as no other components fail within the battery this could be a four year cycle?

City shoot

I have experimented with "stop frame animation" a few times in the past and above is the latest example that grew from a recent shoot for a French Bank in the City of London. There is something within this technique that needs development and further experimentation and as always, when time allows, I will try and take this further. For now, enjoy the germination of an idea that keeps being put on the back boiler!

As with many buildings in the City, they have surprising rooftop views and this one didn't disappoint. A section of a 24 frame 360˚ panoramic image cropped to the interesting bit - D200 c/w 20mm lens and Manfrotto QTVR head.

On the wane . . .

Unbelievably London has strung three days of Indian Summer weather together - just when I needed it! Another busy weekend that started with Hannah's away Lacrosse game at Heathfield St. Mary's in Ascot. A great game that the girls should have won despite being a player short - they battled well and finally succumbed by a single goal - 7 to 6. French platts seem to be in!

After a very early start (7:50am at the school) at least the match was over by 10:30am and after the usual schmoozing after the game that included some polite conversation with Simon Le Bon, father of the St Mary's goalie, we hit the road back to North Harrow. I was keen to get back in good time as I had a family shoot in the late afternoon but still had a few things to sort before I hit the road again.

As usual I left Harrow early and drove the short distance to Mill Hill in only 15 minutes - a third of the time I had allowed. As I arrived way too early, I spent some minutes refining my various routes through north and east London for Sunday's wedding. Time well spent but even though I was early, I decided to knock on the door and give myself extra time to set up and get settled for the family shoot that involved four small (under five!) children. Just as well I did as one of the off camera flashes refused to sync with the Pocket Wizards and I worked hard to swap out the hardware to isolate the problem. Finally and in front of a very interested and sympathetic client, I finally solved the riddle. The "hotshoe's" contacts that held the SB28 flash, was canceling the PW trigger. A small piece of black electrician's tape over the contacts solved that.

The shoot was centred around three sisters, their spouses, children and of course and most importantly, their parents. I originally shot Sally and Howard's wedding in 2002 and have been in intermittent contact since but was delighted to take a call from Sally as I sat in the shade in Valras Plage in the south of France in July, when she called to organise the shoot. All shot with five SBs - four off camera and one on.

On to Sunday and a wedding shoot for Deborah and Leon with Deborah being the second of three daughters whose weddings I have shot this year, having shot Naomi and Oren's wedding in March. As this post is very weather orientated, it was amazing to have the same clear sunny conditions as we had in March for this second wedding.

Always trying something new, I placed an SB and Pocket Wizard off to the left and synced this with the camera and 50mm and shot with the very effective side lighting - manual and at a quarter power. 

Here's hoping for a new Nikkor 50mm to be announced at Photokina in a few days time.