Team Up Thursday - New Beginning (Week 3)

Theme: Food

It was my choice this week and I confess to knowing EXACTLY what I was wanting to photograph on suggesting it to my very talented partner Claire. It took me a little time to get round to taking the actual shot, but to me "Strawberries and Cream" are so quintessentially England that there just wasn't any other "food" I could think of :0)

Claire's shot def takes the cake or should I say "desert" this week and it BEAUTIFUL, it is so decadent and elegantly styled....kinda wish I was sitting down to it for breakfast...Well done partner it is OUTSTANDING.

Team Up Thursday - New Beginning (Week 2)

Theme: Pink

When Claire suggested this weeks theme I have to be honest I automatically imagined photographing a tiny pair of pink booties, of some lovely girly baby hair accessories....but not having a tiny girl in my life, obviously these items where in short supply.

With a bit of lateral thought however on how to involve my "teenage" girl, I came up with my shot for this week and I am chuffed...it is still girly and optimises everything "Pink" but just in a slightly more mature way and includes two of her favourite things, her "pink" laptop and nail polish - thanks for your help Megs :0)


What could be more perfectly "Pink" than Claire's capture this week...I LOVE the lighting (something I so often comment on in Claire's work) and the beautiful blue sky in the background creates the perfect contrast.

Team Up Thursday - New Beginning (Week 1)

Theme: Inspiration

Having been away from our TUT for so long Claire and I have decided that we need to start back at Week 1 and I am delighted to say I finally feel ready to take up the challenge again.

Our theme for this week seemed fitting for the restart as it is something I have been seriously lacking with all that has been going on over the last couple of months. Fortunately Spring in England is like a shot of adrenalin and suddenly I feel like I can take on the world...nothing INSPIRES me more then new life and the sight of all the new buds has me feeling rejuvenated, hence my shot for this week....perhaps not as sharp as it should be for a macro shot, but still, I hope, inspirational :0)


My talented partners shot is simply beautiful and I know how both this woman and the shot itself has inspired her (and indeed me), one of the loveliest portraits I have seen in a long time.

Working with Children

It has been forever since I even looked at this blog, with the pregnancy, moving house and a very nasty chest infection I had to put all "non essentials" on the back burner and while photography is like breathing for me, keeping this blog up to date had to take a back seat for a while:0(

I am delighted to say that I am now feeling much better and life seems to be settling down some what, the gorgeous weather and consequent vital dose of Vitamin D has me feeling on top of the world and ready to take on just about anything.

As the season's change in the UK and the weather starts to warm I find myself with more and more requests to take photos of children, not the studio type shots but those slightly more relaxed outdoor shots that capture the spirit.

I LOVE working with children above all else and even the most camera shy can be caught in a moment if they forget that you are there. My suggestion, put on a long lens and become as inobtrusive as possible....this may mean that you lose some of the clarity of the shot as you will never get the pin sharp image using a zoom lens that you will with a fixed portrait lens, but working outside it is worth it.

Parks, wood and playgrounds work best for photos of children as they can be kept busy and will begin to enjoy themselves which is immediately evident in their expressions. I tend (if at all possible) to stay away from back gardens as it is very difficult to get a special shot with houses, garden sheds etc etc in the surroundings. If you do find yourself in that situation, open your appeture right up and try and blow out the background as much as possible.

Although candid shots are very special, try to find a balance between the "portrait" looking straight into the lens shot and those of the kiddies doing what they do best, a good friend and fab photographer once reminded me that in 20 years time we actually want to remember what the child looked like as well as what they enjoyed doing :0)

Team Up Thursday - Week 25

Theme: Colour

I LOVE colour, it makes me happy and I have never been one for dull black, grey and brown clothing. Colour is also indicative of children to me, maybe it is their bright, sunny, energetic natures but I always think of kiddies in bright limes, oranges, yellows and pinks. Nick's HUGE pile of lego therefore gave me the perfect subject for this weeks theme and I had quite a bit of fun playing with different angles.

Claire's shot this week is wonderful, she brings "elegance" to the theme with her tiny touch of colour. Adore the angle and perspective on this shot as well.


Nick Nick just couldn't resist getting involved when he saw me on the floor surrounded by his toys :0)


For more participants in this challenge check out my blog roll on the right.

Team Up Thursday - Week 24

Theme: Ice

With the weather the way it has been in both England and Wales, this weeks theme seemed the obvious choice....plenty of subjects to photograph, all of which are ever changing. These were the icicles hanging outside out back door (ever so glad I wasn't underneath one when the finally broke away)

Claire's depth of field this week is perfect and I love the contrast of the blue sky background against the snow and ice on the twig....as always a fantastic capture.


For more participants in the challenge check out my blog roll on the right side of the blog :0)

Team Up Thursday - Week 23

Theme: Christmas Decorations

A logical choice of theme for this time of the year from my wonderful partner Claire.

I LOVE Christmas and had lots of plans to go out and photograph the lights in our high street for this week....sadly flu hit and I have been lying prone on my bed instead.

As I ate dinner in the lounge last night I glanced across at our Christmas tree and seeing the word "peace" hanging there lit by the tree's red lights made me really think that that is the true meaning of Christmas, it was the message God sent to the world through the birth of his son and it is something I think we could all do with a little more of in our lives. So here is wishing you peace through this holiday season, may you and your family be truly blessed.

I absolutely ADORE Claires photo this week, what a wonderful way to remember precious family during this time, especially those that are far away. As always the lighting is spot on and gives the photos a wonderful warm "christmassy" feel.


For other members taking part in this challenge, check out my list of "Fellow Challenge Participants"