Cherubs day with Ray Lowe Hon FMPA, Hon FBIPP

Yesterday Anne & I had the privilege to spend a day listening to Ray Lowe Hon FMPA talking about how he runs his Cherubs photography in the Cheshunt area.

Ray is an excellent speaker. As he says himself the only PC he knows speeds around the M25 in fast cars! His delivery is direct and uncompromising, but comes across with humour and enormous respect for his subject - photography.

During the day Ray was judging pictures brought by the 170 Cherubs Partners, and Anne was thrilled to be given a prize for this picture from our reminder card.

Anne was extremely pleased to be given an award by Ray as his compliments are rare:)

It was a great day and were now have an overload of ideas! :)

Malcolm wins BIPP awards

I was pleased to be awarded merit awards in last month's BIPP (British Institute of Professional Photography) Midland Region Annual Print Competition. In this competition the best photographers in the Midland Region (Harlech to Skegness - Sheffield to Worcester) compete in various categories of professional photography.

I won awards in;
Landscape Photography


This picture of Balanced Rock in Arches National Park, Utah, USA was taken at sunset on our first day in the park.

Architectural Photography


This is Sibsey Windmill in Lincolnshire. Also taken as the sun was setting.

Sibsey Mill is a rare 5 bladed mill, and is still in use grinding flour for bread-making.












My third award was for;
Pictorial Photography

With this is picture of a Yucca plant in bud.

Tattoos

I recently sent a PR shot to our local County Magazine for a wedding we photographed in March. See right.


As you can see below Jo (the bride) was sporting a tasteful and stylish tattoo on each shoulder. The theme of the wedding was Black & White. The Grooms men were dressed in Black Kilts and Jackets and the Bridesmaids wore Black dresses. The tattoos fitted in well with the theme of the wedding.



I was therefore surprised to learn the the magazine wouldn't accept my picture because of the tattoos:( It was felt that their readers would be offended by such adornments on young ladies!


No amount of sweet talking would convince them that they should use my first picture.


In the end I choose a longer shot, and then extended Jo's hair extensions to cover the offending decorations.

The final picture still shows a beautiful couple, happy on the most important day of their lives.

Photography trip in Scotland

Before Easter Anne & I went to Scotland for a week's break and hopefully some landscape photography - Yes this was a busman's holiday:)

Driving through Golispie in Sunderland I saw this rare VR wall box and just had to turn around and go back to snap it!


Further North we passed this gate leading to nowhere!

Further north still we saw this ramshackle building in need of some re-development.









At the very top of Scotland we passed this beautiful sandy beach near Durness.





Finally a beautiful rainbow at dawn in Glen Affric. Oh and yes we were travelling in the VW camper van shown. A vehicle of mature years:)

It was a great trip, very refreshing and we came back with lots more stunning images.