News / Blog - Tallpictures News

Last Sunday was another special milestone for this web site.

It has become a tradition that I post a short Blog to celebrate these milestones as they pass... so I will continue this practice:-)

The occasion worth marking is the passing of another 1,000,000 viewings. This takes the total views past the 6,000,000... yes SIX MILLION!

The latest million views took about six months. This seems to be the established average now the web site has settled down into a pattern. The next six months will probably show an increase of one and a half million if past behaviour is repeated. The summertime is busier for me.

The continued interest in my pics is really appreciated. I'm sure that few people will understand how much work goes on behind the scenes - that is the work after the short process of actually taking photographs - to make the regular Gallery updates that keep people coming back to look at my work.

The reward for me is way more than the small income from selling pics. I have enjoyed the appreciation given from the people I photograph. I also know that I am privileged to be able to commit so much time to what started out as just a hobby.

Each time I sit down and consider what to write to mark the extra Million I think back over the last few months. This made me recall a small order for a few digital pics, just last week. There was nothing particularly significant with this order. It certainly only paid for a couple of beers! But, the interesting thing was that the order was for a few pics that I took way back in 2009. That's five years ago!

I've always wondered how someone can wait for so long to order a picture. How do they even remember (or find) the pic after such a long time?

I tell myself that maybe the pictures captured a special moment in the subjects life. The purchaser might have seen the image when it was first added to the Galleries and it made enough impression to be remembered.

Maybe buying a copy of the picture, after all this time, will help them recall and share that moment with others for many years to come?

If I'm right that a picture can mean so much to a person, maybe I really do have the best job in the world?

Check the links below to read previous Milestone Blogs:
CLICK HERE TO READ PREVIOUS MILESTONE BLOGS

Contrary to what some may be thinking, I haven't been on holiday. In fact I can't remember the last time I went on one! Perhaps the need for a holiday is reduced when every day (of work) seems a bit like fun. Lucky me!

You might have thought I was on a break if you have tried to view this web-site in the last few days... it had disappeared :-(

I won't begin to try and understand, let alone try to explain, what happened but it seems that some web 'DNS stuff' went haywire. By the way, the 'DNS stuff' was the technical term used by my professional web-site designing son. He knew he had to keep it simple if I was to understand anything.

One thing that an untimely breakdown like this does is remind me of how many viewings the Galleries have each day. The daily figure varies between 5,000 and the best ever of over 40,000!!

It also makes me feel 'wanted' (ah, sweet) because I received quite a number of e-mails from people complaining that they couldn't see their pics.

Now everything seems to be getting back to normal (hopefully) I have added a new Gallery with pics of the weekends Sprint racing at Vazon, enjoy:
VIEW THE NEW SPRINT RACING GALLERIES

Well that's all of last weekends pics sorted, processed and uploaded.

What's next... oh it's another weekend! Where does the time go?

It will be a bit more of the same for me, Music and Motorsport :-)

I'm very lucky to photograph a great variety of subjects. It might not always look that way when you read this blog because most of my 'weekday' work is for private clients who don't wish to have their private lives and properties displayed for all to see on this web site. And there are a lot of pairs of eyes visiting each day with well over two million views a year!

This weeks photoshoots have included some promotional shoots, two Elevated property surveys, two major building projects (one now completed and the other as progress shots), the supply of stock pics to Agencies and Newspapers and the printing of a variety of orders. Oh, and I've finally started to deliver my Limited Edition Guernsey Hillclimb Record Book.

There is no doubt that working as a full-time photographer is quite a challenge as there are so many 'Facebook photogs' around. However if you remain flexible it can be a great way to make a living (just!). It can even help you keep up to date with the latest new kit...

A new Nikon D4S should be with me in a couple of days!

That should keep me motivated for a bit longer :-)

The latest pics are of the Guernsey Kart & Motor Club Winter Kart Championship at The Track.
VIEW ROUND-2 OF THE WINTER KART CHAMPIONSHIP

I think it's now safe to reveal some of the Montages that were ordered for Christmas presents. Surely all the gifts have been opened by now :-)

Once again the Framed Montages proved to be the most popular choice for the big day with Canvases also making a show. Both options solve that difficult problem of 'what do you buy someone who has everything?'

I have sample Framed Montages & Canvases available for anyone who is maybe considering one. Don't forget that they make a perfect gift even when it isn't Christmas.... there's always a birthday or you could even treat yourself.

The best advice I can give you is to look at some of my previous designs. Every one is individually designed with your own choice of pics. Take a look here:
VIEW PICS OF SOME OF THE CHRISTMAS GIFT MONTAGES & CANVASES

Too busy to brag? OK, well just a bit then... 5,000,000 times :-)

I hope that what I'm about to do is all done in 'the best possible bad taste' :-)

I know that modesty should always be the order of the day. But if I don't 'blow my own trumpet' then nobody else is going to do if for me!

So with my modesty temporarily filed away in the cabinet I'm going to brag a little. I won't be offended if you press the delete button right now :-0

The thing is, I'm chuffed by a couple of things. Firstly this web site passed 5,000,000 views (yes FIVE MILLION) on the 3rd of October 2013.

Amazingly just five days later it will probably notch up the next 100,000! (EDIT: It actually took six days to clock up the next 100,000 views). That's a LOT of viewings! May I thank everyone for the huge interest in my pics.

My other moment of immodesty is to mention that this month I have had several more pics published in National Magazines and Media. Top of the pile has to be the front cover of Speedscene Magazine, the Specialist National Publication for Sprinting and Speed Hillclimbing.

The cover features my pic of Darren Warwick at the Guernsey round of the MSA British National Hillclimb Championship. There are also pics inside to support Eddie Walder's report.

That's it. Short and sweet. I'll retrieve my modesty from the filing cabinet. Normal service returns, ha,ha
READ ABOUT THE FIRST 4,000,000 VIEWS
READ ABOUT THE FIRST 3,000.000 VIEWS
READ ABOUT THE FIRST 2,000,000 VIEWS
READ ABOUT THE FIRST 1,000,000 VIEWS

All the regulars who support Jersey Live every year have now returned to their day jobs, schools and the routine of normal life.

As much as we would like the 'good times' the Festival season brings to on for a bit longer, its a fact that our usual week is a rather mundane affair in comparison.

But for me 'the day job' allows me to re-live and remember the days that were spent working on the Festival sites (and there have been a few this year). That's one of the nice things about being a Music photog :-)

I've now spent two days editing the pics from Jersey Live's 10th Anniversary Festival and I am loving some of the moments I captured. The pictures taken on the Saturday are already on-line. The Sunday's pics have been edited and just await the tagging and the addition of new galleries on this web site... won't be long now.

You to can enjoy Jersey Live for a second time by viewing the pics, it'll help you get through the mundane return to routine :-)
VIEW PICTURES OF JERSEY LIVE 2013

Just back from a few days working in Jersey at the 10th Jersey Live Festival.

This was my sixth time working for the two Warren's who's brainwave it was to establish a 'top notch' Music Festival in Jersey. During the six years I have spent taking pics in Jersey I have notched up many, many days on the Festival site on the public days but also the build and strip-down days.

With this privileged access I have been left in no doubt about the unbelievable amount of work that goes on behind the scenes to present two full days of entertainment.

Now I'm back home looking though the pics remembering the highlights and recalling some fantastic moments. I was even told by Warren Le Sueur that I am now 'part of the furniture'.... does that mean that I'm put in a dark corner, forgotten about, never polished and sat on occasionally? We'll see :-)

It was great to re-acquaint myself with friends I have made over the years. Many of the Crews (UK based photographers, stage hands, builders and security teams) return each year and always speak highly of just how well run Jersey Live is. I party and breakfast with them, believe me when I say that there are some memorable characters!

The Festival site layout had, once again, been 'tweaked' and I think it was the best yet.

The 2013 Festival was made a bit more special for me as I was given the honour of having one of my pictures printed on the 10th Anniversay Jersey Live T-shirt!

But enough of my ramblings. Later I will have a bit more to say as I upload the many pics.

For now here are a couple of the Saturday night head-liner 'Fatboy Slim'.... mega!

Pictures of Jersey Live 2013 will follow as soon as possible..........

Whilst you wait why not check-out 2008-2012 VIEW PICS OF PREVIOUS JERSEY LIVE'S

I only ask the question 'Do you have the Jersey Live 2013 T-Shirt yet?' as it has one of my pictures is on it :-)

Once again I am just off to our sister island to shoot all the bands for the Festival. It is an incredibly tiring weekend... but what fun! Last weekends Vale Earth Fair was a really good warm-up and I'm lucky that I get to call this work! CHECK-OUT MY PREVIOUS JERSEY LIVE PICTURE GALLERIES HERE

What this means though is that the massive updates from the last weeks assignments are going to be delayed on arriving in the picture galleries. Sorry, but I just don't have available time until I'm back from Jersey Live 2013.

However I can promise lots to come. The pictures waiting to be processed include:

Guernsey Kart & Motor Club 2-Day Motocross
Guernsey Powerboat Association racing (Two races)
Vale Earth Fair 2013 (A huge Gallery will follow)
Guernsey Motorcycle & Car Club Hill Climb

This list amounts to several hundred shots that will take a while to develop... and then I will have the Jersey Live pics to follow.
I've a feeling that time for sleep will be hard to find. But then, who wants to sleep when you can party through the night with the security crew at Jersey Live. I love my job :-)

Keep a look-out on this News page for updates when the new Galleries are on-line.

Bye for now 'cause I've got some serious partying to do....

The West Show has just celebrated its Centenary by holding the 2013 version of this 'most traditional' of Guernsey's shows on land at the old L'Eree Aerodrome.

Extra efforts had been made to make the hundreth West Show extra special and the hard working committee were rewarded by the most perfect weather.

I was invited along by the Guernsey Vintage & Tractor Club to photograph their impressive display of one hundred and twenty-one old machines. The line-up of a fantastic mix of tractors, both perfectly restored and future renovation projects, was enjoyed by hundreds of visitors.

The main Arena was also a place where the visitor could find almost non-stop entertainment.

The West Show must be congratulated on their continued efforts to provide Guernsey with what I consider the best of all the shows.

I have added a Gallery of Elevated views of the West Show site. Check it out here:
VIEW A FEW ELEVATED PICTURES OF THE WEST SHOW

Come on Floyd fans, this one is for you.... take the challenge!

The occasion was 'The Great Gig in the Sky'..... OK, it was actually only at the top of Le Val des Terres!

Guernsey's masters of all things Pink Floyd recently played In the Flesh at The Fermain Tavern covering some of Pink Floyd's finest songs.

In fact this was several weeks ago now - but I had forgotten to edit my pictures. I must be suffering from Brain Damage :-)

There are always High Hopes at any Elysium gig. It isn't so much Young Lust but more Wish You Were Here. Each of their gigs has Echoes of The Happiest Days of our Life.

Elysium have a band of dedicated followers who, by now, might have now spotted A Saucerful of Secrets? Before each Elysium gig their fans Keep Talking about the latest Prelude and whether it will Eclipse the last.

So with The Hero's Return to the Tavern we were certain that the music wouldn't be Obscured by Clouds. When I arrived there were Signs of Life just Outside the Wall but I didn't see anyone Have a Cigar. Inside, having paid my Money I heard Vera say to Arnold Lane that it was Time and The Show Must Go On.

Outside, the gig-goers were Coming Back to Life after being Marooned with their roll-ups. I heard Seamus shout Not Now John I must Breathe in and Run Like Hell if I want those Empty Spaces at the front. Seamus went into Interstellar Drive, he didn't want to Remember a Day filled with Sorrow when he had to go Round and Round looking for The Narrow Way to the front. No more Biding My Time he thought to himself.

Lucifer Sam was looking like a Scarecrow and was Comfortably Numb. He had been in the Ibiza Bar and had only eaten Candy and a Current Bun since breakfast. He hadn't had a Proper Education and both his Mother and The Doctor had warned him that it was Absolutely Curtains for him if he didn't cut the Party Sequence from his life. The Doctor's Main Theme was that he should be eating more Apples and Oranges or he would really be Up the Khyber.

But for now Lucifer didn't want to hear that Crying Song. He didn't want any more Blues. The voice in his head was saying Come on you Crazy Diamond, park your Bike up against The Wall, forget Your Possible Past. Stop looking at the world through Paranoid Eyes and give up the idea of Learning to Fly under The Fat Old Sun... this was a desire he had got from Yet Another Movie.

Meanwhile I had spent the time waiting for the band by Calling Home. My wife had asked me if I wanted Octopus for dinner. Then the lights dimmed and Hey You, Is There Anybody Out There? I'm sure I can see Signs of Life came over the speakers. I think you could have heard the roar from The Dark Side of the Moon.

Elysium were playing The Greatest Gig in the Sky. It was Us and Them immersed in Floyd's finest. We were as happy as Pigs on the Wing. I absorbed the moment and thought Don't Leave me Now. I was having another One of my Turns. I cried out Let There be More Light.... the answer came from Mark Guillou, have Any Colour You Like. I shouted back Green is the Colour. I was in the best place ever. You can keep St Tropez and Grantchester Meadows, an Elysium gig of Pink Floyd's music does it for me!

All too soon The Great Gig in the Sky was over. It had been the greatest gig since The Grand Vizier's Garden Party and it had been wonderful to See Emily Play.

One of These Days Elysium will play another gig... but never two On the Run so I encourage you to make sure you make it to their next one.

.......... as you can tell I haven't been Lost for Words. But then I have been helped by the great PINK FLOYD :-)

On my way home driving down Le Val des Terres I was still Raving and Drooling about the gig to Corporal Clegg who had hitched a lift and I was just thinking to myself The Gold It's in the.... when I was interupted by the amazing sight of Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict.

Ha, ha.... couldn't resist it ;-)
How many Pink Floyd song titles did you spot?
VIEW THE GREATEST GIG IN THE SKY

I've just had a really good month when judged by the number of my pictures published in National Magazines.

It is always a nice accolade to have a major publication accept your work for print. It is also an encouragement when the genre of the pics are so varied. So last months distributions will keep me happy for a little while :-)

My National Hill Climb racing pics were reproduced in two of the leading Motor sport mags, Motor Sport News and also Autosport.

Then it was Powerboat & Rib Magazine that featured a double page spread of the Guernsey Powerboat Associations racing.

Evo Magazine also featured a pic of John Dunne racing at the Guernsey Hill Climb.

And to keep things nicely varied my Commercial photography featured in Country Life Magazine.

To add to that mix I have had numerous pictures published in the Channel Island Newspapers, Magazines and Business publications. My pics have also been used by a number of Bands both local and as far afield as New York... today Guernsey, tomorrow the world, ha,ha?

I am often pondering whether my chosen profession is a sensible one... at least as a means of making a decent living. It seems that every week there is a 'new kid on the block' who has bought a digital camera, created a web site (or simply a Facebook page) and decided to to call themselves a 'Pro' photographer... wedding day bookings made at your own risk ;-)
This new competition often has a 'proper' day job and can afford to play at fulfilling their ambitions to be a photog. Don't misunderstand me, I accept it is everyone's free choice to do this.

But what this does do is add pressure on to those of us who only have our photography as a means of buying the real ale (oh yes, and the food)! So when National publications consider your work as being worthy of printing you get a little boost and encouragement to keep the nose to the grindstone... or should that be the back of the camera?

The long hot summer of '13 is proving to be a successful one for me so far. This web site might even break the 3,000,000 views during this twelve months, so maybe I'll keep this up for a bit longer yet?

As I say, 'it definitely beats a proper job, eh'.
VIEW MY PICTURE GALLERIES

MASSIVE isn't a big enough word to describe the size of my Greenman Chaos Festival 2013 picture Galleries!!

Never before, and probably never again, have I posted such a large gallery of pictures for one event.

So was it worth it? Well maybe I'll know if you post a comment or two.

But, as far as I'm concerned I found this years Chaos Festival topped all previous ones. There was a great line-up of Bands in the main tent and also the popular Peace tent.

The main stage was bigger and better than before with a fantastic light-show... always a good way to get a photographer on your side ;-)

The edit of three days shooting has taken a serious amount of time but has the benefit of allowing me to 're-live' the Festival. In fact the odd thing is that quite often I will look at a pic and 'see' it for the first time, even though it was me who pressed the shutter! I guess that when taking pics you are in a kind of 'zone' with all the senses focused on the work.

If you were one of the hundreds who visited the Greenman Chaos you can also re-live the days by checking my Galleries...

If you were in a Band and like a few of the pics maybe you will think about buying a few :-)

I know it is a bit bad making a shameless plug to sell pics but it has taken MANY days of work to bring the pics to my web site... and selling a few pics is how I make a living (exaggeration)!

Full coverage of the Greenman Chaos Festival is here:
VIEW A MASSIVE PICTURE GALLERY OF THE GREENMAN CHAOS FESTIVAL 2013

If you visited the Greenman Chaos Music & Bike Festival last weekend and didn't pace yourself I'll call that a big FAIL :-)

Why? I hear you ask.

Well if you enjoyed a few too many beers and a few too many of the sun's rays and if you took the early bus home you are sure to regret it when you hear what you missed! The 'hard-core' festival go-ers were rewarded and left drained and exhausted by Sunday's head-liners, Spunge.

The party/festival really kicked-off when Spunge returned to the Chaos stage for 2013 and by the end of their set the party had hit the stage itself after the audience joined the band in a massive send-off to the 2013 Chaos.

Words can't describe the atmosphere. My pictures might help you to see what you missed... but in the end you really had to be there!

Those of us who had the stamina got the prize... happy days!

I have just added a small picture Gallery giving a taster of what will follow, eventually. But for now I need to catch up with some sleep...
GREENMAN 2013... VIEW A LITTLE TASTER GALLERY

Today I'm excited to say that this web site has broken through a new landmark figure.

We have now logged more than 4,000,000 viewings!

Yes, you read that correctly, that's FOUR MILLION VIEWINGS :-)

The latest MILLION has taken just over six months so we are well on target to match last year's figure of TWO MILLION in twelve months.

I posted a blog about six months ago when the THREE MILLION mark was smashed.
READ THE THREE MILLION BLOG HERE

At that time I tried to illustrate how the viewing figures could relate to time... how many views each hour or minute of every day. The results were quite surprising!

This time around I thought that maybe I would try to find how the numbers can be associated to something a bit closer to a photographer's heart. That is an actual paper print. But how thick is an average print?

The wonders of the Internet came to my rescue again and after a few minutes of research I had some figures to play with. It is difficult to find explicit references as there are certain variables - not least of which is the thickness of a sheet of photographic paper.

In the end I have been conservative and based my results on an 'average' that seems to be a fair and realistic number. From my searches I found the height calculated for a pile of ONE MILLION sheets of photographic paper varied between 350 ft and 480 ft.

So I am going to use a figure of 400 ft.

Now let's take things to the next stage and try to picture what this pile would look like.

Perhaps if you are a resident of Guernsey (our small but beautiful Island in the English Channel, near France) you will be familiar with the dramatic cliffs on our southern coast. The highest of these are about 350 ft above sea level.... that is less than the height of a MILLION PRINTS in this example.

Try and picture that... are you impressed yet?

No, well a try at this!

As you have seen, this web site has now had FOUR MILLION HITS since first launching. Take this number and work out the height of that pile of prints and we are talking TALL... LIKE 1,600 FEET HIGH!

If you find it difficult to picture how that relates to the real world, take a look at the picture at the start of this blog which shows the heights of some of the tallest buildings in the world.

NOW YOU MUST BE IMPRESSED!!

The shame is that these numbers are only picture views. They aren't going to make me rich, although I think I would be Epson's biggest customer if I had to produce a print for every web image viewed!

My Epson Stylus 4900 would be working night and day :-)

So a big thank you for spending time viewing my pictures. I am now chasing the next big number.... Pop back again soon.
READ ABOUT THE FIRST MILLION
READ ABOUT THE SECOND MILLION
READ ABOUT THE THIRD MILLION

It's been a while since I have written anything about the equipment I use and the workflow that goes into making the final prints that drop through your letterbox a few days after you place an order.

Today I'm not going to go into much detail about all my kit. However it might be of interest to know some key items.

I'm lucky to have the opportunity to use 'top-of-the-range' equipment from start to finish of the capture process. I feel that when shooting as a Professional Photographer, a high standard needs to be maintained all the way through from capture to the digital darkroom and on to the final production of a print.

I am a NIKON camera user and love the quality and handling that this brand offers.
My current kit includes a Nikon D4, a NIKON D3s and a NIKON D3.
NIKON creates the finest photographic equipment in the world as far as I'm concerned. I await your responses :-)

UPDATE 10-03-2014: I've now added the new NIKON D4s to my kit bag. First impressions are good but it will take a few weeks to fully test. Drop me an e-mail if you want to discuss the latest NIKON body EMAIL ME

I also use NIKON lenses and have too many to list but can call on everything from a 400mm f2.8, a 200mm f2, 24mm Perspective Correction, 200mm & 105mm Macro, 50mm & 85mm f1.4's and many others in-between through to the brilliant wide angle 14-24mm f2.8.
So I hope you'll agreed that there is no excuse to not capture the highest quality of image :-)

The digital darkroom work is carried out using the latest versions of Professional software like Photoshop and Lightroom and this is all viewed on twin 30 inch colour calibrated reference monitors.
All images are then Catalogued and referenced using IMatch allowing quick and comprehensive searching.
Lots of back-ups are then made.... you do back-up your own work, don't you?

But all the work and cost of capturing the sharpest, colour corrected images would fall at the final hurdle if the quality of the prints wasn't to the same standards.

This is why all prints up to the A2 SIZED MONTAGES are individually hand-printed by me in my studio on an Epson Stylus Pro 4900 Professional Large Format Printer using the latest 11-Colour Ultrachrome HDR Pigment Inks. This offers me total quality control of the final output.

This printer is regarded as setting new standards in colour precision offering one of the widest colour gamuts on the market and exceptional longevity of prints.

So be assured that when you order a print from TALLPICTURES every effort has been made to make it as good as it can get :-)

Details of the various print options can be found by clicking this link:
VIEW DETAILS OF THE PRINT OPTIONS

Who am I trying to kid! I've got a long way to go yet before I get in the Christmas mood :-)

I guess many of you are having the usual problem (like me) of thinking about what presents to give.
Well you have come to the right place.... read on.

A new option to present favourite pictures has been added to my Gallery Shopping Cart....

I am often asked if I can frame prints for clients. I've always been reluctant as the options are so vast!

However, there is NO doubt that a beautifully framed print looks a MILLION times better than one that is left in an Album.... or worse still put at the bottom of a draw. I have cried after seeing the condition that some of my pics have ended up in :-(

The answer to this problem has really got me excited!!

After months of research and examining samples I have decided to add a FRAMED PRINT option to the Shopping Cart.

I am keeping things simple - but nothing has been compromised with the quality of the finished article.

Only one colour and finish is offered. I have tried many variations but always this was the most impressive. The frame is approx 30mm wide and is finished with a BLACK BRUSHED SATIN effect. It is supplied 'Ready to Hang' and the Print is protected behind Glass.

There are options to frame A2, A3 & A4 prints.

The smaller A3 & A4 sizes are presented with a hand cut BEVEL MOUNT. A truly classic look.

The Larger A2 sized PRINTS, DIGITAL PAINTINGS & POSTERS are the ultimate way to add impact to any wall. Each of the A2 options are individually prepared and feature distintive artistic touches. The DIGITAL PAINTINGS look amazing.
A few SAMPLES can be viewed here: TAKE A LOOK AT SAMPLE MONTAGES & DIGITAL PAINTINGS

I am dealing direct with a UK based Manufacturer which allows me to offer exceptional value for such a high class product. I am passing on the savings that I have made by purchasing in bulk to encourage you to choose the FRAMED PRINT option.

Everyone is a winner... you get great value and I have the satisfaction of knowing that my pics are displayed in the most impresive way :-)

When you see these Framed Prints - especially the larger sizes - you will understand why I am so excited by this new offering.

For more information on these and the other products I offer click here:

VIEW DETAILS OF ALL THE OPTIONS AND PRINTS SIZES
or
CLICK HERE TO VIEW ALL THE PICTURE GALLERIES

So there you are, I've solved your gift problems and if you order in the next 10 days I can still deliver in time for Christmas....

I don't want to loose your attention this early in a Blog.... but I'd like to suggest we do a few 'sums'. So get the calculator ready!

Many of you buy a few of your favourite pics from me and thanks for that :-) What you do with them isn't really my business but I would love to think they took pride of place somewhere - even if it is on the Loo wall!

My guess is that many prints end up in a draw, creased and damaged. This shouldn't really bother me.
After all I've taken your money by then ;-)

But of course if you decide that money spent on a print is money wasted..... then that is a SERIOUS problem to me. You might not buy another print - EVER!

So time to get the calculator out. What if you bought 5 x A4 sized prints at £8 each. Total = £40.
This is no problem if the pics are kept in an Album, but it's too much to chuck in a draw.

Now for my 'hard sell'. Remember I was a retailer in a previous life!

Why don't you consider having a MONTAGE custom designed. The most popular format is using 5 pictures. Have you made the link yet? What you will get is an impressive and unique picture that will deserve a place on display.... it would even brighten up the Loo if that is the only wall space available.

Out with the calculator again... an A2 sized MONTAGE will cost you just £55. That is just fifteen quid more than the prints at the bottom of the draw. BARGAIN is what I say!

Best of all is that I can supply the MONTAGE already framed CHECK THE FRAMING OPTIONS HERE.
I buy the FRAMES direct from the manufacturer and pass on the LOW PRICES to encourage sales.
Add a BLACK BRUSHED SATIN FRAME to your order for JUST £35.

Christmas is coming.... I hope I have sown the seed for a few gift ideas....
CHECK OUT THE FRAMING OPTIONS HERE
and
HERE ARE A FEW SAMPLE MONTAGES

My Website has suffered from the exceptional weather conditions in New York.... Small world isn't it!!!

The Main Servers for this Website are based right in the path of Hurricane Sandy. This has resulted in recurring power cuts and the drop of service. If you have attempted to view the Galleries during the last couple of days you might have found that you couldn't get a response.

I have just been informed that the services are now back to normal (perhaps still be a bit slow) but all the options, including the purchase of prints should now be working.

This is the first time my Website provider has dropped the service... and I think I will forgive them this time due to circumstances outside of their control ;-)

By the way, nice to see you back again!!! Check-out the news items below to see the latest updates.

A new option to display your pictures has been added to my Gallery Shopping Cart....

I am often asked if I can frame prints for clients. I've always been reluctant as the options are so vast!

However, there is NO doubt that a beautifully framed print looks a MILLION times better than one that is left in an Album.... or worse still put at the bottom of a draw. I have cried after seeing the condition that some of my pics have ended up in :-(

The answer to this problem has really got me excited!!

After months of research and examining samples I have decided to add a FRAMED PRINT option to the Shopping Cart.

I am keeping things simple - but nothing has been compromised with the quality of the finished article.

Only one colour and finish is offered. I have tried many variations but always this was the most impressive. The frame is approx 30mm wide and is finished with a BLACK BRUSHED SATIN effect. It is supplied 'Ready to Hang' and the Print is protected behind Glass.

There are options to frame A2, A3 & A4 prints.

The smaller A3 & A4 sizes are presented with a hand cut BEVEL MOUNT. A truly classic look.

The Larger A2 sized PRINTS, DIGITAL PAINTINGS & POSTERS are the ultimate way to add impact to any wall. Each of the A2 options are individually prepared and feature distintive artistic touches. The DIGITAL PAINTINGS look amazing.
A few SAMPLES can be viewed here: TAKE A LOOK AT SAMPLE MONTAGES & DIGITAL PAINTINGS

I am buying the Frames directly from a UK based Manufacturer which allows me to offer exceptional value for such a high class product. I am passing on the savings that I have made by purchasing in bulk to encourage you to choose the FRAMED PRINT option.

Everyone is a winner... you get great value and I have the satisfaction of knowing that my pics are displayed in the most impresive way :-)

When you see these Framed Prints - especially the larger sizes - you will understand why I am so excited by this new offering.

For more information on these and the other the products I offer click here:
VIEW DETAILS OF ALL THE OPTIONS AND PRINTS SIZES
or
CLICK HERE TO VIEW ALL THE PICTURE GALLERIES

What makes a great photograph?

I haven't even started this blog and I know it is a bad idea... a REALLY bad idea.
There will never be a definitive answer to the question! But this is as I see it.

Of course there are many different (and memorable) styles of photography. When you combine this with an infinite amount of photographic subjects every person will have their own idea of what makes a 'GREAT PHOTOGRAPH'.

The only thing I can offer is my own point of view, and of course this is very personal. Inevitably I am going to be influenced by the choice of subject that I like to capture.

I'll say right at the start of this ramble that, even if I was backed into a corner under threat of serious pain, I still couldn't find a single picture of my own that I would offer as 'something really special'. The bar has been set very high by the truly great photographers.

However, this doesn't prevent me - nor should it prevent any of you - from trying to record the special moments that you enjoy.

This blog was inspired after I began sorting through a few old galleries. This made me consider what makes a successful shoot, or at least a shoot that achieved the result I was hoping for.

Much of my work as a professional photographer isn't about capturing a single great shot. My assignments often cover Events, Gigs, Sports and Commercial shoots that have to be recorded over a period of time. I am expected to capture the atmosphere, the special moments, the climax. My pictures are often seen as a collection and should give the viewer a true and descriptive presentation of a performance or occasion.
The challenge is to give the viewer memorable images of an experience they had been part of, or to show another person what they have missed.

You will see that I shoot a lot of gigs. These are a good example of how I approach my work. I will try to record a Bands stage performance in such a way that flicking through a Gallery the viewer should have a better understanding of the 'essence' of a Band's act.

But as I have already said, GREAT pictures don't come along too often. In fact if you are still waiting for me to tell you what makes a GREAT PHOTOGRAPH. Sorry, I can't!
You didn't think I was that talented, did you?
If I do discover the formula for guaranteed success I will bottle it.... I'll make a fortune ;-)

What I do know is that by putting in the time and effort and by being very 'self critical', slowly it is possible to develop your skills and your eye for a good pic. I try to practice what I preach and continue in the the pursuit of that illusive GREAT PHOTOGRAPH :-)

I offer a Gallery of pictures that you might like to take a look at.... but don't expect to see any GREAT pics yet. I'm still working on that!

The Gallery features a Band that I really enjoy. Elmer Henley are energetic and good to photograph.
If you take away a 'feel' for their stage performance after scrolling quickly though the pics I will consider the job 'well done'.
Follow my lead, grab your camera and start on the path to capturing better images... maybe even a GREAT PHOTOGRAPH one day!
TAKE A LOOK, DO YOU GET A FEEL FOR THIS BANDS PERFORMANCE?