News / Blog

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

Few things in life are as reliable as a gig by Guernsey's own Pete Frampton. Quality is assured!

It is sad to say that Pete no longer lives in Guernsey but he does make regular visits back home to see family and friends. And it is those friends who always take the opportunity to get some 'stage time' with Pete during the short stays.

Last weekend saw the guys on two stages and they dropped straight into gear and simply continued where they left off months ago. The quality of musicianship was as high as normal and the band rolled out all their classics leaving us looking ahead to the next visit.

I've added pics of Pete & friends playing on stage at the Fermain Tavern:
PETE FRAMPTON & FRIENDS PLAY THE FERMAIN TAVERN

Let's hope that someone has remembered to tell the weather this year as Summer has arrived in the form of the Guernsey Kart & Motor Club's Summer Karting Championship.

Round 1 hit The Track today and the weather was OK... so maybe the word did get out!

On the tarmac it was certainly a hot start to the racing with some very competitve heats which have already signalled the entertainment to come.

There will be regular racing at The Track during the next few months and I recommend a visit on one of the Sunday mornings. You will be guaranteed plenty action to watch. The race dates can be found on the new Club web site:
VIEW THE NEW GUERNSEY KART & MOTOR CLUB WEB SITE

I have added pictures from todays racing to my Gallery.
VIEW PICS OF ROUND-1 OF THE SUMMER KARTING CHAMPIONSHIP

As promised, I returned to the sands of Vazon bay when the sun shone!

After Round 1 of the Guernsey Motor Cycle & Car Club's Sand Racing Championship two weeks ago when the conditions were truly dreadful I'm pleased to say that things were much improved for Round 2.

OK, the wind was still a bit on the chilly side but at least it was dry :-)

Perhaps the improving conditions were the incentive for a couple more Moto-X riders to give beach racing a try and there was a good sized field for the Cadet Class as well. In fact the youngest of the racers produced some of the closest racing of the afternoon.

The sliders Class was dominated by Martyn Guilbert who found ample time to entertain the crowd with his wheelies.

If you want to make a diary date the next meeting is on May 9th at 11.30am. Fingers crossed for another dry and sunny one!

Pictures of the Sand Racing are now online:
VIEW PICS OF ROUND-2 OF THE GMC&CC SAND RACING

VIEW PICS OF MT. WOLF
The Carlton Hotel opened its doors to two visiting bands on Friday night and I'm pleased to say that there was great support from us Guern's.

I suppose that there was always a good chance that ticket sales would be OK as the headlining band had two locals in the line-up.
So perhaps Mt. Wolf can be thanked for attracting the punters but I have a feeling that the other two bands on the bill also played their parts by bringing their own following.

First on stage were Bright_Lights. I am really enjoying this Electro-Pop band and they were a great choice to open the night with a sound that easily filled the room and is surely crying out for a chance to feature on one of this summer's Festival stages... watch this space!

Next up was Lloyd Yates and again they could certainly claim a following amongst the 'gig goers'... even though their visits to our shores are rare. This shows that they have made a real impression on previous visits.

And so the night was completed by the appearance of Mt. Wolf. They were well received and their set showed that they already have songs that offer opportunity to make it on a bigger stage.
Looking at the gigs they have lined up around the UK during coming months the band clearly have ambition and are prepared to work for a break into the big time. Keep a ear to the ground to see if they can pull it off!

I've added new Galleries featuring the three bands:
VIEW PICS OF MT. WOLF

VIEW PICS OF LLOYD YATES

VIEW PICS OF BRIGHT_LIGHTS

So there we have it... another great night of LIVE MUSIC.
There really is NO excuse to spend your weekends sitting on the couch when there is such a great choice of live music just waiting for your support... See you next time?

Last of the Light Brigade have been in action at the Fermain Tavern to launch their new single 'The Door'.

The guys had put in a lot of work to promote the event and I was was one of many who lined the trenches ready to receive the best that the band could fire in our direction.

I've been a long term champion of the band and have enjoyed seeing them grow in confidence when on stage and at the Saturday night gig they achieved new heights. The line-up had been re-enforced with extra troops and featured Andy Coleman on keys and John McCarthy on guitar. But it was The Cavalry Choir that turned the campaign into something really special.

Even this platoon of troopers wasn't enough for their Commander and Tyler Edmonds had conscripted Mark Le Gallez and Colin Leach of The Risk and Chris Dean from... oh, too many... to join LOTLB on stage for the final push.

The result was a great showcase for a Band that is clearly ready for the next call to arms.

Support to LOTLB was in the form of Guernsey's own foot-tapping skiffle-country proponants. Their performance would have justified the couple of quid entry on its own. That is more than enough to prove that - if you missed it - you missed a great night when local music was called to 'action stations'.

Pics are now online:
LAST OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE LAUNCH THEIR SINGLE - THE DOOR

Pics of The John Wesley Stone can be found here:
PICS OF THE BARN-STORMING JOHN WESLEY STONE

Today the Guernsey FC Green Lions showed that they will fight till the end as they achieved a win over Raynes Park Vale in the last minutes of a very competitive game.

The lead was swapped during the game as each team pressed forward but in the end it was the Guernsey sides persistence that paid off when they forced an own goal right on the full time whistle which gave them a 4 - 3 win.

Local legend Matt 'Le God' Tissier was in attendance and warmed up on the pitch before the game but didn't sit on the bench on this occasion. Matt's appearance in the Green Lions kit hasn't been ruled out for some time in the season.

Perhaps the only disappointment was the cancellation of another game when the fixture against Farnham Town had to be postponed on Saturday due to the waterlogged pitch. Whilst this gave the players a days rest they will now have to find a space in their already packed backlog of games.

But that concern is for another day. Today the Green Lions can relax and enjoy a great win.

I have added a Gallery of pics featuring some of the action:
VIEW PICS OF GUERNSEY FC v RAYNES PARK VALE

No offence meant to the riders and drivers who took part in Round-1 of the Guernsey Motor Cycle & Car Club 2013 Sand Racing Championship, but that was a dreadful start to the season!

When you visit the beach you somehow expect that the water will be in the sea, not falling from above - driven by strong winds :-(

If you combine the awful weather with a pair of boots that have decided to leak and a waterproof jacket that no longer conforms to the Trade Description Act I admit that the overall result is something that I don't wish to repeat for a long time.

It is a fact that some forms of motorsport photography are rewarded by sticking around when it is wet.
For example it is possible to capture great pics at the Hill Climbs and Kart track when the heavens open. The 'roosters' can add something to a picture.

However on an exposed beach with the camera wrapped up in its steamed-up protective gear which greatly reduces your ability to even see any of the settings and then being restricted to the direction you can point the camera because of the driving rain, well, there is only one answer.

So I grabbed a few pics then did the obvious, I went home :-)

I'll be back when the sun shines :-)

My 'part-time' work is now on-line:
VIEW PICS OF SAND RACING ROUND-1

Guernsey FC's Green Lions created an impressive 4-1 win over visiting Horley Town when they played the first of three home games which make up a very busy weekend.

There has been a lot of media talk about the possible appearance at some point during the weekend of Matt Le Tissier in the Guernsey FC squad but this shouldn't overshadow another strong performance by the hard-working Green Lions.

We know that the unfortunate back-log of games will put great pressure on the squad as they try to climb to to the top of their league. Every motivation and help to keep the spirits and energy levels high will be harnessed and maybe a couple of appearances by 'Le God' on his home turf will just help The Lions pull it off!

Keep up the good work guys... the Island is behind you :-)

I have a few pics from the Guernsey FC v Horley Town game online:
VIEW GURNSEY FC v HORLEY TOWN

The weekend saw the Greenman MCC change their home venue of the open cliff tops at Pleinmont for the confines of the Fermain Tavern.

The Tavern had no problem offering a perfect venue for this warm-up gig that heralded the 2013 Chaos Festival. The word is that the Greenman MCC have chosen this year to tweak and improve on the popular formula and they are promising that this years Festival will be the best ever :-)

So with this word going out before the Tavern gig we were all expecting a pretty good night. The line-up included a few of our known reprobates in the form of Sugar Slam and Of Empires. This was a good start and the boys played storming sets.

But the band I was looking forward to seeing was Jersey's Harlequin Knights. I knew very little about them other than I had seen and photographed some of the band members before - in different bands.

Their performance was a highlight of the night as far as I'm concerned. They have great energy and charisma on stage. The songs are very well written and the vocal harmonies were superb... all this from a band that has only been together for seven months!

I understand that they will return to our isle to play at Chaos 2013. So there is your first reason to book in the weekend of 12th - 14th July for the Greenman MCC Chaos Festival. Don't miss it!
Take a look at the Greenman MCC web site for more details: http://www.chaosevents.com/

I have uploaded pics of the bands here:
VIEW PICS OF HARLEQUIN KNIGHTS
VIEW PICS OF SUGAR SLAM
VIEW PICS OF OF EMPIRES

Thanks for noticing my pics....

I'm quite amazed at today's response to the latest pics that I have added to my Galleries (but it could have been even better - read on).
The site analytics show that well over 16,000 picture viewings have been made in the last nine hours. I find this amazing and I have been humbled by the kind comments that have been posted by many people.

***UPDATE*** Viewings actually topped 26,000 in a 24 Hour period!!!

Whilst the interest in my work is all very nice - we all have an ego you know ;-) I very nearly left the Hill Climb early when it became clear that I had missed the very spectacular crash at the top of Le Val des Terres when Michael Beausire double rolled his beautiful Fiat 500 Abarth.
The good news is that Mike is sore but fine... the Abarth less so :-(
I wouldn't of wanted to make that phone call to my father telling him what I had just done to his pride and joy!!!

As a photographer those are the shots you just hope and wait for (we don't mean harm to anybody, honest). But of course you have to 'be there' to get the shot and I was at the opposite end of the hill. Bummer. Catch you next time Mike, promise!

In the end I stayed around and continued to try to capture some of the peak action moments from around the hill. I was even quite pleased with some of the pics... but still disappointed.

So thanks again for looking at my days work and for finding them hours before I posted this blog saying that they were online!

Got to love the Internet haven't you :-)
TAKE A LOOK AT THE LATEST HILL CLIMB PICTURE GALLERIES

Just a quickie this time as I'm preparing my kit for the final Motor Sport extravaganza of the busy weekend... the Bank Holiday Hill Climb.
So whilst the last of the batteries are being charged I have managed to prepare and upload pics of todays Autocross racing at Chouet.

My guess is that Peter Jory will be nursing a stiff neck at the Hill Climb tomorrow after making a complete roll-over - wheels to wheels (take a look at my pics). Pete even seemed keen to continue in the race but the regs insist on car and driver having a check-over first.

Not like the old days, eh!

Check-out all the action here:
TAKE A LOOK AT THE LATEST AUTOCROSS ACTION

Well I'm not complaining you understand, but having waited for the 2013 Guernsey Motor Sport season to start for proper, this weekend sees non-stop racing. Nice!

First on the list was the GK&MC Sprint meeting at Vazon coast road. It was cold.... very cold. Maybe it was even a bit too cold as there was a real lack of new records. I think we might have been spoilt by the last couple of seasons racing when so many new lows have been achieved.
It is far to early though to label the new season as ordinary yet!!!

With an Autocross race lined up for Sunday and the first Hill Climb of 2013 on Monday we are all going to be kept busy and entertained.

Talking about entertaining. Special thanks have to go to two competitors at the Sprint. Firstly to Richard Turk Vaudin who lit-up the rear tyre on his Hayabusa whilst warming it before a run. A mega burn-out would be good enough for most people... but Richard went one or two better than that by doing it one handed whilst creeping forward in total control. Stylish!
I got the pics.... job done :-)

But the prize has to go to Lee(three wheels on my wagon)Corbet who managed to lose a rear wheel half way down his run. The other one was also about to come adrift!
As no-one was hurt we can all have a laugh about it and I guess Lee is going to receive 'pay back' for his many years of 'taking the micky' out of other racers. Enjoy!
Full marks for style though as the tyre went though the finish and recorded a time, ha, ha.

It must have been my lucky day as I was also in the right place to capture pics of Lee's little mishap.
Sprint pics are now online:
VIEW PICS OF BURN-OUTS AND LONESOME WHEELS AT THE VAZON SPRINT

VIEW THE LATEST MOTOCROSS RACING
Last weekend seemed to herald the start to the Guernsey Motor Sport season for 2013.

Both the Guernsey Motor Cycle & Car Club and the Guernsey Kart & Motor Club held events. We are also looking ahead to next weekend when the first Sprint and Hill Climb are booked in. It is non-stop Motor Racing from then on... just like the racers like it :-)

I have already posted pics of the GMC&CC 2-day Trials meeting so today's additions feature two of the GK&MC championships.

On Sunday the winter Kart Championship was wrapped-up at The Track with race three of the short series. The track conditions were pretty good for the karters. That is more than can be said for the Moto-X riders as they were welcomed once again by very muddy conditions.
It must be said though that the track did improve as the day went on and there is little that anyone can do about a dirt track that has suffered from record levels of rainfall and snow.

I don't think you will find a single competitor in any of the formulas that are raced in Guernsey who doesn't hope for a drier twelve months ahead! Fingers crossed, eh?

I'll be out and about (rain or shine) at just about every race of 2013. Make sure you look back regularly for the Gallery Updates.
VIEW ROUND 3 OF THE WINTER KART CHAMPIONSHIP

The Annual 2-Day Trials meeting organised by the Guernsey Motor Cycle & Car Club is usually an excuse for an Island tour. This year was no different!

I don't know if a Trials bike has a mileometer but if they do the digits would have rolled around over the last couple of days.

There was a good entry for the 2013 2-day event and each day the sections were spread around cliff tops, beaches and valleys. I did my best to follow the competitors and was rewarded by the quality of riding. Once again the Expert riders impressed me with their skill and nerves. It was just a shame that the weather on Sunday was so bitterly cold on the beach sections as this must have put off some spectators.

The GMC&CC make every effort to provide a weekend of entertainment for the visiting riders from the Mainland and France. The formula certainly works as there were plenty of smiles... even on the exposed headlands.

See you all again in twelve months guys?

Pics of the 2-Day Trials are now online:
VIEW PICS OF THE GMC&CC 2-DAY TRIALS

I can't say it better than to quote Colin Leach (Guernsey Press 28-03-2013).

'It was a send-off in style. In what must count as one of the best gigs ever to be staged at Fermain Tavern, last weekend's appearance by Wilko Johnson and his band was a fitting end locally for a musician who has struck a chord with many - in more ways than one.'

We British are not renowned for showing our emotions in public. Somehow we all get embarrassed with the realities of life. We don't talk about or face up to the simple truths... we are conceived, we live out our term, we die.

I have pondered on what to say about the weekends gig that I was privileged to photograph. Without a doubt it touched the heart of more than a few in the audience. I spoke to one lady who told me it had been a wake up to the reality of her own inevitable life cycle. None of us know what tomorrow brings?

The memorable occasion that I was photographing was the farewell gig by Wilko Johnson. We all knew that Wilko has recently had to face the knowledge that he is terminally ill. Thankfully few of us have been in this position and we cannot possibly imagine how we would handle such a situation. Of course everyone would react in their own personal way.

But perhaps we can all take a little strength and even inspiration from the way Wilko has chosen to look to the future. Wilko has decided that his time should be used to enjoy and share what has been a huge part of his life... the gift of making music.

So the sell-out of two nights at the Fermain Tavern in Guernsey was no surprise. Wilko has been a regular visitor on the stage at 'the Tav' over several decades and he was surrounded by old friends who gave him a send-off that will be remembered and talked about until it takes its place in musical folk-law.

Maybe it is difficult, given the circumstances, to make an unaffected critic of the gig but I will argue that the two nights were a couple of the greatest live performances I have shared.

Hopefully Wilko Johnson left Guernsey knowing that he had touched people with his energetic performance and song writing. He stimulated many of us to look to our own futures and how we should make the very best of our own time. It reminded me that the medium of music has so much to give. It can be the focus to bring people together. It can touch all sides of our emotions and, lets face it, it makes the world a better place!

Thanks for the memories Wilko.

A Wilko Johnson performance, for photographers, is one of the hardest to capture. He just won't stand still! It is a challenge to represent the essence of his show in 'still' images. But I tried, and have added a few pics to the Wilko Johnson Band picture gallery:
VIEW PICS OF THE WILKO JOHNSON FAREWELL GIGS AT THE FERMAIN TAVERN

A very select few Guernsey bands were given the honour of sharing the bill with the headlining Wilko Johnson Band when they played two nights at the Fermain Tavern last weekend.

Wilko actually gave local fans the special honour of playing for two nights at the 'Tav'. This was a bit special when you consider how few venues Wilko is visiting on his Farewell Tour.

Many of the Guernsey supporting act band members weren't even born when Wilko began his musical career! But they were given a rare opportunity to both appear on the same bill and to have a 'masterclass' in live performance from one of the true masters.

Whether you are a great fan of Wilko's music or not, it really doesn't matter because within a couple of songs you will not be able to take your eyes off him... you will be dragged into his space and he will be in control. Very few performers can wield that sort of influence on a crowd.

So there must have been a bunch of lucky musicians pinching themselves on Monday morning wondering if it had all been a dream!

Lucky for them I was taking a few pics so they can re-live the moment :-)
VIEW PICS OF LAST OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE

VIEW PICS OF MEMOIRS BE

VIEW PICS OF THE PHANTOM COSMONAUT

VIEW PICS OF THE RISK


That's it for pics of Wilko's farewell gigs in Guernsey. Long may they live in your memories...

Guernsey Motorsport competitors (and their partners at home) can be reassured that the local rescue unit has been putting in the hours to prepare for the new seasons Hill Climbs and Sprints.

Sarnia Rescue have just completed a well organised and realistic practice of their skills whilst giving Paul Le Pelley's once immaculate red and white Mini a last 'swan-song'.

Paul was kind enough to donate the Mini after he wrote it off at last years GK&MC Alderney Sprint. Thankfully Tim was OK after this big crash - but the Mini faired less well.

The donation of the Mini body to Sarnia Rescue offered the chance to practice the safe removal of an injured driver from a proper racing car... one that was fitted with full race seat, harness and roll cage.

Steve Marquis called on his previous experience as an airport fireman to set up a very authentic exercise that included an engine fire and a Marshal who had collapsed whilst running to the incident.

I was on the scene to 'get in the way' whilst photographing the team. I also captured a video from an overhead camera so the crew could analyse the whole procedure in a de-brief.

I have to say that I was very impressed by the professional performance of Sarnia Rescue. The extrication of the driver was very challenging and required great team work and the use of several bits of specialist kit.
It should be reassuring to all racers that this well trained unit and their rescue equipment are just seconds away from any type of incident you might have.

Remember to say a thank-you to the guys and gals next time you see them attending a race meeting. Whilst you have been re-building your kit through the winter months they have been putting in the hours fine tuning their rescue skills... oh, and remember that none of you can race without Marshals and Medics attending every meeting.

I have added a small selection of pics to the Marshals Gallery if you want to see how useful Tims old Mini was and what a fitting 'Motor Sport end' came to a once stunning race car:
VIEW A FEW PICS OF THE SARNIA RESCUE TRAINING EXERCISE

You have to look hard to find a weekend in Guernsey when there's no Motorsport action!

We are clearly a load of petrol heads (not super unleaded anymore!) on this little rock. Well I guess we have to entertain ourselves somehow :-)

So last weekend it was business as usual with the Guernsey Kart & Motor Club turning out at The Track for their Winter Kart Championship and the Autocross Club playing chase on the beach with their Banger racing Championship.

It was bitterly cold at both venues - but the beach took the prize for the most uncomfortable.
The thermals came out of the bottom draw and I can now agree that there is no such thing as bad weather, just wrong clothing!
After getting wet through at the last Autocross race I'm pleased to report that I was fully prepared this time.

Take a look at what can be achieved with the right clothing :-)
VIEW THE LATEST KART RACING CHAMPIONSHIP PICS
VIEW THE LATEST AUTOCROSS RACING CHAMPIONSHIP PICS