Andybram Photography: Blog https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog en-us (C) Andybram Photography [email protected] (Andybram Photography) Tue, 07 Jun 2022 21:45:00 GMT Tue, 07 Jun 2022 21:45:00 GMT https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/img/s/v-12/u65475481-o236452539-50.jpg Andybram Photography: Blog https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog 89 120 Review of the Year https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2015/12/review-of-the-year It's been a while since I posted a blog article, largely because I have been so busy this year, so I wanted to end the year wishing all my clients past, present and future all the best for a fabulous 2016 and share some of my favourite images from 2015.  You will notice they are pretty much all dogs, because that is my passion and what I love to photograph more than anything.  There are also some of my photos from the Camargue which have won awards this year, so please enjoy and here's to an exciting new year!

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[email protected] (Andybram Photography) 2015 awards camargue dogs horses review https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2015/12/review-of-the-year Thu, 31 Dec 2015 12:00:51 GMT
White Horses of the Camargue https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2014/12/white-horses-of-the-camargue I was torn as to what to cover with my last blog of the year and was tempted to do a memorial to our chocolate labrador which we sadly lost suddenly a few months ago, but I wanted the year to end on a happy note so instead I am going to talk about one of my highlights of the year, a trip to the south of France to photograph the white horses of the Camargue.

The Camargue is a protected area on the coast of France just south of Montpellier and is a vast expanse of marshes and reeds and is home to a wide range of wildlife, but is particularly famous for flamingoes and the white horses.  The white horses have been here for centuries and are allowed to roam free, although there are a number of ranches which are responsible for the horses and they are all branded with the mark of their ranch.  Access to photograph the horses is restricted and you can only do the types of shoot we did with an organised visit, and also requires a local fixer to arrange the activities. 

The trip was organised by Jonathan Chritchley of Ocean Capture, who is vastly experienced in arranging photographic trips around the world.  We were staying deep in the Camargue on a ranch close to the marshes where we would photograph the horses.  In all there were five sessions organised, a shoot at dawn, requiring a 4.45am wakeup!, a shoot with mares and foals, a shoot on the beach, a sunset shoot, and a shoot of sparring stallions.

The horses are pretty much wild, but they are very calm and inquisitive, so we were able to get right up to them, even the mares with young foals.  For the action shots of the horses running, they are herded by keepers or gardiens, and although they try to direct them a particular way, if the horses decide they are going somewhere else, they will go that way, so it was vital to keep a close eye on what they were doing at all times!  They also like to pick up bags and with camera bags containing expensive equipment the last thing you want is a horse running off into the marshes with it!

The first shoot was at dawn and I was already happy with the whole trip after this shoot as I was really pleased with some of the shots,

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After some shots of the horses in the lagoon at sunrise we then got the chance to shoot them running towards us

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Then it was back to the hotel for breakfast and  a rest before the afternoon shoot with mares and foals.  This proves particularly challenging for Jonathan as the horses are allowed to roam free, and so there is no guarantee where the mares and foals will be.  Fortunately a group of around 9 mares and foals along with a stallion had been spotted earlier in the day, and with permission to go onto a private reserve to visit them granted we got some great shots and were extremely lucky that the storms brewing waited till be were on the way back to the hotel before breaking.

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Next morning it was off to the beach for photos in the sand dunes and horses running in the sea.  After the initial shock of a naturist nearby on arrival we were able to get some fabulous pictures with a stallion in the dunes and galloping along the beach and out of the sea

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The next shoot was a sunset shoot, again in a lagoon but at a different location to the previous day and with different horses.  The weather was again perfect and we all got some great shots and also got to spend time close up with the horses,

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The final shoot on our final morning was the sparring stallions.  This is the most unpredictable of the shoots, as there is no knowing how the two stallions will behave.  Although the sparring looks violent involving biting and kicking, there are rarely injuries and this is normal behaviour in the herd to establish who has the right to mate with the mares. After an initial hiccup when the stallions escaped and ran off into the distance, they were retrieved and once again we all got some fabulous images

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The most surprising thing about these encounters is that between the sparring the stallions were friendly and even came up to investigate us and have a good sniff!

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This was an absolutely amazing trip, one I will remember for a very long time, and would happily do again tomorrow!  I am also delighted that I have recently won a Highly Commended and a Gold award from the National Photographic Society in their monthly competition.  A special thankyou to Jonathan from Ocean Capture, Patrice and all the locals helpers organising the shoots, and to everyone else in the group for being such good company on an amazing adventure.

Finally Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone and I look forward to seeing what 2015 has in store! To finish off, a couple of shots of flamingoes!

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[email protected] (Andybram Photography) France camargue flamingoes horses jonathan chritchley ocean capture patrice aguilar white horses https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2014/12/white-horses-of-the-camargue Tue, 23 Dec 2014 15:20:24 GMT
Rugby at Allianz Park https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2014/8/rugby-at-allianz-park Back in May I had the opportunity thanks to Nikon to photograph an Aviva Premiership rugby match between Saracens and Worcester at Allianz Park.  We had full press accreditation so were able to shoot from the pitchside in front of the advertising hoardings, enabling us to get really close to the action.  It was a battle of top versus bottom, but the game was not as one sided as many thought it would be.  Saracens had many international stars on the pitch including England backs Owen Farrell and Chris Ashton. It is only when you see these players close up in the flesh that you realise just how big they are.  Even the backs, traditionally smaller, faster players are over six feet tall and probably weigh around 15 stone!  

Rugby is an incredibly fast moving, physical game, and although I am used to shooting fast moving subjects photographing dogs, they tend to run in straight lines.  Rugby players, however, do not as they try to avoid being tackled.  This adds an extra challenge and you need to have cameras and lenses that will focus very quickly.  We were fortunate that the weather was bright, sunny and dry and the job was more comfortable due to the fact that Saracens play on an artificial pitch.

I shot the first half from the end of the pitch behind the Saracens end, having expected Saracens to be playing in the opposite direction.  However, I was still able to get some good shots as Worcester scored a try and put Saracens under pressure for much of the half.  For the second half I moved to the side of the pitch midway between the 22 and the goal line, and I think the shots were better from this position, although it was harder work tracking the play as they were running across my field of vision, rather than towards me.

All in all it was a fabulous day, despite the six hours travelling to and from the stadium.  I'm pleased with many of the shots from the day, and here are just a few of the shots from the game.  What amazes me still about rugby is that despite spending 80 minutes knocking ten bells out of each other, at the end of the game there are handshakes, jokes, and they will all meet in the bar for a beer afterwards!

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[email protected] (Andybram Photography) Allianz Allianz Park Aviva aviva premiership rugby saracens worcester https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2014/8/rugby-at-allianz-park Wed, 20 Aug 2014 10:04:56 GMT
Winter Wedding at Hazlewood Castle https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2014/8/winter-wedding-at-hazlewood-castle Last December I had the privilege of photographing the marriage of Steve and Gemma at the magnificent Hazlewood Castle.  The building has been used for a variety of purposes over the years, including a maternity hospital and religious retreat, but was converted to a hotel in the 90s, retaining many of the original features.  It is a magnificent venue with some great features, grounds and views across the fields.

Winter weddings provide many challenges.  Because of the length of the day, light levels can be low, the weather can be wet, cold, even snowing.  All these provide challenges, not just for the photographer, but also for the venue and the bride.  Gemma and Steve had stayed at the venue the night before (in separate rooms, of course!) so in the worst case scenario, everything could have been done inside.  As it turned out, the rain stayed away, and although it was chilly, Gemma and Steve were still happy to head outside for some shots in the lovely grounds.

For Steve and his groomsmen, the day started with quad biking and archery whilst Gemma and bridesmaids were having hair and makeup done.  A civil ceremony in the Castle was followed by a blessing in the chapel adjacent to the castle, after which everyone headed to the great hall for the wedding breakfast.  This was followed by dancing late into the night.  It was a fabulous day, with plenty of laughs and a few tears.  Here are just a few of the photos from the day

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[email protected] (Andybram Photography) castle hazlewood Hazlewood Castle marriage wedding yorkshire https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2014/8/winter-wedding-at-hazlewood-castle Tue, 05 Aug 2014 09:46:47 GMT
365 Project https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2014/7/365-project Last year I decided to do a 365 project.  In case you are unaware of what that is, it entails taking a photo every day of the year.  Sounds very simple, but in reality it is much harder than you think!  Some people set themselves a real challenge by having a subject for each day of the year, but I decided to make it "easier" by taking the pictures on my Nikon V1, a compact camera.  This meant that I could take the camera with me everywhere, even on holiday, and would mean there was no way I would miss the shots you see out and about and wish you had a camera with you.  All sounds great in theory, but in reality it's quite a challenge, especially when you are not out on a shoot for a few days, or the weather turns wet and miserable.  

Unfortunately I was unable to complete the project, I ran out of inspiration about 6 months.  Although I did miss the odd day during the first six months, I was generally very good,but after a run of a few days with constant rain and suffering from a lack of inspiration I stopped the project.  I still continued to take pictures with the camera, but I didn't religiously take one every day.

What has this exercise taught me?  To look at things in a new way.  Because of the need to take a picture every day, but not getting out and about every day, I was forced to look at everyday objects in a new way and find inspiration in the house.  I also learnt to pause, step back and take my time shooting.  Here a just a few of my favourites from the project.  More can be found on my business facebook page here https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.584441384903119.148521.328329237181003&type=3

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[email protected] (Andybram Photography) 365 project north lincolnshire photography https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2014/7/365-project Tue, 08 Jul 2014 09:48:52 GMT
Training Day with John Denton https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2014/1/training-day-with-john-denton As a professional it is important to be always looking to improve and face new challenges and develop new skills.  Each year I try to make sure I attend at least three training days.  In September I went on a one day workshop with John Denton organised by the Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers, of which I am a member.  We had an amazing day and some of the picture can be seen on my business facebook page  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.728606493819940.1073741827.328329237181003&type=1.  John is a master photographer and an expert on the use of flash and other artificial light sources.  I had a wedding booked for the beginning of December (blog post to follow later in the year on that) and knew that there was the possibility of difficult lighting conditions.  I prefer where possible to use natural light, although I do use studio flash and off camera flash on occasion.  To help me prepare in  the best possible way I decided to book a one to one day with John.  He has a studio near Beverley in East Yorkshire which is on a working farm and so presents lots of opportunities.  We had a model booked for the day, the amazing Sherri-Li Page Walker.  We started with natural light, then moved onto using sunlight and then one flash outdoors before moving into the studio to try a variety of lighting setups and clothing.  We also took some shots using mutiple flash units outside to balance the sunlight with dramatic effect.  Below is just a small selection of the shots taken on the day.  Huge thanks to John and Liz Denton for an amazing day.  I learned lots and it gave me the confidence to know I could cope with anything the weather might throw at me at the wedding the following week.  Finally a massive thankyou to Sherri, who is a natural in front of the camera, never complained despite the freezing conditions, took direction really well and enabled me to get some amazing pictures.

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[email protected] (Andybram Photography) calf house studio john denton model photography sherri walker training https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2014/1/training-day-with-john-denton Tue, 14 Jan 2014 15:39:08 GMT
XH558 - The last flying Vulcan https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2013/11/xh558---the-last-flying-vulcan Since I was a small child I have been fascinated by aeroplanes, the louder and faster the better.  Over the years I have seen many planes up close including the Red Arrows, and I am fortunate where I live that I can regularly see the Red Arrows training.  I also live close to Doncaster Sheffield Robin Hood Airport, formerly known as RAF Finningley.  This was the operational base for the Vulcan bombers during the cold war, so it is perhaps fitting that the final flying Vulcan is based here.

This magnificent aircraft is funded purely by sponsorship and donations and they are always looking for new ways to generate interest and thus more sponsorship to enable them to keep flying.  The latest idea was a photo opportunity from dusk till dark and I was lucky enough to have to opportunity to go along for the inaugural session last week.

After arriving and going through security checks, we were led out onto the airfield where the aircraft was standing waiting.  After a safety briefing we were allowed to take pictures to our hearts content.  As it was late and getting dark, a tripod was essential to avoid camera shake.  It was when setting up for the first shot that I discovered that my remote release cable was not working.  Whilst trying to find out the cause, the cable disintegrated in my hands!  Time for plan B, not ideal, but as the aircraft was not going anywhere I was able to take the shots using the timer function for the shutter release.  It also allowed me to experiment with the zoom on the lens to produce some of the more unusual shots below.

It was really amazing and a true privilege to be able to get up close to this historic aircraft, probably one of the most recognised aircraft in the world.  Here are a few of the shots from the night.  Please visit the Vulcan to the sky website and consider making a donation or purchasing a gift to enable this historic aircraft to continue flying at http://www.vulcantothesky.org/. If you ever get the opportunity to see it in flight it is highly recommended, an awesome sight and sound!

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[email protected] (Andybram Photography) XH558 doncaster finningley vulcan https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2013/11/xh558---the-last-flying-vulcan Thu, 07 Nov 2013 14:38:56 GMT
Well Dressing https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2013/9/well-dressing I was born and brought up on the outskirts of Sheffield near to the Peak District and well dressings were just something you had every year.  It was only when I went out into the wider world that I discovered that they are not that widespread, in fact I am sure some of you are wondering what on earth I am talking about!!  They are common in many of the villages and towns in Derbyshire in the summer and are well worth a visit if you are in the area at the time of the well dressing.

Well dressings are decorations placed next the the well in villages each year, usually around the time of the village fete in the summer.  They are made entirely from natural materials, usually flowers and leaves, but other things such as rice and lentils are also used.  They are painstakingly hand made by volunteers and some of them are breathtaking in their scale and complexity.

I plan to photograph as many as possible next year, but for this year I visited two of the three well dressings in the village of Dore.  One is made by the local guides troop and is placed by the well near the village centre.  The second is placed by the well on the village green.  There was also a third one this year but I missed it!

Here are a few photos showing the amazing work of these volunteers.  Enjoy!

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[email protected] (Andybram Photography) dore dressing sheffield well well dressing https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2013/9/well-dressing Tue, 17 Sep 2013 14:46:46 GMT
Big Cats https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2013/7/big-cats Regular readers of my blog will know I love to photograph pets, but I also love to photograph wild animals and birds.  Those who know me well know I have a particular love of tigers.  So I was in seventh heaven recently when I was fortunate enough to be able to get privileged access behind the fence at Hamerton Zoo Park in Cambridgeshire courtesy of Going Digital.  As well as tigers, we also got up close with cheetahs, corsac foxes and maned wolves.  We were able to photograph cheetah cubs who had not yet been put on display, adult cheetahs and tigers, just separated by a wire fence.  It's only up close you realise the size and power of these magnificent animals.  The day also catered for less experienced photographers, with tutors on hand to provide help and advice if required.  I'm sure everyone went away with some fabulous pictures.  Here are just a small selection of images from the day.  Many thanks to Rod and Allison from Going Digital East of England and the staff at Hamerton Zoo Park.

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[email protected] (Andybram Photography) corsac foxes fox hamerton hamerton zoo park maned wolves tiger wildlife wolf https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2013/7/big-cats Wed, 24 Jul 2013 14:16:39 GMT
Rossington Hall Wedding Fayre https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2013/5/rossington-hall-wedding-fayre A couple of weeks ago I attended my final wedding fayre of the spring at the magnificent Rossington Hall just outside Doncaster.  It is currently in the process of being restored to its former glory, and significant work has been done since I was last there in November on a fact finding mission.  There are a number of rooms fully restored on the ground floor, including the library, drawing room and magnificent ballroom.  There were a wide range of exhibitors from the area and below are some pictures of the stands from just a small selection of exhibitors present.  

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There were flowers from Lockwoods of Tickhill

lockwoods-2 Magnificent limousines from Silver Star wedding cars

silverstar-2 Fabulous cakes from the Cherry Blossom Bakery

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blessed-2 And finally something I have not seen before at a wedding fayre, but a really original idea and also fabulously tasty, pork pies from Chime and Hock Pork Pie Company.  As well as a magnificent pork pie "wedding cake", they had samples of three different varieties, all absolutely delicious!  If you're looking for a real talking point for your evening reception these are well worth a look,

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I will be at the next wedding fayre at Rossington Hall on the 17th of November, so why not come along to this magnificent venue and meet some of the best local wedding suppliers.

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[email protected] (Andybram Photography) Chime and hock pork pie company cherry blossom bakery doncaster lockwoods rossington rossington hall wedding fayre wedding photography weddings https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2013/5/rossington-hall-wedding-fayre Tue, 07 May 2013 12:37:53 GMT
Training Day at Hull All Saints Boxing Club https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2013/4/training-day-at-hull-all-saints-boxing-club Every year I try to make sure I do at least a couple of training days and challenge myself to do new or different things in order to continually develop and improve my photography.  Earlier this month I spent a day with Richard P Walton at Hull All Saints Boxing Club.  The aim of the day was to get practice using off camera flash and get shots different from those we would normally be shooting.  I can't think it likely I would shoot a family portrait session in a boxing gym!

The weather was cold, in fact it was colder inside the gym than outside!  Richard started out by explaining how he works and how to use the off camera flash, something I have experience with but don't use very often as I prefer to work with natural light.  He then went through a variety of different shots with Ieva, our model for the day.

After lunch we all had the opportunity to take shots, and as it was a small group we were not rushed.  Then we had the chance to set up shots ourselves which was great as it made us think about what we could do in this environment.  The "trainer" shots with Richard as the trainer were the shots I set up.  The only problem was trying to get shots when Ieva wasn't laughing!  We finished with Richard going through some of his post processing techniques to get his look.

Because this is not my usual style of shoot I had the chance to experiment with a number of different post processing styles.  Let me know which you think work the best.

Huge thanks to Ieva who never complained all day, despite being freezing and having water thrown over her repeatedly by Richard!!  Thanks also to Richard for all his advice, tips and willingness to share his knowledge.  Here are just a few of the photos from the day

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[email protected] (Andybram Photography) boxing flash hull hull all saints boxing club ieva dmodel off camera flash richard p walton https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2013/4/training-day-at-hull-all-saints-boxing-club Tue, 30 Apr 2013 10:38:12 GMT
Canine Chaos https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2013/4/canine-chaos Regular readers of my blog will know that one of my passions is pets, and in particular dogs.  Although I love all types of photography, dogs give me particular enjoyment, even if they are not the easiest of subjects.  They can often be very poor at taking directions and do their own thing, usually the opposite of what you want them to do!

A recent dog shoot though set me a real challenge - FIVE dogs in the same family.  Although I have shot multiple puppies before, they tend to stick together a lot so can be easier to capture, but five adult dogs presents a different challenge, especially when they range in size as these did from a rottweiler to a lancashire heeler!  However, I needn't have worried, Gemma the owner and her partner Steve know the dogs well and the dynamics of the pack and so we were able to get individual shots of all the dogs before chaos ensued with all five dogs on the loose!  Although a very cold afternoon with fading light we were still able to get some great action shots, as well as a shot with all 5 dogs with Gemma and Steve and everyone seemed to have a great time. If you're interested in a session for your pet(s) get in touch and we can discuss the different options available,  Here are just a few of the pictures from the day.  More can be found in the galleries section under pets.  The gallery for this shoot is aptly named "Canine Chaos"!  

Thanks to Gemma and Steve, and particularly the fabulous models, Murphy, Barney, Roxy, Basil and Zuki!

 

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[email protected] (Andybram Photography) dog photography doncaster jack russell lancashire heeler pet photography pets portraits rottweiler wouth yorkshire https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2013/4/canine-chaos Fri, 12 Apr 2013 14:21:48 GMT
Haxey Hood https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2013/3/haxey-hood In Britain we have many strange and unusual historical events and the village I live in is host to one such event, the Haxey Hood.  This is held on the 6th of January every year (unless, as this year it falls on a Sunday, in which case it is held on the Saturday) and is said to date back over 600 years.  The exact origins of the "game" are disputed and unclear, but it is essentially a competition between four pubs, three from Haxey and one from Westwoodside which is the neighbouring village.

There are several official roles involved in the Hood, The Lord, The Fool, The Chief Boggin and several Boggins.  On the day of the Hood the officials visit each of the pubs, singing traditional songs and of course sampling a drink or two.  The Fool has his face painted in the first pub and they finish at the Duke William in Haxey, the closest to the Hood Field where the game takes place.

From the Duke William they head to a stone outside the church where the Fool makes a speech detailing the rules of the game.  This is made more difficult by a bail of straw being set on fire at the base of the stone and is called the smoking of the fool.  The speech finishes with the traditional chant of "Hoose agen Hoose, Toon agen Toon, if a man meets a man, knock 'im doon, But do 'ant 'ot 'im!"

After the smoking of the fool everyone heads to the Hood Field for the first game with "sack hoods".  This is for the children (who get the day off school!).  Rolled sacks are thrown and the idea is to get off the field without being caught.  The Boggins try to stop the children, but also other children try to stop or steal the hood

DSC_6046 DSC_6007 Successful children win a prize of £2!!!!

After the sack game comes the main event.  The "Hood" is actually a leather tube (being held by the Fool above) and this must be taken to the door of a pub to be touched by the landlord to end the game.  This must be done by shoving, not running or chasing and the scrum is know as the Sway.  The winning pub gets to display the Hood above the bar for the next year.  This year the winner was the Kings Arms in Haxey, the nearest to my house!  If you're ever in the area on the 6th of January, pop along to see this unique event.  The game can go on well into the night and usually takes at least 2 hours of shoving.  Here are some photos from this year's event.

DSC_6014 The Fool

DSC_6070 The Hood just before the start of the Sway

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DSC_6124 See more photos from this year's Hood here  http://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/p114811994

 

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[email protected] (Andybram Photography) 2013 Haxey Haxey Hood Westwoodside ancient tradition boggins fool hood lincolnshire lord north lincolnshire https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2013/3/haxey-hood Fri, 01 Mar 2013 11:08:26 GMT
Fashion Workshop with Maria Carmel https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2012/12/fashion-workshop As creative professionals it is important for photographers to keep challenging themselves and look for new ideas and techniques and go out of their comfort zone.  With this in mind I headed over last month to the Lake District for a very special two day fashion workshop at Aspire with Maria Carmel who had come all the way from Los Angeles.  You can see her amazing work at www.mariacarmel.com.  The aim of the two days was to make it as "real" as possible, so we had a fabulous location at Lowther Castle, Lucy Pearson doing hair and makeup, some amazing clothes and accessories supplied by Fran Boyd from Goodbye, Norma Jean, a professional model and portable lighting equipment, all ably assisted by Rachel Hayton from Aspire.

On the first day Maria discussed what happens on a shoot and we were able to see her interaction with model, makeup artist and stylist, discussing the looks she was wanting to achieve.  We then went to our first location where Maria explained how she works on a shoot and took some shots, after which we all had 5 minutes each to take our own shots.  These first shots were all done with natural light from a window. 

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After a lunch break we then went to the second location with a very different look in mind, using flash and an amazing hat/helmet with feather plume.  Again, after Maria had discussed what she was looking for we each had time to shoot on our own with the model.

DSC_5587 DSC_5583 DSC_5573 DSC_5559 DSC_5561 DSC_5567 The second day was spent looking at some of Maria's images from the day before and going through her workflow and post processing.  This gave a great insight into the attention to detail and the meticulous work involved in a fashion shoot.

As you can see I was able to get some amazing images and use the opportunity to experiment with editing techniques to produce some really dramatic effects, but not something you would normally see on your family portrait!

Also present on the workshop was Will Cheung, editor of Advanced Photographer Magazine, and the workshop will be featured in an article in the near future.

Huge thanks to Maria, Rachel and Jenny from Aspire, Lucy, Fran and Erin (our model who braved freezing temperatures with no complaints) for all their hard work which enabled all of us to get some truly amazing images.

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[email protected] (Andybram Photography) Aspire fashion fashion photography Lake District lowther castle maria carmel photography studio1208 workshop https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2012/12/fashion-workshop Fri, 21 Dec 2012 10:51:28 GMT
Summer Fashion https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2012/11/summer-fashion Every now and again it's great to shoot pictures just because you want to without having to worry about whether you have really captured the images you were hoping for or your client is expecting. It was with this thought in my head that I recently did a summer fashion themed shoot with three teenage girls who are best friends.  It gave them the opportunity to get a selection of clothes and shoes out, something girls always seem to enjoy!  The girls really seemed to enjoy the day and we did a mix of shots both outdoors in the garden and also indoors using my portable studio lights and backdrop.  Here are a selection of the images from the day.  If you want to see the rest in the gallery you have to be friends with the girls and ask nicely for the password!  Thanks to Sophie, Amy and Alicia for agreeing to model for me, hope you enjoyed the day.

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[email protected] (Andybram Photography) doncaster fashion photography portrait south yorkshire summer https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2012/11/summer-fashion Thu, 15 Nov 2012 14:39:05 GMT
Jack Russell mother and daughter https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2012/9/jack-russell-mother-and-daughter As regular readers of my blog will know, I photographed some Jack Russell pups with their mum a couple of times before they went to new homes.  However, the owners of the mum kept one of the pups and I had the opportunity yesterday to get a few shots of mother and daughter whilst waiting for models to get ready on another shoot, so here they are.  The family don't know I took the shots, so hopefully this will be a pleasant surprise.  Look for more update photos of mother and daughter over the year to come.  Hopefully I will also be able to get to photograph the other pups as well in the future.  Watch this space,

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[email protected] (Andybram Photography) dogs doncaster jack russell lincolnshire mother and daughter north lincolnshire pets photography portrait pups scunthorpe south yorkshire yorkshire https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2012/9/jack-russell-mother-and-daughter Wed, 05 Sep 2012 17:12:22 GMT
Holidays in the Languedoc Rousillon https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2012/8/holidays-in-the-languedoc-rousillon Last month I was able to get away for a holiday to one of my favourite parts of the world, the Languedoc Rousillon area of France.  It's a big wine growing region and although it is full of amazing castles and boasts a world heritage site in the walled citadel of Carcassonne, it is not really very touristy at all.  It's a wonderful and peaceful area with great charm and friendly locals.  The food and wine are superb and as well as wine there is much growing of herbs such as lavender and because it is near the coast seafood is popular and there are lagoons where salt is made and oysters and mussels are farmed.  I was inspired whilst there to take a series of photographs of old doors and shutters, largely thanks to fellow photographers on the Aspire Bespoke course.  The photos below were all taken in the beautiful village of Lagrasse, one of the most beautiful villages in France.  It also hosts a working abbey which you can look round and the final shot is of one of the monks walking across the fields back to the abbey after working in the fields.  I am already looking forward to going back soon!

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[email protected] (Andybram Photography) abbey aspire aspire bespoke bespoke carcassonne france holidays holidays in the south of france lagrasse languedoc rousillon https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2012/8/holidays-in-the-languedoc-rousillon Fri, 17 Aug 2012 13:46:51 GMT
Hannah and Christopher's Wedding https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2012/7/hannah-and-christophers-wedding I had the great pleasure last month of photographing Hannah and Christopher's wedding.  They were married at St. Katherine's church in Loversall near Doncaster, followed by a reception at Styrrup Hall Golf and Country Club.  Whereas most brides will take a couple of years to plan their wedding, Hannah arranged everything in six weeks!!

Hannah seemed very calm as she was getting ready at home, perhaps helped by the fact that she had to help the four small bridesmaids getting ready.  Up at the church Chris seemed similarly relaxed, although he did get rather hot during the service.  The church was packed and the weather stayed fine throughout so I was able to get plenty of photographs both at the church and the reception, where they have a beautiful dedicated bridal garden with a lawn and flowers, overlooking a pond complete with water lilies and a fountain, although the wind did mean Hannah and Chris were being sprayed in some of the photos!  Here are a selection of the photographs from the day and wishing Hannah and Chris a long and happy marriage!

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[email protected] (Andybram Photography) doncaster loversall marriage st. katherine's styrrup styrrup hall styrrup hall golf and country club wedding https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2012/7/hannah-and-christophers-wedding Mon, 30 Jul 2012 10:04:53 GMT
Latest update from the lakes - Love and Friendship https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2012/7/latest-update-from-the-lakes I mentioned in my last post that there were more pictures to come from the session at Aspire, and I have finally finished editing the pictures.

The theme for these two shoots was very much love and friendship.

Firstly we had Megan and Sam, a young couple very much in love and we took shots down the lane at Dalton Hall and also around some of the old outbuildings.  There was a lovely chemistry between them and they were both relaxed in front of the camera and this shows in the images.  As you can see, Sam is quite a bit taller than Megan, but she is a dancer and has amazing balance and can kiss on tiptoes with ease!

megansam-23 megansam-22 megansam-19 megansam-18 megansam-15 megansam-9 We also had an observer from above, a common sight in this area

lornahannah-2 For the second session of this post we had Hannah and Lorna, best friends who habe a fabulous friendship and had a great time, sporting a variety of outfits from vintage to hippy style festival wear, complete with bandana, daisy chains and the obligatory wellies!

lornahannah-24 lornahannah-15 lornahannah-16 lornahannah-13 lornahannah-11 lornahannah-10 lornahannah-6 lornahannah-2 Huge thanks to all the models from these sessions, to Tamara Peel for her endless enthusiams and Rachel Hayton for her brilliant organisation.

Upcoming posts will feature Hannah and Christopher's wedding in June and shots from my recent trip to France.

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[email protected] (Andybram Photography) aspire friendship lake district lakes love photography rachel hayton tamara peel https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2012/7/latest-update-from-the-lakes Fri, 13 Jul 2012 14:44:42 GMT
More inspiration in the Lakes https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2012/6/more-inspiration-in-the-lakes On my last visit to Aspire in the Lake District we had an intensive two days of photography under the guidance of the slightly eccentric Tamara Peel.  In total we had five different portrait sessions with a variety of models including teenagers, couples and families.  For some of the sessions we worked as a group with assistance from Tamara, but on the second afternoon we had two sessions where we were left to organise the shoot ourselves.  We had assistance from style guru Rachel Hayton in selecting outfits for the models to wear and Tamara was always close at hand if required, but it was great to have to do some thinking for ourselves and adapt to the evolving situation, a vital skill when shooting young children.  Some of the photos are below with others in the gallery, and there will be more to follow in a later post.

The first family shoot was with Andrea and her two daughters, Lily and Emma,

 

Andrea, Lily and Emma-12 Andrea, Lily and Emma-7 Andrea, Lily and Emma-4 Andrea, Lily and Emma-2 Then in the afternoon we photographed the Cross family, Muku, Tom and their two lovely daughters Mae and Yas, assisted by Ruby the dog.  They were great to work with and there was a really wonderful relationship between the two girls,

Cross Family-3 Cross Family-5 Cross Family-21 Cross Family-29 Cross Family-35 Finally we go to shoot the beautiful Kate,

Kate-1 Kate-3 Kate-13 Kate-17 It was a fantastic two days helped by wonderful weather and the endless enthusiasm of Tamara and the models, and the wonderful organisation by Rachel.  More photos to follow in the near future.

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[email protected] (Andybram Photography) aspire district hayton lake peel photography portrait rachel tamara training https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2012/6/more-inspiration-in-the-lakes Sun, 17 Jun 2012 15:32:47 GMT
Red Arrows https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2012/5/red-arrows With the good weather set to end soon and the display season about to start I thought I would take advantage of living so close to the Red Arrows base and go along to shoot one of their practice displays.  They spend most of the spring in Cyprus preparing for the new season and training the new pilots  before getting display approval.  Once back in the UK they undergo more intensive training before the season starts in earnest.

This year there are only 7 display planes (although they will use 9 in some flypasts).  This is due to tragic events last year where two pilots lost their lives and also because one of the current pilots requested to leave the team.  Here are some of the shots from today.

DSC_3255 DSC_3257 DSC_3266 DSC_3277 DSC_3311 Red, white and blue smoke for the Jubilee!

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These crossover guys are seriously skilled, they really are as close as they look!DSC_3343 DSC_3370

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Love this next image, not the closest but shows how low they are flying and love the people watching over the fence

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[email protected] (Andybram Photography) Hawk Lincoln RAF Red Arrows Scampton aerobatics lincolnshire https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2012/5/red-arrows Wed, 30 May 2012 15:24:00 GMT
Wedding Photography https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2012/4/wedding-photography Last week I headed overt to Cumbria to the team at Aspire for a wedding workshop with Phil Barber.  The emphasis was very much on practical skills.  In the morning we did a pre wedding shoot with Debra and Jared, with some assistance from Walter the dog!!  In the afternoon we shot wedding pictures with three couples, giving us all the opportunity to direct the couples rather than just shooting shots set up by Phil.  Debra and Jared had changed to wedding clothes and were joined by Charmaine and Kirk who are getting married soon, and Aspire's very own Rachel with her friend Tom.  As you can see below we got some great shots and the couples were brilliant considering the rather cold weather.  Here are a few of the shots, more in the galleries under Weddings.  Thanks to Rachel, Phil and the rest of the team at Aspire for a fabulous day.

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[email protected] (Andybram Photography) aspire cumbria doncaster lincolnshire photography scunthorpe wedding yorkshire https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2012/4/wedding-photography Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:09:49 GMT
Jack Russell pups https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2012/4/jack-russell-pups As I mentioned in my last post, I recently went back to photograph the Jack Russell pups I shot a few weeks ago, just before they went to their new homes.  I've now managed to edit the shots and here are some below.  We managed to dodge the showers and my golfing waterproofs came in handy as I spent most of the time lying on the ground!  They were great fun to chase around and also a challenge!

pups-101 pups-106 pups-111 pups-102 pups-104 pups-109 pups-112 Hope these haven't made you all want to go out and buy a puppy!!

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[email protected] (Andybram Photography) dogs doncaster jack russell lincolnshire pets photography puppies. pups yorkshire https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2012/4/jack-russell-pups Mon, 23 Apr 2012 16:22:27 GMT
More Jack Russell pups https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2012/4/more-jack-russell-pups On Friday of last week I went back to photograph the Jack Russell pups I shot a few weeks ago before they went to their new homes.  Between the showers we were able to have some fun outside as the pups ran riot around the garden!  We kept waiting for them to run out of energy and go to sleep but it never actually happened!  As soon as one was looking a bit tired the other two leapt on it to revive it.  Here are a couple of sample shots.  More to follow later in the week,

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[email protected] (Andybram Photography) dogs doncaster jack russell lincolnshire pups yorkshire https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2012/4/more-jack-russell-pups Mon, 16 Apr 2012 09:36:11 GMT
Wedding Photography Workshop https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2012/4/wedding-photography-workshop I was supposed to be off to a wedding photography workshop at Milton Abbey in Dorset tomorrow with Kevin Wilson and Uzair Kharawala, but unfortunately it has been cancelled.  On the plus side, subject to good weather, I may be off to photograph the Jack Russell pups I shot a few weeks ago before they go to their new homes.  I suspect it may be a little more challenging this time!!

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[email protected] (Andybram Photography) dogs dorset jack russell lincolnshire photography puppies wedding photography workshop https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2012/4/wedding-photography-workshop Wed, 11 Apr 2012 19:54:06 GMT
Inspiration from Aspire! https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2012/3/inspiration-from-aspire For three days this week I have had the joy of being inspired by the team at Aspire Photography Training on their Bespoke Course.  This is a course aimed at kickstarting your career as a pro photographer or giving your existing business a boost.  They are based at a fabulous location in Cumbria and the weather was glorious throughout.  Although very intense and tiring we had fabulous input and inspiration from Catherine Connor, Jane Breakell, Melissa Love, the every so slightly mad Tamara Peel, and the not quite so mad Phil Barber!  Lots of ideas going round in my head, lots of homework, and this is just the beginning of a fabulous 12 month journey.

Here is one of the photos of our model for the shoot with Tamara Peel.  She was a delight t work with and so professional, if only all children were this easy to work with!!

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[email protected] (Andybram Photography) Aspire Breakell Catherine Connor Jane Peel Photography Tamara Training fairy https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2012/3/inspiration-from-aspire Fri, 30 Mar 2012 09:32:38 GMT
Puppy Photos! https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2012/3/puppy-photos- Fun yesterday afternoon photographing three Jack Russell pups and their mum.  They were very well behaved in general but didn't want to stay where I wanted them.  Here's a sample from the shoot:

 

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[email protected] (Andybram Photography) Pet Photography dog doncaster jack lincolnshire north russell south yorkshire https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2012/3/puppy-photos- Tue, 06 Mar 2012 09:56:00 GMT
Jack Russell puppies https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2012/3/jack-russell-puppies Off to photography some three week old Jack Russell pups this afternoon.  Hopefully they won't be too lively!

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[email protected] (Andybram Photography) dogs doncaster jack russell lincolnshire north photography puppies south yorkshire https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2012/3/jack-russell-puppies Mon, 05 Mar 2012 12:07:00 GMT
New Blog https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2012/2/new-blog I have a new blog now which is properly set up rather than the rather Heath Robinson version I was using before.  Keep checking back for updates on what I've been up to.

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[email protected] (Andybram Photography) Blog dog doncaster north lincolnshire pet photography portrait scunthorpe south yorkshire https://www.andybramphotography.co.uk/blog/2012/2/new-blog Mon, 20 Feb 2012 11:26:04 GMT