Photoshoot - Tai Chi Swayze

Tai Chi Swayze arrived in 2010 with scuffed guitars, banging tunes and care worn shoes to dance with - their idea was to have some seriously upbeat fun. With a statement such as making music like a Jackson Pollack canvas (but louder) it certainly had me intrigued. Upon my arrival at their studio in St.Margarets, they played a quick set for us. Blown away doesn't quite describe it (literally because I was sat next to an amp and toweringly high speaker!). Great bunch of guys that produce some seriously outstanding music! I highly recommend you check out their MySpace and take a listen for yourself, or better still get yourself to one of their upcoming gigs. Hopefully i'll get a chance to photograph them in action soon!

A rag-tag mix of art school scenesters, steel city rockers and inseparable ex-lovers from around the globe makes this below picture a favourite of mine. I can just see this on an album cover or magazine cover! The derelict camper van nearby to their studios made a great abstract portfolio shot:

A direct quote from the band, "we rummage through a crinkled mixed bag of quirky Pop, moody Shoegaze and fizzed up New Wave. Live the five Swayze youth play with all the fizz and fun of a retro video game. Add some 90’s Synth, Modern art, New Wave guitars, B-Grade Horror and the occasional vodka fuelled mood swing and you're away." Now if that doesn't want to make you check them out, i'm not sure what will....Well maybe one more photograph to persuade you...

Shooting a band is a first for me, and it's a great learning curve, lighting 5 people simultaneously is a great skill to be able to achieve. I really enjoyed this shoot, hopefully it won't be my last of this kind. Finally, I take my hat off to Tai Chi Swayze for letting me photograph them...keep it up guys! For a gallery of my favourites from the shoot, please feel free to click here.

Photoshoot - Andrew Johnson

From one creative medium to the next, Andrew Johnson is an extremely talented and young animator. One of his short films has been selected to be aired outside on a large screen in Middlesbrough as part of the BBC's displaying young talent, and as such Andrew approached me in the need of a headshot. With very little time to shoot and process the final shot (4 hours!) we had our work cut out. Inside a nearby office block, we produced your standard headshot. Although, not wanting to miss an opportunity we worked on some different ideas using the surroundings (plus, it was an opportunity to use my orbis and with plenty of white wall space, the honlphoto gels!)

The Orbis really excelled off camera, acting as a fill-light source on a low power for most of my shots. For a gallery containing some of Andrew's shoot, feel free to click here. His brilliant short film entitled 'The Stalking' can be seen here via his website and I highly recommend you take a look.

Photoshoot - Amy: "Tor" of Guildford

It's been a hectic week, and Sunday was a chance to relax in the sunshine. After a quick drive down the A3 into Guildford, Surrey I found myself at 'The Mount' with its idyllic views across the entire town. Never one for being without my camera, it made for a great panoramic image with Guildford Cathedral situated in the centre (You can see this image in the gallery). Accompanied by Amy, it was a chance to grab a few images of her enjoying the great British weather. She makes a gorgeous model, right? :)

I particularly like this image, shot on a tight F22 aperture to give the sun that distinctive look (note the number of points minus one can tell you how many blades your aperture is made up of) and lit with a single 580EX II in a shoot through umbrella camera right triggered via the ST-E2 transmitter.

For a full gallery of Amy and my trip to Guildford Mount feel free to click here.

Photoshoot - Emily Pilton

Dorset on a very wet, dreary and dull day...That is until Emily turned up and rocked her shoot come rain or shine. Ducking in and out of the car at various locations to try and minimise how wet my equipment and Emily might get, she still protested she's never been infront of the camera. A true natural with a great smile, creates what is probably my favourite photograph to date:

With the white balance set at 3400 kelvin, a 580EXII speedlite with full CTO gel rigged inside the umbrella via a Manfrotto Superclamp it produces this stunningly vibrant picture. The colour balance gives lovely cold tones, whilst the gel makes Emily look natural and warm.

A gallery of Emily's shoot can be found here. Huge thanks to Emily for being so willing and motivated during this shoot despite the adverse weather conditions. :)

Photoshoot - Holly Masters

Shhh... It's the gorgeous Holly Masters! Holly recently uploaded a picture to her facebook account, showing her latest 'ink'. This gave me an idea for a striking headshot, and as such a matter of days later we set about shooting it. (Click image to see the lighting diagram) :

Seeing as we had an hour to kill, it would of been crazy not to carry out a quick shoot in and around her flat. For the full gallery, click here and you can expect to see more from her soon!