Boneshaker

The world’s greatest bike race finished in Paris today and I reckon the cobbles of the Champs Elysées would have finished off this abandoned old boneshaker. I thoroughly enjoyed taking its picture after stumbling across it in a building due for demolition on a site I was photographing. I accentuated the size and shape of the front wheel by getting down low and close. Then I cropped the picture square to draw the eye around the image. Finally, I gave this old-fashioned bike an old-fashioned darkroom treatment.

I wonder who owned it and whether they ever dreamt of Le Tour while they were riding it.

I photographed BBC broadcaster, musician and general funny man Mark Radcliffe yesterday as he gave a talk at Waterstones, Macclesfield promoting his new book 'Reelin' in the Years'.

Great bloke and humour in every sentence, was hard to stop laughing to get the shots. Must read the book.

Manchester 10K

Well, James Russell Photography’s marketing director, the missus, Paula Radcliffe’s replacement, or whatever you want to call her, was running in her 4th ever Great Manchester Run on 15 May 2011 for Parkinson’s UK.

As ever, she had last minute nerves when she suggested we veer off to Parrswood Cineworld instead, but I drove on in and deposited her at the start line (along with 37 999,999) other runners.

As for me, I’d opted for the photographic option and was capturing the action for East Cheshire Hospice and Team Arighi.

Lindsey completed the course in 1hr 50secs – she was slightly gutted to be just over the hour, when last year was 58.07 but still a great effort - I’ve told her to try harder next year!!

She looks pretty happy here – it was near the start!

Haile Gebrselassie was slightly in front of her…

Lindsey would like to say a big thank you to all her sponsors for helping her raise over £200 for Parkinson’s UK.

The charity village was a riot of colour, massage tables, bananas, chocolate and other goodies to reward those weary bodies. Samia Smith, who plays Maria in Corrie, was one of the celebrity runners taking part and is one of the East Cheshire Hospice's patrons. It was firmly decided the ECH stand had THE best muffins courtesy of the café at Arighi Bianchi’s!

It’s certainly an amazing sight seeing the city jam-packed full of runners and particularly moving seeing so many different charities represented, all of which have a special significance for those running. I know Lindsey gets an incredible buzz from participating, almost enough to make me want to join her next year…

So if you’re tempted to get your running shoes on, entry has already opened for the BUPA Great Manchester Run 2012 – see you there…(with camera or my trainers!)

It was a good weekend in Liverpool at the Bluecoat, a great venue for the North West British Institute of Professional Photography Annual Awards. I picked up a silver for my shot of an EPOS system and a bronze for some vodka bottles in the advertising and commercial category. Also merits for press and fine art. Here are the pictures:

Road to London

Olympic tickets are now on sale: will you be applying? I recently photographed Great Britain swimmer hopeful Dan Sliwinski being presented with a car as part of a sponsorship deal. My brief was to create an eye-catching image that involved the sponsor’s logo. Appropriately for a swimmer the day was wet, so I accentuated the dark threatening sky to contrast with the white of the car.

Good luck Dan!

Pancake Race

The annual Macclesfield Pancake was run today. Held to support the hospital MAST appeal to raise funds for new digital breast scanners. Congrats to Cheshire East Council for the win and runner up the boys from Verve Brands.

Picture of the Week - A Valentine's Day Deception

I've used a touch of artifice to create this Valentine's Day picture. I placed the flowers on a highly reflective surface to give the illusion of a full symmetrical bouquet. The vibrant red works perfectly against the black background. But don't buy your beloved half a bunch!