Last days of film

‘Pomp and Circumstance’ and ‘Jerusalem’ stirred the Albert Hall again at Saturday’s Last Night of the Proms.

Digital computer trickery now makes it relatively easy to produce a layered image like this, but I actually did this one the hard way, using film and entirely in the camera. Combining multiple exposures, transparency projection and the precise alignment of the different elements made it just the sort of challenging composition I really miss.

Picture of the Week - Reflecting on Rylands

The John Rylands Library is one of Manchester’s most attractive buildings, inside and out. A routine walk along Deansgate turned into one of those special photographic opportunities with these glorious patterns created by the low sun reflecting from the windows of the building opposite. An iphone was all I had so it was pressed into action. Back at base I boosted the contrast and saturation to accentuate the effect.

Picture of the Week - Lighting the way

Keeping your eyes open will pay dividends because people do the daftest things. So I screeched to a halt when I saw this old-fashioned signpost beautifully adorned with a period lampshade. I wanted to create an appropriately retro image so I gave it a black and white treatment. I wonder if it was the bulb-shaped moulding at the top of the signpost that inspired the anonymous prankster. Perhaps they'll add a switch next time: I'll keep my eyes open.

A sign of winter

Winter has finally decided that it's, well, winter. I went to one of my favourite locations above the Goyt Valley to take this shot. Textbook composition would place the sign on the left pointing into the picture but, rebel that I am, I wanted to include the long shadow cast by the low February sun, daring you to take a different path over the wintery hills.

Astronomical Clock, Prague

Remember to put your clocks back this weekend.

I'm fascinated by clocks and Prague has one of the best. The Old Town Hall’s Astronomical Clock isn’t something to tell you the time in a hurry; it’s a medieval marvel to linger over. It even shows the position of the stars in the sky. The three circles on the upper dial display Old Czech Time (Italian Time), Central European Time and, should you need it, Babylonian Time. As the hour chimes, the Twelve Apostles pass by and the cockerel at the top crows and quivers its wings. Isn’t it wonderful?

Industrial sky at night

Industrial plants can come alive at night: the trick is to take the shot when there’s still colour in the sky before it turns inky black. This separates the subject well against the sky and creates a far more visually appealing image. I used a long exposure to record the steam as blurred streaks and I got it in time for the fading sun to add its hue, which I then enhanced in post production for added drama.

Cheers!

When The Bollington Brewery Co won a bronze ‘Best Bitter’ award at last week’s Great British Beer Festival, there was only one place to shoot their PR photos – at local landmark White Nancy, which features in their logo. I love distorting reality in a photograph and wanted a dramatic look with a stormy sky, despite it being a bright evening. By a mixture of deliberate under-exposure and careful use of flash I achieved the effect I was after.

All this was created in camera and some post production to the RAW file to further boost the contrast was all the computer work that was necessary.

Congratulations to Lee and Kirsten who own the brewery and the Vale Inn in Bollington where you can sample these marvellous ales. And of course to Kim, the master brewer.

Thanks too to the fell runners who helped out with carrying all the props up and down, just a bit of extra training for them.

I enjoyed the celebratory beer at the end of the shoot.

And here's me behind the scenes, it was quite a bright evening as you can see. Who says the camera never lies!

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.

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!

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!

Picture of the Week - Carlisle Cathedral

Every so often you work at a venue to die for, which you know will produce a striking image. I was asked to photograph a wedding at Carlisle Cathedral and knew I just had to include its stunning 14th century painted ceiling. I've made this principally an architectural shot, but there are splashes of human colour in the choir's green cassocks and, far away, the bride's white dress. It's critical that this type of photo is symmetrical so I made sure I placed my tripod exactly at the centre axis of this beautiful building.

Picture of the Week - Corkscrew

Less is often more in product photography, so sometimes I like to hint at a subject rather than show all of it. I lit the rim of this corkscrew to accentuate its interesting shape and leave the viewer questioning what it is. And I reflected it as well, to give the image an extra dimension.

Who's Got the X Factor?

Well, did your favourite win? It's all over for another year, to much regret (or relief). This is Ruth Lorenzo, a 2008 contender, performing at a rather different location from a TV studio - an annual awards dinner of the Institute of Chemical Engineers, which I was asked to photograph last month. I like the colours in this image, particularly in the shafts of light. This type of shot is quite tricky, balancing the light on the set with my flash in order to retain those vibrant colours. I managed to catch Ruth in a pose that makes it clear that she has a powerful voice.

Picture of the Week - Autumn Frost

It's a bit on the cold side at the moment and everyone, me included, is complaining about the unseasonal weather. Well we've had it before at this time of year. Driving gingerly down this icy November lane towards Ashford in the Water in the Peak District five years ago, I had to stop to take this scene. The warm autumn colours contrast against the steely blue of the lane and frost laden trees. I like photos that you can travel through: this one invites you to look down the lane towards the centre of the image, then meander up through the trees to the large house and out to the faraway hills. Nevertheless, let’s hope warmer weather returns soon.

Picture of the Week - Abstract Architecture

Well what is it? You wouldn't think that this was a car park would you? I love unusual architecture and used this Sheffield city centre multi-storey to create a simple abstract image. I enhanced its graphic qualities by converting the photo to black and white. Then I cropped it into a square, to match the square aluminium panels that clad this extraordinary building.

Picture of the Week - Liquid Gold

Autumn can yield some stunning sunsets, like this one off the Pembrokeshire coast last week. I used a long exposure to create the marble-like patterns of the tide swirling into the rock pools. I love the way the sun makes the rocks glisten with gold. And just look at the colours of the incredible shapes that the clouds are breaking into, as the light dies for another day.

Picture of the Week - Sunset on the Inside Passage

I travelled a large length of the Alaskan and Canadian coast along the Inside Passage. It sounds like one of the great journeys of the world and all very romantic, but in fact the scenery is basically forest and water for mile after mile. I was rewarded however with some stunning sunsets and this was one of the most spectacular.

Picture of the Week - Lindos

I love the beautiful deep blue of the sky just before it gets dark. This is Lindos, on the island of Rhodes, switching on for the evening. The eye meanders through the maze of houses, past the lights in the centre and out towards the Acropolis that so dominates that magical Greek skyline.

Picture of the Week - Havana

Havana, Cuba is a wonderful place if, like me, you're drawn to faded architectural glories and old motors. This picture takes your eye through the speeding rickshaw to the iconic black car and grand hotel facade. I had two choices: get the exposure right first time to capture enough movement without losing the rickshaw itself, or wait for the next rickshaw.

Picture of the Week - What about us?

These two beautiful King Charles spaniels had been excluded from a wedding I was photographing and looked somewhat forlorn as they poked their noses under the gate to see what was going on. Lying on the ground to get to their level, I got the shot which also won me an award in the pets category at the North West British Institute of Professional Photography Awards, an unusual category for a commercial photographer. Worth the trip to the dry cleaners with my suit as well!