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.

A Month of Seconds

November has been a good month awards wise. I won second place in the Towergate Fine Art competition, a prestigious international event in the photographic art world, with my Holga picture of Prague. This is actually taken on a toy camera, famed for its soft low contrast images. I love using it and the unpredictability of the results. A trip to London was had and opportunity taken for some more Holga pictures which I still need to get to the lab - the downside of film!

And here's me (on the left) receiving my award from Paul Dyer of Towergate.

The North West region of the British Institute of Professional Photography held its annual print competition where I picked up second place in the commercial section. It's been a month of second places but I'm more than happy. It's an industrial picture this time, on a site where I've been taking demolition progress photos. I saw these twisted and rusted steel beams and instantly knew there was a picture to be had.

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.

Bake Off!

Ruth Clemens, finalist and runner up in the highly popular BBC show, The Great British Bake Off was at Macclesfield Waterstones signing the book of the series and doing an effortless icing demonstration. I also got some first hand bread making tips from her - thanks Ruth.

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.