High Speed Sync Photography of Hayley Steele - UKDFBA Amateur Fit Body Champion, using Phottix Odin

Hayley and I have done a few great shoots together, so when she called and asked if I'd shoot some Fitness/Sport images of her - I jumped at the chance! (excuse the pun)
Hayley explained that she'd been training hard and wanted to get some shots showing her best form in an 'action' style before her competition!? It was only when we met up on a Friday morning at the amazing Lee Valley Athletics Centre near Enfield that Hayley told me what she had challenged herself to compete in the UKDFBA (the United Kingdom Drug Free Bodybuilding Association) Open UK Championships on Saturday 27th September 2014 at Leamington Spa (the day after our shoot!). Hayley worked under the expert guidance of Tim Sharp Personal Trainer since 1988. Owner of @Sharpbodies PT Studio. 5 Times Mr Britain finalist. TV Presenter to achieve the body she needed to be competitive.
To help accentuate Hayley's Form and tone, I knew I would need to do something a little different to make her 'pop' if we were shooting on a sunny day, at an Athletics track!? Enter recently purchased new toys... (Phottix Odin flash trigger and receivers for my Nikon SB800 and SB910 Flashes) from the lovely people at The Flash Centre, London, so thought this could be a great opportunity to try some High Speed Sync Photography. This would allow me to not only freeze Hayley in action - showing her muscle tone and energy to its max, but also allow a fast enough shutter speed to darken down the background.
Like most photographers, we don't like reading instructions, but luckily the Phottix Odin system is a TTL system, and really is very simple to use. It wasn't long before we were getting some great results! so If you fancy giving it a go, get down to the flash centre, grab yourself an extremely fit and willing model and off you go! Have fun!
 

P.S.  BIG Congratulations to my friend Hayley Steele who is now UKDFBA Amateur Fit Body Champion! Yes, SHE WON it!! ;)

Tankus The Henge - Music Photography on The Thames

What can I say .... other than I LOVE these boys!!!! ... Everytime I meet them and work with them, I leave with a big smile on my face .... they are just loveable, bonkers, creative TALENT!! They always make my photography look good because they are just so colourful and interesting!! Check out their facebook page here and lookout for a gig soon .... I promise you will LOVE them! _0035.jpg _0027.jpg _0028.jpg _0029.jpg _0030.jpg _0031.jpg _0032.jpg _0033.jpg _0034.jpg _0036.jpg _0037.jpg _0038.jpg _0039.jpg _0040.jpg _0041.jpg _0042.jpg _0043.jpg

Sneak Peek - Music Promo Photography with Tankus The Henge

Today I met up with my crazy friends - Tankus The Henge! I've known and been photographing these lovable lads for the last 4 years now and there has never been a dull moment. With the arrival of their new Drummer, their manager thought it about time we got some new promo shots done... so we headed to the wonderful floating Dutch Barge that is 'Tamesis Dock' on the London Southbank of the Thames... Apart from being a great location, Neema the lovely lady who runs this ship (literally) provides some lovely food and drinks....! get down there and check it out! its magical! :)

The Tankus boys were in fine form, even if it was an early start... and we soon got going with some cheeky antics....

These are just a couple of tasters from the shoot. Hope you like them, and if you fancy coming along to listen to these chaps.... have a look at their facebook page here and come along!! I challenge you to not be able to love them!! ;)

[caption id="attachment_2699" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Music Photography by Simon Harvey on the Southbank with Tankus The Henge[/caption]

Advertising Shoot for new MOVband Activity Monitor

Well, as you probably know... its been raining!! Raining, raining, and then a bit more rain!! This was not looking good for about outdoors advertising Photography shoot for Fit For Future Ltd. FFF are launching the new MOVband Activity Monitor here in the uk, and needed some outdoor activity shots to show it at work. Well, Monday came and the skies turned blue! (phew) So out we set to a local park to show the Movband being put to the test!

For this shoot i was armed with my faithful Nikon D3, my 105mm Macro F2.8 and my lens for all 24-70mm F2.8. Lighting was my new Rllinchrom Quadra kit, 2 packs and 2 heads, 1 open and 1 with a small soft box.

Hope you can see how the flash gives the images that extra 'kick' ... colours zing out.... all in all! pleased! Hope you like! :)

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Wireless Speedlights - Strobist Softbox Technique Tutorial

YouTube - Strobist Softbox Technique Tutorial. http://www.youtube.com/v/w0g63DggyzQ

Ok, so for a while i have wanted to use my speedlights a bit more creatively, so I bought the Nikon SU800 Commander which allows me to control as many speedlights as i like remotely. I invested in a couple of popout softboxes and off i went.... straight round to my kids and got them on the trampoline to see what we could get!

Watch this space....

Wireless Speedlights

Well, here are the results of my first play with wireless flash. I hooked up 2 Nikon SB800 Flash units onto some small light stands with my great new fold out softboxes... All was quite straightforward.... only limiting factor is that you have to angle the flash to make sure its 'infrared' sensor window can see the SU800 commander on top of your camera... if it can't - NO flash! I am really pleased with the ease of use, portability and quality of light you can get using this set up ... throw them into Lightroom and job done! :)

 

The Harvey Juniors are both great guinea pig models and always on hand for a bit of camera fun...! :(

I love this shot of Daisy, she has such a great sense of humour in front of the camera.... her 'casual' expression and mad pose looks brilliant! Go Daisy! ;)

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This is my fave shot! Love Daisy's body language and face in the background! Gabe doesn't seem to be noticing her annoyance at the amount of time he has been on!

 

 

 

Howard Webb ~ England referee in training for World Cup

After Referee Howard Webb was chosen for 2010 World Cup, he embarked upon some intense altitude training, conducted at Sheffield Hallum University in their specialist Faculty of Health and Wellbeing unit. I was asked to go and shoot Howard for Polar Sports watches whilst training. After claiming my pitch amongst the other snappers and Film crews i was ready .... I used my Nikon D3 and a couple of wirelessly activated remote flashes (Nikon SB800's) to add a bit of drama to the dull fluorescent lighting, dialled in some settings to allow for a slow shutter speed and i got the 'motion' effect i was looking for!

Webb officiated the second leg of the Carling Cup Manchester derby Englishman Howard Webb has been selected as one of Fifa's 30 referees for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. It will be the first World Cup for the 38-year-old Webb, who will be assisted by Darren Cann and Michael Mullarkey.

Webb caused controversy in Euro 2008 when he awarded hosts Austria a late penalty against Poland for a 1-1 draw. Yorkshireman Webb suffered during Euro 2008 when he was on the receiving end of death threats and fierce criticism from then Poland coach Leo Beenhakker, although his decision to award the penalty was backed by Uefa.

Webb will be attempting to restore England's refereeing reputation at the highest level after Graham Poll was sent home from the 2006 World Cup in Germany. He booked Croatia's Josip Simunic three times during a group match against Australia.

Howard was a top bloke and i wish him all the best out in South Africa.

[caption id="attachment_81" align="alignnone" width="399" caption="Howard Webb"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_88" align="alignnone" width="497" caption="Howard Webb Referee "][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_83" align="alignnone" width="399" caption="Howard Webb Referee training for 2010 World Cup"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_84" align="alignnone" width="399" caption="Howard Webb Referee training for 2010 World Cup"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_85" align="alignnone" width="399" caption="Howard Webb Referee training for 2010 World Cup"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_86" align="alignnone" width="399" caption="Howard Webb Referee training for 2010 World Cup"][/caption]