To Lightroom or Not to Lightroom.... this really isn't the question....

I was out shooting an area guide for another property company recently.... with my beloved Fuji X-Pro1 and my even more now so (sorry X-Pro) Fuji XT-1. Whilst out, rolling around on the floor (for sunset shot below!) in Brockwell Park, south London, trying to get a nice sunset shot, a chap came upto me and started chatting photography. I always have time for a chat about anything photography with anyone! I love, that people LOVE taking pictures, and we are all trying to learn and get better at doing it!

Rolling around on the floor in Brockwell park.... either gets you collected by an ambulance or a nice picture :)

Rolling around on the floor in Brockwell park.... either gets you collected by an ambulance or a nice picture :)

 

His first question was regarding contrast.... "I've bought a little canon G15 and everything is really contrasty. the sky blows out and the shadows just fill in. Its not as good as i was hoping for" ... I had to laugh in an 'I hear you mate' kind of way .... as this is the main problem with digital cameras.

I asked him what software he used to develop/ process the images and he looked at me stumped?? I then went on to explain that out the can, most digital images are way to contrasty.... even a £5000 Nikon D4 is still has about 11 times less sensitivity than the good old human Mice Pie! (Eye for anyone north of Watford)

I explained that a simple 2 mins in Lightroom will transform what you see in the camera (especially if shooting in RAW!)

So, if you want better pics (even from your iphone).... get them on your comp and have a fiddle....

These 2 images below are the Same file. The one on the TOP is the RAW unadjusted file. The one UNDERNEATH is the 'Lightroom Tweaked' one!

Unprocessed Raw file from Fuji XT-1

Unprocessed Raw file from Fuji XT-1

Processed and Tweaked JPG from Fuji XT-1

Processed and Tweaked JPG from Fuji XT-1


I rest my case :-)


WTM London 2014

A quick round up from another great week with the #WTM2014 team. My feet didn't touch the ground for 4 days.... great fun though as always .... 

Area Guide and interior Photography for Hill Partnership

I have to say, I do LOTS of property work.... Interior photography, architectural photography, and loads of exterior photography... to be used in area guides and sales brochures when developers want to show a new development in all its glory with its cool surroundings. I get to roam the streets and do what I do best.... SKULK! ;) capture natural situations, people and environments. This is when i get to use my Fuji X-Pro1 and Fuji XT1, because they are light, almost unnoticable and yet beautiful image quality! .... so next time you see a guy on a scooter whizzing past you with 2 cameras hanging off him .... smile please!! ;)

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!! ;)

Fairwell to Felix Dennis

I had the pleasure of working for Felix Dennis a number of times over recent years and loved his larger than life character and passion. A true legend of our time .... he certainly lived life to the max in every sense! Cheers to Felix!

Felix ... the maddest hatter there ever was! ;)

Fountains Fun in The Sun @southbanklondon

What a weekend.... at last a scorcher!! What better way to enjoy it than being a kid in the fountains on the wonderful London Southbank @southbanklondon ! Hope these street photography candid shots I took take you all back to this wonderful time of life .... Enjoy! 

The Michelin Stars turn out at L'Autre Pied for Slow Food Week 2014

Last night I was invited to photograph a rather special 'foody' event for my client David Moore; owner of Michelin restaurants - Pied-a-terre and L'Autre Pied in central London. The event was held for Slow Food Week 2014, featuring a 'Forgotten foods' menu by top Michelin chefs, Tom Aikens, Tom Van Zeller, Francesco Mazzei and Andy McFadden who were all rubbing shoulders with each other down in the kitchen of L'Autre Pied. It was great being down in the kitchen with these guys and their assistants. Things get pretty hot down there. One of the many things that I LOVE about doing food photography and working around these guys is their energy and passion. One of the the other things I also love about food photography is getting to sometimes have a taste! ;) 

Toy Soldiers for Walsh Bros Films

I first worked with John Walsh of Walsh Brothers Films back in 2008 on the Prime Ministers Fellowship. John and his team were filming for The British Council, and educating the young British students for their forthcoming trips across the globe. Since then i've had the pleasure of working with John many times. 'Toy Soldiers' was put together and Directed by John, and explores the thoughts and feelings of children who's fathers were at war. Aiden, the boy in the picture I took for the show below, very sadly lost his father when he was 8 years old. These children tell their story from their perspective. Please head over to Johns site and watch Toy Soldiers