Alice in wonderland

With the imminent release of Tim Burton's Alice in wonderland it didnt take long to be approached for and Alice style shoot. So taking the raw and simple ideas from the Lewis Carol stories we set out to a local woods for the first part of the shoot. Once the model had stopped sinking in the muddy ground we used a combination of natural sunlight and supplimentary flash to get the images. Using the Natural surroundings and then bringing a large mirror into the mix (which was very heavy) we tried to creat a feel of Alice before she entered wonderland, leaving out the rabbit hole as this would involve a lot more resources than i had at my disposal.

Alice having just talked to the chesire cat

The doorway to wonderland

After she has entered wonderland it is not all it seems, it is dark, grungy, rundown with warnings and messages sprayed on the walls, for this we used our favorite rundown mill, where we could get the dark and eerie feel that was needed for the second part of our shoot. Using a compination of odd camera angles and filters we try and unnerve the view to make them feel as nervous and confused as Alice is.

Back in time

The 50's, a time for pin ups a time when views started changing, and one that we tried to re create with a 50s style pin up shoot. In a slight diversion from weddings and portraits, we set up a wash-o-rama shoot in a laundrette, to be let down at the last minute by the laundrette owners.

Never one to be put off I quickly set up the studio and lights and we moved to the magazine style pin up shoot. I had two wonderful models wo fit the roles perfectly and we got some great shots from it all.

Painted Light

What would you be doing on a cold winters night??

Wrapped up in front of the TV?

Having a nice drink?

All sounds good but a few friends and myself decided to have a try at light painting.

The theory is simple, using torches, light sources etc, you run a slow shutter on the camera and literally paint with the light.

This was our first attempt at this and the results have been quite good so far. I think with a little planning we could come up with something amazing.

Andy

Kerpow, kerblam

Winter Wonderland

Well the snow fell, then it fell a bit more, we had Christmas and yup it fell a bit more, a nightmare for most adults, excellent fun for children and a photographers dream.

First of all with all the wonderful weddings we have had recently I have not had much time to get out and take some personal photography, so seizing the opportunity I took the camera over to west Yorkshire near blubberhouses to catch this glorious sunset. The show was ankle deep and by the end of it i was freezing. It was well worth it though.

Next on the list was a portrait shoot of a horse. This was requested at short notice for a Christmas present. As the old luvvies saying goes "never work with children and animals" this made me want to do the shot more and as i am already a children's photographer i had half the equation out of the way.

So on a cold Sunday morning I packed the gear up and set of out to the stables where i was greeted with wonderful scenery and lashings of fresh snow.

The horse was amazingly well behaved and almost like it was posing for me, the snow also started falling again giving it a very christmassy feel.

So first horse portrait in the bag it was time for a break.

Christmas day was the standard fun and mayhem which ensues when you have children. Too many toys and not enough sleep. It was fantastic.

After all of that was a portrait shoot for a young couple as a gift to each other.

So in between Christmas and new year I managed to get through the snow to their house for the photo shoot, what a lovely couple, both very nervous but they did fantastically.

Now I was on a roll, so putting a message up on Facebook I asked if any Brides would like to have a chance to wear their dress again and have some shots done in the snow, the response was fantastic but it was all a case of timing. In the end I chose Amanda Atkinson my Bride from April 09 who also went on to win the Living TV show Four Weddings. So another Sunday morning and braving the snow yet again, with a bag full of props we set out to Gawthorpe Hall in Padiham for a Snow Bride shoot. I could not fault Amanda's bravery, as i was wrapped up in a fur lined coat with gloves and a hat and Amanda was just in a veil and a strapless wedding dress, hugging trees and running through snowy woodlands.

Snow keep on snowing is all i say, until next time. Cya

Zombies Everywhere! Some were even married!!

Morning broke on the 1st of november and no-one could prepare me for what i was about to witness, the day started as normal, my two boys were up too early, i had to watch cartoons and then It all changed!! After donning a blood stained shirt and my ripped suit i set off out with my wife and two friends to Manchester (the kids were with the inlaws) whereupon the undead were waiting for us, i had to think fast and using two cameras i quickly rattled off some shots, then preceded in the lift at the Ramada Jarvis to find a room full of ZOMBIES!!!

Me as the zombie tog

This was the worlds first double zombie wedding and i was honored to be the official photographer for both weddings. It was all in line with Manchesters Zombie Aid 2, where everyone dresses up as a zombie and we walk the streets of manchester for 2 reasons, all entry fees are donated to charity and to break a world record!

Great fun was had and i have never seen anything like it before.The couples had thier official wedding at the Ramada Jarvis and then they had a blessing by a vampire priest in front of a crowd of over a thousand zombies at the Printworks later in the afternoon.

Then the zombie walk started, which took us through manchester and into an Empty Arndale centre where the undead did some window shopping (or licking from some).

Sadly we did not break the world record but there is always next time.

Urban Exploration

Getting some ideas together for a personal project involved a little bit of urban exploration or urbexing for short.

An old abandoned mill is the setting, getting the light is the harder part and also trying not to fall through the floor at any point :)

It was a great visit and my guide was brilliant, next to realise my ideas.

Half an hour spare.

©2009 I-DOPHOTOS

Every now and then i get a few spare minutes to get some personal photography done, yesterday was an extra bonus of my son being off school, so dressed in his new skinny jeans, grunge shirt and canvas trainers i took him on a photo shoot. Now the one thing you will need to know about Evan is, you cannot pose him, he loves his pic being taken but he has his own style and his own way of posing, the only thing i can do is put him in the right spot.

We chose a spot under a motorway bridge to get the "urban" feel to the shots and only using available light we proceeded to have a bit of fun with the photo shoot, of course he had his accessories of furry hat and sunglasses so they were both put to good use. Now I just need his younger brother to get a bit older and i can have the two of them on shot. :)