Verbier Photo Shoot. February 21st, 2012
After another one of my mammoth drives I pulled up in Verbier, Switzerland to shoot with Dare 2b’s riders Chris and Nick Southwell, we had some jackets to shoot for Dare 2b and I also wanted to get some editorial images shot and maybe a little stock too should we get the chance. I had also taken my new Nikkor 18-200 GII ED zoom lens to test out, I had purchased it as a one lens travel solution to go with my D300s and I have to say it worked an absolute treat.
Out on this trip with me was Andrew “Noddy” Gowerns who had come out to do a bit of filming jump a few cliffs, and as it turned out to partake in a little Apres-ski libation, along with myself of cause. The week started well with clear skies, but unfortunately it also brought with it 25 degree temperature’s which quite simply destroyed the snow pack. This was then followed by grey skies the next day, blue the day after, grey the day after that and so on. But while the sun was out we managed to get a few nice shots done. We used the Ranger flashes on a few of the shots just to add a little drama, much to Chris’s disgust as he had foolishly offered to carry them. All in all it was a pretty good week, and we had great fun and lots of banter with the boys. But all good things must come to and end it was time to head back to the UK for my next job, a shoot on the glorious west coast in Wales!
Water Water. July 30th, 2009
During the winter months I try and make loose plan’s for the summer months shoots, I create “wish lists” for images and locations, sometimes the ideas come to fruition, sometimes they get shelved for another year. I try and figure out the most cost effective way of getting the shots on my list, my philosophy being that you can sometimes find the exotic right on your door step. Here in the UK we are blessed with an exceptionally varied landscape to work with, but the weather can often let you down. So if the UK fails to deliver, then Europe is a pretty cost effective option, the Mediterranean is a top spot to work, and your chances of blue sky are much higher. Start crossing the Atlantic or Pacific and the price really starts to rocket.
With this in mind I hit North Cornwall to try and shoot some kite boarding with my friend Adam who has a cracking spot right by the beach. So I dusted off the old Ewa Marine water proof housing and cruised down the M5 a couple of times during July to try my luck. It’s a fairly frustrating business shooting sports that rely on the wind/weather and tide to be right, all at the same time, so patience is essential, I don’t get too stressed about any lack of progress, I just go fishing instead!
“All good things come to those who wait” and, as usual, it all came good in the end and I crawled out of the sea with a few shots to work with and a belly full of sea water, as they say in Cornwall …Proper Job!
Tales from Wales. September 26th, 2008
With summertime gradually creeping away, I decided to grab one last chance to shoot some lifestyle sports stock for Cultura Images in North Wales. The weather was a little unpredictable but it came good in the end and we had a ball. We braved snakes, swamps, mosquitoes, and Welsh beer!! I used some Profoto flashes on this trip, one ended up in a lake, luckily the brolly kept it afloat long enough to fish it out before it blew up. Towards the end we stumbled upon some great locations for next summer…bring it on!
Many thanks to my good friends Richard Owen of Sun Valley Canoeing Co, and Jim Adlington of Planks Clothing.
