Shemshak Lodge. December 4th, 2010
Early December and I was back in the alps, not to ski, but to shoot the new Consensio Holidays chalet called Shemshak Lodge in Courchevel 1850. I’d shot their chalets in Val d’Isere and Meribel last year so I knew it would be nice place, it didn’t disappoint! Shemshak is simply magnificent, it’s brand new and has had the interior designed by Todhunter Earle of London. It’s also situated right next to the piste so you can “ski in ski out”.
I shot it all with the Nikon D3x using the following Nikkor lenses - 14-24mm, 24-70mm, 70-200mm, 50mm 1.8, 105 macro and I hired a Nikkor 24mm f/3 ED PC-E Tilt and Shift lens from Lens Pimp. The whole shoot went like a dream, I used the D3x’s 5:4 crop in a few of the shots which really helped with composition, I also used a new Giottos Carbon Fiber Tripod as my old trusty Benbo gave up after 15 years of hard labour. The Giottos proved to be a really sturdy piece of kit with great flexibility. The tilt and Shift lens also gave me some really nice depth of field effects on a few of the pictures. We also had to shoot under artificial light for many of the shots as the daylight simply didn’t last long enough, the D3x produced amazing shadow detail in all of the pictures, the camera just blows me away. Both myself and Consensio are really pleased with the results. Have a look at the slideshow below.
St Tropez Villa’s. February 21st, 2010
So with new camera’s in tow I touched down in Nice for a week of Interiors work with Consensio in some spectacular summer villas. I must admit, on arrival the weather was pretty grim, but by the end of the week the air was full of Mimosa blossom and it was a lovely 21 degrees, and the idea of returning to a freezing Britain wasn’t too appealing.
The Villas where dotted all around St Tropez and they where fairly mind blowing, the Nikkor 14-24mm zoom proved to be invaluable and produced some incredible results. I may well try out Nikons Tilt and Shift lens range on the next Interiors job.
Premier Neige. December 22nd, 2009
At 3am on the 6th of December I turned the car keys in the ignition and drove off my drive, at 9pm I pulled up on the drive way of Chalet Aurore in Meribel. Over the years I’ve sampled my fair share of accommodation from YHA’s to exclusive Alpine Lodges but nothing can prepare you for the Consensio chalets experience. I won’t go into it in too much detail, but when I tell you the chalet next door has it’s own gondola to take it’s owners to the piste…. you get the idea! I had been commissioned to shoot the interiors of their chalets in Meribel and Val d’Isere, shoot some lifestyle in and around the chalets and, possibly, some action pictures of the staff wearing Faiise clothing. I managed to shoot a fair amount but unfortunately the action was missed as bad weather arrived and we had to be out as the first lucky guests arrived.
