Astro Photography...

... well kind of.

Last night I was invited by a previous attendee of one of my Photo Experience Days to visit a friend of his who has a "proper big" telescope set up in his back garden.

His rig was all computer controlled, and at the click of a mouse button he was able to automatically move it to view the moon.  Impressed I was.

Not nearly as impressive was the clouds that had magically appeared just a few seconds after we arrived, however patience paid off and about an hour later we got 20 minutes of nearly clear sky.

Not having got a lens attachment for my camera (to enable camera and telescope to connect and work as one) I had to hand hold my mobile phone and camera up to the eyepiece of the 12" telescope and hope for the best.  Results were a bit hit and miss, but given the limitations of how I was working I was really rather pleased with some of the photos.

The first photo here is taken with my Blackberry mobile phone, and the second with my Fuji X100.  Neither photo has been cropped.  The third photo is of Saturn, and it's been very heavily cropped. 

I don't think I have the patience to take up astronomy as a hobby, but it was a very interesting experience.

BodyPower 2012

The highlight of BodyPower 2012 for me, I'm almost ashamed to admit were the buffalo burgers that I might have eaten 3 of over the 2 days I was there.

Friday was fairly quiet, I think it had been set aside as an "industry" day, which in effect means not much was happening in the way of events, but it was much easier to walk around and chat with people.

Saturday on the other hand was insanely busy, with so many people the phone networks gave up working and it was all but impossible to find the people you were looking for asides for meeting accidentally, which of course never happens when you're actively searching for someone!

I don't really do crowds, so I had to retreat outside of the halls for a couple of hours around the high point of the day.  I ended up in Wetherspoons where I sat for an hour with a few friends waiting for food we'd ordered that never actually turned up.  I was only disappointed for as long as it took to get a refund and realise that it meant buffalo burger number three!

The show itself was bigger and better than ever, with lots of different stages and event areas for all kinds of sports from Brazilian Jui Jitsu, Strongman, Arm Wrestling, MMA and of course Body Building.

Top stars included Mr Olympia Phil Heath, and Arnold Classic winner Branch Warren.  With other big names like Kai Greene and one of my favourite models I've had the pleasure of shooting twice, Larissa Reis.

Dates for BodyPower 2013 are already set - all the details on the website.

It's a healthy baby girl...

... but only just.

I was out on one of my New Forest Photo Experience Days earlier today with a group of 14 eager photographers when half way through the morning we discover a cow sitting quietly on her own.  It took us a few minutes to notice that she was in labour.  That was when I had to tear up the days itinerary.

Not sure what to do I phoned someone in the know for advice, and they simply said give it some space and leave it be.

We stayed and watched until our stomachs got the better of us and lunch at the Lyndhurst Park Hotel beckoned.  One of the group wanted to stay with the cow, so we left them both together.  A couple of hours or so later the group returned.  The cow had moved a bit but still no baby.  Forty-five minutes later and the status quo had not changed.  It was time to call an end to the Photo Day and we all went our separate ways.

Several hours later after a meeting about a wedding and then an ice cream in Lymington I returned to Lyndhurst and trekked over to where the cow had been.  One of the Agisters and the local farmer who owns the mother were there, and the calf had been born just 10 minutes earlier.  It had needed help from the farmer, and when I told him that the labour had started before lunch they were really surprised the calf had made it.

Asking what I should have done, their answer was if you have any doubts, report it to the local police who'll get in touch with someone who can help.

The farmers granddaughter named the calf "Lucky".  I'm really glad I decided to pop back, and so very pleased for the happy ending.

Rush Hour on the M27

30 seconds on the M27 near Southampton.

RIP Robert Kennedy

Robert H. Kennedy (1938-2012)

Photo by Paul Buecta - www.paulbuceta.com

I only found out that Bob K was sick a few days ago having seen many people wishing him the best on his Facebook page.  Today, 13th April 2012 I found out about his passing.  It's been an emotional few days with Tosca (his wife) keeping everyone updated via her blog.  Although I've not spoken to Bob much over the last few years, his death by cancer has hit home big time for me because it comes nearly a year after I lost my Dad to it.  It's a terrible way to die.

Although I didn't know Bob all that well, I'll always be in debt to him as he published my first ever photo.  Still to this day the model in question,  Jaime Koeppe is my all time favourite.  It was featured as a double page spread in Musclemag way back in 2003.  It was such a privilege to see my work in print like this for the first time.  Thank you Bob.

I bumped into Bob a few times over the years, mostly at various fitness events / expos, even visiting him in his office a couple of times.  He was always very forward in telling me exactly what he wanted from the photos I submitted for publication in his magazines (Musclemag & American Curves) and over the years I had quite a bit of success and lots of photos published because I listened.

My favourite memory of Bob was in the middle of the Toronto Expo centre at the FAME World Championships, when in a packed Expo hall he got down on all-fours to demonstrate a couple of the poses he liked to see the girls do.  If only I'd had a camera.  Just thinking about it now puts a smile on my face.

I was originally introduced to Bob by photographer Skip Faulkner who sadly died last summer.

I've not spoken to Bob much over the last few years, but his death by cancer has hit home big time for me because it comes nearly a year after I lost my Dad to it.  It's a terrible way to die.

Life is short.  Get out there and make the most out of it.

Bob, you might have gone, but you'll never be forgotten. 

Peace & respect to Tosca and family.

My first snooker tearsheet

Thank you to the lovely Michaela Tabb for making this one happen.  It's taken from Sheffield based Exposed Magazine.

Another night in Southampton

My second Night Photography Experience Evening, was last night and apart from one attendee loosing a couple of fingers to frostbite (this may or may not be true) the evening went rather well.

Thankfully I'd noticed the day before that Saints were at home that evening so I'd pre-warned all 11 attendees that traffic might be a issue.  Only one was late and she'd come all the way from Surrey so we'll let her off.

We did actually loose a few people before the end of the evening...  One was due to a dead battery (always bring a spare) and two more needed to warm their hands on cups of hot coffee! 

Probably the best accessory you can buy for cold night is a good pair of gloves that not only keep you warm, but that you can also operate the camera with.  You will thank me for this advice.  :)

A weekend of weather...

I had two New Forest Photo Experience Days this weekend, and the weather couldn't have been more different.  In Beaulieu on Saturday we were sitting outside enjoying lunch in the sun, and on Sunday in Lyndhurst we'd just ran down a hill to take cover from the torrential rain back at the hotel.

We met on Saturday at the Montagu Arms Hotel, and in the process I think I just may have found the most expensive cup of tea in the New Forest.  At £3.95 for a small cup and a half of tea, even the barkeep seemed too embarrassed to actually say the price as he just handed me the receipt.  Meh didn't even begin to sum up my thoughts on this one.  Charging high worked against the hotel, I was going to take the group back there for lunch, but instead we opted for the much friendly and cheaper Steff's Kitchen at the garden centre at the top of the High Street.

We wondered around the lovely little village of Beaulieu for the morning, before heading down the road to Beaulieu Road Station for the afternoon.  We had to do a bit of creative parking to squeeze 10 cars into the already full up car park - see picture below!

Sunday was a complete arse of a day.  After setting off from the Lyndhurst Park Hotel in only light rain, the heavens soon opened making it all but impossible to continue.  Thankfully everyone kept their sense of humour as re retreated to the warmth and dry of the hotel bar.  Big thanks to the hotel for looking after us so well, and hopefully the days everyone has rebooked will be much nicer.

First tearsheet in Fitnorama Magazine

My first tearsheet with British fitness magazine Fitnorama came with their March 2012 issue.

It's a feature on Miss Galaxy Universe competition run by Sarah Donohue.  For more information on the event, do please check out the website.

As always it makes me very happy indeed to see my work in print. 

NB.  I've deliberately saved the images at lower quality than normal, and also greyed out most of the words.  If you want to see the article please support the magazine and buy a copy.  It's a small publication and needs everyone's support to continue.  It's also available as Apple & Android Apps, so no excuses if you can't find it in the newsagent!  Thank you :)   Link is here - www.fitnorama.com

Night Time Photo Experience in Southampton

This week I did my very first Night Time Photo Experience Evening in Southampton.

11 photo enthusiasts all armed with tripods met me at the Holiday Inn in Southampton for the start of the photo walk.  It being the first one I wasn't quite sure of the timings, but I had a rough plan in my head of where I wanted to go.

Our first stop was on top of the old wall overlooking the Devere Grand Harbour Hotel where everyone tried their hand at long exposure car light images.

The second stop was to set up camp in the middle of the Mayflower Roundabout.  We must have looked a strange sight indeed with 12 tripods all set up...  but it was the best place to photograph the pretty lights that lit up a part of the old wall, so what could we do?

Next up was a short walk up to the High Street where I asked everyone to ditch their tripods, turn up the ISO, and shoot with the widest aperture they had and to hand hold their cameras.  Results differed as everyone had different lenses...  some of the kit lenses are quite slow.  I highly recommend that everyone get hold of a bog standard 50mm lens.  For under £100 it'll probably be the best lens you ever own.

Finally, we ended up in Mayflower Park overlooking the water.  It's the only place I know in the centre of Southampton that is properly dark.  The aim of this part of the evening was to try some light painting.  A couple of people got really creative, drawing stick men with torch light....  Fun stuff!

I didn't have much chance to take photos, but here are a few of my favourites.

A sunny February in Burley

The third of my New Forest Photo Experience Days in Burley, and it was third time lucky for the weather.  Just a week after beating a hasty retreat from the cold, wind & rain we were treated to a glorious day of winter sunshine.

With a full house of 11 attendees meeting over tea & coffee at the lovely Burley Manor Hotel, we headed on out into the hotel grounds.  Thank you to the Burley Manor Riding Stables for putting up with us for a few minutes as we invaded their stables.

After walking up through the village and into the New Forest proper we ended up at the Moorhill House Hotel for lunch.  The afternoon we walked slowly back across to the cricket ground & church, before confusing the poor waitresses at the The Old Farmhouse Tearooms where we stopped for afternoon tea. 

The weather was beyond perfect for a February, sunny the whole day, barely a cloud in the sky, and so warm we could sit outside in the tearooms garden while we stuffed our faces with scones, jam & cream! 

Add in the fact that I was reunited with a long lost friend who attended and the day really could not have been better!

It must be spring...

The daffodils are out so it must be spring?  It certainly felt like it on my Photo Experience Day in Lyndhurst today.  With the weather forecast in the morning reporting a day of grey, grey followed by a bit more grey I didn't think we'd see any blue sky.

I take the weather forecast with a pinch of salt as its normally at least partly correct.  Today it couldn't have been more wrong, as we were treated to a day of glorious sunshine...  very nearly t-shirt weather warmth.

For February you couldn't really ask for better weather.

Thank you to the Lyndhurst Park Hotel for looking after us at lunch, and also to Meridien Modena Lyndhurst the fancy Ferrari / Maserati dealer in Lyndhurst who let us take pictures of their lovely cars again.

It was a good day indeed.  Big thanks to everyone who attended.

Laughing at people in Basingstoke

I hate Basingstoke with a passion that I normally reserve for people who talk at the cinema, but on one Thursday evening a month there is a very good reason to go there.  Surely there can't be a reason in the world strong enough to go to Basingrade you say?  Well yep, there is, and I urge you to go one month to Jan Jack's Laughter House at the Red Lion Hotel.


The line up were 3 comedians I'd never heard of, Windsor, Chris Norton Walker, (who whispered in my ear "do you know any good jokes" seconds before going on stage!) with the headline act Dave Fulton.  Dave was in the headlines himself after saying the word "wanker" on BBC Breakfast the day before while sitting on the sofa with uptight hosts Bill Turnbull & Sian Williams.  I've seen the clip on Youtube and all I can say is "urgh really?"  Tis but a very sad world we live in if we find a simple little word like that so mortally offensive.  Add in a little bit of Jan Jack, and a compere, Phil Dinsdale, who I remember taking the piss out of me and my beard as part of his act at a previous Laughter House and we had our evenings entertainment...  the git!


Oh, and yes before anyone asks, I did get lost trying to find my way out of Boringstoke.

Anyway, my favourite photo of each of the acts...

B-Fit Expo 2012

Yesterday I spent the day at London's Excel Exhibition Centre for the first of hopefully many B-Fit Expo's.

Inside there were demonstration areas set aside for all sorts of things, from gymnastics, trampolines to a zumba stage and much more.  Add to that several theatre style presentation rooms, a demonstration kitchen  and more.  Clearly lots of time, effort and money had been spent on making B-Fit look the part.  Things did seem to be rather quiet, not nearly as many people walking around as I'd have expected.  Although this made things easier for me, the stands and expo hosts would obviously have preferred more people.

Still, it's only year one for B-Fit and as the expo hosts have proven through Bodypower (which they also run), they have what it takes to make expo's bigger and bigger each year.

I also counted at least 4 "Gladiators" (3 new, 1 old) in the house!

For me, the Excel Centre is a bit of a pain to get to, and everything is all rather expensive.  The main Excel car park only caters to cars under 190cms in height, and has a ban on "Transit size vans", so that was me screwed straight away.  I managed to squeeze into the Novotel car park, and later that day they managed to squeeze £24 parking costs out of me. 

Meh.

I also object to paying £2 for a small cup of over-brewed tea...  and one of the stand holders told me that Excel wanted £200 for a single plug socket for the weekend.  Needless to say they made do without.

But enough of my moaning, the day was good, I got to speak to a couple of magazine owners who are hopefully interested in using my work in the near future, and I even got a slice of cake and a hug from quite a few pretty girls.

Oh and a big thank you to the owner of the bottle of water I drank while slowly (but quite loudly) choking on a piece of chicken!

Photographing Fire...

...  on a bitterly cold January evening in the depths of Dorset.

Fire is not the easiest of subjects to photograph well, add in a bitterly cold gale force wind (that would eventually beat us into an early submission) and it was that little bit harder.

This was the first of hopefully several "just for fun" fire shoots this year with a fire performer friend, Thomas Johansson, and fellow photographers Spencer & Karl.

I've photographed fire performers quite a few times, but always as part of a show, and never as part of a controlled shoot.  Here we had some control over what the "crazy German" Thomas would do.  Also to make our lives that little bit harder we had a couple of flash units stuck on tripods either side of Thomas.

With three of us shooting at the same time fancy remote flash triggers sadly weren't an option, so we used the best accessory that money can't buy, namely Spencer, running from his camera to press the button on the master flash unit manually. 

With our cameras set on 10 second self timer mode, we'd do a 3-2-1 countdown and press the shutter buttons, with that Spencer would run across the pitch black field, wait for the cameras to "click" into action, and then trigger the master flash (which would in turn trigger the slave flash unit).

From the moment the shutters opened Thomas then had anything from half to 3 seconds to do his fire stuff, during which time the flash was fired and in theory would freeze Thomas.  Confused much?  Just look at the photos and it should make more sense.

Okay so it's not the best technique, with probably over a 50% failure rate due to timing it wrongly.  However if we just played the numbers game and kept going until we got a few keepers.

I even got in on the action myself, with one of my favourites posted below...

Oh, no photoshop has been used in any of these photos.