Details, details .....

I was talking to somebody this morning who had very bravely helped shoot his friend's wedding, and who was asking for some tips on how things might be improved upon before the next wine-fuelled dinner party where yet another friend may well ask for his assistance. On the one hand, it's great to help our mates when they can't splash out on a pro, but on the other hand it's a huge responsibility. My friend had done a tremendous job gathering all the necessary personalities for some really good group photographs, and had certainly covered the guests too, but one piece of advice I'd add is to try and grab some photos of the details which make every wedding special. A great deal is often spent on gowns, shoes, rings, food, flowers and decorations, and pictures of these are a great way of creating memories of the day.

As a professional, it's a given that we take these shots, but objects such as rings can be a daunting prospect for any amateur photographer who has agreed to help out. It doesn't have to be an ordeal though. Keep things simple, look for a suitable background and some good diffuse natural light. Windows and doorways are great for this, and you don't even need a macro lens for the smaller items. To make the point, all the shots below took seconds to set up and the rings were taken with a mid-range zoom lens, onto which a Hoya +4 diopter was attached, rather like a lens filter. This will give you enough magnification to get really close. Backgrounds include bathroom tiles, neck-ties, and anything which will work well against the object in question. The tiara was simply placed on a kitchen worktop. A glass coffee table, and then a handy garden trellis took care of the shoes.

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Leonardslee Gardens

I think we'd all agree that life is more enjoyable when we have some company. These certainly make a change from the usual deer and rabbits:

Leonardslee Gardens lie just outside the village of Cowfold in West Sussex, and are a joy whenever we have one of those 'I must get away or I'll go mental' moments. With several lakes and ponds and beautifully landscaped gardens, it's a real treat, but it's the wildlife that makes it a unique place for me. I was hoping to catch some late summer flowers, but was a little late. Nevermind, the walk alone was worth the short journey from home. You can find Leonardslee here.

On the way back to the main areas I passed an enclosure for breeding pairs, and this adorable baby came and greeted me - she was about the size of a Hare:

The sculpture garden has some quite unique pieces, if you think this lady would look good in your yard she's yours for about a thousand pounds:

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Goodwood Revival Testing Day

I'm so annoyed that I'm going to miss the Goodwood Revival yet again this year - it's probably the most enjoyable public outing on the racing agenda, and quite a spectacle given that most attendees dress in period costumes and celebrate the finest (and in my opinion most glamourous) eras of motor racing history. So as not to feel completely left out, I nipped off to Goodwood circuit this afternoon for half an hour, and grabbed a few pictures ........

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Wakehurst Place

National Trust devotees will need little introduction to Wakehurst, situated in the Sussex countryside not far from Haywards Heath and just outside of the historic village of Lindfield. With acres of lawns, formal gardens, woodland, and lakes, this really is a fascinating and very beautiful place to explore. I was hoping to catch some of the late summer flowers but the outing was mostly about testing a new lens, the Tamron 24-75 f2.8. I don't normally favour third party lenses (being a strictly Canon studio) but so many people have recommended this one to me that at just a few hundred pounds it certainly is one worth having. Canon's equivalent, the 24-70L, is a fantastic lens, but too heavy for me to drag around on outings which involve a lot of walking, especially when I'm already carrying two other 'L' lenses in my bag. The Tamron proved every bit as good as its hype, and is certainly the most contrasty lens I've ever shot with (requiring a few changes to the editing process), but I hope you enjoy the samples.

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Corporate Shoot with Nick James

I've noticed that a few of my corporate clients are (thankfully) turning away from the staid, standard desk and PC headshot and are asking for more natural portraits. Whilst we still take the 'safe shots' we also have scope for something a little more daring. When Nick James contacted me I have to say that I was at a loss as to what we were going to do, and where. I love it when clients become involved and Nick whisked me off to the idyllic village of Slaugham in Sussex, where we found no shortage of interesting backgrounds, and the most wonderful gastropub opposite the church. I can't profess to understand the complexities of Nick's business, you can learn more about him here.

Goodwood Motor Racing Circuit

I feel so fortunate to live in the heart of West Sussex, just 30 minutes or so away from one of my favourite locations on earth - Goodwood Motor Circuit which has to be one of the most beautiful race tracks on the planet. Steeped in history, and home to the Festival of Speed and the Goodwood Revival, it's a busy little place with plenty going on for the car (or aviation) enthusiast. As a sports car owner and club member it's great for socialising and meeting up with friends, particularly at the Breakfast Club meets, details here where each monthly theme is unique, and guarantees an incredible turnout from around the country. Above are a few shots from the GRRC Sprint and Supercar Sunday. If you'd like to see the full set of shots from the recent Thoroughbred Sunday, please visit my main site, choose the Flash site, click on the 'client' tab, and enter the password: TS (case sensitive).

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Nymans Gardens

If any of you live in or near West Sussex then you may well have visited Nymans Gardens, near Haywards Heath - here. The house, and ruins, are set in acres of glorious gardens and woodland with amazing views across the Sussex Weald. Due to our relentless work pressures we hadn't been to Nymans for over a year, but grabbed a quick hour in the grounds last week.

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