Contemporary Portraits and Weddings

Bluebell Woodland – Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire

Simon — Sun, 06 May 2012 19:39:53 +0000

This morning I awoke at 4:00am and was unable to drift back off to sleep. After climbing out of bed I noticed that today promised to be a beautiful morning of dryness and clear skies, something of a rarity over the last month. Back on the 7th April I had set out to find a bluebell woodland for a shoot I had in mind, and found a promising location on the outskirts of Clumber Park in Nottinghamshire. Due to the performance of the great British weather I had not returned to this spot since then, but decided that this morning could possibly make good landscape shoot. At 4:30 I was packing my rucksack by torch light before venturing out in to what turned out to be a cool -2 degree Celsius Spring morning. A quick scrape of the car windscreen and I was off on my way for the short drive to the location I had found all those weeks ago. As I drew close to the lay-by I was greeted by a wonderful carpet of bluebells covering the woodland floor that was easily seen from the main road. After quickly parking the car I set off on foot and walked through a tranquil woodland picking my way through the carpet, checking out different view points. As I started setting up for my first shot, the morning sun broke through cloud built up on the Eastern horizon allowing a few rays to bathe small sections of the woodland floor and trees. Unfortunately the moments of lovely golden light were short lived.

Below are a few of the images I shot of the bluebells during the 2 hours I was in the woodland. I hope you enjoy the images.

Wyming Brook, Peak District

Simon — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 19:26:53 +0000

On the edge of Sheffield, between Redmires Reservoir and the Riveln Dam runs the wonderfully tranquil Wyming Brook.This was my first visit to Wyming Brook, and was only really a reconnaissance mission after shooting the sunrise over Stanage Edge, but I could not resist taking the camera with me and taking a couple of shots.The great thing about being there early in the morning is the stillness of the area, only broken by the sound of running water.

I hope you like these couple of images and take a look at my website.

Stanage Edge, Peak District Landscape

Simon — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 05:43:56 +0000

One early morning I set off to capture the sunrise over Stanage Edge in the Peak District National Park. As a young adult I had spent many memorable hours walking along the edge and watching friends climb the face, however I had never climbed up in total darkness. After parking the car and setting off with my camera equipment, trusty head torch and the usual flask of coffee, I climbed the path to the summit. It was certainly a lonely walk and a little eerie, especially when I came across a sudden movement and a dart of eyes caught in the torch light. The sheep certainly had my heart racing. After reaching the edge and having a well deserved coffee, I dropped a little lower than the edge and settled on a position with some grindstones in the foreground, and set up to watch the sunrise over the edge.

Below are a few of my images taken from this morning. I hope you enjoy them, and please feel free to leave a comment.

If you have enjoyed these images and wish to know more about me then please take a look at my website.

Higger Tor, Peak District National Park, Derbyshire

Simon — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 17:51:02 +0000

It was on one cold and frosty morning I decided to photograph the sunrise over Higger Tor in the Peak District National Park, Derbyshire. Luckily for me it was only a short walk from the car to my location, however the wind was extremely strong. After setting up my camera I waited for the break of sunlight over the distant hills with a cup of coffee from my trusted flask. The wind was so strong it was whipping the coffee from my cup as I waited. As the twilight gave way to the morning sunrise, the sky was transformed in to a wonderful display of colours.

Below are a set of images taken that morning.

I hope you enjoy the images above. Please feel free to leave your comments.

Straw Bales – Autumnal Harvest

Simon — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 17:38:59 +0000

Almost 4 years ago before my Son was born, I used to spend many mornings and evenings come to think of it, sat out in all types of weather hoping that the weather would be kind and create something spectacular. After leaving these image un-posted I thought it was time I posted them on my blog. The next few blog posts will all be about nature and the landscape. I hope that my Son and I will be able to enjoy some of this quiet time together as he grows.

The image I envisaged driving home one evening. I passed the straw bales just outside Whiston in Rotherham as the light started to change. I drove home as quick as I could and dragged my then pregnant wife out, with all my camera equipment, to spend an evening stood in a farmers field. Ever the true romantic

Sunset around Whiston, overlooking a farmer's field of straw bales

I hope you enjoy my images and have time to look at my website.

St Audries Park Wedding in Autumn

Simon — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 21:29:00 +0000

Wow what an amazing day was had in late October when Claudia and Robert wed in the Victorian orangery at the stunning manor house of St Audries Park in Somerset. From the very start you could tell it was going to be an amazing day when Robert arrived as relaxed as any man can be on his wedding day in his AMG Mercedes, previously owned by no other than Lewis Hamilton. Claudia was an absolute dream in such a stunning dress, and calmly orchestrated the whole day. Not even the rain towards the end of the day could dampen their enthusiasm to have fun.

I would like to share a few images from their special day.

I hope you have enjoyed the wedding photography from Claudia and Robert’s wedding at St Audries Park.

Looking for a wedding photographer then please visit our website for more information.

Creative Portraits – Lisa-Marie Lesi

Simon — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 06:00:04 +0000

After sowing the seed of a Tuscany re-union with the “Tuscany Tribe”, at the beginning of December I was privileged to be invited to a Christmas meal at the home of Chris Hanley. Chris donned his whites and showed us his creative flare in the kitchen that almost rivalled that of his camera skills, and cooked the most delightful 4 course meal. We ate, talked and laughed until the early hours of the morning, even managing to see the milkman pass through the snow covered streets of Stockport. Luckily for Chris there was no damage to the living room chandelier by our good friend Damien Lovegrove. After leaving Hanley HQ at 4am the group sang a few merry songs on the way back to the hotel before rising for a 9am breakfast and a creative shoot in the Riverside Studio of Chris Hanley.

Below are a few portraits taken during the morning shoot.

I hope you have enjoyed the portraits pictures from the creative shoot at The Riverside Studio. I wish to thank our model Lisa-Marie Lesi for braving the cold and snow that day to join us after the meal the night before.

Looking for creative portraits then please visit our website for your portraits.

Portraits in the streets of Borgo a Buggiano

Simon — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:41:54 +0000

This is the last set of portraits shot during my time in Tuscany with some great fellow photographers including Chris Hanley and Damien Lovegrove. All of these these portraits were shot in the quaint streets surrounding our villa and include some great textures and Tuscan colours.

Below are a selection of the portraits taken during this shoot.

I hope you have enjoyed my portraits on the streets of Tuscany pictures. I wish to thank Carolina Rosini for her professionalism and patience.

If you are looking for portraits in the streets around your home location or destination holiday then please visit our website for more information on portraits.

Boudoir Portraits in Tuscany

Simon — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 08:37:07 +0000

Continuing on from yesterdays blog post, I am moving back to where my Tuscan adventure began, back at the wonderful Villa Sermolli and its commanding views of the wonderful Tuscan countryside and the town of Borgo a Buggiano. Villa Sermolli is a wonderful 13 bedroom mansion featuring a wine cellar, 17th century frescoes and a splendid fireplace in the country kitchen, the latter being where I spent some great nights with great friends including Chris Hanley and Damien Lovegrove.

Over 2 days we shot stylish Boudoir Portraits around the rooms of our “home” and on the last evening we wondered down to the olive grove to shoot a few portraits in the last rays of sun. The shoot certainly turned the heads of the passing cars as they wound their way up the hillside, never mind the workers harvesting the olives.

Below are a selection of my Boudoir Portraits taken over the 2 days.

I hope you have enjoyed this set of Boudoir Portraits from Tuscany.

Looking for stylish boudoir portraits then please visit our website for your boudoir portraits.

Portraits on the streets of Pisa

Simon — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 20:19:25 +0000

With Christmas time here, I thought it was about time to catch up and post some blogs from the last couple of months. In fact the cold weather has caused my mind to drift back to the warmer climate of Tuscany.

Back in November I was in Tuscany with some great friends including Chris Hanley and Damien Lovegrove, and had opportunity to shoot some amazing portraiture on the streets of Pisa. At lunchtime we gathered in a small street cafe to embark on a creative journey to shoot in the late afternoon sun and in to the twilight using a small torch. Here are my portraits from that shoot.

I hope you have enjoyed the portraits on the streets of Pisa. I wish to thank the two models Deborah Parcesepe and Charo Galura for their professionalism and creative energy.

Looking for creative portraits in urban environments then please visit our website for your portraits.