Remembrance

10 November 2010.
Many churches will have their remembrance service on the 8th November the closest Sunday to the 10th.
This poppy wreath was at the back of a church in Isle of Sheppy. I thought I'd try taking a shot with the Lens Baby with no aperture ring on making it f2.

Leeds Castle Fireworks

I couldn't let November 5th slip past without doing a post containing fireworks. I know it's nothing original (none of my stuff is) it is colourful. Enjoy!

Cliff and the shadows - almost

Despite my efforts of applying for accreditation for a photo pass I never managed to get one for the London shows of Cliff Richard and The Shadows. I applied for today (23rd Oct) via the press section on the Live Nation web site. Not all days are available so, I assume that those day that are made available, well, are. As I'd not heard yay or nay, I thought I'd contact the person that sorts out all accreditation and press passes. This was the response:-

• Unfortunately we cannot accredit any agencies to shoot this tour at management's request, so on this occasion I'm afraid I can't accommodate you.

So to make for for lack of shots, here are some pictures I do have of Cliff Richard and half or the original Shadows. Sir Cliff, Bruce Welch, Jet Harris, and Brian Bennett.

Postal Strike - try being self employed

The UK postal service is experiencing disruption due to industrial action. Bosses being paid huge bonuses and poor working conditions. some details of the strike are here.

Being self employed I have to use the post service as other do. Sometimes I get paid and a cheque will arrive through the post. I may at times have to post cheques off to people in the post or other items. What annoys me most however is this:-

If I don't go out to take a photo, I have no chance of earning money. Not every picture I take will earn me money, so there are occasions when I wont earn money from a days work. I have to work to have the chance of earning money. I don't get a regular pay cheque each week/month. This is similar for many self-employed people.

• Quite often I have to wait outside for photocalls/red carpet events. It can be cold raining and generally not great conditions.
• PR companies that send out information, who will be attending an event, quite often embellish the truth. For example, X celebrity has been invited to attend, doesn't mean they will attend, they have only been invited.
• There are too many press photographers and photographers which means there are so many pictures out there, that prices (therefore income) are falling

As a musician:-

• No hot water back stage
• No drinking water or nothing to drink
• No satisfactory changing rooms, too small.
• Stage no big enough
• Can't be louder than 80db (the same volume level of traffic in London)
• Waiting months for money to be paid (The larger the organization, the longer the wait)
• Neither of these lists are exhaustive

What is the reason behind this post. Well I can't go on strike to protest in an attempt to get better conditions, because someone else will take the job. If we just decide to walk out in protest, we wont earn any money, but we would earn a bad name and reputation. Those that are able to strike are possibly in a better position than they think they are. There are always going to be people better off, sadly, there will always be people worse off. I'm now in a position where I'm waiting for a cheque to arrive in the post. Without this money, I can't even afford to go out and earn money. I don't rely heavily in the post to be fair, this post is more about people not realizing how well off they are in comparison to others.

• EDIT:- I sent a parcel (Recorded) to someone yesterday (21st Oct) I was advised by the post office that the parcel wouldn't be delivered till tuesday or wednesday next week. I had a message to inform they received the parcel today, so clearly some are at work.

A post of tea

A friend of mine thought I should update my blog. So heres a special picture. Something we all need. Tea!

Stephen Gately

With the sad news that Stephen Gately has passed away at the age of 33, I thought I'd post a few pictures from of Stephen taken at Boyzones first reunion show at G-A-Y back in early 2007.
the full story can be read here

Speech Debelle

I photographed the Mercury Prize awards last month. Many of the acts I'd never heard of, including Speech Debelle shown here. She won the much coveted prize. It amazes me how one minute I've never heard of someone, then the following day, they are all over the papers because they won an award.

Tech Info:- The shot was taken with my 70-200 lens which I think is great. I particularly like shooting head shots with this lens wide open at 2.8, using more natural light than flash.