Kate, Somewhere, 2009

Nearly time for shorts and flip flops!

Although I haven’t actually had or worn any flip flops since I was a small child.

Cornish beach, 2004

Nothing new, but something old.

Taken on my 30th birthday.

Abby, Plymouth, 2010

Or something like it.

I wonder if I’ll like this tomorrow. I do get so in the zone with my Photoshoppery, it’s hard to tell.

I  like it now, however.

Ria, Plymouth, 2010

I like to shoot that way.

More from my Rolleicord test shoot with Ria.

Ria, Plymouth, 2010

Hurlers, Cornwall, 2004

As I haven’t taken pictures of anybody for what seems like an age, I’ve been mooching through some of my really old stuff.

I really like some of this. It’s made me realise that I really wasn’t that bad a photographer back then. I think I may have been ‘rehearsing’ at the time and really wanted to include people in these shots, but they’re pretty strong as they are.

They make me miss film, and in particular infrared film.

They make me miss the slow process that was involved, and that shows in the results, particularly the compositions.

Bodmin Moor, Cornwall, 2004

They REALLY make me miss square images.

Ho-hum.. perhaps I’ll get some nice prints of these made up.

Bodmin Moor, Cornwall, 2004

Kate, somewhere, 2009

… we’re slowly starting to get more of it – Hoorah!

We’ve just been through a record-breaking period of deep-freeze in the UK. I know I’m overly sensitive to the seasons and the environment, but it really felt like a deathly air descended upon the country and made time stand still for a week or so. Horrible.

Anyway, looking forward to warmer times now.

I don’t know why I haven’t posted these two pictures from my shoot with Kate — typical of me to hold back the best.

Kate, Somewhere, 2009

I woke up feeling dreadful yesterday. Typical flu-like symptoms — aches, tiredness, swollen throat, feeling slightly out of it — so assumed I had the much anticipated H1N1 that’s all the rage at the moment.

I had the final shoot for the project booked and went ahead with it, despite not feeling 100%. It went ok, I did as good as I would’ve done otherwise and the whole project is on the starting line waiting for the green light.

Today, however, I expected to wake up feeling like death-warmed-up as the flu really gets going. I am, however, feeling pretty much ok. Which I am MOST suspicious about…

An explanation would be that I’ve been working too hard of late. As proud as I am of the project, it has been a lot of work, and the deadlines have (and still are) pretty insistent.

When I feel it’s done and dusted, I need to look into taking a break somewhere.

To remind us all of breezier, sunnier days, here’s a picture of Kate. I love the mood of the images we got on that day — so natural and sun-kissed and care-free. Was only a few weeks ago, but the season’s definitely changed since then.

Ben Jarvis, Plymouth, 2009

I’m nearly able to reveal the project that’s been taking up most of my time lately.

It has produced a great number of images that are surplus to requirements, and some amongst them that I really rather proud of.

Here’s just one…

Ereka, The Woods, 2009

Oh! Grandma…

Ereka, Bodmin Moor, 2009

Unfortunately. No sheep either.

They’re pretty cool animals, those cattle. I love the way they just mooch about up on the moors, walking all across the roads and such.

They nearly made an appearance in this shoot with Ereka, but became camera shy when it came down to it.

One cow in particular made the most perfect ‘moo’ sound I’ve ever heard…

I’ll find a way to get them into my photographs one day. I don’t think they’ll require model releases.