Going back to the OldSchool!

Tonight, I am feeling like a little old school garage... I love that I can lok up most of the old school tracks on YouTube without having to dig out all the old CDs (Remember them?) and vinyl records(Unless your a DJ you most likely don't know then these days) 

One of my old school loves was this track by X-Men called "Yesterday"... I remember listening to this track over and over, bad memories with a girl. Plus it was kinda like the Beatles track of the same name in my eyes.

But there not all bad ones, many tracks by some great artiest that most who did not grow up in London have never herd of... the UK garage seen was massive and I think it was mostly London basted. We had no rock, little hip hop and almost no dance music unless you count D&B.

I did love me some drum and bass!

Head Shots!

This weekend I have 2 shoots happening. The 1st is filming a good friend for some promotion work... Yes Yes the people that know me, know I dont shoot video often but this is not cos I don't like shooting video - its that my computer cant take the file size that my Canon 7d kicks out at 1080p.

The 2nd shoot is for another friend, an actor. I met her a few moths back and we get along really well. 

She asked me a while back if I could shoot some head shots for her... Of course I can I said.

Now I have done a few shoots (not tooting my own horn) but I have never gone just for head shots, I love doing something new and different so I will always jump at the chance at doing new things. 

Now with my shooting work I always try to get a feel of the person, a movement or something to tell a story... The easiest way is to shoot the eyes, they are the window to the sole and make the image say something.

Here are a few images I grab from the web and all have something to say... Have a look and have a think what each image says to you.

Its all about the eyes!

I love the use of hands in this shot, 

A very soft look but tack sharp eyes

There is a feel to this image I just love

A simple shot that tells a story

The images on this blog are not mine but you can find them on a google search.

I did find this great video on youtube from B&H (US version of our Jessops) 

I am really looking forward to this shoot and I have a feeling, if all goes well, I can see this is a type photography becoming a regular part of my work.

Ylvas 30th Birthday

Ok I just had a look and I had not posted in over a week, A very crazy week and one of the things in that week was Fluffs 30th birthday. 

We had a friend stay over for the weekend - Joe. So we had an extra set of hands to help sort some bits out ot at least keep Fluff busy!

I AM Joe indeed 

So the 3 of us went into Camden town to get something to eat and drink. Then off to Happy-Streets for a serprize sushi making night! After a little last min running around we had all the bits needed to make as much sushi as all of us could eat!!

SO... MUCH... SUSHI!

All the girls got dressed up and made a sushi night even more magical

All the girls, All dressed up

Kiks scared the hell outa me with them contacts

Amazing cake by Queenie

The full set of images are on this LINK! 

I am still to get around to doing the images from the birthday drink that took place on the sat so they should be up in the next few days I hope.

Lemsip & Pugs

I hate being ill, I really really do! Most of the time i push it to one side and go about my life. This normally leads to me having the flu for around about 4 to 6 weeks, This time I took a day off - slept in late and Fluff kept me in tea and Lemsip. 

I really hate wasting a day as I really don't get much spare time these days with 2 jobs, family seeing my friends and all the house hold things that we all have to do... So I spent the day (in bed) empting the laptop so I can re-format it. 

Today I had to go out to grab some bits for tomorrow (My nephew 2nd birthday) and it felt nice to have some fresh air, still feeling a little shitty I popped into the new Primark up west. Normal stuff really but it just means that I can pop in there much more easyer then the one in Marble arch.

I got myself a new top and a pocket watch (below). Don't ask I just think pugs are really funny so I just had to grab it... Things like this make me smile!

Skrillex from what I have looked up is an American DJ... Before the other week I have never herd of him and I have still yet to hear what kinda tunes he plays.

The reason why I bring this up is a friend of mine has been updating her look and someone pointed out that they are looking very similar to each other. So while we were are a dinner together we got some images to play with from google image search, Now the image of Skrillex is not one of mine but im not sure who shot it. Sorry but props go to that guy(or girl) I just played in PhotoShop to mix the images together.

the rest of the images are on the site. LINK!

Birthday drinks and spins

Last Saturday was a new friend of mines birthday, We met at Frantics 15th but I do believe that we had bumped into each other at spits one week as well... She is a really sweet and lovely lady and invited me to bring in her new year.

Fast forward to this weekend and I'm heading up to Clapham common for drinks, poi and a little shooting. We only stayed at the bar for a short while and soon headed over to the park for some spinning action, The sun was setting and I had to be going soon so I got some pics said my good buys and headed for the tube.

I had a drinks date with Fluff in town of witch was alot of fun, we ended up in a bar that we went when we first got together, we chatted and laughed and I almost did not want to leave but I had told my friends I would return.

I did return and boy was I happy I did, most of the crew from the common had found them selfs at its after party (I know what a shock), and it was one epic night of fun, with a few freak outs and alot of drink later I left with a smile on my face and sooo many great memory's in my head.

Thanks guys for a really amazing day and night, you made me feel like a 19 year old again!

As always full set of images are on the site! LINK.

Aug Beach Burn

Last Friday was a full moon and my readers know what happens on a Full Moon 

FIRE SPIN!

Yes Alex Lee has magical from the stars had put together another beach burn on the south bank of the themes.

There is not much to tell you about this event that I have not said before, loads of spinners, a few watchers and a shit tone of fire. Everyone got together for a mass burn with everyone firering up at the same time... LOTS OF FIRE!

As normail I had some photography gear with me but this time I really was not that happy with my images, There was only one that I left the beach thinking that was an amazing shot! That is the images below with Dye and a burn off... Shot with no flash using my 50mm F1.4

Full set of images are on the site and on FaceBook.

Twist!! (20120827)

The other week I got a message from the guys at Twist asking me to shoot there after party on Monday morning. 

The event was set for 7am so I had to go right from Camden Palace to Brixton. Coming from a massive night with Frantic I had to grab some food in between events, I ended up getting there around 8.30am.

The club was Brixton Club House, its baste just above KFC on brixy high street. It is famous for its open air area but this did not open till 10.30 so we had a very small very hot very dark room to dance inside. I started to try taking some images but my camera was not working, I poped out for a fag and saw why... The whole lens was misted up, after a quick clean I was all set to shoot - but what to shoot!

Without having any lights apart from 2 very small red lights facing the stage. After trying a few things I gave up (remember this is right after 9 hours of hardcore raving). I went for a fag and waiting till the open area open. Once it did -the club really opened up!

I was really pushing my energy levels but by the end of the day I had an amazing time, I do feel I might be getting to old for dubbleing up my events but I am sure I have a few more in me before I pop my kloges 

Iamges as always are on the site and you can use this LINK.

Frantic's 15th Birthday

Frantic! I cant say more for it! 

For those who don't know, Frantic is one of the last big nights from back in the old school raving days!

Tidy, Timeless H.H.A(witch was Frantic) have all gone away but Frantic is still going strong.

Last Sunday night was Frantic's 15th birthday and the one rave of the year that I always book off and for the last few years SHOOT! I have been to every one since there 6th/7th and its always been a great night! I will always do my best to dance shoot spin or just be crazy for a night!

 

I knew it was going to be a good night when my bus pass shop got robbed so I had to walk half a mile to top up... Yes you know its going to be a good one with a start like that! Normally I would not mind but I was carrying a big ass camera bag. I really felt the weight on the way down there.

Frantics birthday was at "KoKo" otherwise know as Camden Palace and I got there so early that I grabed a coffee before hand. Getting inside and walking down the famous tunnel I saw that the club it was rocking, the lights and lasers shone and everything was set... or was it?

When we got in I was given a wrist band, a RED one... I got to the back stage area and was told that I cant be back there unless I have a GREEN band. So I got to drop off my gear but unable to go back there, Thats going to be a bit of a pain. This is one of the nights where I can put my gear down and not stress about it all night long... Skinny not to happy about it!

The night in itself  was banging! Non-stop music (Well almost non-stop a small 1min mess up) The people were jumping and everyone was having a great time. The dancers from Twisted Bliss did some amazing sets with 2 amazing shows by Hannah Rowland doing her fans and a amazing umbrella routine. This girl knows what shes doing and can put together a set better then anyone else I have seen from the rave world! 

All in all... Frantic is still one of the best nights out there, and I would tell anyone to check it out if they have an event near you! I really dont think this event is going anywhere soon but dont count on it... You never know what might happen so get to it and go dance your ass off!

One new thing to the Camden palace layout was the o2 cannon, I know there is one A BIG ONE in Ibiza but something tells me that was the idea but this is after all England... its nice and it does look really cool but if you have been to Space and seen theres then you know what your missing!

FULL set are on my site, click this LINK to see all the cool and crazy images from an amazing night out!

Skinny... The Pro Spotter!!

Today I did completed one of my goals for when I first started with photography.

Today I became a Pro Spotter on DontStayIn.com (DSI), DSI is a raving website that I joined back in 2002. Think facebook for ravers before facebook eas even through of... A online meeting place for everything clubbing, Pics events and chatting... This was the way that most of the random's in the club seance  stayed in contack with each other.

One of the biggest bits of DSI was the images, every night had 100s of pics shot by the ravers themselfs otherwise know as spotters but The Pro Spotters are the elite, They took loads of amazing images that looked great and looked just like what you was seeing at the time!

I have been a spotter for DSI for a long time but never could get great images on my little point&shoot... Then a few years ago I got a dSLR (SonyA300) and since then I have been working towards getting some of the amazing images that I saw getting taken back in 2005.

Well today I got my wish, after working hard at it for the last 2/3 years I got the news that I was being made a pro spotter! This is were most of my event style photography comes from, (I am sure if you are reading this blog you know my light spinning images).

Today is 31/08/2012

Today is the day I became a ProSpotter!

I AM SOOOOOO HAPPPPPPPPY!

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Now I was hoping to add images from the last few years to this blog BUT for some reason DSI is down right now... So I will have to add them later!