Sunday 20 December 2009

My 365 project and other ramblings.



I am now into the final few days of my year long 365 project, it has been tough at times but ultimatley it has pushed me to take better shots. I think carrying it on into 2010 would be unwise due to a heavy work load for this coming year plus I have the fear of repeating content and boring the hell out of you all. So for 2010 I am doing a 52 project. I will publish one image each week for the entire year of 2010, but each month will be themed. Janurary is already sorted but I am looking for suggestions for the remain 11 months of 2010. Anything goes.

Looking ahead to next year my wedding season starts in early Feb and is looking to be a busy one with some very exciting weddings coming up. I will share as many of them with you as possible. Hopefully in Janurary, if it all comes off, I have some exciting photoshoots lined up with a variety of models and clients. As for the rest of the year we shall see what happens, but if you would like to book my services, for your wedding, a portrait sitting or just some commercial work, then just drop me a line.

Thanks.

352/365 - A light dusting.



Oh some snow. Not much but a dusting. Here's hoping for a serious dumping around Christmas day, a true white christmas would be just the ticket.

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351/365 - How much noise?



Ouch my ears are bleeding.
Tomas has a touch of colic.
Nice boken though!

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350/365 - Saunton Sunset.



On my drive home I stopped to check the surf at Saunton, just happened to be there at the right time to capture the sunsetting over Hartland point. No matter how many times I see it, it still amazes me. Even better on a cold crisp day like today the view is so much clearer.

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349/365 - Ummm. Cakes.



It's one of the last few days at nursery for this year for Jackson tomorrow so the traditional party food and games is on the menu. thought I would send him with some cakes I loving made. What's better than someone else having your kids, fueled with e-number and sugar for the day. Good luck guys...

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348/365 - Let sleeping babies rest.



Well it has been 6 days since I last posted a shot of our Tomas, so here's one of him sleeping peacefully in his mothers arms, whilst she slept (Daren't post the full shot, I would be homeless before the weekend.)

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347/365 - I am no picasso.



Not only have we just had a baby, had new central heating, the builders knock a wall down and have double glazing fitted int he past few weeks, i thought it would be about time to do some decorating. Just putting the finishing touches to Jacksons new room. Dinosaur inspired don't you know.

Another ihone shot tweaked using the Chase Jarvis "Best Camera" app

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346/365 - Finished.



The final product proudly in place on the tree.

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345/365 - Almost ready.



The painted results of yesterdays make and do sessions.
Yes there are dinosaurs in there. Jackson was insistant we have dinosaur shapes too.

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344/365 - This could get messy.



The festive fun starts today, our oversized tree is almost ready to go up we just need to gather all the decorations up. So in preparation for it's erection, Jackson and his wonderful Mum are making salt dough decks. Would that have anything to do with a certain homemade home programe we saw last night? Who knows, but the boy certainly loved it.


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343/365 - Shell on a rock



Back down the beach again today, not film camera this time just my 30d again. Totally set this shot up. Took a while to find a decent shell though, but worth it.

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342/365 - Look at my muscles!



Jackson, our eldest went back to nursery today but I was still on paternity leave so after dropping him off I took a trip to the beach, took my 30d and Tokina 12-24mm f/4 for some wide angle fun but also took my Canon A1 with a roll of Ilford HP5 400iso film and my 28mm lens. HAd great fun and took a lot of similar shots so it will be interesting to see the contrasting images. Just need to get the roll developed know.
Anyone know of a decent place that still develops dedicated black and white film?

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341/365 - Grandad meet Tomas.



Took Tomas around to see his great grandparents today. Amazing to see 4 generations of our family all together.
Taken on my Iphone

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340/365 - Is that your best side?



I offered to help out my web designer today with a few product shots for a site he is designing. Boring product shots are not blog worthy material but a candid of G looking a bit camp and portly is though. Sorry mate.

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Sunday 6 December 2009

339/365 - eni meeni mini mo



Ah the choices in life. Found out our local off licence has a huge range of different beers. How cool. I personally like the "Dixie" but very partial to the modelo too.

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338/365 - Sooooo Bored.....



See told you I would take a picture of something other than Tomas. Today saw me sitting in possibly one of the most boringest places in the world. Our local laundrette. Waiting for my washing to dry, and i paid for the priveledge... 20p for 3 mins. Daylight robbery.
Taken on my iphone.

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337/365 - Smile son.



Ok ok, it's another shot of my boy, I know but he's just amazing and currently my world. Along with my eldest and my wonderful wife. Promise to not to take any more of him for the blog for a few days. Honest.

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336/365 - My boys.



I am so tired, i think 44 hours without sleep has finally caught up on me. This is just a quick random the pair of them on the bed together today. promise to make an effort once I have had some sleep.

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335/365 - Now you don't...



Well it's official, I am bonkers. The wall came down and the work is done. Well almost, just left for me to decorate now. But the result is amazing. Makes the room feel massive.

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334/365 - Tomas Fryer, welcome to the world.



This morning at 5.46am Tomas James Fryer was born weighing a very healthy 7lb 9oz's and within minutes of entering this world I have my 30d with nifty fifty in his face. I am over the moon and very emotional too.
I just want to say a huge thanks to all the staff at Barnstaple Lady well ward and associated midwifes etc etc. You were all amazing. Especially Anita, Jane, Lorraine and Maria. Thank you all so much.

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333/365 - Now you see it...



We must be mad, days away from our second child and I have the builders coming tomorrow to knock this wall down. Mad or stupid, not sure yet. But whatever I know it will make a huge difference to the feel of the room.

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332/365 - Meet Jacob



This is some good friends of ours new baby boy. Despite my wife being 9 months pregnant and on the verge of dropping we all went over to their house and I set up a mini studio shoot for several of our friends children, just in time for Christmas!! Ain't I good to my friends.

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331/365 - One of your five a day?




Another supposedly tried and tested method to bring on child birth. The humble pineapple. We shall see.

Single speedlight in gridded beauty dish shoot from directly above.

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330/365 - Nice view!!



Work to the house is progressing nicely. Today saw the finish of the new double glazing being put in. These are our new french doors leadsing out onto the garden. Just used to be a low window till the Launa man took an angle grinder to the wall.

Blog Updates.

Hey everyone don't panic I haven't stopped updating my blog, it's just that a small person has entered the world and I am taking a few days break from it all. Am still taking my images and am hoping to be able to update the blog to date sometime this coming week.

Thanks
Matt

Saturday 28 November 2009

329/365 - Thank you and good night.



I first joined the fire service back in March 1993 and after 16 years service I have made the agonising decision to call it a day. 11.59pm on Jan 2nd 2010 will be my last time on call. It has been a hard choice to make as I have loved every minute of my time in the service but with another addition to my family and my photography work taking off a fast rate, sometimes quicker than I can cope with, it is the right decision to make. I will miss it and will still ask about the last good shout and hopefully still meet up with the boys in the pub occasionally. But it's time to move on.
Just hoping that it will provide me with one final drive and BA wear before I leave.

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328/365 - Ummmm curry.



I am gutted that curry is one of the things that helps bring labour in pregnancy. Yeah right. A few beers and curry mid week. I have also had to endure fresh pineapple too, thankfully no raspberry leaf tea though.
Not much longer I think till we see our second child.

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327/365 - Nearly time.



This is part of series I took of my wonderful wife who is heavily pregnant. I know how much she hates seeing herself as a subject for my blog so I am truely greatful she has allowed me to use this shot today. Love you darling x

Lighting and setup is very simple. Just my black reflective background behind her and one single speedlite in my softbox camera right.

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326/365 - Images in print.



I recently won a comp over at the SWPP and today I got to see my winning entry in print. I am so stoked. The image will be entered into the forum general catergory at the end of year conference. How cool is that. All the top dog judges at the SWPP discussing my work..

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325/365 - Packing my bag.



With the impending birth of our second child, I thought I ought to get a bag packed. I am a man of simple needs so this lot should do.
Mp3 player and headphones.
Iphone charger.
Half drunk bottle of water.
2 oranges (My mum would be proud of me eating fruit)
Packet of m&m type things.
Oh and my camera. Canon 30d with Nifty fifty, lens cloth and some memory cards.
And a copy of the latest professional imag maker magazine too. Don't want to get bored now just sitting around.
That should see me through the event.....

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Saturday 21 November 2009

324/365 - Meet Pheobe.




Had an amazing portrait shoot today with a great bunch of kids. One who I had shoot before as a surprise for his Mum's birthday. So it was great to work with him again, such a charhacter.
This little cutey is 4 month old Pheobe. Everyone say "Ahhh"...
Would love to share the rest of the shots with you but you will have to wait until the parents have seen them first. Sorry.

But if you are looking for some relaxed portraits of you or your family then drop me a line. There's even still time to before christmas.

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323/365 - I needed this.



All work and no play make's Me unhappy. So tonight I am taking a night off from work. The first one in a long time. Just me my heavily pregnant wife and a bottle of wine. Did feel a little guilty as Abi is only allowed a very small thimble full of wine and I polished off the rest of the bottle. But the break was well deserved. For both of us.

Oh the set up for this was one flash high behind glass and bottle with orange filter to help the ambient light of the cabinet, second flash on floor behind me to just lift the room a little. Both fired with cactus v4's. Think it works bloody well if do say so myself.

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Thursday 19 November 2009

322/365 - Shoreline log.



Took a trip up to Lynmouth today as the swell charts said it would be working. Got there and it was 3-4ft+ , offshore winds and only 3 out. Shame I was working and didn't get to go in. Boooo. But found this rather interesting shaped log whilst wasting a few minutes watching some epic sets come in.
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Wednesday 18 November 2009

321-365 - Work Work Work.



The view in my office tonight. I am busy working on album designs, promo material and portfolio images. Oh and catching up on my 365 blog shots too. Busy busy busy.. Looking ahead though, my 2010 wedding bookings are coming in nicely thank you. Still a few weeks left but not many and I am even taking bookings for 2011 already. I must be doing something right I guess.

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320/365 - What's up darling. Does ti hurt?



Our boy is not well today, the final few teeth are pus hing through. It has been a testing time for all of us. Hence the lack of narrative for todays shot. Need more sleep.

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319/365 - Lee Filters.



My sample pack from lee filters arrived today. It's whole plethera os filters that they make, in fact all of them I think, the swatch is only small but just small enough to slip inside the stoffen on my flash gun. How handy... 300 filters for no money. Bargain.

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318/365 - We've missed you.



Short and sweet. Top Gear is back. Sundays are complete again.

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317/365 - Saunton Joiner.



Something a little different today. Back to my a level photography days with the joiner image of Saunton beach. The weather was foul today and I struggled to even get these shots as the wind was blowing so hard from the SW.

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316/365 - Bored at work.



Just a quick randon snap today. We were very bored at work today and things got so bad one of the guys cleaned the outside of the chiller. We must have been bored..

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315/365 - Ughhhhh.



The heating is done and we can have hot water again. Only downside is a dirty great hole in a cupboard where the boiler used to live. Ummmm lovely.

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314/365 - Nice cupcakes.



The plumbers are in full swing with the new central heating systemt his week and the wife had been baking. For them I have to add. Managed to steal one though.

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313/365 - Lilly?



Have been meaning to shot these guys for a few days now. Kinda a left it a bit late but think I managed to salvage the best from them.

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365 Blog Updates.

Yes I know it hasd been over a week since my last update but I have a genuine reason honest.
But rest assured I have been taking the daily image, I have just not had time upload them yet. I am setting aside a good couple of hours tonight to get my blog back up to speed and I promise to try harder in futrue to update it sooner.
In all honesty I have been very busy this past month, wedding season may now be over until next year but I am busy designg albums, sorting out bookings for next year and doing the odd family portrait in time for christmas.
So check back later tonight for my updated blog. Promise, well unless my wife goes into labour.

Tuesday 10 November 2009

Free Portrait Sttings.



That's right I am offering some free portrait sittings to the good people of my facebook fan page or readers of my blog, as a way of saying thak you for supporting me these past 12 months. There's no catches just simply mail me on free_photos(at)mattfryer.co.uk with a good reason whY i should offer you one of free portrait sittings. I doesn't have to be a family portrait, you can use that hour for whatever you like. Engagement shoot, cherish the dress, modeling portfolio or whatever.
Ok so the nitty gritty. I am offering a free one hour photoshoot with me with 4 free 12x8 prints. No cost to you, but you have to come to me in North Devon. Simples.
So come get thinking then get mailing.

Monday 9 November 2009

312/365 - Choas.



Choas. Work has started on our house this week and it's a bomb site. New central heating system is going in, double glazing is being replaced, en suite bathroom in the master bedroom is hopefully going in very soon and I have a builder coming around soon to do some serious damage to our kitchen. We must be mad with our second child due in just over three weeks.. Oh well.

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311/365 - Meet Jacob



Finally managd to get over and see our friends who have recently had their first baby. Welcome to the world Jacob and star of todays blog shot.

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310/365 - Vitamin See?



Back home and feeling the effects of drinking most nights in front of a log fire for the past week. So trying to make myself feel that little bit healthier by eating some fruit.

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309/365 - Meet Moose.



Homeward bound today, but not without a quick stop at ikea for some home furnishings. Taking a 2 year old into Ikea should be banned. Bless his cotton socks he was great until we hit the soft toy section, then he wanted everything. We tried hard to lose most of what he put in our trolley but "Moose" made it through and home with us. Well it kept him happy and me too I guess.

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308/365 - Mountain walk.



Abi wanted some rest today so I took the boy out for a walk, well I say walk, he just sat there in his carrier on my back and I did all the walking.
Found this pretty waterfall halfway up the side of another welsh mountain.

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307/365 - Long and winding road.



Bit of a trek out today as I wanted to see proper Wales as I see it. So a trip to the Brecon Beacons was in order. Great weather when we left home, shocking by the time we got anyway decent into the hills.

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306/365 - Stuck in the muck.



The weather was foul today so we took a trip into Cardiff by train, which was a great experience for our boy. The train station we parked at was busy so had to park on a grass verge. Heavy rain, heavy van. Need I say anymore.. Thanks to the AA for towing me out.

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305/365 - Caerphilly Castle



I am on a mission today to buy Caerphilly cheese from Caerphilly. So after a walk around the castle (This image is of the great fire place in one of the tower) I went in search. Fail, is all I will say, had to buy it from Morrisions.

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