Matt Fryer Photography - North Devon Wedding and Portrait Photographer

New site.

2010-09-15T23:27:00.001+01:00

From today onwards all my new posts will be published to my main site - www.mattfryer.co.uk - It's all new and shiny so go check it out. Cheers.

38/52 - My driver.

2010-09-14T10:17:00.001+01:00

38/52 - My driver., originally uploaded by ::matt.fryer::.

Todays wedding was at a local golf club and I knew we had to get out on the course before dusk for some shots. So enlisting the help of the brides brother and good freind of mine, Barrie was my driver for what was possibly the scariest ride of my life. Not his driving I add, but the fact I had my camera in one hand, lowepro bag and other kit over my shoulder and fully extended light stand with 580exii being held out the golf buggy in the other hand. Have never laughed so hard in ages. Cheers mate and huge congratulations to Debbie and Steve.

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37/52 - Smile, ok jump then!

2010-09-14T10:16:00.003+01:00

37/52 - Smile, ok jump then!, originally uploaded by ::matt.fryer::.

This weekend saw me a little closer to home, Saunton Sands to be exact. A really fun wedding with a lovely couple. Wishing you all the best guys. This shot was taken as we tried to take a few quiet shots on the beach. Jumping, bride on a surfboard are just a few of what we ended up with. So much fun.
Taken with 3 speedlites, all shot ttl, one camera left, one camera right and the master on camera set to lower power to add fill flash. Works ok, but could have done with more power.

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36/52 - First Dance.

2010-09-14T10:16:00.001+01:00

36/52 - First Dance., originally uploaded by ::matt.fryer::.

A mamoth trek this weekend all the way up to Angelsey for the wedding of Chris and Emma. 8 1/2 hours to get there on bank holiday weekend. Not pleasent. But the drive up was fun especially along the A5 towards Bangor. The wedding was a fantastic day set against the back drop Snowdonia for the service then onto a stunning country Manor I couldn't pronounce let alone spell! But huge congratualtions to Chris and Emma.

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35/52 - Star fish.

2010-09-14T10:15:00.001+01:00

35/52 - Star fish., originally uploaded by ::matt.fryer::.

You always forget what's on your door step. This week is no exception. Took the boys to the excellent Ilfracombe Aquarium. A great small little place but loads to see and do. Well worth the visit.

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34/52 - Run aground

2010-09-14T10:12:00.001+01:00

34/52 - Run aground, originally uploaded by ::matt.fryer::.

This weeks see us as a family with some friends down at Fremington quay. A nice walk along the old railway line then a quick stop for some coffee and cake at the cafe. Once again taken on my iphone with hipstamatic app.

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33/52 - Family time.

2010-09-14T10:11:00.001+01:00

33/52 - Family time., originally uploaded by ::matt.fryer::.

I am puting down the camera for a few weeks whilst I take a summer break from weddings. So it's back to basics with my iphone and my much loved Hipstamatic app. Todfays was taken on Saunton Beach as we enjoy some much needed family time.

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My 52 project and mussings.

2010-09-10T05:57:00.004+01:00

Sorry everyone for lack of blog post recently, but it's been a pretty hectic few weeks, back to back weddings, album design, new site design and new clients for 2011. Finding the time to update my current blog has been limited, but I have still been keeping up with it and should be posting the shots in the next few days.
Other things going on, well after my article in a national photography magazine (Images to follow) it seems everyone is interested in me, with an article on me in local paper next week and image submitions for a bridal magazine. It's all go go go. Just looking forward to being able to share my recent work and goings on with you all.

32/52 - Uber flash returns.

2010-08-07T13:17:00.001+01:00

32/52 - Uber flash returns., originally uploaded by ::matt.fryer::.

Another great wedding today, for another great couple, the bride grew up in Woolacombe so a proper village affair for the evening do with lots of old friends and faces saying hi.
The shot today was taken using our soon to be patent protected "uber flash", but this time using a calumet bounce umbrella. The couple had a videographer for the day and we managed to get him to film the beach shoot so keep an eye on my blog for that appearing very soon. Showed the couple this one shot before they went away on honeymoon and they loved it, showing anyone and everyone they could, think that speaks volumes about my work.

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Family entertainment.

2010-08-07T13:16:00.001+01:00

Family entertainment., originally uploaded by ::matt.fryer::.

We took the family out tonight to the sheepdog trial and falconary display at Borough Farm near Woolacombe, home to the Channel 5 tv stars of Mist and her sheep dog tails. Having lived i Woolacombe all my life I was a little sceptical about the whole thing, thinking it was just another tourist attraction. How wrong I was. First pleasent surprise, the price. £4 per adult kids under 6 go free for a 1 1/2 hour show. Bargain. Second surprise a stand selling homemade cakes. I'm happy. The first half of the show was David Kennard who runs the farm talking about and showing his dogs and the work they do. Despite seeing it all my life I was a still captivated, just as much as my boys were. The second half of the show was a display from Johnathan Marshall and it was amazing. Won't say too much as I strongly recommend you seeing it.
All in all it was a fantastic hour and a half for little money.

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31/52 - Family camping

2010-08-07T13:15:00.001+01:00

31/52 - Family camping, originally uploaded by ::matt.fryer::.

I must be bonkers, a rare weekend off from shooting weddings and I agreee to take the family camping for the first time. Aghhhhhhhh.
No it was really good, the boys behaved and slept well, the weather held out good and the campsite was a secluded secret hide away in the middle of Exmoor. A great weekend with great freinds. Just what i needed.
Oh forgot to mention this was taken on my iphone using the hisptamatic app.

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30/52 - Beach uber flash

2010-08-07T13:14:00.001+01:00

30/52 - Beach uber flash, originally uploaded by ::matt.fryer::.

Someone must be looking down on me, the weather all week has been iffy to say the least with heavy downpours and less than summer like temps, but come Saturday it all changes with near perfect conditions for shooitng a wedding, blue skies with some light wispy clouds.
Only downside to shooting a summer wedding is you need a huge amount of flash power to really make the beach shots pop, so this shot was take with 3 flashes, 2 580exii's and one 430 exii taped together, all fired from my cactus v4's through my single flash softbox. Not the perfext solution but it works.

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29/52 - Wedding shoes.

2010-08-07T13:13:00.001+01:00

29/52 - Wedding shoes., originally uploaded by ::matt.fryer::.

Today was the wedding of David and Charlie at the stunning location of Pickwell Manor. Another great intimate wedding for a another lovely couple.
Spotted this shot as I was doing some detail shots in the morning with the bride.

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28/52 - Jim and Lisa - Woolacombe wedding

2010-08-07T13:10:00.001+01:00

28/52 - Jim and Lisa - Woolacombe wedding, originally uploaded by ::matt.fryer::.

Had the immense pleasure today of shooting a lovely intimate wedding at The Woolacombe Bay hotel, for a lovely couple, Jim and Lisa. A great day with some surf in the morning for the groom and a stunning sunset in the evening. Wishing you both all the best in the furture guys.

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Samsung NX10 testing

2010-07-02T16:01:00.004+01:00

First outing today with Samsung NX10 test camera. Just messing around to get a feel for it before real testing and article writing for Pro Photo Mag starts. Early impressions are good. Loving the 30mm f/2 pancake lens it's a sweet little toy.
Won't say too much about it otherwise it will ruin my report and it has only been one outing to test it with. Will be getting out and about more over the coming weeks testing it in all situation but primarily at weddings, not as a main camera but as a second camera for candid shots when the sight of a full size DSLR puts a lot of people off and shots are often missed as they shy away from the main camera pointed in there direction.
The NX10 is from the new generation of hybrid cameras. Small as a compact camera but with interchangeable lenses, full control on image capture like a DSLR, similar sized 14.6mp sensor but all in a handy small lightweight rugid body.

Samsung NX10 review on DP review site.

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27/52 - Fishy bench.

2010-06-30T21:15:00.003+01:00

Treated myself to a fisheye lens the other week and this is the first chance I have had to get out and play. It's nothing fancy just an 8mm Samyung full manual fisheye, which is interesting but fun.
Being laid up with a bad back this week, there was no funky angles or high vantage points to make the image that much more dynamic, just a simple grab whilst on a slow walk along the tarka trail. In an attempt to spice it up a little I pushed the exposure 2 stops above and 2 stops below in lightroom, then run the 5 images through Photomatix HDR software to create this tone mapped version of the original shot.
Very pleased with the final result and had forgotten how good a well done tone mapped image can look. Might have like a bit more contrast on the wood of the bench if I had to be picky, but over all I'm very pleased with the result considering the circumstances.

For full impact of shot - View On Black

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New Moo business cards.

2010-06-30T13:23:00.003+01:00

A quick blog post today, I took delivery of my new moo business cards this morning. it must be a slow day in the office if I'm blogging the opening of the post, well far from it. Loads of stuff going on at present including a feature in a national photography mag in the near future, but more of that in another post. This blog post is about how impressed with www.moo.com I am. I placed the order at the end of last week, got email confirmation that it would be 7-10 days before they got dispatched, which was cool. 3 working days later they are on my desk, in my wallet and ready to be distributed. Fantastic customer service in my book. Plus the quality is second to none and the price was spot on.
I think the part that attracted me most to Moo was the fact that I could have multiple images on the rear of my cards, so I have tailored this batch of cards to suit my wedding and portrait needs. Next time they will be based on some commercial and event work I do. Every card can be different but I went with just 10 designs, 3 portrait and 7 wedding. Looking forward to dishing a few out at the next wedding.
Well done Moo crew, you just made a new customer for life. Many thanks.

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26/52 - More of Alice.

2010-06-26T22:46:00.004+01:00

Some of you may remeber my shots, back in the early part of this year, of Alice a new young model from North Devon. Previous Alice post
Well her friends sent a few of the shots I took into miss teenuk comp and she has been selected for a photoshoot in London next week. So in order to prep her for her 5 mins of fame in the big smoke, we set up another shot to give Alice some more practice, this time we took the shoot outside. Apart from forgetting half her planned wardrobe we managed a great fun little shoot.
Shot on my 7d with my 24-105mm f/4 L and single 580 exii speedlight on light stand fired by cactus v4 camera front left. If memmory serves me correct this was shot with flash at 1/8 power 50mm zoom on head.

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25/52 - Sunset couple.

2010-06-26T22:45:00.002+01:00

A good friend of mine got married and as my gift to them, I gave them my wedding photography skills. This was shot on the lower beach at Ilfracombe tunnels, where they got married. After this shot I ended up doing a heap of couple portrait shots based on the same set up. Very pleased with end results. Just they are too.

Shot on my 7D with my 17-40mm f/4 L, single 1/4 power 580exii fired by cactus v4 on VALS to camera left.

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24/52 - Spring bride?

2010-06-13T12:42:00.000+01:00

Shoot a great fun wedding yesterday for Katie and Eugene. Lovely day, stunning weather and so intimate with just 60 guests. Folowing on from a chat with the local bridal magazine looking for a spring bride shot, I jokingly suggested a bride on a trampoline. Katie and Eugene were up for up it, so why not. It's the kind of thing I love to do, something out of the ordinary.

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23/52 - Wedding workshop.

2010-06-13T12:41:00.000+01:00

Had an amazing two two days with Lovegrove consulting. First day was a business of wedding photography seminar, which was an real eye opener. Then the second day we went up to Stonehouse court near Stroud for a wedding shoot with Damien and Juile Lovegrove. I could ramble on for pages about how good it was and how much I learnt. But I won't. I'll just leave you with one shot for now and the rest of the set to follow later. Huge thanks to Damien and Julie for all the guidance and support and Franko and Sarah for an being excellent couple for the shoot.

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22/52 - The happy couple.

2010-06-13T12:39:00.000+01:00

Had another great pre wedding engagement shoot today with Charlie and David. Despite overcast and foggy weather we managed to get out in the grounds of Pickwell Manor for a few shots. Lovely couple with so much love, I know that the wedding imagery will convey that.

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21/52 - Withypool Bridge.

2010-06-13T12:37:00.001+01:00

Back to reality with a bump this week. Decorators in doing loads of work in my house so a spot of peace and tranquility at the spot is what's the order of the day. Still can't put down the iphone..

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20/52 - Whitehouse revisted.

2010-06-13T12:36:00.000+01:00

Still keeping with my Jersey theme, I have re tweaked an image already uploaded, original was editied on my laptop which has shocking monitor calibration. Have edited now on main machine to achieve the look I was after. Still might lack sky details for some. but hey ho!!

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19/52 - Moo you looking at?

2010-06-13T12:35:00.000+01:00

Out here in Jersey for the week visiting family. Got my full camera gear but went a wandering with my iphone and my beloved hipstamatic app. Seemed fitting to choose a Jersey icon as my first shot.

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18/52 - Becky and Tom.

2010-06-13T12:34:00.002+01:00

Had a fun engagement shoot with some wedding cleints today. Weather was great, overcast, windy and slight chill in the air but we made it fun none the less. If the shoot is to go by then the wedding is going to be great day.

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17/52 - Roll of the dice.

2010-06-13T12:33:00.002+01:00

Taken for a comp entry on the theme of numbers. Can't remeber exact settings, but it's bounced on camera speedlight with dice placed on lid of my laptop. Tweaked in lightroom to give it a little more punch.

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Vicky and Dom -22nd August 2009

2010-06-13T12:21:00.003+01:00

Coming to the end of my 2009 wedding season review now, with only a few more notable weddings to post. This retro is from Dom and Vicky's wedding. Shocking weather in the run up to it, but on the day someone was smiling upon us. Shame the entrance to field didn't think so. Plenty of mud. But aside from that it was a lovly wedding. Very relaxed with the groom and even the bride taking a few swings with the golf clubs in a pitching comp between the lads. In the evening the marquee was rammed and it created an excellent atmospshere. A great way to start your married life together.

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Goldcoast Oceanfest.

2010-05-17T23:15:00.004+01:00

18 19 20 June 2010

Well that time of year is fast creeping up again and it will be soon time to head down to croyde for this years goldcoast oceanfest. Once again I have been asked to help cover the event and I am pretty stoked to say the least. After last years front stage slot to see Jason Mraz, this year is going to be even better with the Magic Numbers and Joshua Radin ont he Saturday. I can't wait.
For full nfo on all band, events and goings on check out
Goldcoast Oceanfest
Maybe see you there.

Mike and Louise :: July 2009

2010-04-21T21:56:00.003+01:00

Starting off at Ilfracombe Parish church and then onto my favourite venue of the Woolacombe Bay Hotel, this July wedding throw it's best and worst at me, a great fun couple made the day so much better but heavy rain mid way through the formal's saw us resort to using a corner of the bar to finish off getting those few missed shots, it just goes to show why the Bay Hotel is one of the top locations in North devon, in my opinion, it is just so versatile. Although this wedding was my one and only wet wedding of 2009 we still managed to get out at sunset onto Woolacombe beach for a few shots and trash the brides dress with sand and some scissors! I kid you not. It was such a great day and I wish Mike and Lousie all the happiness for the future.

16/52 - Wedding shoes.

2010-04-18T19:55:00.000+01:00

Well this month's theme seems to have landed on weddings, which ironically is what I am shooting a lot of this year. So what better than another wedding realted shot. This time taken on Woolacombe Beach as the sun was setting. Can't show you any from the wedding just yet as the bride and groom haven't seen them But you all will in due course.
I got down real low for this shot to give that slightly different perspective on my shots as ever.
On a side note I took this on my new 7D which before had started to play up but shortly after this shot it died completely. Not bad to be able to kill a new camera in 48 hours!

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15/52 - Happy Anniversary darling x

2010-04-18T19:52:00.002+01:00

10 years on the 8th of April I said "I do" to my beautiful and supportive wife. On that day our passion flower was in full bloom and so too was the cherry tree where we got married. Today was the first time in 10 years I have seen the cherry tree's blossom at this time of the year. Must a sign.
Taken on my iphone using the hipstamatic app.

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14/52 - Pre wedding recon.

2010-04-18T19:50:00.003+01:00

I have a wedding in June at the stunning location of Tapely Park, Bideford. I meet with the couple in the grounds today to go through the final details of their day. After the meeting I stayed for a while to scope out lighting, angles etc etc.
This is where they are getting married so played with lighting set ups. Two speedlight 580 exii's just above each side pillar point to the ceiling and stofe'd, 1/4 power 24mm zoom triggered by cactus v4's. Hopefully that should give enough lighting to balance out the ambeint and flash on the day.

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Blog and site updates.

2010-03-29T23:32:00.002+01:00

I know I have been a little quiet recently on blog updates, but hopefully posting should return to a normal pace again. It has been a mental few weeks of wedding album design, meeting with clients and general day to day business running stuff. But I seem to be over the worst of it now, so I can turn my attention to a new website design with plenty of extra content and look forward to what is shaping up to be a very busy 2010 wedding season for me, with literally one or two dates left this year, and I am all ready taking bookings for 2011 and 2012. Hopefully I won't have to increase my prices for next year but book now and I will honour this years prices next year or the year after!
Looking ahead to my new site design, I shall be adding plenty of links to wedding related suppliers in the North Devon area, so if you are such a person / business and would like to be included, then please drop me a line (My email can be found on my mail site or over to your right →), areas I will looking to forge links with are venues, entertainment, catering, suit and dress suppliers, cars etc etc. Also in the new site design this blog will be moving to my main site and there will be an updated client and general gallery system too. All exciting stuff. Thanks to Gareth at Dogleg Design (www.doglegdesign.co.uk) for doing the work for me.
Oh and one final thing don't forget my 52 project is still going strong. Not sure on what the next months theme will be yet but I have a few things on my mind for it.

Cheers
Matt

13/52 - Oh this is fun.

2010-03-29T23:29:00.003+01:00

I set aside some Daddy and Tomas time tonight in order to get a few quality shots of my boy, not just for my 52 project but also for his year book. So laid down in his cot surrounded by all his "friends", I held his attention with a musical mobile and winnie the poo musically thingy. Found it hard to maintain eye contact with the camera, he was more interested in the mobile. But this shot is close enough. Just love how his hands are clasped, just like his mothers.
Again, not to be out done by his younger brother, JAckson insisted on having his photo taken, even though it was bath time. Nothing more than simple adjustments were done on this shot.

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12/52 - Finally.

2010-03-29T23:18:00.002+01:00

A bit late in uploading I know but it's been a mental few weeks since my holiday. Wedding albums, client meetings and office organisation. So little time to shoot images, which is very annoying. So grabbed a few minutes the other morning before heading out to get my weekely shot 52 project shot. Still continuing the theme of my youngest this month.
Captured this one whilst he was rolling on his play mat.

Not to be out done by his younger brother Jackson demanded he have his picture taken, but refused to stop eating though. So here he is with a mouth full of biscuit. Lovely.

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11/52 - Let sleeping babies....

2010-03-16T06:07:00.001Z

...or is the say let sleeping dogs. i can never remember. Anyway this weeks shot is actually of my youngest, Tomas, but in true Fryer fashion when it came to his big moment in front of a couple of speedlites with stu's to be fired by Cactus v4's, he decided to fall asleep and sleep for sometime.
So still my iphone hipstamtic phase at present rather than blind the poor lad with strobe he got shot with my iphone and processed my current favourite app. I promise to ween myself off of it sometime soon, but I just love the simplicity of it. Not just the app which is great for the money but also shoot with a iphone. One button and not complicated. It kinda feels like the old days of Polaroid for me. Just point and shoot and you will never really know what will come out until it develops.

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10/52 - Tomas

2010-03-09T21:10:00.005Z

Was supposed to be some super portrait shot of my youngest this week but he isn't really up for photos. A bit camera shy. So a candid of him asleep in his bugaboo will be this weeks 52 project shot.
This was taken using my iphone and my current favourite app - Hipstamatic.
John S Lens, Ina's 1969 film.

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Bridal magazine cover image.

2010-03-08T22:45:00.004Z

Found out last month that this image is going to be the cover shot on the next local bridal magazine. Stoked doesn;t describe the feeling.

The shot in print.

My advert inside the front cover. even more stoked.

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9/52 - In from the cold.

2010-03-03T06:30:00.002Z

A poor shot for this weeks image, I know but ill children, mountains of photography work and poorly van ahve all kept me from getting that one shot. So todays shot is a very candid grab as the boy came in from "helping" in the garden.
Shot on my 40d with nifty fifty ens and 580exII speedlight bounced off the wall behind. The shot is a flat and boring so processed it a lot in lightroom to try and disguise our hideous wallpaper.

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My work in print and shameless Plug.

2010-02-27T10:53:00.003Z

A little while ago I was asked to shoot some product shots for my good friend and web guru, Gareth @Dogelg Design, I had completelty forgotten about the images until his site went live last week.
Head on over to Dogleg Design and check out his new site plus see my imagery in the top right hand corner of each page.
Personally I am well impressed with the images and they way they fit site.
It's so good see your own work on display sometimes.

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8/52 - Little red trike.

2010-02-23T06:34:00.001Z

it was my boy's 2nd birthday on Sunday and we got him this radio flyer retro trike. He is a little too short still to pedal it properly but he is loving just pushing him self along on it.
Taken outside our house, where all the best places to trike are, with my 40d at 245-105mm f/4L and speedlight 580 EXII off camera fired by cactus trigger off low camera left.

There a re couple more shots on my flickr stream of him on his trike too.

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Dean and Bonnie :: May 2009

2010-02-23T06:09:00.002Z

This was a great little wedding, nice and intimate with just close friends and family there to help celebrate Dean and Bonnie wedding. Set in the picturesque church overlooking Braunton and surrounding areas of Heanton it was a lovely day. A couple after my own heart really as the wedding car was a sub 16 second 1/4 mile split screen camper. Thankfully the driver kept it sedate! (ish). As ever I managed to stop off enroute to the venue with the couple and have 20 mins with just them to capture a few private tender moments. One of the shots of them in the field of rape seed flowers is currently being used in the latest edition of the North Devon Gazette's bridal magazine on the cover.

7/52 - Down and dirty. Well sandy

2010-02-18T22:14:00.001Z

I was originally intending to shot each member of my family as my 52 project subjects but seeing as it is my boys second birthday very soon, I thought I would continue on this month with Jack being the star.
This was taken on Saunton beach, North Devon. For some reason he got down on the sand to dig his hole, obviously I followed suit.
Taken with my 40D and 24-105mm f/4 L, combo'd with my 580 EXII on Cactus v4's fired from camera high left @ 1/4 power I think.

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More of Alice thru my looking glass

2010-02-12T06:56:00.003Z

A few more from my recent photo session with new model Alice.
All were very simple lighting set ups, shot with my canon 40d, 24-105mm f/4L glass paired with Speedlight 580 EXII and 430EZ all triggered by Cactus v4's and using a grey background.

More can be found on my flickr stream.

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6/52 - Jackson

2010-02-11T16:51:00.001Z

Well you have suffered my ugly mug for the last 5 images so I thought it about time I changed the subject matter and focused on my family. First up is my eldest, Jackson, who will be 2 at the end of this month, time has really flown by and everyday he seems that little bit more grown up and independent. It's scary how the time flies.

More images of my boy can be found on my flickr stream.

A simple set up, single speedlight @1/8th power directly behind subject firing onto grey background with speedlight in ezybox softbox @ 1/8th power camera right and slightly high, all fired with cactus v4's and shot with a Canon 40D and 24-105mm f/4L. Processed in Lightroom and CS4.

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Introducing Alice.

2010-02-04T22:50:00.004Z

Had a great model shoot with a new model tonight. It went really well and am stoked with the results. Just grabbed two from the end of the session to show this time. More to come once they are processed.

This was a clamshell set up. Bottom flash on 1/16th top on 1/8th power.Processed in lightroom and slight skin smooth in CS4.

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5/52 - Normal service resumes

2010-02-02T23:56:00.002Z

Well I did it the first month of 2010 with out a shave or hair cut. Treated myself yesterday with a trip to the barbers, the first in 9 years, just so he could hack through the beard growth and thick head of hair I was sporting. It still needed a little finishing trim at home but I got the worst done.
So back to normal now, clean shaven again and respectable. ready for the wedding season to kick off this weekend.
Considering this was another self portrait this week I am chuffed with how it turned out. Love the graduated backdrop from the gelled speedlight firing directly up the background. Stoked.

Set up for this self portrait shot.

Grey lastolite collapsible background with blue gelled speedlight 430ez @ 1/16 power on it, 580 exII through Lastolite ezybox @1/8 power on me just off to side of camera right slightly, camera on tripod fired by delay trigger, 1/250 sec, iso 100, f/4
Flashes fired by cactus v4, image processed in lightroom and cs4

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Facebook fans portrait sitting.

2010-01-31T10:42:00.003Z

I recently gave 5 fans of my work on facebook the chance for a free portrait shoot. These shots are from the first sitting taken down on Northam Burrows. A fantastic family with kids full of character. As ever it took a while for the children to settle but once they got used to having their photo taken there was no stopping them. It was a real fun shoot and I had way to many shots to chose from. I have posted more shots on my flickrstream.

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4/52 - The final few days.

2010-01-29T06:33:00.004Z

So the beard growth is nearly over, just a few more days and I shall return to normal. Going to celebrate with a cut throat shave and haircut on Monday 1st Feb. Two shots for this weeks post but I just couldn't decide on which one. The striaght classic head shot style or the cheesy pose which better reflects my current persona. Only downside to the first shot is that my hand covers a little too much of my chin. Set up for these shots are as follows.

Shot 1 - Black b/g about 2ft behind me, speedlight 580 exII on stand with beauty sih and honey comb grid camera left around 4ft from me, shot with 40d on tripod, but fired by my VARC. 1/60 sec, f/4, 1/8th power on flash.

Shot 2 - Black b/g about 2ft behind me, speedlight 580 exII on stand with beauty sih and honey comb grid behind and slightly higher than the camera around 5ft from me, shot with 40d on tripod, but fired by my VARC. 1/60 sec, f/4, 1/4th power on flash.

Processed in Lightroom then CS4 where I think I may have over cooked the skin smoothing but as I have the complextion of an aligator it was needed.

Pleased with how it turned in the end, simple lighting set up with effective result me thinks.

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Shane and Jessie :: May 2009

2010-01-23T22:27:00.005Z

I love every wedding I shoot but all for different reasons, no two are the same and that's what drives me as a wedding photographer. But if you were to hold a gun to my, no if you were to hold my camera bag over a cliff and force me to name my best ever wedding otherwise you would drop the bag, then this would have to be it.
Pretty much everything about this day was near perfect. The weather was amazing, the location was the best there is I reckon and the couple were just fantastic. Very relaxed and chilled. There were no wedding cars, everyone walked from the village to the church and back to the reception. This idea was so simpe but so cool, the walk back down was great, right the heart of the village on a busy sunny afternoon, every one pretty much stopped and watched the wedding party walk by, either clapping or cheering. The rest of the day followed the same theme, relaxed and chilled. After the meal we managed to pop down to the beach for a few sunset shots. The sky was on fire that night and I knew the shots would turn out pretty good. I wasn't prepared for what I shot. The series of shots is one of those that now sits in my portfolio permanently. That's how stoked I am with them.
Shane and Jessie, I wish you both all the very best for the future wherever it takes you. You deserve it guys and thank you for letting me be part of your day.

There are some more images on my Flickr Page follow the link below to see them.

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3/52 - Chinny chin chin.

2010-01-20T22:20:00.001Z

Week 3 of the beard growth and it is starting to itch now. Plus all the grey is now showing too. Not good. Honestly thought though that the growth would be longer now than it is. But I can't wait until the 1st of feb to go have that proper wet shave to get rid of it all. A little stumble is cool, but this ain't.
Took the shot with falsh on camera bounced of wall behind, white bounce card placed on table under chin to reflect light back up and under. Camera set full manual (f/4, 1/50 iso 400) flash on manual too (1/18th power and 24mm zoom), processed in lightroom and CS4.

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Paul and Jenny :: April 2009

2010-01-16T07:29:00.003Z

This was a great wedding, very relaxed and I knew I would get on well with the couple when they told me their cake was done in a snowboarding theme. How cool. Unlike some other weddings there was no stress from the couple all day, everything just flowed smoothly. The service was in St Sabinus Church in Woolacombe, then we took some time out before arriving at the reception to have a few private shots done over looking the sea around at Combesagte. To be honest with the weather that day and the relaxed fell to the wedding I think we could have all stayed their just watching the sea. When we managed to leave the headland it was onto the Woolacombe Bay Hotel.
The second to last shot above was not set up, we just happened to all be walking back from the bottom car park after a few more shots when i turned to notice the line they were walking in. Grabbed about 5 frames before they passed me.
I love Woolacombe weddings as I was brought up there and still maintain it to be one of the best places to get married in North Devon.

Snapshot of my 2009 Wedding Season.

2010-01-16T07:21:00.004Z

Now my 365 project has come to an end, I have plenty of spare time on my hands. So before the 2010 wedding season kicks off early next month for me, I thought I would share with you some of my wedding images from last year.
Despite all the rain and unpredicatble weather I had it lucky I think, with just one near washout wedding, but we made the most of it.
So over the next few weeks I shall be updating my blog with 10-15 images from a few of last years weddings. I hope you enjoy them as I did shooting them and don't forget I still have a few weeends free this year if you know anyone who is getting married and looking for a wedding photographer.

2/52 - Fanny by laptop light

2010-01-11T23:18:00.003Z

Well here we are for another weekly shot, this week I am shattered, been burning the candle at both end and in the middle too. It's prime wedding booking season and with enquiries and bookings coming daily it's a struggle to keep up with them all and spend quality time with two boys under two. Sorry boys I promise I will devote sometime to you soon. Honest. So the beard growth, well it's cultivating nicely. Not too itchy yet, but I'm sure that's just around the corner.

Shot set up. - 580exII laid on laptop keyboard firing straight at me, 128th power with stofen, behind my head is the 430 ez with aqua gel and home made diffuser, which will be used in in some later shots this month. All fired by cactus v4's and 40d. If I had a third strobe working then I would have used it to add some fill to the front of the laptop.

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1/52 - It's me! The cultivation begins.

2010-01-03T23:31:00.002Z

Ok, the first week of my 52 project and it's a SP, camera held at arms length directly in front of me and speedlight off to my right triggered by cactus v4 trigger, very little work done in PS other than clone out catch light from flash in my glasses.
The months theme is my beard growth. For 16 years I have had to shave for the fire service, now I am no longer a retained fireman, I am growing a beard. So why not document my beard growth..

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Site Updates.

2010-01-03T22:55:00.000Z

I am currently trying ot update my blog with a fresh new look to enable me to display bigger images, things aren't going according to plan so this may take a day or two. Please stick with me whilst I attempt to break my site and call on the help of someone to get back up and running again.

Just so you all know my 52 project is well under way with the first image due as soon as I have sorted this site out.

My 2010, 52 project.

2010-01-01T17:53:00.002Z

Well my 365 project is now behind me and as ever I am always looking towards the next project, so for 2010 I shall be undetaking a 52 project. Every week for the whole year I shall post an images here on my blog and on my flickr stream. To make it a bit more interesting, I am going to theme each month. As hinted in my 364/365 image I am not shaving for the month of January, so this will be my theme for the first 5 weeks of this year. I have several ideas for theme's for the rest of the year but am open to suggestions. So get thinking, drop me a line and suggest theme. You never know I might even throw you a free photosession with me if I use your suggestion.

Once again thanks to eveyone who has supported me though out 2009 and here's to new ventures in 2010.

365/365 - The end, I did it!

2010-01-01T17:51:00.001Z

Well it's done, one image everyday for the year of 2009. Have been racking my brains trying to think of a suitable image to sum up my year and this is it. Not the most technically well executed image of my year, but one that means a lot to me. My boys. Besides I think Jack was more interested in Postman Pat on the tv than me.
This little project has been fun and as much as it has been a bind somedays, it has pushed me as a photogrpaher and a person. in 2010 I am going to be doing a 52 project, one image a week for the whole year. Check out my blog for more info.

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364/365 - Take a holiday guys. You deserve it.

2010-01-01T17:49:00.001Z

Well these guys are going to be redundant for the first couple of months in 2010. For the past 16 years I have had to remain (semi) clean shaven for the fire service, but as of 11.59pm on 1st Jan I shall no longer be a retained fireman and not need to stay so clean shaven, so for the the month of Jan (at least) I am not shaving. Beardsville here I come.
This will also be the first month's topic of next years 52 project. Check out my blog for more info on that photo project.

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363/365 - Welcome to my kitchen.

2010-01-01T17:45:00.001Z

Granny Jersey is over visiting for a few days, so the boys are having another christmas today with yet more presents. The look on Jacks face when he relaised he had his own kitchen was priceless, took us nearly an hour past bedtime to drag him away from it. Another Jamie Oliver in the making? We can wish.

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362/365 - Inflight meal.

2010-01-01T17:42:00.001Z

Tring to walk off some of the xcess we have consumed over the past few days, we ventured out to feed the ducks again. Nothing too inspiring but a shot I am pleased with none the less.

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361/365 - Iphone fun.

2010-01-01T17:40:00.001Z

Fired up by a book I got for christmas, I took some sound advice from it.
"You are never more than 10ft from a good picture and the only thing limiting you taking a good image is you not your equipment"
So with these word in my head and the boy asleep in the van I ventures 10 ft from my parking spot whilst Jack was snoring his head off and got snapping.
This was taken with my iphone and converted using Chase Jarvis's "Best camera" app.

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360/365 - Baby sitting.

2010-01-01T17:38:00.002Z

Boxing day is possibly as exciting as christmas day for me. No matter what we have done the day before we always spend it with my family. This is my dad babysitting our youngest. Putting a lot of effort into there I see Dad, cheers.
Taken on my iphone and tweak using Chase Jarvis's best camera app.

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359/365 - Family christmas.

2010-01-01T17:33:00.001Z

Happy Christmas everyone. Just a quick family snap as we make our annual prilgrimage down to the beach on christmas day. Not yet fuelled on turkey and alcohol, but nearly.

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358/365 - Um, turkey.

2010-01-01T17:31:00.001Z

Our fresh Copas turkey arrived today, 4.74kg's of succulent lovelyness. Just preping the bird for a good rasting tomorrow.

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357/365 - Slippery when icy.

2010-01-01T17:29:00.001Z

"One of our lorries is missing."
"Found it!"
One very lucky escape for one of our lorries. Need I say anymore?

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356/365 - Lastminute.me

2010-01-01T17:28:00.003Z

Just a few last minute presents to wrap. Yeah right, I'm male so that means wrapping all the gifts I have brought.

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355/365 - Why do I offer?

2010-01-01T17:26:00.000Z

Ugh, christmas food shopping. Being the loving husband that I am, I offered to do the food shopping for the festive period. Cat food and brandy. What else do I need?

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354/365 - You looking at me?

2010-01-01T17:24:00.001Z

Ok, so what happened to day 353? Well back in August I doubled up on a day's numbering and only just realised today. Bum. So I have skipped a day's number.
Todays shot was taken on an injured duck down at our favourite duck pond.

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My 365 project and other ramblings.

2009-12-20T12:37:00.003Z

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.

2009-12-20T12:30:00.000Z

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?

2009-12-20T12:28:00.004Z

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

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350/365 - Saunton Sunset.

2009-12-20T12:26:00.001Z

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.

2009-12-20T12:25:00.001Z

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.

2009-12-20T12:20:00.003Z

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.

2009-12-20T12:18:00.001Z

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.

2009-12-20T12:16:00.002Z

The final product proudly in place on the tree.

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345/365 - Almost ready.

2009-12-20T10:35:00.000Z

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.

2009-12-20T10:33:00.001Z

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

2009-12-20T10:28:00.003Z

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!

2009-12-20T10:26:00.002Z

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.

2009-12-20T10:25:00.001Z

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?

2009-12-20T10:22:00.002Z

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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339/365 - eni meeni mini mo

2009-12-06T22:26:00.001Z

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.....

2009-12-06T22:24:00.001Z

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.

2009-12-06T22:22:00.002Z

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.

2009-12-06T22:20:00.001Z

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...

2009-12-06T22:18:00.001Z

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.

2009-12-06T22:16:00.002Z

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...

2009-12-06T22:14:00.001Z

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

2009-12-06T22:11:00.001Z

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?

2009-12-06T22:10:00.002Z

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!!

2009-12-06T22:09:00.002Z

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.

2009-12-06T19:38:00.001Z

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

329/365 - Thank you and good night.

2009-11-28T06:27:00.001Z

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.

2009-11-28T06:25:00.001Z

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.

2009-11-28T06:23:00.002Z

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.

2009-11-28T06:20:00.001Z

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.

2009-11-28T06:18:00.001Z

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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