Posted by: Graham Law | July 19, 2010

Laura’s birthday at Shell Island

Hi All,

Went up to Shell Island last Saturday to meet up with my friends from Abergele and have a BBQ + just a few little drinks. What  good time until the rain started anyway!  The occasion was Laura’s birthday, and instead of going out for a couple of drinks in Chester or Liverpool she wanted to try camping. I joined for Saturday afternoon and night, and met up in Barmouth for a play on the funfair then onto Shell Island for a couple more drinks and a natter. Just about the time we went to bed it was trying to rain. By 4 or 5am it was hammering it down, and blowing a gale. Most tents seemed to bear up fairly well, but some in out party go flooded in their tents went home! Clearing up the camp in he morning took a while – It was raining on and off as we packed up.  

Waltzers in Barmouth on Saturday afternoon

Windswept Birthday girl Laura. A moment later and Laura's hat was dancing off across the dunes.

Sun setting over the Llyn Peninsula

Little did we know that the clouds were brewing a storm. A couple of hours later it started to rain, then it chucked it down while blowing hard too :-(

Posted by: Graham Law | July 12, 2010

Portrait shoot with Hannah, Colin and Family friend Ken

A week last Saturday Gwyn (blog link) and I hooked up with Hannah, Colin and their friend of the family Kenny. The five of us had good fun shooting round Newtown and getting some good frames. Gwyn and I have shot with Hannah and Colin before, but this time it was much warmer so shivering in the street wasn’t necessary! Some of my better frames are below:

Our three cheerful models for the day, Colin, Hannah and on the right Ken.

Beautiful richness of the blue sky mixed with flash under the bridge. 1/200, f11, iso200

Went for B/W here. It was taken under the trees in shade to soften the normal hard shadows from direct sunlight. Also using Gwyn's big refletor to bounce light back into Hannah's eyes.

Almost the same place as the last shot, but look at the harder shadows. I like this frame too because of the sparkle in Hannah's eyes.

Another frame mixing Flash and sunlight. The flash lighting the walls, + Hannah and Colin. The sunlight baklighting the leaves. We had problems here getting all three flashes to fire using the infra red system. But when they did - the shot worked!

Sunlight from the left, a warmed up flash to light the wall in the middle, and another flash in the alley behind Hannah. It works for me!

Posted by: Graham Law | July 11, 2010

Shetland holiday

Eventually I’ve got round to posting some of the images I took while I was away on my motorbike. Unfortunately the weather wasn’t that good in Shetland (Quite windy, and fairly grey) but we all had a great time. The Simmer Dim rally was one of the best I’ve ever been to… er, NO ‘The Best’ ! What a great bunch? nothing is too much trouble and everyone has the time to stop and chat.

I left on the Monday night and met up with my mate Mike in Bolton. From there headed up to a campsite near Moffat for Tuesday night and onto Aberdeen on Wednesday. When Mike, H and I stayed at the campsite near Moffat a year and a half ago, Alistair (the owner) said we could have a free breakfast if we went swimming in the Loch before 8am. Unfortunately for him Mike and I have long memories, and a free breakfast is a free breakfast! It was very cold though – it was a very very short swim!

On the way up to Aberdeen we decided to put ‘Aviod motorways’ into the Sat Nav. The down side it that it takes forever to get through major cities like Edinburgh. I wanted to head north from Perth and then east to Aberdeen. Time was running out so we batted along the main coast road to be sure we got there on time. 

Got into Lerwick Thursday morning after the smoothest crossing in history. The Rally site near the top of a small hill, sheltered a little from the wind by the hill, but still there were quite a few tents damaged.

Thursday nights entertainment was a drinking game. Not sure of the rules, mind you I don’t think anyone was? I asked one guy, and he said the rules were that “you drink from a boot” Nuff said? Can’t remember Friday night, Think I was sulking L My camera had started playing up that afternoon, so I wasn’t in the best of humour. By Saturday afternoon it seemed to have righted its self and was fine. (Very odd, but I was very relieved. Since then the problem has come back and its now away being fixed)

Saturday Afternoon was a bus ride to Lerwick to watch the mid summer carnival and sup a couple of beers. Just a few pictures below:

When we got back to the rally the Spinny chair was being abused. I thought this was so funny. A canteen chair attached to an electric motor. What could possibly go wrong? Think the idea was to get dizzy then run round an obstacle course. But staying on the chair was such a challenge that it was the entertainment in its self.

I was quite sad to leave Shetland, but also looking forward to touring round the highlands and taking the long way home. Left for Aberdeen Sunday night and spent some of Monday morning looking for a Locksmiths so I could recover my waterproof trousers form Mikes to box. (Broken key). Mike and I split company very soon after. He headed south and homewards, I headed north up towards the coast, cutting off the very north east corner, and staying about 20miles form John ‘o’ Groats on Monday night. From there I went to Applecross though some of the most spectacular scenery in the British isles. Just wish it was closer, it is truly breathtaking. From Applecross I headed home in one hit. Too far for me on a bike I was shattered when I got home.

Anyway, that’s a brief round up. Here are a few of the pics: 

Eventually I’ve got round to posting some of the images I took while I was away on my motorbike. Unfortunately the weather wasn’t that good in Shetland (Quite windy, and fairly grey) but we all had a great time. The Simmer Dim rally was one of the best I’ve ever been to… er, NO ‘The Best’ ! What a great bunch? nothing is too much trouble and everyone has the time to stop and chat.

I left on the Monday night and met up with my mate Mike in Bolton. From there headed up to a campsite near Moffat for Tuesday night and onto Aberdeen on Wednesday. When Mike, H and I stayed at the campsite near Moffat a year and a half ago, Alistair (the owner) said we could have a free breakfast if we went swimming in the Loch before 8am. Unfortunately for him Mike and I have long memories, and a free breakfast is a free breakfast! It was very cold though – it was a very very short swim!

On the way up to Aberdeen we decided to put ‘Aviod motorways’ into the Sat Nav. The down side it that it takes forever to get through major cities like Edinburgh. I wanted to head north from Perth and then east to Aberdeen. Time was running out so we batted along the main coast road to be sure we got there on time. 

Got into Lerwick Thursday morning after the smoothest crossing in history. The Rally site near the top of a small hill, sheltered a little from the wind by the hill, but still there were quite a few tents damaged.

Thursday nights entertainment was a drinking game. Not sure of the rules, mind you I don’t think anyone was? I asked one guy, and he said the rules were that “you drink from a boot” Nuff said? Can’t remember Friday night, Think I was sulking L My camera had started playing up that afternoon, so I wasn’t in the best of humour. By Saturday afternoon it seemed to have righted its self and was fine. (Very odd, but I was very relieved. Since then the problem has come back and its now away being fixed)

Saturday Afternoon was a bus ride to Lerwick to watch the mid summer carnival and sup a couple of beers. Just a few pictures below:

When we got back to the rally the Spinny chair was being abused. I thought this was so funny. A canteen chair attached to an electric motor. What could possibly go wrong? Think the idea was to get dizzy then run round an obstacle course. But staying on the chair was such a challenge that it was the entertainment in its self.

I was quite sad to leave Shetland, but also looking forward to touring round the highlands and taking the long way home. Left for Aberdeen Sunday night and spent some of Monday morning looking for a Locksmiths so I could recover my waterproof trousers form Mikes to box. (Broken key). Mike and I split company very soon after. He headed south and homewards, I headed north up towards the coast, cutting off the very north east corner, and staying about 20miles form John ‘o’ Groats on Monday night. From there I went to Applecross though some of the most spectacular scenery in the British isles. Just wish it was closer, it is truly breathtaking. From Applecross I headed home in one hit. Too far for me on a bike I was shattered when I got home.

 

Anyway, that’s a brief round up. Here are a few of the pics:

Mike fighting his way into a bottle of Whisky. Why he had to use his teeth only he knows!

 

The Boot drinking game. The rules are 'You Drink' the rest is made up as the game goes on.

Some seem to be able to cope with the beer, but then agian some DON'T !!

The game ends with a round or two of Russian Roulette. Why ear plugs? If the gun goes off a pop would seem the least of your problems?

Umm?

Thanks Gwyn for your post processing on this image

Taken about 10:30 at night. It didn't really do dark. It just went darker slowly till about 1am, then started getting lighter again. Never needed a torch all weekend.

A beautiful old BSA. Don't know how far it cad come. Never saw he owner to talk to. There was a large patch of black grass under the gearbox. Inevitable?

 

The Dizzy chair. Now who would think sitting on this is a good idea?

Both hands on the beer, both hands on the chair, or one on each? Dosn't really matter. What ever you do its going to end up going wrong!

Lerwick Carnival

Lerwick Carnival

Posted by: Graham Law | July 4, 2010

Passion on the streets of Amsterdam

Back in May this year I did a shoot in Amsterdam with my good mate Gwyn (link).  The shoot was run by Damien Lovegrove. These are just a few of the shoots. Nice photos, but what I learnt about posing couples and using locations was much more valuable.

First Shot of the day, lit with a single speedlight.

Cuban Theme. f3.5 1/125 iso400 7000K

Amsterdam Doorway. Single speedlight, f8 1/200 iso200 WB=Flash

f10 1/200 iso200 WB=Flash 2speedlights either side

f5 1/200 iso100 one speedlight behind couple to give kick light

 

f16 1/200 iso200 Twin speedlights either side

f4 1/200 iso200. Orbis ring flash. Plain green wall, shot just after lunch in a local bar.

f4 1/200 iso200 Orbis ring flash once again

A cold day, but a warm look. f4.5 1/200 iso200 single speedlight with 1/2ctb gel. WB=8000k to give very warm feel, 1/2CTB gel corrects the skin tones.

Back to using the Orbis Ring Flash. This was taken against a mural in an alley way.

Posted by: Graham Law | June 13, 2010

Hello world!

Hi everyone, welcome to my new Blog, well ‘first blog’ should I say. Bit new to this world, so please bear with me while I learn and hopefully keep your attention.

Where do I start? perhaps with why I’m running a blog?

Answer… Because I want to show the world my photo adventure.

We all love looking at Photos. Why I’m not sure, maybe its a way of peering into other peoples lives, or helping memories of our own lives? Photos have always been of value ever since the first exposure was made back in the late 1700′s

About Me:

Hi, I’m Graham Law, live in Newtown Mid wales, UK, and have done so for the last 20years or so. My Photo adventure started while I was at college in Leeds back in the 80′s. Back in the days of Film. Yes I’m that old! I was keen but inept in those days, looking back a ‘Happy snapper, with a SLR’. I learnt a lot about driving the camera, but very little about what to do with it… If that make sense? I was so happy when a roll came back from the lab with one shot out of 36 that was worth looking at. Now in the days of digital that’s all changed. Take a frame, look at it, adjust the lights pose, angle. Shoot another. All in 15 seconds. A quantum leap in photography?

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