Peek-a-Boo

This morning Beeston celebrated the Chinese New Year, which this year's animal is the horse.

It is also the first time that it has been staged at Broadgate Park, as usually it takes place in the Square. But with the ongoing tram works, and now they have started updating the shopfronts there, it has become a bit of a no go zone for people.

It was nice that the sun decided to make a rare appearance too, as it has rained on an off all week. But it  was a bit breezy and cold.

There was the usual mixture of music and dancing. It does seem to be the same every year for some reason. So instead of showing you something similar to last February, here's a shot of a Asian baby all wrapped up against the cold.

Getting Hitched

After a very busy day yesterday shooting for Oxjam, it seems that I, and Gail this time are going to be very busy with our cameras at a lavish Asian wedding at a nearby hotel.

Fortunately we have enough memory cards and batteries, so we just grabbed our gear and went. The hotel isn't too far from where we live, so we were soon there and having a look around.

Were weren't going to shoot the official photographs, as they are taken in the more traditional way, while we had been asked to take lots of candid shots of the guests talking to each other, or children playing. Anything really, taken through a Western eye.

It was a very exciting, interesting and tiring day. A lot, lot different to a European wedding. A couple of thousand shots between us, so a lot of editing to be done before I can send them to the happy couple.

As it was a private ceremony I'm discrete enough not to share any of the photos with you, but I'm sure the bride and groom won't mind me posting this; a chocolate reminder of the happy day.

Sweet Success

Another private pre-wedding shoot tonight. An Asian one too, so it was very colourful.

Near the end of the night everyone was given a bag of sugar in a small paper carrier bag. It was explained to me the significance of the sugar. Apparently a long time ago in India sugar was a commodity that only rich people could afford, so people did what they could to give sugar as a gift to bring the newly married couple good luck.

Nowadays you can buy a bag of sugar very cheaply. But the tradition lives on.

Slice And Dice

Besides posing with handbags and heels, Kirin was also open to wearing or using any props that were lying around in Michael Lau's studio.

So I got Kirin to pose with the Samurai sword in a Uma Thurman, Kill Bill stance.