It's A Disco Inferno

Here's a shot of the Disco Prophets, that I took last night at the Riverside Festival.

A slightly different line up since the last time that I saw them at a gig.

They were still great to listen too, which their interpretations of 70s classic tunes like Chic's Le Freak, to more modern songs, such as Get Lucky by Daft Punk.

The audience that was watching them, were soon on their feet and jiving away to the songs. I meanwhile was trying to stay as still as I could, as besides taking some photos, I was also videoing some of the concert.

The stage lighting was great, and really added to the effect of being in Studio 54. Although the mirrored ball was really just there for effect.

Smile For The Camera

My final photo from the Photography Show is this shot of a model that I took using a new speed light that this stall were demonstrating.

It was a bit different in design to normal speed lights in that it comes with an external  battery pack and its bulb is much brighter than normal bulbs. In fact it is more like a small portable studio light. There were various modifiers of different sizes that were available to buy.

 It took me a couple of goes to get the photo almost right. The first effort was a bit overblown, as the power had been tired up a bit too much, while the second attempts too dark. But this one is just about right.

Riders On The Storm

I was wondering what to put on today for a photograph and comment, as I've been a little stuck for an idea.

But help arrived in the form of the biggest, wettest storm Beeston has witnessed in many a year.

I had gone to the Monday film club alone, as Gail was a little tired after our visit to Donington Park yesterday. But I didn't stay to see the main feature, as it was going to be an Asian horror film, and it's not a genre that I care for much. So I returned home. Just as well, as a little while later the heavens opened.

There was plenty of lightning too, but unfortunately we are in a bit of a built up area, so could just see the effect, not the cause.  So instead I had to make do with a shot of the ever darkening sky.

Lighting Up Kit

Gail and I spent a very enjoyable and educational day in the company of top professional photographer Stuart Wood.

His photography is quite wonderful, and many of his images have appeared in top magazines and has had several front covers of the Radio Times.

There were only four of us on the course, and so it was like having one to one tuition. Firstly he went though some of his portfolio, and told us how he had created the pictures. Sometimes with many lights, sometime with just one, or just using natural light.

We then went on to learn about Rembrandt, butterfly, and split lighting. And of course the 'Inverse Square Law'.  Which is very useful to know when placing lights next to your model.

Our model was called Chantelle, and sat patiently whilst we all took photos of her, which showed the different styles of lighting.

Stuart also showed us a very neat trick with a single lamp and a sheet of white material on the floor, as in the photo above. Below is the result. Genius eh!

A Blonde And A Bike

Another evening, another model shoot. This time it is of up and coming model Emma.

Here's a shot only using natural light, in the garden belonging to Alan, who's studio we were using. I  just love the way the evening sun shines through Emma's hair. Just like you see sometimes on the shampoo adverts.

We then went inside the studio, and learnt a bit more about lighting, and how it can be used to make different effects. Such as the photo below, where Emma was just shot from the side, which adds to a sense of mystery to the scene.

Lighting Up

Although I am back to work now, I've not really seen anything worth photographing. And the weather has been lousy too. Dull and overcast. It feels like it is permanently dusk.

So here's another shot of model Chrissy who I shot during a recent studio lighting course.

Here's Looking At You Kid

My daily photo today comes from yesterday evening's photography lighting course that Gail and I are both attending. Alan the photographer sadly announced that the model he had booked couldn't make it due to illness, so Gail and Pete; another student on the course stepped in as substitutes.

Here's Pete pretending to be Indiana Jones or Sam Spade. It's amazing what a difference a simple prop like a hat can make to a model and a photo.

Let There Be Light

We've all been told to reduce our consumption of electricity to counteract the rise in global warming and the threat to the planet. So why were these street lights on St James' Terrace allowed to burn all day long on a sunny day? Couldn't the timer be changed so they only came on when it got dark?
Have you got similar evidence of waste?

Bright Lights, Big City

Gail & I went to see a concert last night. A Scottish folk/rock band by the name of Runrig. I didn't attempt to take any photos, as they never come out very well, unless you're on the first few rows. Anyway as we were leaving, I took a photo of the Elite building. A nightclub called Gatecrasher have opened there recently and they have installed these lights that change colour.

Up, Up On The Roof

This row of lights are at the entrance to the Council House, which is on the left of the picture. The archways on the right lead you out into the Old Market Square. The lights have shined on many a famous person over the last 80 years. The last being the Queen. See April 4th posting.

Lights From Another Area

As an early introduction to tomorrow's theme day. Here are some street lights I took, when I recently visited Wolverhampton. I like the white of the fitting against the blue of the sky. And I am intrigued by the design of the little crowns on the tops of the fitting.

Lighting Up Time

This is a close up of the entrance to the Council House, where all the decisions, good and bad are made, that affect people that live in the city. You've seen the building before in previous postings, but today I thought I'd show you the Gothic style lights.