Cheers

I don't know what Tintin is celebrating, but Snowy looks like he can't wait to have some of that champagne.

This rather cute model is in the window of a shop near the castle that sells a lot of the boy detective merchandise, created of course by Herge.

I just hope he drank the fizzy wine after he had ridden his motorbike, and not before.

Big Cats

Two Jaguar model cars that I bought the other day. Each one cost me £1.

The rather battered one is a Dinky Toys Type D that I got from a charity shop. If it was in mint condition and had its box, it would be worth about £120. But in its present state, it is only worth about a fiver. Still its nice to have, especially as it was made in the 1950s, the same time as the real one, and I never had one as a child.

The E Type is easily recognisable and has often been called the sexiest car ever made. 1960s cool at its best. The model made by a company called DeAgostini. and came from one of the many pound shops that have sprung up over the past few years. I think it originally cost a lot more, as its quite detailed, but may have not sold well, so it found itself on the shelf with a load of other toys, stationery and food.

Never Forget

Today marks the100th anniversary of the outbreak of World War 1. A century ago the world was embroiled in a very bloody war that lasted four years, and cost countless thousands of lives.

New ways of killing were invented, machine guns, tanks and of course the deadly mustard gas.  Aircraft were also turned into warplanes, and the Royal Flying Corps; the forerunner to the Royal Air Force was founded.

There are lots of commemerative events going on all over Nottingham, but I am taken by this diorama that has been created by Lesley Cook from Sneinton. It is currently on display in the window of the tourism office in the Old Market Square.

As the model is quite big, I have had to split it into three sections, and it's always difficult trying to shoot through a window, especially on a sunny day. But it is very impressive work, and hardy surprising that it took him two months to complete.

Fashion Parade

I was meant to be heading to the Old Market Square at lunchtime to see what was going on at the Great Notts Show, but I got sidetracked in the Broad Marsh shopping centre.

Walking through the doors I heard some loud music and a big crowd looking at something.  It was a fashion show of some description. It turned out to be clothing designed by students at a local college who have been doing a foundation course in fashion.

Some of the designs were really strange, and something you certainly wouldn't want to wear when you pop off down the supermarket! Experimental I think they call it.

Tank Mania

I took a day off work today to drive to deepest Leicestershire to do a model shoot with a difference, as it would involve tanks, armoured cars and other military vehicles.

The place I went to was called Tank Mania, and you can pay to have rides in the tanks around a very muddy track. They also restore old army machines and do team building days.

There were about seven of us photographers and five models to make the most of the hardware on offer. Unfortunately Gail couldn't join me as she couldn't get the day off. I had met a couple of the models before at Donington recently, so that was pleasing to know.

As I said, there was quite a bit of mud about and some very big puddles. More like lakes in some cases. All the models were wearing army fatigues that the company had provided. So three of them decided to get down and dirty, by walking into a rather deep and muddy puddle.

Then then started larking about and posing for the togs who had all lined up at the water's edge. I thought that if I did that, then I would just end up with the same photographs as everyone else. So I scrambled up the side of the bank, and shot a few photos, just to get a different angle. Here's Jade posing for the cameras whilst up to her waist in muddy water. Who said that modelling was a glamorous profession!

One of the models called Katerina didn't want to get her or her clothes wet, and so had gone off back to the portacabin for a cup of tea. I decided to find her as I had got a bit bored with the 'water babes' and wanted to ask her if she wanted to do something with just me. She said yes, and so as she was dressed in her own khaki outfit , I saw her as an action girl; Emma Peel or Purdy for example. We had got hold of a replica gun, so we spent an enjoyable 20 minutes or so, walking about looking for little scenes that we could act out, such as this sandbagged area.

Bicycle Fun

While we were wandering around Donington Park with our two models Sophie and Caroline , Gail and I were constantly looking for things to shoot the girls with, that might make for a good photo.

One of the girls spotted the big black motorbike, which you can see, but there was lots of stuff around which we couldn't move, but I did see this kids bike, so thought it would make for a couple of fun photos, considering all the speed machines on show there.

Motorbikin!

Just got back from a grand day out at Donington Park, thanks to Paul Lush and his girls. This time it was models and motorbikes.

I must admit that I'm not that excited by motorbikes. Give me classic cars or aircraft any day.  But it was fun all the same; especially as we got to work with some different models.

All the girls had dressed as though they had stepped out of the 1960s.  The plan was for the models to pose by some vintage bikes, but for some reason it didn't quite turn out that way. That was a shame, as I was planning on messing around with the photos in Lightroom to give them an aged feels. Still I am quite happy with this shot, which is more or less out of the camera.

Two highlights of the day was seeing the RAF Memorial Flight fly over the circuit, and this George Formby lookalike, who had recreated a scene from the 1936 film 'No Limit', in which our hero wins the Isle of Man TT race.

Models And Motors

Gail and I have just spent an exciting day at Donington Park shooting models and motors, separately and of course together.

There were plenty of Ford cars on show, as it was geared towards Ford owners, but there were others, like these Caterham 7's, waiting for the checkered flag.

I came across a message on Facebook for asking for 'togs' and models to walk around and interact with people who were there.

Here's Lucy posing with a Ford Escort from the 1970s. The weather wasn't brilliant, and it did rain a little bit, but not enough to deter us for enjoying the day.

Donington Park is close to the East Midlands Airport. So every so often jets would scream overhead, either taking off or landing; just like this Ryanair Boeing 737.

Mystery Couple Number One

I popped into Fopp today to see if they had the 'Nuts in May' DVD on sale, as someone I work with likes camping, and so I told her about the fantastic Mike Leigh film with Keith and Candice Marie, as they set up camp in Dorset. Unfortunately they didn't have it in stock. They had the other Leigh masterpiece 'Abigail's Party' in though.

As I was walking down Queen Street, I noticed these two being photographed by who I took to be a professional. especially as he had an assistant with him.

I have no idea who they are, or why they were being photographed. Of course I had to 'papp' them, just in case they turn out to be well known somewhere down the line. Unfortunately I was in a bit of a hurry to get back to work, otherwise I would have got chatting to the 'tog'.

Simples x

I came across these cute little fellows whilst wandering around B&Q late yesterday afternoon.

It's surprising how popular the meerkat has become, since the TV series a few years ago.   You see models, photos, stuffed toys everywhere. Even the insurance company Compare the Market has got in on the act, with their 'Compare the Meerkat' adverts, and the promise of a stuffed character toy if you take out one of their policies. They must be doing well, as they currently sponsor Coronation Street.

I think I like the private detective the best. He's amusing with his bow-tie and trench coat. What's yours?

                

Bicycle Clips

Tonight Gail and I went to a local hotel called The Belfry for a Christmas party organised for the people she works with at the hospital.

There was a bit of a 70s, 80s theme, and some people had dressed in period costume. Someone even dressed up to resemble Mr T. But we just wore normal clothes.

The food was quite good, but we left before the disco started as Gail didn't feel very well for some reason. Not the food, just a lot of coughing, as we were both coming down with colds.

Whilst I was waiting for Gail, I noticed that the hotel had dedicated a wall to local bike company Raleigh. Besides a bit frieze on the wall featuring photos and advertising pictures about the company, there were six picture frames hung on the wall, and each one contained a model of one of their famous bikes.

The one above depicts one of their tandems from the early 1900s, whilst below is probably their most well known and idolised models; the Chopper from 1970. They look very realistic and must have taken quite a time to make, as they look scratch built, rather than being made from a kit.

And Something For The Ladies

The show last night that Gail & I went to mainly featured women. Either as models, make up artists or clothes designers. And all very pleasing on the male eye.

There were a lot of men in the audience. But they had either just come to watch, or were taking photographs, or filming it for publicity purposes.

I did bump into this eccentric looking guy when we first arrived. He happily posed for a snap, and certainly stood out with his handlebar moustache and purple Willy Wonka top hat.

Wedded Bliss

It was an early start for Gail and I this morning, as we were off to shoot a wedding. Not just any old wedding, but one where there would be another eight photographers doing the same thing.

But it wasn't a society or show business wedding. No it was actually a day's tutorial with practical experience on how to shoot weddings. As although we have shot two weddings so far, we don't feel that we have got the hang of doing them yet.

It was a good day on the whole, and the two models that were hired to be the 'bride and groom' worked tirelessly through the day and kept their smiles going, when even real newly weds may want to stop and go for a beer instead. Michael Lau the tutor was very good. We have been to a few of his studio based classes and always found them useful and interesting.

Here's one of the many shots of Hannah and Neil that I took through the day. The weather was kind to us too. Although the constant changing light played havoc with our settings.