Colleen and I got bored one morning, So we decided to have a photo shoot around the house, Enjoy.
All these were shot at 50mm f1.4. i just love the super soft depth of field that this little gem of a lens gives you.
All natural light with a very minor filter effect added using Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop.
Tuscany Photography Workshop
As Colleen and I headed over to Italy I had no Idea what was laying ahead of me. After what was to be honest a nice trip to Tuscany via Milan, Bryon and Kellie (viewfindercentre.com) Picked up us from the Train station. We promptly headed for II Poggiolo in San Quirico d`Orcia. An ancient village of Etruscan origins. Later that evening we went for the first best meal of my life (there were many more along the coming weeks). Day One. Sorted.
At the end of the workshop, I can say that alot of things had changed, me, my style , my work flow, my energy, my ambitions and my outlook. I can confirm I shall be there next year to keep working on my sun tan.
A massive thank you to all the students, Eric and Dan, I love individual way of approching photography, There is nothing like raw talent in this world, I can not wait to see where your work takes you. Sam, I love your passion and the way you tackle the things in front you, I can not wait so see what next year will bring !
I would love to thank in person everyone who contributed to the making it a success. You know who you all are. I really hope to see as many of you there again next year for an even bigger better workshop.
John, Ian, Eric and Dan, thank you for letting me steal your cameras from time to time. Below are a few shots from the week 
Thank you to Colleen, Magena, Iveta and all the other models
Please be sure to check out the links below:
Bryon Paul McCartney – www.bryonpaulmccartney.com/
Viewfinder Center – Tuscany Workshops - www.viewfindercenter.com
One a random cold night , we grabbed the camera and headed up to the woods !
Enjoy !!
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TEXTURE LABB – ISSUE 1 | VOLUME 2
Fashion | Art | Photography - Texture
Labb magazine is a fashion, luxury, art , photography and conceptual bookzine
Things are set for Labbs return, Polished and looking stunning as ever. Featuring fantastic work by Karl Baxter (Cover), Tom Jackson, Spiros Halaris, Craig Flemming, Natalie J Watts, Erik Erxon, Hannah-Beth Todd, Bob Packert and many many more !! Here at Labb HQ, we have not shown our cards yet, BUT, please stand sure that we have have some big things in the line for you all.
The website has had a little face lift, Links the blog/ facebook/twitter are all there !! get in touch !!
The Labb Team have not shown our cards yet, BUT, please stand sure that we have have some big things in the line .
Its been a while since my last Photoshop blog, so i wanted to create something fun for everyone !! Because I am nice like that.. I thought summer style Party Promo Club might be just the thing to bring summer here ! Lets make a HEDKANDI STYLE PHOTO !!
So then STEP ONE !!
Find a model, my lovely model was Nicola Stevens, My photo was taken f4.8 @ 135mm, A little light from either side and a blue gel from the back. A fan was used to lift the hair. The photo was kept darker to enusre no detail was lost . I knew there was going to be loads of post pro , so i was not too worried about make up. It was more of a snap than a proper Photo Shoot…..
Once you have your photograph, Pop into into photoshop direct. Edit up the skin, Make up , body shapes, and all the stuff that you want to do. I use a few ticks using lens blur layers after a good going over with the stamp tool Blur sharpen, repeat… If you do wanna know more about this, section… fire me an e-mail or get a make-up artist !!
STEP TWO !!
Create 2 new layers -
Make some funky over lays and pretty patterns. This is very random and hit or miss. I kept very simple and created two quick elements that sit into my comp.
These elemets very very simple and created using the Brush tool and some very simple layer styles, a simple inner glow and outer glow, A flip into screen colour mode and your done.
Lets work on the lighting cord. (Pen tool> creat wiggle>remove sections behind arm>add layer style) I used a custom shape brush and a Wacom Tablet set on the airbrush mode to let me fade in and out, a nice soft brush does work well here.
Here I again made a custom brush for my fake Bokeh effect. (create brush shape>edit brush settings>paint>done !!) Once you have your settings for the brush its half the battle. You dont have to make your own brush.. but i think its cool. The settings… F5 will make your brush manager pop if you have not got it open. play around with some stuff in there like size and shizzle.. I dont really want to say what i used.. just play and see. Its a very very Powerful tool.
After you have made your layer, add about 3 or 4 more layers.. paint some whacky colours on there (one colour per layer) , Pop them into colour mode (blending layer) and see your Bokeh colour up !! This should start to colour your background photo now too..
STEP THREE !!
Colour up your photo and merge it all !!
You should almost have your comp done.. A few more colour layers set to Colour blend mode and some more whacky colours should start to build up the over all photo..
Dont be worried if your photo looks like this !! its cool.. Build it up duplicate the layer, add some Lens Blur, Screen mode , sharpen this.. add that and add back in your elements you make and Bingp Bango
Watch it all come together..
STEP FOUR !!
Opps.. ok .. so only 3 steps.. Erm.. ADD MORE LAYERS , work some cool layer styles and build build build !! Dont be worried about trying things ! I have about 20 odd layers in mine.. some pure blue layers, some blurred up layers. Lots of screen mode layers. God Bless the Alpha Channel !!
Thank you !! send me your versions !!
I have been waiting to catch these guys ! Tonight there are on the support bill for REEL BIG FISH.
Sonic Boom Six are a Ska-punk outfit from Manchester, and they are pretty cool.
“Grand statement time: Sonic Boom Six are, simply, the most exciting live punk band in the country. They cater for chin-stroking social commentators, wide-eyed rave kids and big-shorted punkers all in the space of a single gig and will – yup, will – own 2009″
- Scene 2009: Punk&Metal, NME (Jan 10, 2009)
“It’s taken a while but Sonic Boom Six are rocketing out of the underground – a hefty shot of ska-punk, hip-hop, reggae and even jungle in the mix, not to mention big, sinuous rock dynamics and hooks.”
- Tick, Tick, Boom!, Kerrang! (May 30, 2009)
“It might have taken until their third album for SB6 to break the UK underground’s glass-ceiling, but their massive grassroots following practically guarantees success for City of Thieves. The fact it’s a fantastic stew of punk, ska and hip-hop helps too; finally, their time has come.”
- The Panel, Music Week (May 02, 2009)
“This isn’t good, it’s way beyond that and deep into the realms of something special. A hundred word analysis cannot do this album justice, so let’s just say it’s one fucking excellent album and get on with our lives? Agreed? Agreed.”
- City of Thieves Review, Rock Sound (Jun 01, 2009)
“Sonic Boom Six have always been one of the most diverse and inventive bands to get lumped into the British punk scene. It’s smart, joyous music that has plenty to say and does so eloquently.”
- City of Thieves Review, Big Cheese! (May 30, 2009)
http://www.sonicboomsix.co.uk check there shizzle out !!
I forgot how much fun this band are, AMAZING LIVE SHOW. Once again, full access to photograph the band. LOVE IT.
The last band I had shot live was a good few weeks ago, since then LABB MAGAZINE has been my 100% focus, but tonight was so much fun. A couple of ciders, a couple of hello’s to old friends and in the pit and a punk rock show. The only downside of the night was the muppet in the crowd who chucked his drink all over me whilst I was working. But hay.. Thats Rock and Roll right. Thank you to the Tour Manager for sorting me out very last moment.
The Line up was Sonic Boom Six, Big D and the Kids Table and Reel Big Fish. Some how I did not expect sure a big crowd, but lots of cool people turned out in the cold.. and.. I was not the only fool in shorts, so that was nice.
Enjoy the photos, the full gallery can be viewed here.
I have mean meaning to show this shoot of for a while now. This shoot started while having coffee with George Eko, and a couple of friends. We had a free day to work with Arabella (Adage , Birmingham), the day after we had received and e-mail from Hox (Birmingham) who were happy for us to use there collection. A single phone call had the location sorted.
On the day,George Eko was on hand to style and dress, Becky Hunting was on Make up and hair. Richard Battye was on the camera. Which left me to sort out the finer details and drink the coffee. I also did a bit Art Direction on the shoot. The Post-Pro was also done by me.
A big thank you to Carlo (once again) for helping arrange The Rainbow pub. Thank you to the staff at the Pub also !! Your all stars.
While on a shoot the other week, Oscar Alexander came up with this stunning make up. Thank you Oscar !!
This shoot has become an inspireation for a whole set, which will be shoot in late Feb.
A little hub of fashion and all that surrounds it. This year the organisers decided to keep in with the traditions while subtlely stepping up their game.
The trade hall where am packed as always with a wide variety of stalls ranging from model scouts through to independent fashion houses and not forgetting all the aspiring soon to be high street regulars.
The fashion show was as amazing as always. showing casing a variety of designers with a mix of trends ranging from ultra texture couture to office wear and snugly warm inter pieces to keep you toastie….
check out the pics and enjoy the feast….. Merry Christmas!
Words by George Eko
Photos by Dave Piper
