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
Adobe Lightroom 2 +
Just some workflow insight ,
I have been a HUGE fan of Lightroom for a while. Proof checking, editing, printing, web gallery creation, the list of time saving functions is crazy. If your a Pro photographer and your not using Lightroom, your doing something wrong. If your working with a batch of frames, Photoshop is only really used in a final editing stage. Most of my edit work happens with in Lightroom these days.
There are a few functions that I would still love to see in Lightroom, It would be great to able to run Photoshop actions (using the photoshop engine) inside Lightroom, Add layer styles, create comp layers also, it would be really cool to able to sync your Presets into layer styles in Photoshop. Just some of these little additions would make Cross Platform (cross software) editing much streamlined projects when colour matching is important. Using the correct tool for the correct job. Why use Photoshop for simple things like contrast changes.
Anyway, here is some Lightroom fun , You can put the Web module of Lightroom into “advanced mode” (an “experimental and unsupported” feature – so try this at your own risk) which will expose MANY more customization options in the Lightroom panels.
To go into Advanced Mode you’ll need to use a keyboard combo:
“Control Alt Shift /” on PC
“Cmd Alt Shift /” on Mac
Do the same to Return back to the normal version.
I get asked alot, what the best editing processes are , Its really simple. Do whats best and most logical for you. I use this work-flow as a rule
Adobe Bridge > Lighroom > Photoshop > Lightroom > Bridge
I use Bridge to remove blank frames or frames that are clearly not useable, Rename files and upload into Lightroom a quick selection of photos that are going to be edited.
Lighroom is used to pull out a final selection of photos, Crop and Colour the photos, Overall pages edits are done. Vignettes, tones, curves, hue, saturation and Camera Calibrations are also done ( I never sharpen at this stage !!- you only ever want to sharpen a Final Product. Its always the last step. If you are not going into Photoshop after, then finish your photo in Lighroom )
There is no way I could list the steps in here of what can you can do. As a rule though, Skin is touched up and sharpened for which ever media the product is headed towards, Change colour Sets depending on the Products destination ie : RGB or CYMK etc..
After this stage no other editing process should be needed.
Back into lightroom to make batch size changes, Create Web Galleries, Contact sheets, Slide shows etc..
Bridge is then used as the content management tool, Using the Pre-made Actions you can send photos into other programs such as Photoshop to add watermarks borders, Prep for web, Border or any other Presets that you use.
Each stage is very important, and should leave you with a clear workflow. Pick the Photos, Edit the Photos, Make them PERFECT, Edit them for purpose. Store them in a correct manner.
If you use your noodle, you should not go far wrong. Just do what works for you, but ONLY IF YOU ARE USING LIGHTROOM !!
Zebrahead is an Orange County, CA-based punk-pop-rap band which was formed in 1996 by vocalist/guitarist Justin Mauriello (formerly of once there), guitarist Greg Bergdorf (formerly of 409), bassist Ben Osmundson (formerly of 3-Ply), and drummer Ed Udhus (formerly of 409).
Inspired by acts including Fugazi and The Descendents, the group found themselves uninspired by the local trend towards ska punk and instead began incorporating elements of hip-hop into their sound, eventually recruiting rapper Ali Tabatabaee to join their ranks.
After issuing the EP Yellow on the indie label Doctor Dream Records in May 1998, Zebrahead signed to major label Columbia Records to release their full-length debut, Waste of Mind, which appeared later that same year. The band’s follow up album Playmate of the Year was issued in mid-2000 and the Stupid Fat Americans EP followed the next year as an exclusive release for Japan.
Zebrahead headed over to Europe with Green Day to support the records and played various festival dates as well. Throughout the years, they also shared gigs with bands like Less Than Jake, Kottonmouth Kings, 311, Reel Big Fish, and Goldfinger.
Three years after having released a full length album, MFZB (aka Mother Fucking Zebrahead Bitch) appeared in 2003, and shortly afterwards lead singer/guitarist Mauriello exited the group to pursue other interests (namely start a new band I Hate Kate). His departure distressed fans, as the singing/rapping dynamic between him and Tabatabaee was crucial to the band’s sound. However, Zebrahead was soon back in action with the addition of new vocalist/guitarist Matty Lewis (formerly of Jank 1000) to their lineup. — last FM
They say never to work with family, children or animals. Well James and Lindsey’s wedding had all three, yet it was one of the weddings that I have been looking forward to all year. I can quite honestly say that was one of the most fun weddings I have ever been too. Great location, great food, great people and groovy dancing!
A big thank you to everyone at the wedding for making it such an amazing day!
Andy and Laura shared married on the 5th of September.
After a intimate ceremony in Lichfield it was on to the reception where we were joined by the wedding guests after nice dinner and cutting of the cake!
After Andy and Laura shared there first dance together, they left the dance floor for Andys Mum and Dad to share there first dance together since there wedding day to.
Weddings can be stressful times at the best of times, Sam was 9 months pregnant when she married Shane. Even with this added challange it was an fantastic day with fantastic people. Thank you so much to all the people that made this a lovely day.
(You can order prints via this link)
New Hall is an amazing choice of venue, set in Sutton Coldfield, the house has a grand history involing Kings and the glitterarti. Jennifer and Neil could not of found a more stunning veune to tie the kn0t. Its just a little shame we did not have massive amount of time to play in the grounds before the rain came down.
To order photos please click this link
Its been a while since I have been up into Lincolnshire, Todays veune was Norton Lodge, just of the A45, near Newark. It was one of those venues that i did not hold out much hope for while looking at the website, it was only when I was there that I saw why such a fantasic couple would have such a venue. All most the perfect venue, maybe ! Dave and Alex are an amazing couple with some amazing friends. Thanks to Daves mates we almost had broken bones, people in the pond and flying grooms. Do they have more fun up north!, maybe!
A couple of years ago my Brother married and I gained a sister in law. Which in itself is very nice, even nicer though was the fact that on Ann tied the knot to James and I was very kindly invited to take their wedding photos. I am sure it’s a very unique honour to of been able to photograph both sister’s weddings. Thank you very much to everyone at the wedding, and the kind man on reception in the Hotel who let me eat my Chinese takeaway in my hotel room. Thank you to Nick and Linda Piper also!
To order photos please click this link
