Watch out Australia – Taking bookings now!!!

Hey All,

will be in Australia from 12th of August and will  be taking booking for all types of photography……get emailing now!!!  my books are empty and im ready to go go go

Ben

Tanzania 2010

Well some times we all need a holiday, be it from age, sickness or just “I need a friggen tan”. For me it was none of these, for me it was simply a chance in my life for change, moving countries, leaving jobs, following a dream, yes I’m crazy, but I’m now sitting at the bar writing this update to my blog which for the last couple of months has fell silent.

Soooo 14 days ago I started my adventure sold the house and we had accepted the kind Invitation of my father in law to join I’m in Africa for a family adventure…my first thought was oh great he’s trying to kill me ageing, yes I sleep with your daughter…and I have 2 kids to prove it, it’s too late!!!

I’ve Been to south Africa a few times so sort of knew what to expect, look after your stuff, careful at the traffic lights (robots)

First stop Zanzibar, after a 10 hour light, then a fight through the port, porters being very helpful to take your bag after saying no no no no then asking for money at the end, 3 hour boat ride we arrived at Zanzibar, first thing you notice it the buildings, for what I can describe(as badly educated I am) as ex colonial, but I know it’s a mix of cultures contributed to this small island, most of the buildings are in ruin, but I have to say it’s a architects dream, stunning stunning stunning, no photos for you, all on the little camera which I haven’t uploaded yet sorry, we stayed in the temple bar which is a 2* star hotel, but this place has a 5* feel to it, great pool, crap food but would go back again, we only stayed in zanzibar 2 nights but what a great start to a holiday, only sad thing to mention was one poor local lady died on the beach up from the hotel, may she RIP

So another boat trip back to Dara Salam watching a poor woman power vOmit her way through the boat trip, calling to her god a few times for help, I am happy I don’t suffer from sea sickness I’m also glad my 3 year old chatted and slept through it all.

So back to land and a long drive just past Arusha and to the base of killimanjaro, I’m going to jump through a few days as you probably are bored and the bar is running out of port.. We eventually arrive at serengeti, and a few drives around the famous crater Ngorongoro and onto our luxury tented camp in the middle of the Serengeti run by xa company called masaai wondering

Here’s some pics

Ok word press on iPad is weird can’t see my pics,,,,,,

Either way great time, now in bangkok, 1 month in Thailand should produce a good pic or 3

THE BOXER

After missing my blog for the last couple of weeks I thought id re-visit one of my favourite shots of 2009.  I often get emails or messages from models who want there portfolio updated or just think they have the look to start modelling, I spotted a casting call on model mayhem from David (http://www.modelmayhem.com/891003),  and I thought he could be perfect for my “The Boxer” concept,  as usual im pretty chilled about my shoots, and thought David would suit anything “fitness”,  don’t get me wrong I do a lot of planning  for most of my shoots bit usually the shots never come out as I planned for the day

So the simple before shot

david at the start of the shoot

After,  “THE BOXER”

The transformed David

Of course there a few other shots from the shoot but not to bored you I thought Id just put the one up as I love it.

But you think this is the end of the story, I think I should mention the funny thing that happened during the shoot,  at the time we were in the process of selling our house,  so the entire shoot was done in my garage, just shows great photos can be done anywhere,  so after the boxer shot,  David was getting changed for the next shot (him on a motorbike) and the Automatic garage door opened,  so heres David with top off and pulling up his paints,  me with no camera equipement anywhere to be see and one red faced Real estate agent saying “Ill come back a bit later” and the potential buyer wondering if she could include David in the house sale….all funny really,  but that’s the life of a photographer, you have to expect the unexpected.

 have a fab weekend

Rock Ball 2010

Well when i got invited to the Rock ball by Hanna i was over the moon (thanks Hanna), this is most photographers dream. At one of London’s most amazing private clubs in Putney London at a exclusive charity show.
The Rock Ball gala dinner with a fashion show produced by Sophie Anderton in aid of raising money for RPJ Chrones Foundation, exquisite models wearing Harriets Muse, Jacob Kimmie, Jasper Garvida, Aqua, Tarvydas, Pierre Garoudi, HMH and Bryce Aime, there was also great live music Jack McManus,The RPJ Rock Band,Greg Burns and DJ Lora
So off i went tux in one hand camera equipment in the other, ready to take some great shots of some fantastic shots of some amazing models in even more amazing clothes, regretfully due to some confusion between the various PR agencies at the event it turned out that “OK” magazine had the exclusive rights to photos at the event but i would be allowed in the Paparazzi cage, this hasnt ever been something ive wanted to do, as i see it as simple flash photography in a scrum of guys trying to get that perfect shot and what ive heard they aren’t the friendliest bunch in the world, but who can blame them, they get paid per photo that is printed….well how wrong could i be the guys were friendly, helping each other out, and generally having a laugh, they were more than welcoming to me and even helping out a new photographer with some tips on how to use her flash setting better…. i actually had alot of fun with them, laughing at the “who was that? Dont know? Anyone?”, i was certainly the only photographer with a Tux on and got a few “please can we have some food sir”….. all in all a great experience and would recommend any new photographer to give it a go.
Heres a couple of pictures i got.

Feeling hungry and seeing everyone was going inside for a meal i thought i better go and find my table,  luck would have it i was sitting at a table with no one i know, but as usual it not hard to chat to people when your stuck together,  i already had met Jame Simpson before who is Sophie Anderton’s boyfriend and had a ex-neighbours star on the left of me, as usual his name is lost in a bottle of wine i had during the night,  its funny how my memory has got better for names since i started doing photography as i think it rude not to be able to direct a model by her name, but as i said red wine took over. 

 We had a lovely 3 course meal while various music was played .  During the meal  there was a report of a starving designer thinking it might be my good friend Hanna (HMH Couture) i moved over one seat and  Pierre Garoudi sat down beside me and we had a long chat about the industry and what his thought on life was,  certainly a nice man who has a target to be the best and i have to admit his dresses were amazing (each took a month to make).

So on to the fashion show,  although i wasnt allowed to be the photographer, i still managed to sneek a few shots off

dress by HMH Couture worn by Sophie Anderton

 

The whole show was produced by Sophie Anderton and i have to say it was very well organised a great to watch, i hope she does more in the future.

 

The evening carried on with RPJ Rock band at which i went home Bed.

GREAT NIGHT!

Pierre Lewis and Samantha Cole

Well another day another great shoot, collaberation between My Self, the great Samantha Cole (designer www.samanthacolelondon.co.uk), the amazing singer and song writer Pierre Lewis (www.pierreofficial.com) to produce some stunning shots

the wanted man shoot, Pierre and 4 great models in Samantha Cole clothes

Rick Parfitt Jrn – Rock Ball

Some great news, ill be attending the Rock Ball for the RPJ Crohns foundation, its a great cause http://www.rickparfittjnr.com/ also should mention that HMH Couture will be showing off her dresses www.hmhcouture.com

A New Day – A New Blog

Hey all and welcome to my first blog,  im not sure what to put in yet but a little about my self and lets see where it goes from there.

Unlike a lot of photographers i don’t limit myself to on style of photography, i enjoy all aspects of it, be it the smallest insects in the world to that special moment in your life.

Photography is the true world of art, through a person’s eye capturing that one moment that can be remembered for ever.

It is just a blink in most people’s long lives, but if they say a picture says  a thousand words, i prefer to say its image in my life.

Im from New Zealand originally, been in london 12 years so have the good NZ relaxed attitude with professional touch you need.

Ive worked with some great people, and look forward to working with some more. One of my most favorite designers at the moment is HMH Couture (www.hmhcouture.com) her dresses are stunning and have a form and flow that makes any woman.

Heres one of the pictures i took in a hmh dress

Stunning red dress done by HMH Couture

Well this the end of my first post lets see where we go from here

Ben