Headshot for Saba

Saba, a dancer with Cambridge Contemporary Dance company, asked for a headshot session to help her promote her consultancy business. As both of us are Johnians, it wasn’t difficult thinking of a location for the shoot.
I’m really appreciating having reflectors for photoshoots, as they’re great for bouncing direct sunlight, and also creating soft fill light from the whole sky.

Saba, posing in front of Bridge of Sighs

Saba, business portrait

Painting Samantha's Photo

This is the second photo that I’ve “painted” with additional colours and graphics. The first one was from a photoshoot with Erica last July.
Yesterday’s photoshoot with Samantha produced this wonderful photo with her standing against a tree, lit up against the dark background. There are great examples of designers creating such images for their portfolios or advertising, and while it’s easy enough to learn the techniques, it’s not easy picturing what result you want to achieve, so I tend to build up layers and colours as I go along, and at some point decide when I think it’s finished.

Painted photo of Samantha leaning against tree

Photoshoot with Samantha

Samantha is a dancer on the Cambridge University DanceSport Team, but I first met her some 5 years ago in an Offbeat dance class. She seemed like a great muse for a photoshoot, and came along with some 30s/40s styled clothes, which worked out really well. Thanks to Jenny for assisting on this shoot.

The rest of the photoshoot can be found on CantabPhotos

Samantha, model against tree

Samantha, model in raincoat

Samantha

Samantha

Samantha, model learning against tree

Samantha, model at in golden sunlight

Samantha, model reclining at sunset

Samantha, model in sunlight

Samantha, model laughing

Samantha, model learning against tree at sunset

Grantchester Meadows at Dawn

For the third time in one week, I found myself heading to the meadows at sunrise to get some photos. This dawn was much damper than the previous week’s, so the damselflies weren’t quite as forthcoming, but I did find one particularly friendly model who posed very patiently for lots of photos and macro video.

Mist rising at dawn in the meadows
Dew rising from the meadows at dawn

Swan and ripples
I love the striking patterns of the ripples

Swan reflection

Dew rising from the meadows at sunrise
Dew rising from the meadows at sunrise

Snail at sunrise

Spirder's Web at sunrise
Spider’s web at sunrise

Inquisitive cow

These last three photos were taken with my Sanyo Xacti CG65 compact video recorder, which allows macro photography (and video) as close as 1cm.

Macro close up of damselfly

Macro ultra-close-up of damselfly eye
The damselfly’s eye is about 2-3mm wide.

Macro close-up of damselfly's head

Sunrise over King's Chapel

For the third time in one week, I found myself heading to the meadows at sunrise to get some photos. On the way to Grantchester, this was how the famous view of King’s College chapel appeared.

Sunrise over King's Chapel, Cambridge

Damselflies at Dawn (II)

Maybe it was getting up at 4:30am two days ago to take photos of damselflies in Grantchester Meadows, but my body clock’s a bit messed up.

Went to bed at 2, still awake at 3, playing piano didn’t help, so at 4 I cycled to Fen Ditton meadows in search of more damselflies to photograph. I didn’t find as many this time, but got some artier photos of the beautiful bugs I did find :)

I must be crazy…

Damselfly
It was still dark enough to require flash, which really shows off the iridescent colours

Sunrise over the River Cam

Damselfly
This crafty critter was surprisingly awake – he’d always move so he was on the far side of the plant stem from me. You can run, but you can’t hide…

Damselfly

Sunrise over the River Cam
Sunrise over the River Cam

Weevil
Weevil on a nettle leaf

Damselfly

Damselfly

Damselfly

Damselflies at Dawn

4:30am, stirring after 2hrs sleep. Greg calls – “Want to come photograph damselflies?” Sure. Cycling to Grantchester meadows 5 mins later at sunrise. Wading through the nettles on the riverbank, start spotting lots of black wing-tips. Snap snap snap. As it warms up 3 hours later, dozens of damselflies fly around you as you stir the nettles.

Sunrise over the River Cam in Grantchester
Sunrise over the River Cam, Grantchester

Small Snail

Mayfly
Mayfly at sunrise

Male damselfly
Close-up of male demoiselle damselfly

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Damselfly covered in dew drops
Male demoiselle damselfly, covered in dew drops

Damselfly eating
Female demoiselle damselfly feeding