Latest photos from Claude Schneider
Personal
I was commissioned to take a photograph to promote Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights, to be used in the Jewish Chaplaincy’s fund-raising campaign. The only catch was that the request came a month before the festival started, so I couldn’t take photographs of the actual celebrations. I gathered a few willing volunteers to light the candles for the camera, the result of which can be seen below, and in the Chaplaincy Board’s campaigns.
After a hugely-successful tour of the USA, the multi-platinum-selling artist KT Tunstall is back touring the UK for her second album, Drastic Fantastic, and the highlight of her tour was always going to be playing one of London’s largest venues, and on Halloween. I last had the opportunity to photograph KT on her last UK tour in 2005, also on Halloween. Her die-hard fans also knew that Halloween was the best time to see KT, as she and her band dress for the occasion, with stage decorations to match. Similar to two years ago, KT had “Witch” written across her top, and there were pumpkins, cobwebs and skeletons on stage, with deathly make-up for the rest of the band. For the encore, the whole band came on in Power Ranger outfits, specially imported from Japan, and KT performed a rocking cover of “Walk Like An Egyptian”. Due to the venue’s strict no-SLR policy in the crowd, I was only able to photograph the first three songs.
KT’s new backing singers, Cat Sforza and Gita Harcourt
More photographs of KT Tunstall’s Roundhouse concert on CantabPhotos.com
After yesterday’s rehearsal and this afternoon’s preparations, the ceremony itself was pure fairy-tale. I joined the bridesmaids in a car to King’s College, arriving just ahead of the bride as the ceremony was due to start! Dawn and her god-father made haste to the chapel so as not to keep Bill waiting any longer (bit of an in-joke ;) One of the crowning moments was the recessional: the large doors at the back of the Chapel were opened, causing the golden sunlight to shine straight down the aisle onto Dawn and Bill as they emerged, newly-wed. I don’t think I’ll be able to look at King’s Chapel again without thinking of Dawn & Bill’s getting married there.
More photos from the wedding are available at CantabPhotos
Group photo (or 8 photos stitched together)
Another wedding photography first for me – getting pictures of the bride’s preparations. I was meant to drive to Dawn’s around midday, as I’d also be driving the bridesmaids to the chapel; alas, my car chose this morning to have a flat battery for the first time in months. Typical. At least it wasn’t last weekend when I had to drive 2 hours to Oxford to photograph Daniella & Clive’s wedding. Thankfully, a good friend gave me a lift at the last minute, and I arrived in time to find the bridesmaids wearing very funky hair accessories.
So the curlers do work
Bill sets off for the chapel first…
Dawn looks absolutely stunning in her dress
A (literally) last minute manicure
More photos from the wedding are available at CantabPhotos
View my portfolio of wedding photographs
My friend Dawn, with whom I danced in the Offbeat Team, is getting married in King’s Chapel tomorrow. Her fiancé was baptised there, and went to King’s School, so is allowed to get married in the fantastic venue. For someone who’s been in Cambridge for almost 10 years, I’m ashamed to say that this was the first time I’ve been inside King’s Chapel. Perhaps I was waiting for the right moment, and being asked to photograph a good friend’s wedding seemed to be the perfect occasion.
The chaplain, Reverend Richard Morgan, was a very nice chap (obviously habituated to speaking in the resonating acoustics of the Chapel), and delivered the news that I was expecting – no flash photography near Rubens’ “Adoration of the Magi”; but also no photography during the service (“it’s not Hello Magazine”). I wouldn’t want to disturb the proceedings with my shutter clicks resonating through the service, and it’s rather dark in the chapel anyway. We’ll see what I can get tomorrow…
More photos from the wedding are available at CantabPhotos
View my portfolio of wedding photographs
My first wedding where I didn’t know the couple before being asked to be their photographer. They were friends of a good friend of mine, and the parents said they really liked the insight and breadth of my portfolio. The wedding was one of the nicest I’ve been to; the venue (Poundon House near Oxford) was a very impressive private/stately home, the couple and their families were incredibly nice, and the weather decided to provide one day of blue sky among weeks of cloud and rain. I hope you’ll agree that the photos do the day justice.
The flashgun that I purchased last week turned out to be invaluable – the first three photos were taken in a very dimly-lit room (the bride had to be kept hidden from the guests outside, so the window shutters were closed) – the flash made everything bright and natural. Also, the couple wanted the outdoor formal photos to be taken in front of the house (in bright sunlight, which soon turned into one big shadow as the sun moved), so the flash helped light up people’s faces in the shadows. Finally, the party photos came out great, bouncing the flash off the marquee walls and ceiling. Thanks to Neil van Niekerk and his fantastic advice on flash photography technique.
More photos from the wedding are available at CantabPhotos
More photos from the wedding are available at CantabPhotos
A 5-photo panorama of all the wedding guests
Another trip down to London, this time to show a visiting friend the sights.
Packed shop window in Chinatown
Quaint cottage in St. James Park
Sunset over the Thames
Bungee bouncing and Stormtroopers
London Eye, Parliament, Big Ben at night
St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Gherkin, and the City at night
I was at the Waterloo IMAX for a conference hosted by my company, and during the lunch break, had a wander out to Waterloo Bridge and the South Bank.
Antony Gormley statues on the roof of the South Bank Centre
London Eye, Parliament, and Big Ben
Tolerated Grafitti under the South Bank Centre
The Invisible Man – Street Performer
The Blues – Street Performer
A few photographs taken on a social visit to Whitstable with friends.
Fishing Boat
Fresh Prawns
Fish market by the docks