Conjunction of the Moon, Venus & Jupiter

In a relatively rare event, Venus and Jupiter were both very visible and close to each other in the evening sky, with the Moon passing between them. Cambridge was blessed with clear skies throughout this period, so I was able to photograph the progress of the Moon relative to the two planets, across three nights.

Venus is above Jupiter in these photos, which were taken at Castle Mound, Murray Edwards College, and Senate House.

Cambridge Ballerina Project – Suzie

Suzie is a second year Theology student, and performed in the last Cambridge Ballet Club show in February. I saw her again at a ballet class that Glory was teaching, and we arranged an autumnal shoot very promptly, while the weather was warm and all the leaves were golden. The clocks had just gone back, so these sunset photos were taken at around 4pm.

More photos from this Cambridge Ballerina Project shoot on Facebook

Bodrum, Turkey

A few photos from my recent holiday to Bodrum, on the South-West coast of Turkey.

An Aladdin's cave of spices, dried produce, and plenty more inside.
An Aladdin’s cave of spices, dried produce, and plenty more inside.
Yachts outside Bodrum Marina...
Yachts outside Bodrum Marina...
...and inside the Marina...
...and inside the Marina...
...and at night
...and at night
St. Peter's Castle in Bodrum at night
St. Peter's Castle in Bodrum at night

The captain's wife on the sail home
The captain's wife on the sail home
Black Island, off the coast of Bodrum
Black Island, off the coast of Bodrum

Sunset at the Cafe Delmar, Bodrum
Sunset at the Cafe Delmar, Bodrum

Location Photoshoot with Katie Louise

My first shoot with Katie was one of my best photoshoot days ever, so I had high expectations for our second shoot, when she came up to visit me in Cambridge. She’d barely settled in after an hour of traffic en route, when we headed out to catch the last hour of golden light before sunset. No sooner did we find our location (each climbing UNDER a fence to get into the field), that we got these shots.

I call it a perfect storm – the Trifecta of perfect location, perfect light, and a perfect model. I’ve seen photos like this in so many portfolios, so I’m thrilled that these all looked stunning straight out of camera.






We then headed back in and got this stunning beauty shot.

I can’t wait for our next shoot soon, hopefully a duet with Faye :)

Sweden – Forests & Lakes

For the third summer in a row, I travelled to Sweden for an intensive dance workshop. Unfortunately, I sustained an injury in the fortnight before flying out that rendered me unable to take part. Not one to waste an opportunity (or a non-refundable flight), I hired a car and drove around the myriad forests and lakes in South-Eastern Sweden for 4 days.

In addition to a dozen or so huge national parks, Sweden has hundreds of small nature reserves, all (relatively)-well documented, mapped, and sign-posted. So it was rather easy to hop from one to another, walk freely through the forests, feel at one and alone in nature, and admire the breathtaking scenery. Two main images remain firmly implanted in my memory – forests where every boulder, rock and patch of ground is covered in multi-coloured mosses; and expanses of blue lakes bordered by forests on all sides.

Many more forest and lake photos from Sweden can be viewed at CantabPhotos

Fairy-tale forest, covered in moss, Sweden

Rocks in lake, Sweden

Sweden Forests and Lakes

Sunset in meadow of wild grasses, Sweden

Moss-covered boulders in Swedish forest

Reflection of clouds in lake, Sweden

Sunset over lake, Sweden

Impression lily-pads and reflections, Sweden

Sunlight streaing through trees, in Swedish forest

Bluebells at sunset in a meadow, Sweden

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