For me, 5 weeks notice is a bit late notice.  But not so late that I wasn’t keen to be a part of it.  Alistair explained the scenario and whilst it sounded challenging I wasn’t entirely aware how challenging.  With a 3:30 ceremony time 6 days before Christmas it was always going to be a wedding more in the dark than in the light.  Then I saw the reception space.  Absolutely one of the most amazing and wonderfully beautiful spaces I have seen…sadly my camera wasn’t so keen.  The relative ease that Bury Court brought us the night before was cruelly taken by the scene that awaited us.  Time to push the cameras and the operators (that’s me and D) to the max.  So much so that Darren and I shared my Nikons.  He has 2 5Ds…and these 5Ds weren’t enough.  When it was over I was pleased…if we can shoot that, we can shoot anything!

Yes, I take wedding photos…yes, I take some straight up normal wedding photos…but sometimes, I like things that are a bit different…sometimes I like the bizarre or the seemingly out of context — or perhaps just a standard context that shows something far too normal.  I love Martin Parr — here’s a link.  So sometimes when images come up that are Parr-eque (I would never compare myself to him…just because I nearly slipped over on the ice doesn’t make me Torvil – or Dean for that matter).  I was really pleased to see two Parr moments in this wedding.  One by me and one by Darren…in fact, Darren’s is more Parr than mine…I LOVE IT!

I wish I had the 85!

Actually, its OCF

A terrible tragedy (only she will get that)

Wing tips

Those aren’t spots (on the right)…that’s the intense sunlight reflecting off normal room ‘dust’

Tug, tug

Remembering the list

This is my Just One

Ms Austen

White space

When you ask for a photo with the dog…well

Not the Stig

The Spice Girls were right…2 really did become 1

If that light is actually ‘lighting’ Amanda and Alistair that can mean only one thing…ITS 4:30pm on the 19th of December!  I need a drink!

Not a great shot…just one that shows you how dark it was

Blues Brother

There was just something reassuring about this chap

OK…I want a word with Scary Spice…because 2 have now become 4!

A wee taster as to the environment we had to work in — beautiful to the human eye…no so ‘loved’ by the camera

Stunning!  If you’re interesting in who put together this masterpiece find Oxfordshire Marquee company www.florey.co.uk

Time for a cuddle…

…because the String Diva’s are in da house

Speech

No question one of the most challenging lighting EVER.  But I was rather pleased with the result.  Color is everywhere…you just gotta roll with it

Strut your funny stuff

It’s Electric!

And now a few from Darren Parr

One of the things I’ve always admired about Darren is that he never really appreciates how good he is.  Whether its humility or just ignorance (and I mean that in a good why BTW) I’m not sure.  But sometimes I’m bowled over by the stuff he does and how most of the time he doesn’t realise how good it is.

I remember him saying “the shots in the pub in front of the window are going to be rubbish” — yeah, whatever!

Quirky…but entirely relevant

Alistair was able to wangle an R8 for the day….lucky dog!

Lit by the mother of all security lights

Here it is…Darren’s Martin Parr

Wonderful!