No, I’m not referring to the start of the European Championships but yet to the solution to England’s left sided ‘problem’.  I have the answer in Evan.  A natural left footer (and lefty golfer it would appear as well) he’s sure to earn me a mint in the years to come (hey, wishful thinking).  All kidding aside he’s suddenly developed a real fascination with kicking the football (soccer ball) around.  Of course, he loves to watch me kick as high into the air as I can.    If anyone has Capello’s number do give me a ring.

Although I speak of things football I have no images for you today on the subject.  However we did have a wonderful afternoon in the sunshine at West Wittering last Thursday.  I grabbed a few shots.  No doubt my sister will be a bit annoyed as they are more of a ‘essence’ of Evan than close ups of his cheeky grin.

This past Saturday I shot the wedding of K&A (names changed protect the innocent) at Avington Park.  Whilst I don’t normally blurb about the weddings I did want to say thanks to all those folks who said such kind words about the engagement session (scroll down…its the one in the car park) I did a few months back.  So…thank you very much…and to everyone who made me and my TWO second shooters welcome.

So that brings me to two stories regarding the wedding.  The first would be the whole TWO second shooter thing.  Let’s step back 4 years (perhaps 3) to a hotel near Gatwick (AKA, Berkshire, but don’t tell the SWPP about geography).  I’m attending a seminar by a US photographer whose name suggests she eats berries in a meadow and her mum was shot by hunters.  Anywho, at the end I approach a character I admire from an online forum (which now consists of mostly idiots) as I recognise his avatar.  “Hi…um…Dan…my name is Rob…Shootinghip from the forum?” (arm outstretched and hoping to meet this mysterious gentleman I get) “And?”.  That was the full account of our first meeting.  Over time, somehow I gained their respect.  I learned that my exchange with Dan wasn’t actually him being rude…but just him being Dan.  So, a few years on I find myself with the tables completely turned.  Dan (and Ann) requested to second shoot with me.  So I suppose that means they like me now (to be fair, we’ve been friends for a while now…but I was amused at the whole course of events).  To see a few images they got from the wedding go HERE.

One last story before the images of K&A.  Being a hot day I was thirsty for some water.  I asked politely at the drinks table the staff didn’t let me down.  They even asked “would you like some ice?” (must have sensed my American fascination with ice)  I declined and gulped the glass.  I was thirsty for more but didn’t want to dirty another.  The jug of ice water was there and not wanting to disturb the staff from taking care of guests I filled my glass again.  Again I gulped but this time notice a slightly tart then bitter taste.  Hmm…what is this…its cold, it tastes rather nice, its refreshing…but WAIT A MINUTE.  I recognise that twang.  And so it was…a  half a glass of rum later it kicked in.  Next time I’ll just ask.

K & A — Avington Park — Saturday 7 June 2008

K’s Gran made the journey over from Oz..(as did a lot of folks)…but I reckon she gets a special mention

K was sure her luck would turn on the back 9

K’s childhood obsession with Mary Poppins led her to install a rather ingenious addition to her wedding dress

Shot through the lodge window overlooking the putting green…bottle of Evian bottom left

It was like I was destined to shoot this wedding…shoes…a bride…a golf course.  HEAVEN!

For those who can’t read 0.05pt font it says “To My Lovely Wife (to be)” — A is a real smoothie

No caption required

A takes his last chance to hug all the pretty girls arriving at the church…he had too many to choose from

K’s dad was tempted to shout out some ‘rowing’ terms to get her up the aisle faster

Now this is an interesting one.  A’s sister does a reading.  She has to look back to see the bride and groom.  Did I actually get her winking at them?  I’m good…I’m not that good.

For 2 serious people, it was a very lighthearted ceremony.  I loved it.

With K’s family from Oz, all of her sisters looked like Kylie…no…its true.

Figuring I wouldn’t get so lucky as to have another wink I went with my trusted favourite

A different view of signing the register

“Sign here, initial here, fingerprint here and a blood sample there”

Awaiting the secret guest…shortly afterwards a piper enters to escort them out

Mr and Mrs

Hmm…I get the distinct feeling I’ve been here before

Yep…I sure have

Funny how I never have to ask them to do this

…or this

The glorious Avington Park

Google maps has this wonderful closeup of K&A’s croquembouche

You know you are at a certain type of wedding when the guests cast off their Jimmy Choos during the drinks reception

I just liked it…

Men

She found my Google maps joke funny

Apparently the best man found a few bits of damning evidence on the groom…dress wearing and flowers in the hair…I’m delighted to say we can add one more to that list (see below — no, not directly below…one more)

Hatcheting off my portion of the pudding (please sir, can I have some more)

Cha-ching!  Add Samba-esque dancing to your list Mr Best Man (if anyone sees A approaching my house with the knife please let me know)

I’ve never believed that an emotional image is one that has to be perfect.  To prove my point here are 2…

…see my point?

This guy was brilliant.  Check him out…Micky Fordola

The title will become clear part way through this week’s wedding gallery….

Yesterday was just your basic day in the garden getting jobs done.  Clearing out the garden shed and getting rid of a few bits and pieces.  With every bit we moved we discovered another new insect habitat.  With Evan learning all about Spring (should it be capitalised…hmmm) at nursery (should nursery be capitalised..hmmm) it seemed fitting to have a look with him.  We discovered some lovely snails under a garden chair.  Once they came out to play it was great to see Evan getting really into it.  I dashed back to the house and moments later he was in grabbing my hand to summon me back to find the ‘baby snail’ he had found.  Sure enough we found it and with great delight he set off playing again.  “Watch this” he said as he set his football on one of his mini cones.  “Hey, bud…why not move it a bit further into the garden.  You know, let the snails have their peace”.  Blank looks…so with a great lap around the garden as a run up (man, he’s gonna be disappointed the first time he takes a corner) he belts the ball the other side.  Snail safe (thankfully) he begins to jump with excitement…one jump, two jumps, three jumps….CRUNCH.  Sadly the baby snail didn’t make it.  “EVAN!”

If you know what’s good for you you are best to not pull up next to us at a red light.  That is, of course, if you don’t mind joining in with “I Want to be Human Too” from Jungle Book.  The ‘Didney’ CD is going down a treat at the moment.  We can now listen to Tarzan, Lion King, Jungle Book and 101 Dalmatians.  Lucky me!

Kate and Mike – Barton Stacey and Avington Park – Saturday May 17, 2008

Not being a Boy Scout I was relieved to learn I wasn’t required for this task

Kate wears her lucky necklace

A Bride…a set of stairs…its all a little too familiar

Mini-bridesmaid (MB) oogles the flowers…and briefly catches my eye

Kate’s shoes were left hanging on the oven door to cool off…20 minutes at Gas Mark 6

MB ponders Bridedom

I love hands…they say a lot…here Kate puts on the veil for the first time (in anger)

And given Mike’s height…wise advice

Great light (in parts) of the pub before the ceremony

…and to be honest, I was very tempted

It says “My Dearest Mike”…and I know this as I delivered it.  Father, Photographer and Postman.

Let’s hope that the never have a cross word to say to each other (oh man..the cheese…I’m dyin’ here)

The doors ripped from their hinges and the last glass smashed against the wall,
the guests make their move (en mass) from the pub to the church

However, it would appear someone stopped by the off license on the way

The Vicar was a top Gent and let me do my thang…thanks Rev Mark (prints in the post in a few weeks)

The first kiss…and a serenade.  Any one else hear Nessun Dorma in their head?

MC (not Hammer) looks on…he’s got a great arsenal of one liners

Mike leads the way back to the pub (not really)

But, as a law abiding citizen, he chose to walk to Avington…no drinking and driving

Mike was genuinely excited when he heard the piper…a surprise from his Mum

Heavily Photoshoped…I know…but there was something very Churchillian about Kate’s Dad

Note the action…I have no idea what they are on about…something about the stag night…noted?

Avington has some wicked stairs….

….but the Ballroom takes the biscuit

It’s nice to get a nice casual of the groom.  Mike (and Kate) love to sail…so as you can see I positioned
him in front of some rolling waves (and if you believe I did that intentionally you are mad…I only just noticed)

Mike confirms that Kate’s contacts are still in!

Off to the reception

An charmed bride

I hadn’t seen this before.  At each table someone was nominated to slice the beef
(which I suspect is better than cutting the cheese)

Yummy!  Vegetarians look away now!

Susanna at Tiger Rose always challenges me to make the most of her work

Remember my advice to note the boys photo.  Apparently they were expecting an ambush…
Tiny Tim Kray did, in fact, turn up…fortunately he wasn’t a vegetarian and a hot beef sandwich
later it was all resolved

Sunshine….Moonlight….Good Times….Blame it on the Boogie.  In fact, it was a Ceilidh

And now.. a lesson in white balance.  Our eyes see white as white….however the camera sees white as anything from blue to orange depending on what it thinks the colour temperature is (Google Kelvin…no, its the long lost member of New Kids on The Block but yet a very scientific measurement of temperature).  Right…so why do I care…well, if you get an entire segment of your wedding in black and white there may be a reason.  Below is an excellent example.  Above the centre of the marque was a series of spot lights.  Being tungsten based they burn on the orange end of white light.  However, directly above was the overcast and fading light from the sky…which given the time of the day was now starting to burn on the blue side.  Here, Kate is being lit by the tungsten lights above….but the marquee roof is more from the sky.  Fortunately the lights were only in the middle of the marquee…hence the shot of Kate being in colour…the perimeter was more balanced and it was earlier in the day.  This makes for an interesting shot but more often then not it means that one side of a person’s head is blue and the other is orange.  You’ve gotta pick one…and when I have to pick I go for option 3…black and white.  A famous wedding photographer who shares the same name as a Disney cartoon character once said “lights light in black and white”.