It pays to get better, and getting better pays!!

I am a great believer in continuous improvement, and it doesn't matter how well you think you are doing, there is always something new to learn.  And with this ethos, for the last 6 weeks, I have been on a fantastic course run by Dylan Baker in Durham, to help develop the photography skills in areas that I normally would never consider.  For example, as a wedding photographer, you don't get the luxury of waiting for the right light, a team of make-up artists retouching every 10 minutes for that flawless complexion, lighting assistants moving large lighting rigs around, and 30 minutes to compose the right shot with professionally trained models.  You just gotta know how to pose people, and capture the moment in a unique and engaging way.  On the course we did just that (apart from the make up artists!!).  Models, lights, ideas, and TIME to think about what you were trying to do.  One photo attached.  So, if you are into photography, and want to try your hand at something new, I would recommend Mr Baker's course to anyone.  Yes, cheque will be fine Dylan, thanks!

Joy upon Joy........

Get in!!!!  3 reasons for being utterly delighted this week.  Firstly, my new PC arrived.  Did I tell you what happened to the last one? No? OK.  In a nutshell, the effort of having to upload a single batch of 200 large photo files in less than 3 weeks finally proved too much for the poor thing, and with a slightly unceremonious and disappointingly pathetic "phtt", it finally pointed its computery toes to the sky and died.  However, new computer is a thing of power, and because I am a man, and men can only buy things with stupid names (check out the Gillette Power Fusion Phenom razor to see what I am talking about), I have decided to christen it the "Alpha Stealth Ultra X".  I then gave the task of "recycling" the old one to my 7 year old lad.  What that kid can do with a screwdriver doesn't bear thinking about.  Suffice to say, 10 minutes later it was in in 200 componant parts on the study floor, and he loved it because it was the first time he has taken something expensive apart and hasn't been told off when he couldn't put it back together again.

The second reason is my website is now up and running.  It has only taken me 3 months to get to this point having managed to spot (and avoid) numerous graphic charletons, sorry designers who could do me the most beautiful looking site, but wanted a significant chunk of my mortgage for the pleasure, oh, and what do you mean you wanted to upload photos at will; that'll be a kidney please.  I just have to say that Andy at LayerSpace has been an absolute breath of fresh air, so thanks to him, and also Dylan for pointing me in this direction. So, if you are interested, have a look at RTS Photo and leave your thoughts.  

And finally, and I am going to whisper this in case I alienate all of my Teesside potential market........Newcastle 3, Boro 1.