An image of Marillion front man Fish. Hasselblad 500cm with 150mm lens.

As many of you already know we have had the book YERBURY NUDES planned for some time now, well years in fact, but the good news is that at long last it looks like publication will in the near future. A numbered and signed Limited Edition of 500 copies on heavyweight art paper and of course as with all quality photographic books the first 100 purchasers will also receive a beautifully printed image from the book signed, dated and numbered. We are already capturing names of of those interested in reserving a copy of this long awaited book.

Steven photographed against the white wall of the lecture theatre using only the modeling light on the Bowens 400 head fitted with the Bowens Fresnel spotlight.

Steven and Zoe photographed with the Bowens 500 head fitted with the Fresnel spotlight attachment.

A portrait of Zoe using a Bowens 500 head fitted with the Bowens Beauty dish.

The first images from yesterdays highly successful seminar when we hosted 60 delegates at the new Loxley teaching facility near Glasgow. Steven and Zoe were our models for the day as well as some of the delegates who very kindly sat of me. Simple lighting was the order of the day, no technical talk I will leave that to those who know all about it! I have spent 40+ years using my technique and it seems to work without all the bullshit. Its that age old saying KISS. Some can wax lyrical but I prefer our images to talk for us so here are the first of several that we have post processed today.

This is Ola one of our delegates.

I asked Ola back to the set when I saw the smile of relief as I told him we had finished. I love this image of him.

I managed to finish this image today and am very pleased with the result.

Yesterday we had a most enjoyable day hosting our last Art Nude workshop at Maunsel House with our wonderful models for the day, Christiane and Michelle. As always Maunsel was an inspirational venue, both inside and out, and our delegates for the day were spoilt for areas in which to shoot and, despite the forecast, the weather held fair for most of the day allowing us to explore the grounds and ruined barns and sheds. It is always a pleasure for Faye and I to host a workshop with such enthusiastic and friendly delegates who very quickly bonded as a group. We had everything from digital to a Mamyia 645 to a pinhole camera which I am very much looking forward to see the images from so get that film processed Guy! Once again a big thank you to Maunsel, Christiane and Michelle and we will be back next year.

In the meantime we have processed just a few of the images, we drove back home to Claremont after the workshop and arrived just after midnight after a very wet and windy journey. I always say that after any session if you come away with 1 or 2 images then the day has been a success. First one of my images and then a couple from Faye.

We did a test several weeks ago and this is the first time I have had the opportunity to look at some of the images . Simple studio setup and using the BOWENS fresnel lens.

In this over saturated market it is becoming ever more important to set yourself apart by creating a brand and an identity that demands peoples attention and creates an awareness of your photography and studio. There are many, many way that this can be achieved and we will be looking at areas of marketing and branding at our next seminar at Loxley in early February. We are also offering small, boutique, workshop on marketing and branding here at Claremont. These workshops are limited to 4 delegates allowing us to devote time to each photographer and enabling us to look as some of their specific issues.  Its not just how you present yourself or your studio its about your personal style, your photography and your ability to relate to each and every potential client.   BE DIFFERENT AND BE NOTICED.

We are now preparing for our LIGHT TO INSPIRE workshop at Loxley Colour in a couple of weeks time. Long sold out and currently around 20+ people on a waiting list so we may look at hosting another of these workshops in early 2011. This is a simple image commissioned by a client a couple of months ago and once again lit by our single soft box and small reflector to left of camera to kick back some detail. D700 with the 85mm 1.4 lens.  Soft box on a Bowens 500 Gemini and a reflector on a stand left of camera position.