An interesting theory – what happens when a “blogger” gets a bit too busy and perhaps doesn’t have time to add the attention and detail needed to keep a blog ticking along. I imagine a similar occurrence when a writer gets writer’s block and they stop writing for a while until they find inspiration from somewhere… and start writing again. I guess one of the bonuses of writing a photography blog is that you can always let the photos do the talking. And that’s definitely a bonus, and in a lot of ways – that’s how it should be. So today in “show and tell”..without further adieu… here’s one of my favourite shots from the past year, as it embraces everything I stand for. Firstly you have to have healthy respect for the ocean before you go out into big surf. You have to have a sense of adventure and daring to take on a big wave and ride it with grace and you have to enjoy the lifestyle that goes along with everything to do with “our mother ocean”

Have just finished uploading some prints to my new online print shop. Am starting with a selection of 30 landscapes shot over the past year. They will be sold as a limited edition of 30 signed and numbered prints. There will be different sizes available and framed canvas prints also. I’ve been travelling across to North Wales a lot in the past year – so the majority of the prints are from the beautiful Snowdonia region. Give me a shout if you have any questions – and check out the print shop by clicking here
Cheers!

Yet another Welsh place name that i’m finding really easy to pronounce! Regardless of that – it’s a beautiful drive in from England… just under 2 hours away from Liverpool to this winter wonderland. It was mid-morning when i looked across and saw the mist rising through the mountains in the distance. I have to admit i’m a bit of a sucker when it comes to this sort of misty, moody mountain shot. Was just glad I had the 70 – 200VR lens in the car. With the lens at 200m I got a centre-weighted meter reading from the scene and popped off a couple of shots. Have adjusted the contrast slightly in Adobe Lightroom, and that’s it. I love the fact this is only a short trip away from Liverpool, but could be anywhere in the world. (imho!)

… that’s what I had to work with last night in Shropshire. I went wandering circa sunset to try and find a place to photograph. It wasn’t looking too promising in the small village of More. T’was an overcast evening, cold and windy. I found old stone bridge over a river (that was probably just a stream before the rain) and I followed it towards the sunset looking for a potential silhouette of one of the amazing trees in the distance. The river bank soon turned to flooded swampland. It was the end of the road and I was forced to work with what I had in front of me: a tree, a river and a barbed-wire fence.
Here’s a few photographs:

To go back to the main site – please click here

Yep, after much request – i’m starting my first photography workshops in February. All going well – these will be on-going throughout the year.
The first workshop will run over two Saturday’s and will be an intensive, practical, hands-on course for beginners and intermediate level photographers. The emphasis will be on getting to know everything about your camera and photography very quickly – learning and discussing what makes an eye-catching, captivating photo – and then putting it into practice by going out and taking some professional quality shots around town.
We’ll then discuss further and explore different techniques and styles for the next Saturday.
For more information please email Ant Clausen or call 07814 457 247.
First dates will be 7th and 14th of February.
Photography Workshops run from 10am to 2pm.
Total price is £150.
Maximum 6 people per workshop.

Back again to photograph the hottest new bar in Liverpool. This time the focus is on the cocktails. “Flaring” which is the bartending equivalent of juggling – was on display and definitely a challenge in low light. I opted to shoot with available light to show movement in the bottles/shakers etc and hope the bartenders weren’t dancing around too much. Was quite happy with the results (see photos below)
I definitely recommend checking the bar out at some point – will be back in there when they’ve got some live acts playing. Stay tuned for a few more shots!

For the complete gallery – click here

Another year snuck by… but I have to say 2008 has been a bit of a corker (Antipodean expression for bloody good!) Even though i’m a bit slow on the uptake, writing my 2008-retrospective blog in early Jan… but hey… i’ve been hangin in North Wales in a farm house in the middle of nowhere… with no laptop, no internet and no mobile phone coverage. It was seriously like going back in time, but I believe I was all the better for it, for I had my camera bag with a plethora of memory cards and spare batteries…

2008 has perhaps been slightly less conventional than the average year pour moi.

- Moving up to Liverpool to live.

- Finally making the big call and deciding to chase my dream of being a full-time photographer

- Realising that i’ve finally found (verging on cheesy Hollywood’isms here) my destiny as far as a career is concerned.The incredible diversity you get from all types of photography, means there’s never a dull moment and always something unique and creative to strive for. No more “working for the man” in a dull office job. Oh well, i’m sure I will (if I haven’t already) get over it!

And what a great little place Liverpool is. It’s seriously been the perfect place for me to pluck up the courage, and chase my photographic dreams. The people i’ve met in 2008 have been nothing short of inspirational. Liverpudlians are direct and to the point, much like Antipodeans, and you then have the ability to win respect that much quicker when the usual “bs” is taken out of the equation.

Everywhere you turn there’s people willing to help, or simply have a yarn. Even the homeless people have a good laugh! The networks available to start up businesses have been invaluable also. I joined the BNI group a couple of months back, and that’s been fantastic as you end up forging friendships with people in the same boat as you. More recently joining the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce has meant that I got to meet and photograph the Lord Mayor over a cup of tea. Definitely an English highlight!

I’ve met amazing people, not because i’ve had to, but because starting up your own business forces you out of your comfort zone and opens up possibilities that I never would have experienced getting lost in the ratrace.

All in all, an absolute bloody pearler. I could possibly ‘rabbit on’ for much longer with random thoughts… but as i’m still new to this whole blog game. I’m going to save it for a rainy day (soon then!)

Stay tuned for many more photographic ramblings in 2009. For it’s shaping up to be the best year yet. With visions, goals and dreams to be achieved… it’s certainly going to be a trip… feel free to come along for the ride!

Here’s my first sunset shot of 2009. Taken at Plas y Brenin in Snowdonia, the air temp was below zero and the lake was well frozen over…