Finally picked up and scanned the film from the afternoon kayaking with Heiko. Just goes to show that with film although it may take some time, you’ll get the results eventually.

Just a couple of extra images from the eisa festival.

There was an eisa festival in Okinawa City this weekend. I stopped by to get a few photos of the event. Most of the participants are dancers or drummers, but there are also chondara which are like clowns that help hype up the crowds, keep the drummers in line, and consume large amounts of awamori.

Matt the father of Alec, is a keen surfer and skater so he brought along a few props to the newborn shoot with Anya Schmidt. Before worried readers point out potential dangers, we were still in the same warm room next to the parents, and the wood with peeling paint is a surprisingly realistic bit of fake flooring.  The result was some fun, and unique newborn baby images. Thanks again to Alec, his parents, and Anya for letting me be a part of their day.

Next month my sister is having a baby. Wonderful news for everyone, and I hope to make it over to the UK sometime this winter to see my new nephew / niece. I’ll bring my camera along, but to be honest I haven’t photographed many babies. I mentioned this to some of the other photographers on Okinawa, and Anya Schmidt invited me to assist on her latest newborn shoot. The first thing I learned is that newborn shoots are done when the baby is very young. We were photographing Alec at 14 days, and I was told this was quite old! The second thing I learned is that the baby controls the shoot. As most newborn images are created while the baby is asleep, you have to wait patiently in a very warm room until the baby sleeps. A newborn photographer is a bit like a horse whisperer trying to relax the baby and parents, before trying to get the shots. The third thing I learned is that if you are photographing naked babies, your …

There are huge differences between shooting in the studio and shooting on location. Above all, it’s the degree of control. In the studio you can easily adjust the direction, quality and strength of light. You can make micro adjustment to the model’s poses, and then shoot, check and reshoot until you get it right. Yesterday was a wonderful example of having to relinquish control. With heavy clouds, sporadic rain, and several large horses, you have to work with what the conditions and the equine models will give you. Luckily things all came together. The overcast skies produced a nice even light, and the horses were kind enough not to throw Liz off their backs, or knock me (and the camera) into the water. Huge thanks must go to Liz Craig for modeling, Kim Clay for makeup, Pete Leong and Eboh Ajeroh for assisting, and above all Eve Carey, Makoto, Sly and Sky of Mihara Horse Club.

Pro wedding photographer Pete Leong came along on a fun location shoot with model Liz Craig and horses Makoto, Sly, and Sky. Pete took some wonderful behind the scenes shots, which pretty much explain all. So without further ado…