Rugby giant and Granddad

An image of Sir Colin Meads taken for a book I photographed called Granddads Grandmas Nanas and Poppas. Grandparents and their grandchildren all over New Zealand from North of Kaiatia to Stewart Island. He was very relaxed about the shoot as you can see by his dress code, although he did change for a family shot with all his grandchildren (10 I think}

Rear Reflections

This image always creates a smile, it's innocence is the appeal. Taken on location at clients home and another moment of serendipity. I often find that by just letting things flow and keeping an eye out some of my favourite images appear. natural lighting
from doorway, 35mm 1600 ISO 135mm lens with slight tone added.

Safe in Mum & Dads hands

A recent commission in studio. It is a nice subtle way to get Mum and Dad in the picture. 99% of adults (apart from models) tell me they hate having their photograph taken! or that they take terrible photographs to which I politely reply it will be painless and leave it to me! The back lighting (with a front fill reflector) I think gives the image it's special mood.

Deco Picnic

Another image from the Art Deco series. Great fun obtaining all the props for this shot from vintage and collectable shops. B/W 100 ISO film 150mm lens on Hasselblad.

Brothers

An image from a portrait commission taken last week. Simple soft lighting created by lots of natural light reflection from white walls and ceiling. Background trees sufficiently out of focus to not be a distraction. Straight digital image 800 ISO 300mm lens @f5.6

Eight months

This image taken using natural light coming through a doorway.I find it always seems to work better when I get down their level and shoot from the floor, it adds a nice perspective.

Boys Joy

This little guy was a Russian orphan who had been adopted. He was great fun to work with (even though he didn't understand much english), as his expression shows he was so excited about having his photograph taken.

Great Grandad

I thought this was a suitable image for Fathers day. Great Grandad was 99 when I took this and his Great Grandaughter 6 months. This photograph was taken a few years ago but it still is in my portfolio as it seems to touch peoples heartstrings whenever it is exhibited.

Fond Farewell

A sweet embrace maybe the last in the days of flying the machine... Using a shutterspeed that blurred the propeller heightened the sense of time, adding to the emotion of the image. From the Art Deco collection.

Deco fashion 5

Another in the series of Art Deco fashion. Original dresses provided by private collector. Style really is never out of fashion. ISO 400 B/W film Hasselblad 80mm Lens.

Violinist

From last Saturdays portrait commission, photographed at his home. Another simple uncluttered image using composition as the main element to make the photograph more appealing. The curve of the archway is repeated in the shape of the bottom of the violin.

Eventide Stroll

Another one of those moments when an image just seems to appear. I have played with this in photoshop, blurring background which I think makes the gentleman standout and adding the warm tone which just helps the sense of twilight both in time of day and time of life. 200mm @F5.6 digital.

Moment in time

I was looking at this scene and knew it needed something to add the 'X' factor.., and then this person appeared walking out of frame, so just a matter of waiting for the composition to work and press the button.

Dewdrops

I really enjoy just wandering around with a camera, it keeps a nice balance between commissioned assignments and just having fun. This was shot at f4 on the 90mm shift and tilt lens which has the ability to focus very close with out filters. Straight digital file.

Brothers

A simple fun shot of two brothers having fun. The angle of the seesaw gives the image a more striking composition (leads the eye straight to the main subjects). Narrow depth of field gives a more three dimensional look to the photograph. 400 ISO B/W film 60mm lens on Hasselblad (equal to approx 28mm on 35mm camera).

Deco fashion 4

I really like the way the red of her lipstick is repeated in the Hotel stained glass sign in the background. Hasselblad 150mm lens transparency film.

Keiran

A good way to highlight his blonde curls was to photograph him against a black background and also use a backlight. To achieve a solid black background I placed Keiran about 2m away from the black curtains so that the light on his face wouldn't reach the curtains. Also blocking with a black screen/card any light from the backlight spilling onto the curtains.

Skater

Recent shot from portrait shoot, his Mum wanted something that was natural and this is what he naturally did! Straight digital ISO 400 @ 250sec.

At A Glance

This was shot using a 90mm shift and tilt lens (my favourite lens) which gives a very narrow depth of field, resulting in one eye being sharp and the other out of focus. I then used smart blur in photoshop and also bleached out the midtones. Original shot on 3200 ISO B/W film and scanned.

Sunset layers

Another recent image, I had located this view several days before so it was a matter of waiting until the right night and light appeared and then shooting the picture. Straight digital image slightly cropped to give the panoramic format, shot on 400mm lens .