Cricket Match at Coombe Lodge Playing Fields, South Croydon

July 10, 2014

Recently I had the opportunity to photograph a local cricket match at Coombe Lodge Playing Fields in South Croydon. It wasn't quite an international test match but was still an exciting game. The weather was nice and warm and overcast, which is actually great for taking photographs. Most people think that the sunnier the day, the better but this isn't the case. The last thing you usually want is a really sunny sky as it causes very harsh shadows and highlights. We've all seen photos of friends and family where one part of the face his bright white and another part is really dark.

Nothing like a fist bump to keep the runs flowing!

There are a couple relatively easy way to resolve this issue including; finding some shade, either from a tree or a building; using a diffuser of some sort; or by turning the subject round until the direct sunlight is off them. I did a post about shooting in harsh light, which goes into the issues in some more detail.

However, there are times, like a sporting event, when you cannot control where you shoot from or where someone is standing. My cloudy, overcast day was giving me soft, even light and so it was really an issue for me.

Here are some shots from the day. They were all taken with a 70-200mm f2.8 (click to see the images full screen):

Summer Street Party in Ilford, Essex

May 28, 2014

They say that there’s always a first time for everything. I had never been to a street party before but was invited to my first one recently. I wasn't sure what to expect but when we arrived, the first thing I noticed was that the street was actually closed off to the public. There were gazebos and chairs and tables out for everyone. All the neighbours were out talking to each other and the children were having a great time on the bouncy castle, playing ball games, table football, carom, face painting or having henna put on.

It was a glorious sunny day and it was lovely to see neighbours all out chatting and mixing with each other. There were people from all parts of the world and everyone had a great time. The day ended with a tug-o-war competition, which was won by the ‘evens’. The odds will seek revenge next year!

Taking photographs was a pleasant experience and much less stressful than usual. There was no posing or setting up lights required. It was nice to walk around and shoot people who were simply enjoying themselves and not worried about the camera.

The Egg and Spoon race for the youngsters was taken very seriously but naturally resulted in a few egg casualties!

You can't beat a bouncy castle for continuous enjoyment.  Alas, there was a height restriction and so the adults had to make their own entertainment.... — You can't beat a bouncy castle for continuous enjoyment. Alas, there was a height restriction and so the adults had to make their own entertainment....

Fortunately, there was musical entertainment on hand for the older generation.  The singer belted out some classic golden oldies! — Fortunately, there was musical entertainment on hand for the older generation. The singer belted out some classic golden oldies!

The weather was perfect for BBQ cooked food and there was no shortage of grub.

One of the youngsters was a dhol player and he kept everyone entertained and added the Asian twang to the day.

A lovely day ended with a tug-o-war with the 'Odds' versus the 'Evens'

Every competition needs a trophy and this year the Evens claimed the spoils of war

After a long, hot day of playing, jumping, dancing and eating...... There's nothing quite like a nice lolly to cool things off.

Photographing Children - Some Tips & Recent Photos

April 7, 2014

In my opinion, the most important aspect when it comes to photographing children is getting a natural expression out of them. I want parents to look at the image and say "THAT is my child!". Photographs that show an emotion resonate much better with the viewer and have greater impact. There are also a couple of other things to bear in mind:

Focus on the eyes. You may have a photograph, with perfect lighting and a great expression but if the eyes are blurred and out of focus, then the image loses a lot of impact. If the eyes are on two different focus planes, then focus on the eye that is closest to the camera.

I try to keep the eyes above the centre line, ideally in the top third or keep the face on one side. This makes for a more interesting and pleasing image. Composition is very important and I will be going into this in some more detail in a future post.

I personally don't mind cutting off the top of the head. If you look at many magazine covers, you will see that very often, the tops of heads are missing.