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Waiting for the sunset at Mallory Square, Key West, USA

Not updated this blog in a long time, but here’s a pic from the holiday I’ve just returned from in the Florida Keys. As I took it I was eavesdropping on a conversation between a girl who was explaining how awesome Instagram was making her pics to her friend – Had a little chuckle to myself, this really was the last place in the world that adding a filter was going to improve a picture.

Three that got away

St Mirren goalkeeper Craig Samson is beaten by Iain Davidson’s header – but the Dundee midfielder was offside

Three games into the new football season and I’ve still to get my first Dundee goal to shoot – here’s three that came close on Saturday as the Dark Blues lost to St Mirren.

Lit portrait

Dundee new boy Davide Grassi
I’ve been shooting Dundee’s new signings over the summer and have been doing some of the shots with off camera flash – here’s one of Italian defender David Grassi, sky was cloudy and boring so dropped the ambient a fair bit to add some drama to this pic.
Technical stuff: Canon 1dmkii with 17-40L lens at 17mm and f14 – 1/250th second exposure – Canon 430ex six feet right of camera triggered by ETTL with on camera 550ex (fired away from subject to trigger 430)

Love the Dundee derby

Dundee fans

The last few months have seen Scottish football in meltdown as Rangers imploded financially but on Saturday I saw a bright light of hope for my local teams.

Lovely light

Football is back and I’m shooting Dundee’s pre-season friendlies, which so far has involved a couple of quick trips to the North of England. It’s been pretty much pouring all week in Scotland, but both trips down South have brought beautiful weather and lovely little grounds, at Lancaster City and Kendal Town, to shoot in. Early in last night’s game at Kendal there were light pockets all over the ground and I liked the light in this picture of Dundee captain Stephen O’Donnell. It was good too to see former Dundee player Robbie Raeside watching his old club on the road.

Stephen O’Donnell fires in a free kick

Hannah Clarke – Olympic Torch

This was my studio for Thursday and Friday (It’s the reception of Aviva in Perth) as I took 100 charity portraits of Aviva employees and their families with Hannah Clarke’s Olympic torch – read about Hannah at  www.justgiving.com/Hannah-Clarke.

Hannah is one of the most positive people I’ve ever met in my life, she’s raised a heap of money for the Make a Wish Foundation and the Mary Leishman Foundation.

Had a great time on this shoot, and thanks to the staff at Aviva in Perth for their generousity towards Hannah’s causes.

Guitar

Took some pictures of a musician’s guitar collection and liked this one. Strobist stuff. -Canon 1D Mkii with 50mm 1.8 lens at 1.8. Lit by 430ex in Hobo Lighting 24″ Softbox to left of camera – fired via ETTL by 550 ex (non firing) on camera.