Variety is the spice of life

Well it's been a while since I got chance to update my blog and it's been a really busy month. What I like most about my business is it's sheer variety, no two days are the same, and I guess I am very lucky to be able to make a living through my creativity.

During the last month I've been able to add to my kit and amongst other things I am now the proud owner of a fast zoom lens. After managing with good equipment it's nice to actually work with the best available. Hopefully the improved optical quality will soon start to become apparent in my work.

Since buying the lens I've photographed football in a downpour, a bmx rider in the warm evening sun and then yesterday I was invited along to Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield in order to photograph an athletics event. It has been nice to be able to experiment as well as capture the action.

Thats not to say that the landscape and stock photography is being neglected. I sold cards and prints at another bank holiday craft fair in Bakewell. My images are still on display and attracting compliments at the Chesterfield Pine Gallery.

I've also started to contribute to iStock, an online stock library which is also part of Getty images. Their quality control is second to none and although I only have a small portfolio online at the moment I have managed to make some sales and am hopeful of more in the coming months. Here's an image from a recent trip to London. Hopefully there's a hint of "britishness" about the image :-) !!








So to the other third of my business, and wedding photography. There have been pre-wedding photoshoots with Angele and Andrew, Ben and Ruth as well as Martine and Tracy's wedding at the Chesterfield Hotel. Three very different, but lovely couples. For Ruth and Ben's photoshoot they wanted to incorporate the locality in their images so we settled on the ruins of Sutton Scarsdale Hall being their back drop. It's been many years since I went there, so it's nice to see that English Heritage have undertaken some work on the site and made it into a really pleasant picnic site. Ben and Ruth loved the photos too.

Anyway must press on, I hope that you found this post of interest and if you have any queries or comments about my work please feel free to contact me or leave a comment.

Variety really is the spice of life.

Jane xx

Finding time

This last few weeks has been frenetic and there just hasn't seemed enough time in the day to get through everything. But no complaints, Sundial is a healthy, thriving and developing business - something of which I am very proud. Every day presents opportunities to broaden my experience, every day is a new adventure and long may it remain so.

I took the decision when starting out in this business that I didn't want to pigeon-hole myself in one limiting line of photography, hence the broad canvas, the wide ranging portfolio as well as the variety of work.During the last fortnight I've photographed Yulia and Andy's wedding at East Lodge, Rowsley. Spent a day with Jo Lovell from Crystal Angels, teaching her how to get the most out of her camera and computer. Spent some time out in the Peak District looking for opportunities to add to my landscape collection, and finally photographed sport, sport sport. Commissioned work from the Crowood Press to provide images for their sports guides is just part of the story as it's also cup final season and the start of the summer tournaments.

Amidst all the practical work the business still has to be developed, planned and administered so today was set aside for some concentrated time in the office to get my paperwork up to date. A necessary chore and also chance to start and plan for the second half of the year. In the meantime please have a look on the website as I began the task today of freshening up the galleries and adding some of the fruits of my labour from the last month. The homepage has a new slideshow and the sports gallery has been overhauled with a large number of new images added in most categories. During the coming week I hope to be able to find the time to add more in all pages so please keep your eye out for any updates.

Now it's time to start and think about the weekend and another couple of days devoted to sports photography. Saturday will see me at Cavendish Fields in Matlock working an event with Mark Ludbrook from Sportsshots and Sunday I have the pleasure of photographing my friends at Linby Ladies and Girls FC. Team photos, portraits and a new product called "Sportraits" Should be another busy but rewarding time.

Have a great weekend

When worlds collide

It was the Women's FA Cup Final today. 22, 000 people crammed into Pride Park, Derby to see Arsenal take on Sunderland.

My old world and my new world meeting head on - I've been very lucky with my career, my job with the FA was a dream fulfilled and now my photograpy is taking me into equally rewarding new pastures. The game was, therefore, a chance to catch up with a few old friends as well as a chance for more invaluable sport photography experience. I had a pitchside press pass and a mission to take at least 10 full frame images for my book. Well, the results are smashing, it looks like I'll be spoilt for choice, and I've still to attend a couple of international games in July!!!

I've put a few examples on the blog for you to make your mind up.
The FA cup final was my 12th football match in just over a week. It's been a hectic time, but a great learning experience. I've been working with Mark at Sportsshots to cover the Rowsley League cup finals at all age groups. male and female. We still have another week of games to go as well as a mini soccer tournament next weekend.........phew

Wouldn't have it any other way though.

Other than that I can't believe that we're already into May. This year just seems to have flown by and long may it continue to do so. August and Putnam Lake isn't so far away afterall.

Have a great week everybody

When Tigers roar!!!!

I had a blast today and just had to post a few pics before going to bed. My biggest sporting fixture to date, Leicester Tigers v Bristol in the Guinness Premiership..... My mission to take at least 10 action images worthy of inclusion in a forthcoming Rugby Coaching manual published by the Crowood Press......Here's a sneak preview so you can judge for yourself.



In 6 hours time it's more rugby as I'm teaming up with Mark from Sportsshots once again to cover a large kids tournament on Cromford Meadow. I don't for one minute expect the action to be as frenetic as earlier but it's an exciting prospect nonetheless.


Working at a big sports event is a wonderful perk of a brilliant job and my next big game is at Derby County in a weeks time when Arsenal take on Sunderland in the Womens FA Cup Final. Hope the sun shines as much as it did today.

Have a great Sunday everyone.

Image is everything

With my background in sport I suppose it's no surprise that I am trying to make a reputation for myself in high quality sports photography.

So last night saw me make the tortuous drive across country to Shrewsbury Town FC, to photograph England's Women's side as they began their preparations for Euro 2009.

As well as some great action, and a 3-0 win for England, it was lovely to catch up with a few old friends from the Football Association. It seems like an age since I left to start my new life in photography.

Here a few of the results some of which may surface in my forthcoming book about girls and womens football.

The weekend looks like being one devoted to rugby photography as tomorrow I am in the fortunate position of being able to cover a Guinness Premiership Rugby game - Leicester Tigers v Bristol in what is being billed as Super Saturday. It's the last regular day of the season so there should be a carnival atmosphere at the Walkers Stadium. Then on Sunday I will be covering a large festival hosted by Matlock Rugby Club. This is my first experience of kids rugby so will, no doubt, be a great experience.

The Leicester Tigers photographs will be featured in a Coaching Tips and Techniques Guide published by the Crowood Press. I have also undertaken basketball photography for them and am looking forward to seeing some images in print very soon.

Hope you like the photos, and whatever you get up to this weekend have a great time.

All the best till next time

Happy Easter everyone

April already and Easter has nearly been and gone. This year just seems to be flying by....... someone must be having too much fun...... :-)

The photo above was one of the first I took in 2009. I was recording a heavy hoar frost on New Years Day and came across this footpath at Eastmoor near Chesterfield. I thought I'd share it here because so many people picked it out this weekend when they dropped by my stall at the Show in Bakewell. The image is my own personal favourite from that particular expedition and so it was nice to hear so many complimentary comments from strangers.

It's been an interesting weekend as well, my first foray into "fine art" photography and the Bank Holiday world of craft shows.

I met and chatted to some lovely people, business cards were handed out, but best of all, cards and prints were sold. During a lull in proceedings it dawned on me that this was the first time that my personal work has been so openly on show, my soul bared, my photography laid out for all to see.

Thankfully it was very well received and I was thrilled when a lady on Saturday told me that she could see the passion in my photographs, that she just wanted to step into them and experience the tranquility.

The Full range of prints and greetings cards is now on the website and are all available to buy online Please check them out, I'd love to have your comments....or better still an order or two.
http://www.sundialphotographic.co.uk

Anyway thank you for reading, best wishes for a happy time this Easter

Jane xx

The Countdown is on

What a lovely weekend, brilliant weather, great company all topped off with a smashing wedding at Aston Hall. Julie and James had a superb day and I just hope the photos help to keep their memories alive for many years to come.

I thought I'd share one image that I know they had both set their heart on, there's still work to be done but heres a sneak preview.

Have a great honeymoon later this week.

Whilst we were at Aston my daughter was under instructions to take the next photograph, I'm sure you'll all be pleased to know that I got the picture and didn't jump!!!!!!!!

Looking forward, this week is set to start a new chapter in the Sundial story as this it is this weekend that my landscape imagery is unleashed on the world, well Bakewell at any rate.

Make a note in your diary as Sundial Photographic will be proudly taking its place for the weekend at the Easter Craft fair held in the Town Hall. What could be a nicer herald to Summer than a drive out into the Peak District, stopping for a cuppa and a catch up with your favourite photographer?

I have begun to put together a range of high quality, individual greetings cards in preparation for the weekend. They are currently previewed on my website and if you are feeling really daring they can also be ordered online. Go to http://www.sundialphotographic.co.uk/ then follow the link to greetings cards.

Later on this week the range of mounted prints and enlargements will also be available online. The image of Putnam Lake, below, photographed on a tranquil day last October is one of my personal favourites.Why not check them out and let me know which are yours.

I'll be blogging again before the weekend but would love to hear from you with any comments or suggestions.

Thanks for reading on till the end, have a great week everybody

Jane

xx