Another week another wedding or Two

Well that was a busy 2 weeks. Two more weddings down one more to go. These were two very different weddings the first, Fran & Heather was some thing I would liken to a summer fete, the ceremony being held in the very majestic Leeds town hall Registry office, then followed by a vintage bus ride to a lovely village hall in East Keswick. It was bright and relaxed venue that was decorated with bunting and garlands.

There was a jazz band playing on the stage a marque on the lawn with tombola, children running around playing summer lawn games, this was a really beautiful summer wedding.

The second wedding, that of Danny & Sarah was a more traditional affair but was no less flamboyant than the previous. The marriage ceremony was held at St Micheal's church, East Ardsley, then afterwards at a local modern hotel.

With each couple I spent a few hours with in the weeks before visiting locations and discussing what sort of pictures they were wanting. For me this was invaluable as it gave me the opportunity  to recce each of the locations and get a general idea of light and also set expectations for each couple.

The work however really does start afterwards, going through the images sorting editing cropping etc.

All of these weddings that I am photographing this year are for friends and work colleagues, I agreed to do them for my own personnel development and also the experience I would gain.

A selection of pictures from Heather & Frans Wedding

A selection of pictures from Danny & Sarah's Wedding

Visit to Leeds Art Gallery & Henry Moore Institute

So I decided to spend and afternoon visiting Leeds art gallery and Henry Moore institute.
Its been several years since I last visited and thought I was long over due for a dose of culture.

One of the first things that strikes you in the Leeds gallery is the sheer size of some of the paintings they have on display in the main viewing area. The level of detail in some of these pictures are truly breathtaking.

The first of the pictures that completely blew me away was "Scotland for ever" painted by Lady Elizabeth Butler. The picture was painted in 1881  and depicts the charge of the Royal North British Dragoons (The Scots Greys) at the Battle of Waterloo. The picture itself became well known and popular during  WWI when both the British and the Germans used the image for propaganda purposes. The sense of drama  mixed with the rich vibrant colours make this picture really stand out.

Scotland for ever

One of the other paintings that was difficult to over look was "Retribution" by Edward Armitage.
The sheer Size and scale of this work mad it impossible not to be drawn to it. Although the subject matter itself is something may not appeal to the mainstream the level of detail in the work makes it really stand out.

 Retribution



Henry Moore Institute

Sarah Lucas was the Artist displaying her work the title being "Ordinary Things"

To be Perfectly honest I just did not get this exhibition, I guess the phrase one mans poison is another mans pleasure really comes into play here. I have read the review by Adrian Searle of the guardian but to be honest I just found it uninteresting and uninspiring if not bordering on vulgar. I am not doubting that this artist has something unique but was not for me on this occasion.