My New Kit

For Christmas, Santa gave me a brand new AF-S NIKKOR 50mm Lens and a set of 3 ND Filters with a 52 adapter (I had to order a 58 adapter to fit the lens which is just waiting for me to pick it up) for Christmas and I can't wait to try them out. My Dad also gave me his old Minolta XG-M with a fixed 50mm lens and flash-head which I need to get repaired but I can't wait to use. Once I get it fix. 

I also thought I would say that when I started photography I started using a Fuji FinePix S3400, then I moved on to using a Nikon D40 and now I use a Nikon D3200 with a 18-55mm and 55-200mm lens and now I am really happy that I can add all of this new gear to my arsenal.

My Christmas Presents

Yesterday I did a little experiment and did a little Still Life shoot featuring my presents from Christmas including a new 50mm lens and set of ND filters, my Dad also gave me his old camera, I also got loads of clothes, aftershave and chocolates. I might add some self-portrait pictures of my Christmas clothes but either I just thought that I would post and say that the full set is on my Facebook page so please check them out.

Minchella's

I think I may have posted a similar picture before but I have just finished editing and uploading a set of images from my first shoot at Minchellas, where I took pictures of a delicious ice cream with the sun setting in the background. I'm really proud of this little shoot plus I got to eat some delicious ice cream afterwards. Check out the full set of images here; https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.455425647891887.1073741902.323221521112301&type=1.

Behind the Scenes

Earlier this year I did some "behind the scenes" stuff for some other photographers and a few weeks ago I did it again for this shoot with Anth and Melissa. I really enjoy doing this kind of work; as a relatively new and rough around the edges photographer, I really appreciate the opportunity to work with other established and professional photographers. This allows me to take not of their style and approaches to shoots and lets me think of what I do wrong and what I do right and what I can improve on. I post a little folder on my Facebook page and Anth made this great montage from the pictures so I thought I would post it here. Let me know what you guys think.

Windrunner

Here are a few pictures of Amber as Windrunner; a character from World of Warcraft, modelling in Leazes Park in Newcastle (the location for shoot with Sarah and Macara (as Arwen)). I had a great time photographing Amber as Windrunner and I am really looking forward to possibly shooting with her again either as another cosplay character or as herself. I think she did a great job, looking very amused, worried and serious as Windrunner and the full shoot is now on my Facebook page; https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.453980574703061.1073741900.323221521112301&type=3

Amber and Amy (Raven) are the founders of their own cosplay company; Squishy Pandas, which can be found here; https://www.facebook.com/squishypandascosplay.

College Fashion Shoot

So recently I helped some fashion students at my college do a practice shoot for their final projects, however I was ill on the day of their final shoot, however I did a quick shoot with these two students as they also missed the day. So hopefully today I will be posting the rest of the shoot on my page but I thought I would upload some samples to my blog. What do you guys think? Please check out my Facebook page to check out the rest of the shoot, tell me what you think in comments and please check out the rest of my blog. 

Do you think I should do another shoot with these two beautiful girls? I think I had great fun on the shoot and would love to plan my own shoot with them.

Cupcakes

Anyone fancy a cupcake or three? I've just started a Still Life college project that is focused on kitchen utensils or something you would find in the kitchen. So because I had a dozen fairy cakes left over from a party, I brought in half-a-dozen and a display stand into our studio, set up a quick still life table and softbox flash-head and took a handful of pictures for a practice shoot. What do you guys think? More will be up soon.

Melissa and Santa

I just thought I would post this picture of Melissa and Santa as I think it is lovely. I can't wait to do some more shoots with Melissa and I still need to edit the Behind the Scenes shoot and some snaps of Meg who I will hopefully be working with on her upcoming debut shoot. Soon I will be posting a sneak peak of Meg, so keep your eyes peeled for that. Hopefully I will have some more shoots edited soon and I will start planning some shoots for Christmas and 2014.

Ceramic Dress

What do you guys think of this? Halfway through my Christmas Shoot with Fran, a Ceramics students asked me to photograph her dress to enter in it a competition. I think I did quite well considering I only had 5 minutes notice but the student was happy and had some pictures to use and I got a box of chocolates as a thank you so all's when that ends well. 

Melissa

Here's a sneak peak of my shoot with Melissa in Granger Market last week, who looked lovely despite the the cold weather and I managed to get some great pictures including this one which is a lovely detailed shoot which focuses heavily on her eye. Hopefully I will be able to edit and upload the rest of the photos in the next week or so.

Raven

Here's a few pictures of Amy doing an excellent job of cosplay Raven around and under the High-Level Bridge in Newcastle. Amy also added to my Costume and Comics series reading Teen Titans and Trigon. Although she is a first time cosplayer who has never done a shoot before I think Amy did an excellent job modelling Raven; looking very serious and mysterious yet tough and heroic. I'm looking forward to developing my ideas with Amy/Raven and hopefully shooting with her again; perhaps in the studio, using PhotoShop to create the effects of her powers. Something I haven't tried before that would be an interesting and unusual challenge.

Profile Pictures

By Jonathon Keys and Anth Short

This is a first for me; posting someone else's photos but they are of me so I suppose that's alright. These were taken by two photographer I have worked with recently so I thought I would let you all enjoy my ugly mug on the wrong side of the mug.

Enviromental Portraits

This is the final image from my latest college project; Environmental Portraits. Environmental Portraits are all about photographing the subject in their natural environment to make them feel more relaxed and comfortable compared to how they would feel in a harsh and artificial studio. So I shoot my Dad in his office using a 50mm lens (which was my first attempt at using the lens as normally I use a 18-55, 55-200 and 18-24mm lenses) which I initial found tricky since I'm not used to a Manual focusing lens but quickly got used to it. I think this isn't a very photogenic photo but it shows a bit of action and a little insight into my Dad's job.

Coastline Final Images

These are the Final Images from my latest Coastline project that were taken in a Commercial style, however I am very disappointed with these images as I strayed too far from the brief, I tried to do to many ideas but I didn't stick to a good idea and develop it enough or understand what exactly I should be shooting so I had to quickly cobble together a group of images from what I had shoot. I love photography but I love to be the best I can be at photography. In this project I wasn't so I won't to get back to doing the best I can do.

Ice Cream

I know it's November but I am doing a unit called Coastline at College, so I immediately thought I should photography some fish and chips and ice cream, even thought it is very cold and miserable at the moment. I compensated for this by shooting an ice cream with the bright light and vibrant colors of a setting sun behind it. I am just working on the edits at the moment but I thought I would post a sneak peak for youse.

Charachters and Comics Series

Ok guys I need some help. I am working on an idea for a series of images called "Charachters and Comics" based on the idea of a model, dressed as a DC Comics character, posed reading a New 52 comic about there character. For the heroes I was going to use the white covered #0 issues and the villains the .1 issues. This is my first attempt using Harley Quinn but I would like your opinion on which one works the best. So please comment on your favorite of the 10 images shown below.

Tino at South Shields

So he's a brief update on my photography; I'm currently doing a project called Coastline where I am meant to be creative but as usual, I'm going for a more commercial approach and I'm planning to shoot a female Viking overlooking a storm sea, I'm also planning to shoot in an ice cream parlor and a fish and chips shop and i've got some vintage and dancing ideas.

I have also just finished editing the pictures from my shoot with Tino in South Shields; starting at The Groyne then moving along the to Fair, the Skatepark and finally the memorial artillery gun. I was really pleased with this shoot and my 3 Final Images helped me achieve a Distinction in my project. Here's a sneak-peak from the shoot; the rest of the pictures will be uploaded to my Facebook page by the end of the day.

Self-Portraits Final Images

These pictures are from 4 weeks ago when I finished my James Bond Self-Portraits unit; I had to take 3 self-portrait images which were inspired by a James Bond villain. I shoot this in my college studio using a coffin box and a snot head attached to a flash-head on a light stand. Although I maintain that I belong behind the camera I am rather proud of these images. What do you think?

Ad Branding Final Images

I just finished by Ad Branding College Project; I had to pick a brand and shoot 3 images of a model on location, using natural light, focusing on one aspect of the photo (I choose color) and the photo had to be inspired by the previous advertising campaigns of the brand. I choose Superdry as I like how there photos always included bright colors but the lighting is usually quite dull and grey and not very bright. Tino was my model and I decided to shoot in South Shields, as the weather was quite bleak and the fairground and skate-park was very colorful. Let me know what you think.

Newcastle Wedding Shoot with Tino and Sophie

This a preview image for a Wedding Shoot (not an actual wedding), I shoot a couple of weeks ago with Tino and Sophie (pictured). Originally we planned to shoot along the Gateshead/Newcastle Quayside but bad weather meant we had to relocate to the High-Level Bridge and surrounding area which produced a far grittier and dirtier collection of images. I've recently finished editing and uploading the rest of the shoot so please check them out on my Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.420639221370530.1073741888.323221521112301&type=1

Sarah in Leazes Park

Sorry for the wait but I haven't posted in a while since I have been on holiday to Nottingham and London and very ill recently so I just thought I would show you a sneak peak from my shoot with Sarah in Leazes Park in Newcastle for last Saturday. As always comments and messages are always appreciated and please check out my Facebook page and my new Twitter feed.

https://www.facebook.com/NickDunnPhotography

https://twitter.com/NJDPhotography

Sunderland Air Show

This weekend was the Sunderland International Air Show and I went down to Seaburn on Saturday and got some great pictures of the plane and helicopters there. Although I should have tried to get some Street Photography images, as I have greatly neglected this genre lately, I got some great pictures of the Red Arrows, the Red Bull Stunt Team and the many other planes and helicopter that took part in the show. Check out my photography page and have a look at the other pictures; https://www.facebook.com/NickDunnPhotography

Arwen Photoshoot

Today I just did a practice photo-shoot of Macara dressed in her Arwen costume. She played the part of Arwen really well due to her slightly pointy eyes and hair and once again she loved being in costume, especially as this time she didn't have to wear a wig due to her recently dyed hair. Hopefully I should be doing a photoshoot with Macara in Jesmond Dene or Alnwick Castle and Gardens which who really add something to a shoot. Jesmond Dene is a great mix of ruins and trees, whereas Alnwick has lots of ivy and a treehouse which who be a great location for an elf of Middle-Earth.

Shields Shoot with Simon

Last week I did a shoot with up and coming model; Simon Barker around South Shields Lighthouse and Skate Park. Simon is a really open and friendly bloke and it was loads of fun to walk round Shields and we both got some great photos at the end of the day. I just thought I'd share this photo with you guys, if you want to see the rest of my shoot look at my Facebook photography page; https://www.facebook.com/NickDunnPhotography

Location Shoot with Lance

I just did my first independent photo-shoot with a professional model. I took some photos of Lance Anthony starting around Newcastle Keep and the High-Level Bridge then we went down towards the Quayside and up to the Sage. Although I'd originally planned sometime else I'm pleased with the way things turned out and it was great to work with a professional model and take some pictures that we can both use. I am slowly posting them on my Facebook page so feel free to check them out. I've also got two shoots planned with alternative models so hopefully I'll shoot something good and post them on here.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.390840914350361.1073741866.323221521112301&type=1

The Alibis Gig

Last Saturday I went to see my mates' band; The Alibis at a pub in South Shields called the Sandancer. They were as brilliant as every and I would recommend everyone to go see them if you can; I'll post the link to their Facebook page below this. Although the location was pretty dark and I had to use a very high ISO, I did get some great but grainy pictures of the band. Admittadely I should have shot in RAW not JPEG's but my hard and software are so outdated that I wouldn't have been able to do anything with the pictures. I'm still editing them ATM and I slowly posting them on my Facebook page so for more of the pictures have a look...

https://www.facebook.com/TheAlibisUK

https://www.facebook.com/NickDunnPhotography?ref=hl

Weekend Update

Just another quick update of my Photography. This weekend I've been quite busy; I just bought a new camera, a Nikon D3200 with a 18-55mm and 55-200mm lens and I've just been breaking it in over the weekend. Yesterday I went to the Wallsend Festival, hoping to take some Street Photography pictures but mostly got some pictures of my girlfriend and friends. I then went to my mates' band's gig in Shields and got some great (although quite grainy) pictures of the band members until it got too dark. Today I went to my cousin Matthew's christening and got some great photos there. Tomorrow I'll be on my computer after the gym and will get starting editing some pictures so I can post them on my Facebook page and this blog, so keep your eyes peeled. 

Heather; Vintage Bike

Just thought I'd show you guys the two final images from my "Bikes and Location" college unit. I asked my friend Heather to model for me in a vintage dress using her mother's vintage bike as a prop. The location was Hebburn Riverside, and although the weather and lighting was poor, I was really pleased with the shoot and I was able to produce these final images for my project. I might add some of the other edits from this shoot later, and I've also got some pictures from the Wallsend Festival and The Alibis' gig at the Sandancer in South Shields, so stay tuned.