2012! Bang! That sounds like the future! “Twenty-twelve.” New years resolution? Get on with my blog. So, with no further wait: Every so often I use my photography / cinematography skills to help out the school. Last year this involved making some photos for use on a flier, and also making some testimonial videos that other potential teachers could check out. I’m quite happy with the results, it turns out my classrooms can be converted to makeshift studios quite easily…

Couple portrait photography is pretty big in China. Usually after getting engaged, after getting married and after having a baby, portrait photos are taken. Anyway, me and B decided it was time to get our post-engagement shots done. Most people would head to a studio and throw down some money, but… I had lots of ideas, and I had the help of my good friend Winfred, we headed to the newly finished Chao Yang Park in Weinan and came away with these photos…

So, should I just write this post as if nothing happened? Or should I acknowledge that it’s been over a month since my last post. Oops! Ahem! Well, Sorry! I was busy with this that and the other. A few trips to various parts of China; all of which will make for good blog posts, but – first I need to catch up. So, long story short I placed 3rd in an Aston photo competition (woo hoo) and they wanted a photo of me “looking excited” to go on the website, so…I grabbed my equipment and my assistant in training (Beryl) and we headed to the garages outside my apartment for a little shoot…

Just a few quick snaps from another visit to the park with my photography buddies…

To try out the new camera, I first walked home from work with it. Usually when I don’t have my camera, I see loads of interesting things… however, Murphy’s law prevailed, and I didn’t really see anything interesting, so later that evening I headed to the park with my Weinan photo club friends, here are some photos from the new camera. Still getting used to it!

So, way back in April, I went on a photoshoot with my Weinan Oak Tree photo club friends. I never did post the photos, so here they are!

At the end of February I was once again back in Winfred’s studio; 121. This time with two models I dubbed Lorraine and Jessie. I like to give all the models English names so that they’re easier to remember. Most the time I don’t even tell the girls their names. That’ll just bring a bunch of drama of them wanting the meaning of the name, blah, blah, blah. 😛 Anyway, Lorraine and Jessie were both fab to work with, and second time in the studio was definately more at home than the first. Click through for plenty of photos…

“121” is the name of my friend’s new photo studio he’s opened up in Weinan. It’s a venture between Winfred and some of his friends (you may remember him from previous posts.) Anyway, I’ve been helping him out with his company portfolio and in return I get to play around in a full size studio with over 2000 watts of light. It’s quite good fun. These are my photos from the first time in the studio…

I met up with Winfred again, this time he brought the ‘boss’ of his photo society and a few chicks from his school to act as models. We headed roughly to the same place as last time, although this time much later in the day. We decided we’d try get some sunset shots. The weather was less than perfect in terms of visibility and it was cold as well. This made our relentless march up into the hills less than enjoyable for our dainty model friends, but… in the end, certainly got some good photos out of it…

This is Winfred, my new photography brother-in-arms. We originally met at the swimming pool about 4 months ago. We didn’t really keep in touch, but then he found me on flickr! We realised we share a common passion for photography, so we decided to meet up and go on a photo walkabout together. We started in Weinan, and then headed south for what would turn out to be a 20km hike, but some great photos came out of it…