CHALLENGE MODE: SHOOT A CASTLE IN ONE HOUR

The challenge was to photograph a Castle, or Gentleman’s Folly, and to show the castle in its best light in just one hour.“Could it be done?”  I asked myself when I arrived and saw the size of the place.   I didnt know at the time but I was certainly going to try.

I got the gear out of the car and got stuck straight in, it was hard work.  I haven’t touched any interior photography in quite a while but I do like to keep my hand in.  Looking back I got too bogged down to start with trying to match the flash lighting with the outside ambience coming through the windows so I spent much of the time doing the ground floor realising I only had just short of twenty minutes to complete the upstairs and bedrooms.  I had to work quickly!

Once done I finished by photographing the outside and gardens.  It was tight, but I just about managed it.

Overall I was pleased with the results!

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Stalking The Ghurkhas

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Just before last Christmas I found myself facing a gargantuan road trip of epic proportions.  I was to travel to Lairg in Scotland to photograph a team of Nepalise Snipers from 1 Royal Ghurka Rifles who had been invited Deerstalking with a veiw to a published article in Shooting Times.

What an assignment! I thought to myself as I tried to get transport sorted and checked the routemap.  It would take around six hours to get to Lairg, however I could not reach the group by Telephone and no one had any further details as to where these guys were staying.  It shouldt be too hard to find Ghurkas in the Highlands surely?

In addition to this the new reports were full of woe to anyone contemplating driving:  “Dont go unless absolutley!” neccessary they said.  I was not deterred from my task, the mental picture of Ghurkhas in white ghillie suits with sniper rifles was driving me, it will be a great shot.  I just have to get there….

When I set off at 6pm I had no idea what was in front of me.  The journey was fine albeit for a couple of overturned lorries although I did get caught in a blizzard as I came down off the Cairngorms.  I arrived in Lairg after 2am, I parked in a car park by the Spar shop on the shore of Loch Shin.  I got my sleeping bag out and got my head down.

Waking up at first light my first stop was the Spar.  “Seen any Ghurkas?” I asked the bewildered staff, obviously not used to a uniformed soldier in these parts.  No was the answer so I carried on.  A postal sorting office in mid flow provided me with an answer to try the Duke of Edinburgh’s Ranger Lodge and they gave me directions.

An hour later I was there with the rangers and a hotel telephone number in my hand.  I tried repeatedly throughout my broken communications to reach the Ghurka team but it was all in vain.  The hotel proprieter informed “They left this morning!”.

Gutted.  A word that can only describe my dissappointment at the failed task, however as I looked around the stunning scenery I realised I probably would never have come were it not for the tasking.  It truly is a beautiful place, maybe Ill go back.

It turns out the Ghurkas have indeed been invited back to shoot again, and they have invited me to go with them…

Next time they can pick me up en route.

A New Horizon

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I have been employed in my new job since November 1^st and it has been a whirlwind so far.  Becoming the Brigade Photographer for 4 Mechanized Brigade has also meant that I have become the only Army or MoD photographer in the North!  So I am covering a patch that includes Yorkshire, the North East and North West.

So far it has been very busy, compared to my last job, I find myself driving to many different towns providing photographs to military stories.  The main thing is, I love it, as busy as it is.  The jobs have been diverse, from Boxing to Royal Visits and have been, in the main, rewarding.

One job had me on the road for 26 hours searching for Deerstalking Nepalese Ghurkhas in the Highlands of Scotland, during severe weather warnings.  When I found where they were they had already began their journey home.  However, the journey was not in vain as I saw a part of the world I may not have seen and had an adventure whilst I was at it.

I find that this job carries a price though; I work late, travelling all over the Yorkshire and the North East so far completing the jobs.  This has impacted on my home life significantly and I find myself missing my family.  That said, if it wasn’t me if would be have to be someone else.  It’s just my turn.

I plan now to update this blog at least once a month to show off the variety of work an Army Photographer is involved in and to outline how I went about each task and dealt with problems, if any, that occurred.

As always, stay tuned.

Mike

The Sheffield Bride

As 2011 drew to a close I found myself on a trip to Sheffield to cover the signing of the Military Covenant.  The job was going well and on the steps of the Town Hall I had the Mayoress of Sheffield plus a Lord Lieutenant of Sheffield* and numerous military brass and council officials.  I had taken a number of images but I noticed a number of my assembled subjects glancing over my shoulder.

Being the curious type I turned around to notice a young beautiful bride and her guests.  Forgetting my job I quickly grabbed a shot and asked “Where is the Groom?” to which the blushing young woman answered “Inside!!”  Flash and bang I got the message, we were in the way.  I quickly finished my group shot and let them on their way.

At the end of the job, I approached the wedding party to provide someone with contact details should they want the picture but noone has contacted me.  Upon seeing the shot, I thought it was too nice to waste.  Here it is:

 

A wedding Grabshot!

Soldiers of Ulster

Soldiers of Ulster

 

This summer over twenty men of Ulster met at the Regional Training Centre (RTC) in Ballykinler.  The RTC would be their home for the next three weeks whilst while they undergo Basic Territorial Army Training.  TA training usually takes place over ten weekends but once a year the RTC sets up EXERCISE SHAMROCK CHALLENGE.

The men themselves came from all over the province and were aged between 17 and 43.  Not all of them would complete the training but one thing was certain, they were all there to give it to give it their best shot.

The trainees were fortunate though as the Veterans who came to train them were seasoned men of the 1^st and 2^nd Battalion the Royal Irish Regiment (R IRISH) some of them fresh from Afghanistan and also an Regular Instructor from the Army Training Regiment Pirbright (ATR(P)).

The soldiers were aiming for the final goal of receiving their Caubeens marking them as Soldiers of 2 R IRISH before flying over to England to complete their Phase 2 training at the Infantry Training Centre in Catterick, North Yorkshire.

During the training the Recruits were trained in a number of topics such as Basic Weapons, Field craft, First Aid, Map Reading and were also tested for their Fitness and Stamina.  The exercise also introduced the Recruits to soldiering outdoors on the expansive training area at Ballykinler with a number of overnight excursions to further practice the lessons being taught.

A large majority of those in training have a wish to deploy on operations in Afghanistan upon completion of their training.  Many of them were there for various financial reasons such as being made redundant or self-employment was not bringing in enough money so the TA is a good option to top up wages.

Recruit Jonny Wright, 22 from Portadown said of the experience “Shamrock Challenge for me was fantastic, it was the best experience I’ve ever had.  It’s a fantastic way to spend a summer time.  The friend’s that I have made have been loyal to me and they helped me out during the tasks that we had through our course.”

Recruit Dylan North who at 43 is the oldest of the group.  He has transferred from 253 (Irish) Medical Regiment based in Belfast after stating “I’m looking for a challenge like this and want to do it before I get too old”.

Following on from the Royal Irish recruits were those potential soldiers destined for other T.A units with Northern Ireland.  Many of which have provided large numbers of soldiers bound for Operational hotspots such as Afghanistan.  A full training team from ATR(P) came over to Ballykinler for the five week duration to turn the civilians into part time soldiers.

The group had a different demographic to their Infantry counterparts with an age range from 17 to 45 with a small number of females looking to make their mark.

One of the few females taking part was Recruit Toni Reid, 19 from Antrim.  Toni has dreams of one day being an Officer in the Army. “I came on Shamrock Challenge for the experience into army life as I eventually want to become an officer in the full time army.  The exercise has been challenging, you know, lack of sleep and getting up, having to do everything in the dark and organising yourself.  Also ‘buddying’ up with another person as well and trying to help them out and working together it’s been a struggle, but enjoyable at the end.  Especially the girls, because yo we were sharing a room together and doing everything together.”

The course was very much centred on Afghan based operations and even included Bayonet training which the females took part in.  Toni said afterwards “I did enjoy the bayonet training, just trying to get it into more of a realistic setting, getting the aggression going.  It was really good.”

Their final Passing Off Parade was a proud, joyous moment with families and friends coming to watch the parade held in Ballykinler, in shadow of the Mournes.  For the parade both courses came together to become soldiers together.

One of the youngest there was Recruit Stefan Mullen, 17 from Glengormley.  “The reason I came to do Shamrock Challenge was for the experience.  I wasn’t getting enough in mechanics, I’m studying mechanics in Tech but I’m not in a Mechanics Garage and I want a bit more experience so I joined 591 (TA) Royal Engineers in Bangor.

It has certainly been challenging but interesting and the friends I’ve made, most of them, they’re all good lads and I’ll keep in touch with a good lot of them.  I’d recommend it to anyone.”

For most of these men and women especially the younger ones, it was certainly a life changing experience, with many of them wishing to deploy in the next few years, they will certainly add their weight to the numbers of Ulster TA soldiers standing up to do their bit year after year alongside their full time counterparts.

I was there to capture their moments of pain, laughter and comradeship as they underwent one of the toughest tests of their lives.

 

Incoming!

These past few months I have been working on a massive project. Two months shooting over 2.5k images, editing over 600 of them with over 500 being releasable to the public.
I will post a write up but its competition time for me so my energy is directed that way.

July Topic – Magazine Feature

This article I had hoped would grace the Pages of a magazine such as Skin Deep – it didnt make it so now Ill post here…

NI TATTOO CONVENTION 2011

The stunning interior of the Ulster Hall in Belfast was the setting this weekend for the Northern Ireland Tattoo Convention 2011.  Artists had come from as far as Amsterdam and London to name but a few origins.  With much of the cream of Ulster Tattoo Artists in attendance it was an event not to be missed for those interested in tattoos and tattoo artwork.   Thousands came throughout the weekend to see what the Artists in had to offer.   

The music playing inside the hall could barely drown the din of over 25 needle machines inking individuals who want the beautiful artwork on display to adorn their body.

The artists are serious about their work and love what they do.  For a number of them it was their first time striking out on their own and they were eager to show what they can do.  Nikita ‘Pixie’ Nevermore was one such artist at her first prime event she said “I work at Diamondback Studio in Larne for Lee Rogers and I’ve just finished my 3 year apprenticeship a couple of months ago so this is my first outing on my own.   I came to the convention for my first big push out.  This is the only thing I could think of to throw me in at the deep end.  Today I’ve just finished an Alice in Wonderland piece for a friend; she wants a fairy-tale sleeve of all her favourite stories she liked as a kid and after that I’m doing old school ship from wrist to elbow”.

Skinworks of Belfast, the Province’s largest outfit employs eight different artists all skilled in different areas of artwork.   Skinworks had at least 5 of them working during the Convention and had taken up a large section of one side of the hall.  One of the Skinworks crew, Thomas Higgins, did well in the competition scooping the top awards for Best Colour Large, Best Black and Grey Large and Most Realistic.

Another seasoned artist, veteran tattooist Shane Sunday who hails from Toronto in Canada has settled in Holywood near Bangor and set up Alternative Ink.  Shane is the type of guy that when asked ‘What brings you to Northern Ireland?’ he replied ‘An airplane!’  “Seriously though I visited” he added “and then visited some more then I met my wife.  I have a Studio in Holywood, County Down and it’s called Alternative Ink.  I’ve been in the business for 18 years; I’m currently working on a Chewbacca piece at the convention.  I love Star Wars I guess!”

At one point I came across Trev Brister from Trev’s House of Tattoos based in Perth, Scotland.  He was in the middle of adding to a full body tattoo on a man with the most tattoos I’ve ever seen.  He said “I’ve been in the business for 14 years.  I got into this line of work really by being inquisitive and being interested in body art.  I trained for 2 years before doing my first tattoo and since then I’ve just taken it on.  I’m so passionate for it and yeah I do it for the money but I also do it because I love to see body art.  I came across to Belfast because I love the Irish people man, the conventions are amazing, you just can’t beat it in Belfast, the Irish conventions are amazing”.

With so many artists travelling to the event I was keen to speak to more of Ulster’s Own so I found born and bred Belfast lad Darren who currently works at Goodtimes Tattoo in Belfast.  “I work for Robert who has been tattooing a long time and has really taught me a lot.  I have been tattooing for roughly 6 years now pushing 7.  I didn’t train the traditional way; I was working out of a kitchen before I bit the bullet and opened my own shop and I soon realised it wasn’t all I thought it was.  So I moved to Goodtimes and I’ve learned a hell of a bit, I’ve kind of been re-schooled.  Goodtimes came to the convention today to get ourselves out there and meet new people, to show what we can do to the public.  We are a relatively new studio so we need to get out there with the big boys”.

Overall, people who came to the event were having a great time and cameras were in use all over the hall.  The organisers are already planning next years’ event and by the sounds of it may be a bigger affair.  I spoke to Robert Allen, the organiser, a tattoo artist himself, who gave me a final word on the event “Things went well and the feedback we have received has been immense, so much so that we’ve started organising next year’s event.  We have already been approached by artists who didn’t get involved but who want to have a stall for the next one.  AT this stage it looks like it will be a bigger event.  That said we don’t want to burn out but build things up slowly.  We will stick with the same venue as they were very good to us.

My own experience of the event was a good one and it was good to see tattoo culture well represented and being pitched to a greater, more main stream audience.  I had to laugh when one of the security guards told me that there had been some disgruntlement in customers coming expecting to see Military Style Pipe and Drum bands, which are very big in Ulster.  Sorry, it was not that type of tattoo!

Here are the pics…

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All those who I spoke to and photographed, Ill be emailing images shortly - I was holding them for the mags to publish…

Carrickfergus Armed Forces Day

I have to admit I really enjoyed my day out at Carrickfergus AFD this year.  With many VIPs including the Lord Lieutenant of Ulster  Lady Joan Christie, Military Cross winner Kylie Watson in attendance and coupled with many stands showing off the Armed Forces, the event certainly was a big draw for photographers.  I saw many out with cameras snapping away at bits of military kit.  In addition HMS Pursuer had arrived in the harbour and a large number of members of the Wartime Living History Association had set up there own stand and were dressed in WW2 uniforms.  Kylie ended up as the front page of the two main regionals in NI.

Once I had completed my ‘job’ images I did turn my had to candids.  Something I havent really tried before, looking for that certain moment that can show some depth within the picture.  Here is my selection of images from the day.

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A return to Sin City

A couple of years back I came across an online tutorial to edit photographs in a ‘Sin City’ style.  At the time I got quite excited and even did a small series of comic style images.  I had planned to take it further but never quite did… Have a look at some of the results.

June – Commercial

Laserforce Lisburn – Promo Lock in

So I was back in to Laserforce, this time at night with a drinking crowd.  All young 20 somethings supping Jagermeister slush drinks and partying with glowsticks.  It was all quite humorous for a sober man to watch.

The brief was to capture the 30 images that would form the outer layer of the laser arena as large window prints and will seen by over a million people who visit the leisureplex in Lisburn every year.

To cover the job I would need a mix of decent combat images plus some posed in the arena.  Over this past year I have taken thousands of images in the arena covering the Saturday birthday bookings and I wanted to do better.

I asked for the smoke machines to be deployed and I was not disappointed.   The foggy haze created gave body to the laser bolts that come from the weapons that gave a lot of life to the images and added the extra wow factor.

For the set up shots I used 3 SB900′s. 2 of them were fitted with blue gels and were situated and were placed on remote to the rear left and right of the subject.  The master was camera mounted and was used to light the subject.  The set up had the desired effect complete with lasers.

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Overall I was extremely chuffed with the turnout, I look forward to seeing the finished wall on display.  Ill add the image below when it is completed.