365 to 42

Its not all hard work

noreply@blogger.com (Brett) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:01:00 +0000

Meet Bella and Jade, two of the reasons I love my job, it has been nearly a year since I went full time and in that time I have had the pleasure of photographing loads of new subjects. It has not been all hard work but photographing semi naked young ladies was one of the most stressful moments of the year, until I started then it was just like any other shoot. In fact as I was working professional models it was one of the best shoots I did. My latest shoot was with Bella and a few other dogs, a real recipe for disaster, but as it turned. out it was great fun and quite painless

Rutland

noreply@blogger.com (Brett) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 09:18:00 +0000

A busy and cold few days with lots of time spent out doors taking pictures. Thursday night and Friday morning saw me on the Roaches taking pictures for my exhibition in May, Saturday evening found me on the side of Rutland water taking yet more shots for the exhibition. In all I have taken 700 shots in 4 days, last Jan I took 488 in the whole month!

The real reason I was down in Rutland was to meet up with some old friends for the weekend, and what a great week end it was loads of laughs and loads of great food. All in all a fantastic few days I can not wait till next time.

Photo of Normanton Church, Rutland.

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Now playing: Altered Images - Don't Talk To Me About Love
via FoxyTunes

Distractions

noreply@blogger.com (Brett) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:36:00 +0000

Sitting here trying to work and keep getting distracted, the picture below started out as an attempt to delete some photos, which I managed to do, but then I started to play with some of the images and ended up with this. Bang goes 1/2 an hour!

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Now playing: R.E.M. - What's The Frequency, Kenneth?
via FoxyTunes

I'm a believer

noreply@blogger.com (Brett) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:39:00 +0000

I'm getting a bit depressed and the latest fad on Facebook is the cause. It's only a little thing but people have started to post the tune that was number one when they were born, which, in it's self, is not that bad, the bad bit is that I can remember most of them coming out! And some of them only seem like yesterday. Karma Chameleon was the last one posted, I'm sure that was only a few years ago. Doesn't time fly.

So to join in the fun I thought I would post mine

I'm A Believer - The Monkees

And to save you looking it up 1967.

On a different note, I've been asked by a couple of people if I will be running an introduction to photography course again this year, the answer depend on the amount of interest there is, so if this might appeals to you or someone you known could you let me known. I'm looking to focus at getting the best from any camera and exploring different styles of photography, trying to build a foundation to then let you carry on enjoying photography.

Picture from the on going work for my exhibition in May.

Happy New Year

noreply@blogger.com (Brett) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:01:00 +0000

2012!!!
Happy New Year everyone. Hope the hangovers are not too bad.

To start the year I've a new project, and it's an other daily photo blog, Buxton Daily Photo, a photo a day taken in and around Buxton and the Derbyshire Peak District. Pop over and check out the first picture.

Yes I know it's another blog, as if 3 was not enough for one person, but given the success the others have had and what I have gotten from running them it seems to me to be a good idea. So I hope you all have a great new year and that 2012 brings you all you wish for.

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Now playing: Simple Minds - Promised You A Miracle (12" Mix)
via FoxyTunes

Happy Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Brett) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 11:11:00 +0000

Well I know it's not the big day yet, at least here in England, but as this is read world wide I thought I would post this today just to catch everyone. So Happy Christmas and also have a great New Year I hope it brings all you are looking for.

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Now playing: No Doubt - Sunday Morning
via FoxyTunes

Enforce absence

noreply@blogger.com (Brett) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 13:56:00 +0000

Here is a cautionary tail for all bloggers.

I was checking my sites stats when I notice that a lot of people had been referred from a web site that I did not known. Out of curiosity I clicked on the link only to find that the only thing on the page was a video. As I tried to leave the page my virus alarm went off and pop ups started to appear asking for permission to change things on my computer. Before I knew it my computer and my website were both infected and it has taken nearly 2 weeks to sort the mess out. I'm still not sure if it is all totally fixed, only time will tell. Please check your virus protection is up to date, mine was not (it is now!)and don't click on links in your stats unless you are sure they are safe.

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Now playing: Fugees - The Score
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Voice recognition software

noreply@blogger.com (Brett) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 20:05:00 +0000

I'm writing face using voice recognition software, just to see what happens z I will not make any corrections seawall has eight decides to tight.
As you can see the faces not going very well, boat with meat being dyslexic it could be the solution to some of my problems, both maybe not just yet.

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Now playing: Lily Allen - Ldn
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Staffordshire Moorland calendar 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Brett) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 07:57:00 +0000

The Staffordshire Moorlands calendar has been going for about 20 year and this year all the images are mine. This is a wonderful showcase for my work and also looks to be an on going commitment with 2013 already being discussed. See here for more details.

X Factor Rhythmix

noreply@blogger.com (Brett) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 12:51:00 +0000

An X Factor post, not had one of these for quite some time, so what have that evil bunch been up to now. According to numerous site across the web Mr Cowell and his merry men have been trying to bully a children's charity into changing its name so as not to conflict with a girl group who are on the show.

The charity is called Rhythmix, and have helped over 40,000 children since being formed in 1999 by identifying young people in challenging circumstances, and enables those young people to shape and develop projects that respond to their needs. Working with a team of over 50 professional community musicians, Rhythmix is continually developing innovative and exciting new programmes that challenge young people to express their creativity.

More on the story can be found on the BBC, The Mirror and Lucy Cousins blog

In another twist to the story, this has come to my attention.

"After the AWESOME chart victory for Rage Against The Machine lots of us felt that there'd be no need to do another campaign again. Yet this year they have decided to effectively bully a children's charity called RHYTHMIX by refusing to change the name of the tepid girl band and suggesting the charity "get a lawyer"

Well f**k you X Factor...we're not impressed

We're going to download the Nirvana ...classic 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' to stick the proverbial finger up at you..."

Here's a link to the face book page

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Now playing: Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
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Small world

noreply@blogger.com (Brett) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 09:42:00 +0000

A quick post just to show a new technique I'm playing with.

Holiday time

noreply@blogger.com (Brett) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 18:56:00 +0000

It's been that time of year again I've taken a week off to walk in the Lake District and eat and drink in some of my favourite pubs and restaurants. Now I'm back and coping with a weeks backlog of emails and messages, so if you messaged me or mailed me I will get back to you ASAP.
Picture is of Caz enjoying the view from Rossett Pike, which we did not see the last time we were there due to low cloud.

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Now playing: Green Day - Wake Me Up When Semptember Ends
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Ziggy time

noreply@blogger.com (Brett) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 14:29:00 +0000

I'm not the only blogger in the family, Ziggy is blogging now (with Caz's help). He can be found here goldendogblog

September morning

noreply@blogger.com (Brett) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 07:02:00 +0000

I love this time of year, the cold mornings that, with a bit of luck, turn it to warm sunlit days. September has always been a special month for me, a lot of life defining moments have happened to me at this time of year and the feel of a September morning brings them all back. It's strange how you can feel a change in the air and be linked back over time to events that until then were a distant memory. Still I've lots to do and getting all nostalgic won't pay the bills. Photo today is a HDR of a Tractor taken a few weeks ago.

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Now playing: Tears For Fears - Head Over Heels
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Time management

noreply@blogger.com (Brett) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 08:45:00 +0000

A very busy few weeks, but now when I get a few spare moments I feel at a loss what to do. The Sunday before last I photographed a wedding so last week was taken up with processing the images, a few days of long hours at the computer. Then this week I design a Christmas card, which has just been delivered and looks great, so again lots of time sent on the computer. Now I have a couple of free days and here I am sat at the computer!

Being self employed is not like I thought it would be, the hard work and long hours I was expecting, but the being unsure what to do next is disconcerting. Its fine when I'm working as that drives me on, but when I'm between jobs I find that there is so much that could be done I don't know where to start. Still writing this has focused my mind and I am now off to get something done.

Here's a resent picture of Ziggy, hasn't he grown!

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Now playing: Primal Scream - Movin' On Up
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A bit of fun

noreply@blogger.com (Brett) — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 08:51:00 +0000

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Now playing: Republica - Ready To Go (Original Mix)
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Portrait Event 10th September at Brough Park leisure centre

noreply@blogger.com (Brett) — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 06:17:00 +0000

In what I think is a bit of a first for Leek I'm converting a room at the local leisure centre in Brough park in to a photo studio for the day on the 10th of September. Photographic session run for 1/2 an hour starting at 9.00am till 4.00pm. The cost is just £40 including a free 10" x 8" print. The session can be for family groups, couples, kids, bands, or even just one person. The maximum number that can be accommodated at one time is 7, but if you have more just call and I will see what can be done (size does matter).
This is a great opportunity to get family photographs while the tan is still showing and have them ready for gifts at Christmas.
The shots below will give you an indication of the type of portraits available, all these were done in the home, some under less than ideal conditions.

Plague rats and poop bags

noreply@blogger.com (Brett) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 07:36:00 +0000

This could have the sub title of "The exciting life of a professional photographer". What a start to a month, lots of work coming in and a number of great photo shoot, then I go and do my neck in!

Wednesday last week saw me being unable to move for most of the day and at points almost passing out with the pain. Just the right moment to take a call from a new customer and discuss an up coming job, how I managed the call I will never know, probably 13 years of call centre training coming in to play (time not wasted then).
Lucky for me I have a great Osteopath and by Friday was almost fit for work and after a rest full week end, watching Caz cut the lawn, I started my latest job yesterday.

The job in question is photographing items for a web site, something I've done loads of, but as with each job it posies new challenges, the biggest with this one matching the previous photographers style and technique so the site keeps its overall great look. The items in question are all to do with your dog or cat, so dog toys, leads, collars and poop bags, and for the cat in your life a great little item the Plague rat.

When people think of the life of a professional photographer it probably seems like a collection of photo shoot of beautiful women and fast cars, but for me the challenge of photographing everyday items to a set standard and repeating that over and over again is great, I spent the whole day totally engrossed in my passion, pushing myself to my limits, I feel very lucky that I now get to do that on a daily basis.

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Now playing: U2 - Dancing Queen (Live Abba Cover) (1)
via FoxyTunes

Pain in the neck.

noreply@blogger.com (Brett) — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 17:48:00 +0000

A few days spent on holiday at home and the end result is a stiff neck from doing the hedge. Still Scott my Osteopath has worked his magic and I will be fit and well in a few days, light duties till then.
The picture is the river in Borrowdale.

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Now playing: Jem - Finally Woken
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Lil' Lilly

noreply@blogger.com (Brett) — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 08:41:00 +0000

Messing about on photoshop after a hard day processing the shots from a shoot on Wednesday. The plane picture was pulled off the net and had the original nose art removed and I added Jade from Wednesdays shoot and the writing, Lillian is her middle name. I'm most proud of the rivets on her bum.

New web site

noreply@blogger.com (Brett) — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 06:27:00 +0000

After months of work and even long taking to decide on the design my new web site is now finish (for now).

Brett Trafford.com

I've taken a completely new direction on the style going a way from the black photo gallery feel to a brighter white look. There's a lot more space for information and loads of links always to hand what ever page your on.
As it is a complete change feed back would be welcome.

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Now playing: Seal - Future Love Paradise [Album Version]/Album Version
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What a week

noreply@blogger.com (Brett) — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 08:05:00 +0000

First the terrible news from Norway and then the news about Amy Winehouse. Both involving needless deaths, both with only one person to blame. Amy brought joy to millions and will be long remembered, Breivik brought terror to a peaceful country and will probably be remembered even longer. While Amy's death was no real surprise, the events in Norway were and while I'm sad for Amy's family I can not help thinking that Norway's loss is as much a tragedy for us as the loss of one of our own, no matter how talented she was.

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Now playing: Valerie - Amy Winehouse [Cover]
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Now playing: The Beatles - Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)
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All gone

noreply@blogger.com (Brett) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 07:29:00 +0000

The birds have all gone, we started off with 4 then in the morning there were just 3. we were worried that something bad had happened until I saw the mother taking food to the bottom of the hedge. The top shot shows the 3 remaining birds trying to get some bread of the mother, moments before they were all sat quietly and looking really sweet.
The next 2 shots were taken 10 seconds apart, the chick on the right just jumped out of the nest without any warning! The remaining chick looked so sad.

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Now playing: Kate Nash - Birds
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Little bird

noreply@blogger.com (Brett) — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 15:29:00 +0000

So why so long between post, well I now have lots to fill my time, where as when I started this I only had a part time job and bits of photography to do, in all about 7 hours work a day. Now I have a full time business, 3 blogs, a Twitter a/c, a Facebook page, a Linked in page and still try to do some personal photography on the side, in all about 18 hours a day (on a bad day).
Take today, my plan was to spend all day (8 till 5) on sorting out my web site and the emails that have built up while I was away last week. Instead I have had to re-source wedding albums as my old supplier has gone bump (8 till 11). Ordered flyers that I designed for Caz, after checking all the small print on the companies web site as its the first time I have used them (12.30 till 2). Searched the web for an Artists news letter that offers free public liability insurance after a friend email me for the details (3 till 3.30). Finally got to my old emails and sorted them (3.30 till 5)
There are 2 gaps in all that, 11 till 12 I was sorting out my mums lap top which had the blue screen of death, I then had 1/2 an hours lunch and 2 till 3 I was taking pictures of some baby Black birds just by our window, see below.
In amongst all that I've taken the dog out, answer loads of phone calls, washed up and written this post, a fairly normal day and really I would not change it for the world.

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Now playing: Jimi Hendrix - Little Wing
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Big bird

noreply@blogger.com (Brett) — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 08:26:00 +0000

A very busy few weeks for me so the blogging has taken a bit of a back seat. Work keeps rolling in (up dates on the business blog here) so personal photography has had to wait, still loads of images taken on holiday in Devon to work on. The image below is one of the few I've managed to finish and is really just a bit of fun.