2017 in 12 Photos

Another year... another chance to look back

We hope you had a great 2017 - we've worked with and met so many amazing people in the last 12 months, it'd be a VERY long article if we tried to include you all!

So here are a few personal and commercial shots we enjoyed making - there are some words with them if you're wondering why I took them - but i'd just look at the photos ;-)

Have a great XMAS!

January

Drax Power Station - on a clear, calm day, I can see these clouds from Morley - so when it gets to sunset I drive over to get the warm sun colouring in the clouds. 

This was in January - it was extremely wintry!

February

Ribblehead Viaduct - I saw on the news that there was going to be a steam engine regular service on the Settle Carlisle line for the first time 50 years 

So went up and rather than standing next to the line like pretty much everyone else who came, went to this distant limestone pavement and set up waiting. 

After 3 hours sat on the rocks, watching diesel engines go back and forth, I finally got the steam train. Apparently, it was doing 2 journeys a day, not ALL journeys! 

For me, the steam is far more interesting than the train... and it didn't let me down.

March

This is Gouthwaite Reservoir near Pateley Bridge - cold day, long exposure. 

I am always amazed that this isn't in the Dales national park - probably the only dale that isn't is Nidderdale! 

Just a splash of low light on the scene and those epic clouds...

April

April saw us shooting a new campaign for Bibi's - a Leeds legend. 

It's a massive restaurant in the city centre, italian food and a 1920's deco setting. 

This is a fish dish the chefs were knocking up for a shot, really liked the fresh looking food against the slightly blue light I got on the pan.

May

Radisson Blu - cocktails shoot at the Firelake bar. 

They like theatre in this bar - this cocktail is actually delivered to the customer on the wooden block with a smoke-filled closh on it! 

Taken on a little table in the bar area, the lights in the background are on the bar.

June

What a colour! This is the last of the classic TVR range, the Sagaris. Stunning and very very powerful! 

We took the car up Waddington Fell near Clitheroe in Lancashire on a sunny June day and captured it from all kinds of angles 

This is an HDR shot taken from down a steep bank on the hilly road.

July

July saw me at Cornelius - they make beer pumps for pubs and bars. Here are dozens of Moretti pumps being assembled. 

This photo wasn't one of the shots they needed, they were more matter of fact shot of them being assembled and a stock shot for the website. 

This was taken whilst I was waiting for them - just testing the lights. 

They loved it despite the fingerprints on them, it hints at just how many of these things they make... endless

August

I went to Sheffield with Ben Gwynne in August, just to see what we could find really. 

This is quite a busy roundabout between the hospital and university, sure locals will know it. 

At sunset, which is late in August, we got a decent sky for ages, towards the end I decided to get some light trails from cars, this was my favourite.

September

September is when I run a workshop at Salford Quays - you get a sunset at 7:30 then some great night shots for the rest of evening. 

This is later on, no light in the sky. 

it's the Imperial war museum north, an imposing yet somewhat dull building in daylight - but at night, the thing get these red lights inside and the reflections of the bridges and buildings in its metal coat

Taken with an ultra-wide lens from close up...

October

October was a trip to Huddersfield to photograph the team and new reception at Fartown Dental. 

Here are the dental nurses - I have to be really nice as they'll probably be polishing my teeth one day... 

They're a great team and have the most high-tech kit available - so for all use dental phobic 70's kids, I can safely say things HAVE moved on massively and there's not a lot to worry about anymore! 

Give them a try!

November

Most people grab a coffee for a break in the afternoon, I often pop into Leeds around sunset in the winter month - if you hit town around 3-3:30, you'll get the golden hour and the sunset. 

This November day was amazing - this isn't the biggest sunset shot I took, that was 10 minutes away - but I just like the subtle message...

December

And finally December - a workshop in Leeds, showing people tips and tricks on shooting Xmas lights. 

This was all about watching where the cars went, then waiting till you had both cars moving through the scene AND the big wheel spinning. 

Not the easiest as on a cold Wednesday, the wheel wasn't exactly busy! 

Merry Xmas!