In the summertime ..

Saturday's Wedding was incredible! A bloomin' big teepee, pizza and ice-cream vans, orange bow-ties and braces, a ceremony in a community centre in Woodford (The first they've ever held there), a conga as the first dance .. and a field full of tents for the guests to camp in .. it had the lot!

It also had sunshine on and off, too, which is a bit of a novelty at Weddings this summer, I can tell you. Bad weather will never bother a bride and groom, though. I say this to every new couple I talk to. When it's your Wedding Day the weather can do what it wants and you will not be bothered. You will be on Cloud Nine and having a ball .. it's only the poor photographer who'll be running around like the proverbial blue-bummed fly ..

So, don't worry if you're planning a Wedding in summertime. Go for it. What's the worst that can happen? A heat-wave and blinding sunlight? Ah, there's another story ..

But do you like me?..

 A "PR' bod I've been working with lately suggested I get a few more 'Client Recommendations' on my website. Big myself up, get the good word out there and all that. Well, it feels a bit weird to ask but I've sent out a few requests by email .. and now I wait to hear. The thing is that, generally, silence is golden. When a client is happy they just use your shots and - eventually - pay you for your work. There's no thought of a 'Thank you' or a 'Nice work, Martin' and why should there be? The payment is thanks enough but .. but .. it's nice to get the occasional pat on the back. Especially as I'm freelance and have worked on my own since 1982. We are all artists after all, darling ..

I say this after finding a cutting from a 1981 Warrington Guardian, featuring yours truly as a chisel-chinned 21 year old at a Press Awards Ceremony in Manchester. I won some award or other - I'm too old to even bloody remember what - and got presented with something or other to mark the event. It was a nice feeling! Having spent the following 35 years photographing other people's award ceremonies, I'm just hoping I get a good word or two in return ..

Stop Press: My pal Chris, second from the left, who now works for the Financial Times, has just reminded me we won North West Young Journalist/Photographer respectively. Hurrah for us!..

Good God ..

It seems that Wedding photographers' blogs these days consist of nothing but a big show of shots from a Wedding. Where the heck they find time to do all that I'll never know. Plus, they manage to list every supplier, the make of the dress, the style of the shoes, the colour of the bride's lipstick .. the works! I really do need to start turning up at Weddings with a note-book. Until I do, you'll have to make do with a little montage of shots - these were from Saturday's Wedding and yes, I know the shot with me in it has snuck back in .. sorry!

There was a report on the news this morning that the Bishop of Salford is considering the closure of 40 Catholic churches in the area. 40! Having said that, I just checked and I haven't done a Wedding in a church since last December and, as it stands, I only have two at churches for the whole of this year. Can you believe that?  Good God ..

Best foot forward ..

Here's an intriguing photograph for you! I took it last weekend during what will probably be the last shoot at the studio, as I'm now busy taking down all the gear to move it over to its new location ..

The picture will be used at Bent's garden centre near Culcheth as part of a children's adventure game. Not quite sure of the details but I'm looking forward to seeing the shot in situ ..

So yes, the studio is on the move and I am - as they keep saying at Euro 16 - on the front foot.

It's going to be great being based at The Village Club, as I'll be able to work at any time from 9am until 'chucking out time' at 11pm and anyone coming in for a shoot will be able to get refreshments whenever they want ..

Anyway, time for me to hot foot it to Salford. I have a great Wedding tomorrow involving the Tudor grandeur of Ordsall Hall and the stark modernism of the Imperial War Museum North.

A boat trip down the Manchester Ship Canal will connect both venues. I can't wait!..

Cold showers ..

Oh no .. not more showers! Hahaha, see what I did there? A little play on words, reference the Great British Summer, seeing as it's raining again as I write this and I'm bloomin' well fed up with it. Anyway, that's not the subject of today's blog ..

Actually, just to put you in the picture, this shot was taken in Greece on my 6x6 Yashica and was part of an exhibition called 'Trace' at the old Cornerhouse in Manchester. They printed me some postcards featuring the shot and if you'd like one just let me know, 'cos I've got about 5 million of 'em left ..

I told you I'd had some good news. I announced on a Culcheth Facebook page that I was closing my studio and, within about two hours, I'd been phoned by a chap at our local Village Club asking if I'd like to use the facilities there to shoot any future portrait sessions. Would I? You betcha! So, the upshot is that I'll be shipping all my gear across there and will be up and running by the end of this month. I can't wait. People coming in for portraits will now be able to get a coffee or a beer, or something to eat, and make a proper day out of the whole photography experience. How brilliant! In fact, I'm getting so excited I think I'd better go for a cold shower ..    

News just in ..

Firstly, an apology. My email has gone AWOL, so if you've been trying to contact me over the past couple of days you now know why I've not replied ..

I have a long-running, ever-growing collection of photographs that I call 'Social Seen' - basically images that amuse me from functions I've photographed and, last night I was covering the 20th anniversary party of the Chilli Banana restaurant in Wilmslow. These two shots presented themselves as additions very nicely, thank you. Check out the rest here ..

I'm off to the Imperial War Museum today to cover a conference and, funnily enough, I'm back there again on Saturday to photograph a Wedding. In between that, two cracking Euro '16 semi-finals and some fantastic news about my new 'studio' ..

Tell ya tomorrow ..

Strange times ..

A chap who 'reads me' on a regular basis emailed yesterday to say "I love reading your blogs. They are a great lift - just like a daily Giles cartoon" ..

That statement gave me a great lift, as I'd just come back from the funeral of my pal, who died suddenly aged 68. I wasn't feeling at my chirpiest. Thankfully Boris Johnson then provided another reason to be happy by ditching his plan to run for Number Ten, although can I say 'Thanks very much BoJo, for leading us into this sh*t heap and then sodding off"..

However, no sh*t heap on earth is ever going to compare with The Somme. These poppies blossomed, right on cue, in our garden this week and, as I watched the commemoration of 'Zero Hour' this morning - tears rolling down my cheeks - I could only nod my thanks to everyone who fought in the trenches and realise that, whatever happens in Europe from now on, it will never be as bad as it was then ..

You have to have optimism ..

Dang ! ..

I know I've just come back from a week in Dubai but, to be honest, with the weather we're having here in England right now -  and the dismal state of the country - I could do with re-packing my bags and buggering off to .. oh, anywhere!

I heard a phrase the other day which, now I know it, keeps popping up all over the place. Pathetic Fallacy. In other words, all this rain and cold weather is directly connected to the downcast mood of the country. Certainly feels like it and, ok, it is just a coincidence, but if this was a film then this is exactly the sh*tty weather you'd set as the backdrop to the country going down the pan ..

Anyway, let's not be gloomy ........... !!! ...

Thoughts of warmer climes led me back to my travel shots from years gone by and here's one of my faves. A road sign in Sri Lanka that should read 'Danger' .. only some driver had smacked off half the wording to leave it reading 'Dang'! You gotta laugh ..
 

Nutty ..

I'm skipping right along from England's disastrous dismissal from the Euros last night (That's football, for those of you lucky people living on another continent) and looking ahead to my great  summer of Wedding Photography ..

To be honest, my year's been a bit hit and miss for bookings so far but, come next week, I pile into the season proper with a long stream of dates in the diary. I've got such a variety of Weddings to come, too. In fact, my very next one will see me afloat on the Manchester Ship Canal as the Wedding party sails from Ordsall Hall in Salford to their reception at the Imperial War Museum North. The week after that I'll be photographing a Wedding in a tepee and then I've got, amongst others, dates at Crewe Hall, Didsbury House and Styal Lodge to look forward to. I had a meeting with my 'Crewe Hall bride' last week and her Mum confessed to me that they booked me because I was "nutty" ..

I do like that ..  

Stexit? ..

In or out, remain or leave? Well folks, it's been a tough decision and I've thought about it long and hard but now, this Monday morning, I can tell you I've decided to leave ..

Oh, sorry .. not the EU, I'm talking about my studio. This week marks the third anniversary of its opening and, to mark the occasion ... I'm shutting it down ..

Yes, tears all round but reality must be faced up to and the cold hard fact is this ..
it just hasn't worked! Quite simply, not enough people have come along to be photographed and it sits there empty, day after soul-destroying day ..

However, all is not lost and, in true EU style, I am about to renegotiate my position and will have some good news by this time next week. I already have a new plan in place meaning I'll still be able to offer studio photography and I'll be able to offer more 'location' photography to the good people of the North West. So it's onwards and upwards and, like a certain other story that's knocking about, I've taken control of my borders and opened up my markets ..   

Let's hear it for Stexit .. 

Oh, sh*t ..

I voted In .. and now we're Out. I feel decidedly queasy this morning.

Cameron's already announced his resignation and the pound has plummeted ..

God help me I hope I'm wrong but, right now, this shot from my archive perfectly sums up

my view of the UK's future ..

Ali ..

It's taken me a while but I thought I'd dig this out to show you. It's the autograph of Muhammad Ali, which he gave me when I photographed him once for a PR client. (Actually, now I think about it, it was Max Clifford, but let's not go there now, eh?) It was written in shaky Parkinson's inflicted handwriting on May 30th 1992. Sad to think he's now gone but, like a lot of illnesses, you have to admit it was on the cards. Alas, the recent sudden death of my pal wasn't anything anyone was expecting, and I'm still so shocked to think I'll never see him again ..

Anyway, I'm not going to get all maudlin' on you but "Life's too short" is an expression I'm hearing more and more so .. shut up and get on with it, Martin!

Born again ..

  

Your Blog must be integrated into your web-site. This is what I read and so this is what is going to happen from now on. From this day on my blog is going to be here. How it'll pan out is anyone's guess but, as my blog is 'the ramblings of a professional photographer', then what better way to kick off than with .. a picture of said photographer!
This was shot at the Festival of Power and Speed at Cheshire's Cholmondeley Castle just over a week ago. I was there on Press Day to photograph for a PR client and I'm no petrol-head but what an exciting day it was ..

Anyway, there ya go .. a picture with a car to drive my web-site forward. Yes, new site but the jokes don't get any better ..

For Dad, and for David ..

Here's my Dad, messing about with my old Zenith EM, circa 1977. Father's Day has become a rather sad affair since he died just before it in 2009, but today was made even sadder with the news that a friend of mine, a proud Dad himself, lost his fight for life after a serious illness. If your old man's still knocking about then go and hug him right now. Hug him, buy him a pint, tease him about his crappy taste in shirts .. just love him whilst you still can ..

For Dad, and for David .. 

Coming home ..

Football's coming home, and so is Tim Peake! Well, one out of two ain't bad! Welcome home, Major Tim, and congratulations on one hell of a fascinating mission. Now there's somebody whose autograph I'd ask for ..

.. which is more than can be said for the lads in the England football team. I know they scraped a win on Thursday but man, they play such an uninspiring game. I've learnt a lot though, watching the Euros over the past week. First of all, I now know it's very important to say that a team plays "on the front foot". That makes it sound like they actually hop around the pitch, but there ya go. Secondly, everyone on a team must speak with their hand over their mouth. This is vital. Thirdly, if you're stuck in traffic on the way home from work, it's helpful to know that most games actually only achieve anything in the last 90 seconds of extra time. You should know too that players spend more time on their hair and beards than actually training. This is also vital. Ooh, such pretty boys! Finally, and most fascinatingly, I learnt that, in every game, each player - on average - covers the turf with approximately one and a half gallons of spit!

So now you know ..

Ps; Today's shot - and I know I've shown it before - is another from my archive, circa 1980. 

Footie ..

One of the 'perks' of self-employment is that your boss always lets you have time off when there's footie on telly. Yesterday I put in a request for a half-day and I very kindly agreed to let me have it, and so it is that this afternoon will see me glued to the box for the England and Northern Ireland games. Handy that, isn't it?..

Ps: As you can see from this shot from archive, actually photographing the game was never one of my strong points..

The Manchester Bomb ..

It's 20 years since the 'Manchester Bomb'. I'll always remember that day as I was working on a PR job at Warrington Hospital at the time the bomb went off, but had been made to switch off my mobile 'phone whilst I took my photographs. I missed the whole damn thing!..

This cute shot of a parade - taken from my archive - is an appropriate picture to mark the event, and residents of our fair city may recognise in it the scene of the event. The bomb was planted just the other side of the iconic scalloped roofing of the old Marks and Spencer building. A couple of years later, after that entire edifice was demolished because of the bomb-damage, I was booked by M&S to photograph the start of the new building work. Ironic .. 

Three wishes ..

This time last week - almost to the minute as I write this - we entered Dubai airport to start our journey back to the UK. It was our last taste of the scorching sunshine and unbearable 43 degree heat. We literally hadn't seen a cloud for a week. "Wouldn't it be nice .." we laughed " .. to stand in a rain shower and feel cool water on our faces? .." It's practically not stopped raining since! Be careful what you wish for, eh?..

A couple who came to see me about their Wedding photography yesterday had one simple wish. They wanted to find a photographer who'd take their Wedding photographs the way they wanted them taken. They'd already been to see two other photographers and were getting fed up. "We just want to find a photographer .." said the groom " .. who'll take the kind of pictures we want, not the kind the photographer wants for their portfolio .." I hope I can make their wish come true ..

Three wishes? How about world peace? Workable gun laws in the US? A decline in CO2 levels? A decent English summer? A clear-cut answer to the EU referendum? A goal-scoring English football team?

Man, I think we'd better make that 300 wishes ..

Spotless ..

You may know that I was recently in the privileged position of being asked to shoot an old friend's Wedding. Did I mention he also happens to be a press photographer? I have never before been given so much 'guidance' whilst I've been shooting a Wedding! "Try it landscape now.." he'd say .. or "Come in closer" or "Let's shoot some over there .." You get the idea! Grrr! However, I'm pleased to say he is delighted with the results and so is his new Brazilian bride. The funny thing is, I got a glowing revue on Facebook from one of her Brazilian guests. It's not exactly 'Lost in translation' but it's so cute I thought I'd repeat it in full ..

"Highly recommend Martin! Absolutely amazing making his job with a great sense of humour! You don't feel bored with him! His work is just spotless!!.."

Obrigado, Ms Gomes!..    

Back from my hols ..

Dubai! What a place! What heat! What, eleven quid for a pint?? ..

A little montage of my week's trip for you, including several selfie takers, a dune safari into the desert, a trip to Burj Khalifa - the world's tallest building - and a woman in full burqa with a TopShop bag. I'm dying to know what she bought!! Click the pix to see them larger ..

Of course, reality has kicked in again and today I swap the shiny brand-newness of Dubai for the slightly older grandeur of Cholmondeley Castle to shoot the 'Pageant of Power' for a PR client of mine. Over the weekend I have two new brides coming to see me about my Wedding photography and, in between that, there just happens to be the start of Euro '16.
Very excited!..

Goodbye, Dubai ..

Back last night from a rather unexpected week in Dubai and all I can say is .. I've never seen so many people taking selfies! A bigger blog to come when I've got my breath back ..

Horses for courses ..

Having a great time this weekend ..

Yesterday I shot the Wedding of a very old pal of mine - a privilege to be asked and a pleasure to oblige, although perhaps I should say 'long-time' pal, as he's actually a year younger than I am! We had a blast, walking and shooting all the way from Manchester Registry Office to the reception at the new Innside Hotel opposite the site of the Hacienda nightclub. Many congratulations guys ..

Today? Horses! I dipped my toe into the world of equine photography down at a nearby farm, where I was photographing horses and their owners, taking the total number of frames shot in 2 days to 1,700! Who said Bank Holidays are relaxing?..

For Dad ..

Nothing to say today other than to mark the 7th anniversary of my Dad's death. My dear lovely Dad, who let me 'practice' my photography on him before I got my break on a newspaper. Patient? No, just the biggest poser on the planet, and my career has been all the better for it! God bless you, Dad ..

Cup Final Day ..

The morning of the FA Cup Final, and I remember how exciting it used to be as a kid, playing footie in the street as we built up to the three o'clock kick-off. Later, working for the Manchester Evening News, I'd usually be deployed to local bus-stations to shoot Man U fans departing to Wembley. I'll never forget the excitement though when, just a few days into my career as a press photographer in 1978, I had to photograph the team's Captain, Martin Buchan. Ok, so he was only opening a paint and wallpaper shop in Altrincham but, for me at 18, this was a sure sign I'd hit the big time!!..

Come on you reds ..

Back to Liverpool ..

It was back to Liverpool last night for the second PR shoot in a week. After photographing the opening of a new Dunkin' Donuts store on Tuesday it was time to cover the Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards at the amazing St George's Hall. Had a great night, and can't believe I've never been to such a fantastic venue before now. All that, and a set by The Christians thrown in ..

Back down to earth today with a booking to shoot a series of corporate portraits on an industrial estate in Salford and then it's a Saturday with my feet up to watch Man U in the FA Cup Final. Not to rub it in but I hope we do better than Liverpool did ..

So this is permanence?..

 Sticking with the theme of Memories in May, I dug out an old scrap-book that features this Eccles Journal cutting of my first ever published newspaper photograph. It was in this month in 1977 that, as a 16 year old, I got my 'big break' into press photography and the rest, as they say, is history ..

Also assigned to history is Hooky's 'So this is permanence' gig, which took place a year ago today in Macclesfield. He sang every single one of Joy Division's songs in a gig that will stay forever in my mind, and that in itself was to mark the day that the band's lead singer killed himself. Good to see then that, almost forty years on, both Hooky and I are still doing what we love.
Pretty permanent, eh?..

Aim high, kids ..

Here I am, aiming high and obviously wanting to go places! Incredible for me to believe but it's - almost exactly to the day - 40 years since I left school. May 1976, just at the start of one of the hottest ever summers and that was me done. I was out of there like a shot, not quite as young as I am in this photo but still a mere 15 year old schoolboy with the words of my careers teacher ringing in my ears. When he asked me what I wanted to do when I left school I told him I wanted to be a photographer. His encouraging reply? "Be realistic!"..

It took me only two more years before I was a professional photographer ..

Nice ..

Children and animals. They were the portrait briefs yesterday and, to be honest, they all went rather well. Two nice sets of shots, if I say so myself. Click on the pix to have a gander ..

Hey, I had to invoice for 45,000 this week! Sadly, it was Japanese yen so I'm not quite as loaded as it sounds, but it was a nice little payment from a very welcome email. "Would I mind .." said my pal in Tokyo " .. if my company uses one of your Joy Division images on a Limited-Edition T-Shirt?.."

Can I have one of the t shirts?
Yes, you can ..

Nice ..

Sheep, Dog ..

Never work with children and animals? Too late, as that's exactly what I have booked into the diary today. Firstly, I'm photographing a Bichon Frisé cross at the studio - and no, it's not cross because of the way I work - and then I'm off to a nearby farm to shoot a couple of youngsters with some new-born lambs. (Perhaps I should rephrase that) Aw, too cute for school..

Just a quick word about Saturday, when I'm taking a stall at a local Spring Fayre. I'll be offering a portrait-shoot and 100cm canvas print for a mere £99 so come down to The Village Club and pick up a flyer. Even includes dogs ..

Talent ..

Nice to see one of my photographs getting a good airing this month. A shot from my archive - a rare colour photograph - is being used as the promotional image for a play called 'Talent' by the late, great Victoria Wood - currently being staged at the New Vic Theatre in Staffordshire. My picture features in two Box Office booklets and a postcard, and it's on a programme too but they haven't sent me that yet ..

The play's about two young women called Julie and Maureen, and I don't know what the girls in the shot are called but those names seem to fit them perfectly. They worked in a taxi office in Eccles and I took the shot on Boots Colour Transparency film in - I think - the summer of '78, just before I got my first job on a newspaper. I love the advertised fare from 'Anywhere in Salford' to 'Ringway' airport - as Manchester used to be called, for a mere £4.90. It's about £22 now ..

Wee willy ..

I wonder if I'd dare take a photograph like this these days. Picture the scene : - Wedding, marquee, hot summer's day and .. you need a wee. What to do? Well here's the answer .. if you're four years old! A delight of a shot but, as I say, would I have the balls - ha ha - to take the shot in the current climate of fear? Actually, it'd probably be accepted at a Wedding seeing as I'm there, in a rather obvious way, to take photographs but .. out on the street? Sadly, too dodgy these days..

.. which reminds me of the time, a couple of years ago, when I photographed a man who was using his 'phone whilst driving. He stopped, reversed and, through his car window, asked "Are you a paedo?.."
"Why? What are you? Three years old?" I replied ..

Another example of getting a d*ck in a picture ..

Concorde ..

Until yesterday I'd never been to the Runway Visitor Park at Manchester Airport. It's home to the Concorde hangar, which is where I was working yesterday. I was once lucky enough to fly on Concorde - an experience I will never forget - so it felt really sad to see the 'plane ostensibly behind bars, seeming, to me, to be looking out longingly at all the aircraft that were taking off in front of it ..

Still, we all have our day. Let's just enjoy them whilst we can ..

Take that leap, boy ..

I feel a bit weird today - I'm at 'a bit of a loss' ..
I blogged recently about the fact that I've written a book and, since then, I've gone through the manuscript a further three times, tightening it all up and rectifying my rather liberal scattering of exclamation marks!!!..

It's an adventure story written for young adults. It started as a children's book, as it involves a young boy, but evolved into something rather more complicated as I tried to make it all make sense ..  

Now though .. it's finished. After six years writing, it's well and truly done. All 538 pages, all 220,000 words!!! (Oops) ..

So now what? Well, I've already started to get it out to publishers - first rejection email proudly saved - and I'm just waiting for the first suggestion that I "shorten it a bit" .. but it's just the fact that it's not a part of my daily life any more. All the ideas are down in black and white, the plot came to its planned conclusion (Phew..) and there's nothing else to be done with the characters. Or is there? I had my first sleepless night last night as I mashed out the basis of my follow-up book. My heroes will live again. They need me, but oh boy .. not as much as I need them!  I have the writing bug. Time to take the leap into Volume 2 ..


Stop Press: I've had an email from a publisher this afternoon inviting me to submit my full manuscript. I think I'm going to faint ...
 

Tim Bacon ..

Amidst all the news of celebrities dropping dead came the news last week that famous Manchester restaurateur Tim Bacon had passed away from cancer. A pal of mine, who photographed him many times, described him on Facebook thus ...
"Lovely bloke who saw the value in using photography and the press to help grow his vision"

Well, I can only concur, with apologies for my late tribute. (I knew I had this cutting somewhere but could I find it?) I had to photograph Tim, pictured here on the left, for a business magazine about five years BD (Before digital!) He'd opened a venue called 'The Living Room' - a magnet for local footballers and the like - and my idea was for us to take a sofa out onto Deansgate (Living room? Geddit?) and have him pose with his business partner. Did he go for the idea? You betcha and, not only that, he took out two bottles of pink champagne and the pair of them drank the lot!..

Cheers to a good 'un ..

The write stuff ..

If you follow me on Twitter you'll know I've just finished writing a book. It's a Children's Adventure Story and I started it way back in the 1990s - so far back, in fact, that the original pages are actually all written on my old typewriter, replete with lots of xxxx and Tippex! After only a couple of chapters it got put to one side and lay in a draw until I picked it up again about 6 years ago. It's taken me until now to finally type those magical words - The End !

I can't tell you how good it was to finally finish it, and rather amusing to relate that I didn't realise I had a word and page count on my Mac, so imagine my shock when, last week, I found out I'd written over 221, 000 words - spanning over 533 pages! Gulp!..

I've already submitted my manuscript to several publishers and it's only now that I feel like a proper writer. I've had my first rejection!..

Horses for courses ..

One thing that's been missing from my website is a page showing a full Wedding. I put that right yesterday by editing 1100 shots down to 253, tweaking every single one of them and uploading them in chronological order onto my site. Hit this link or click on the screen grabs to have a look. It took me all day but one is rather pleased with the results! I think the shots will give all you young brides out there a good idea of exactly what I cover during a Wedding Day, and I hope it makes people realise that 'owning a good camera' is simply not enough to cope with all the pressures of photographing a Wedding Day. It's horses for courses ..

Horses? Hey, I'm off to shoot some equine photography next week. I want to start offering portraits to all the people who use the many stables around this part of the world. One of those stables has invited me to pop in and take some shots, and I'm really looking forward to it. I shot the website photography for Mobberley Riding School a couple of years back, although I learnt this week that the land it sits on has been sold for redevelopment. Is that a case of houses for courses? How sad? .. 

Back in time ..

I learnt yesterday that one of my photographs is being used as the advertising image for a play written by Victoria Wood, currently being performed at the New Vic Theatre in Newcastle-under-Lyme. How poignant ..

The shot, shown here and taken circa 1979, is one of the few colour shots in my early archive which, by sheer coincidence, I was trawling through yesterday in preparation for a talk I gave last night to a camera club near here. I'm pleased to say it went down very well and already - it's 9.30am as I write this - an email has gone out to the club members stating " .. it was a fun evening and Martin proved to be a fascinating speaker with a remarkable career story spanning people and places from the streets of Eccles and Manchester in the early '70s (historic images!) through Prime Ministers, Corrie characters and the Hacienda Club .... right through to Ayers Rock and the Twin Towers!.."

Please get in touch if you'd like to hear the talk ..

Pick me ..

Enjoyed a great weekend 'darn sarf', including a trip to Wembley to watch Man U beat Everton to earn a place in the FA Cup Final .. and now I'm gearing up for tonight, when I'm giving a talk to a local camera club ..

My slideshow contains just over 200 images from 'my life as a photographer' and ranges from the days 'before I was a Press Photographer' to current work including Weddings and PR. I know 'slideshow' is a rather outdated name but it seems appropriate as all the images are from 'that era' and, indeed, a good deal of the pictures were shot on transparency film ..

I've blogged this shot before but here's one from the talk - good old Robin Day picking his nose during a visit to Manchester for an edition of Question Time. The funny thing about this shot is that Paddy Ashdown was holding my reflector just out of shot. I couldn't have picked a better assistant ..

Wemberleeeee ....

I was at Hollin Hall Hotel again this week. Not for a Wedding but for a PR shoot, taking shots they can use on their website. Have a click on the images, see what you think ..

Hard to change from that to the subject of my next topic, so let's just go for it. I'm going to Wembley today to watch Manchester United! First time I've ever been to Wembley to watch a football match, as I've only been for the American Football. I'm a guest of Emirates airline - name drop, name drop - and I'm so looking forward to it I've been been for a hair cut!..

Have a great weekend .. oh, and come on you reds ...

Gone ..

And so another one bites the dust. Poor old Prince, and just a day after poor old Victoria Wood. Actually, neither of them were old and that just makes it all the more sad. As soon as I heard of the death of Prince I hit my record collection and pulled out .. both .. singles that I own by him. I think it's true to say I wasn't his biggest fan but it's just the shock, isn't it? The suddenness, the surprise, the knowledge that the world of your youth has changed just another little bit ..

I'm afraid to say my only memory of Victoria Wood is a bad one. I was sent to photograph her at some charity thing or other, and she wouldn't play ball. Just wouldn't come on a picture, and who knows why? Busy day? Time of the month? Didn't like my ugly mush? Whatever the reason, she wouldn't pose for me and, as much as I enjoy her music and humour, and as funny and talented and nice as she was, I'm afraid I've never been able to forget that one negative impression of her. First impressions do count. Mess those up and the moment, like all the stars that are dropping dead around us, will be gone forever ..

Get off yer arses ..

If you shop at Sainsbury's supermarket you'll be asked at the check-out if you're collecting 'Active Kids' vouchers. I always reply 'Kids shouldn't need vouchers to be active' (I know, what a wit!) .. and think nothing more of it but, yesterday, I saw a big advertising poster for the scheme announcing 'Let's get our kids active' and I thought 'what the hell is going on'? How come we suddenly need large companies to try to get kids off their arses? Eat well, move well and live well is the aim of the project. Well, the weather was gorgeous yesterday and, when I was a kid, that would have meant getting home from school, having a meal invariably involving chips and getting outside to play until it went dark. You couldn't keep us in! Now that, my friends, was living well ..

Ps: Today's shot is another from my archive at Martin O'Neill Photography ..

Come on you reds ..

It's amazing how things work out sometimes. I had a portrait session booked at the studio yesterday morning and I was determined I'd try out a new red backdrop I'd recently bought. Well, who should walk in but a lovely redhead .. in a red dress! You can't make this stuff up! What a fab shot, and what a great debut for my backdrop. Hey, perhaps it's a sign. Maybe The Reds will come up with the goods at Wembley next Saturday. I certainly hope so .. 

What a load of rubbish ..

As I turn more and more into Victor Meldrew - an ever-complaining fictional TV character for those of you reading overseas - I thought I'd share a photographic project I started a while back. It's nothing I work on too much, just a slowly-growing collection of photographs taken as and when I see them. It's called 'Bush as Bin' and features items of trash/rubbish/litter that have been left in our gorgeous green hedges. People in this country are so lazy! England is becoming one big trash heap! Ironically, the slogan on this discarded MacDonald's bag reads 'Some things we'd love to share'. Well, thanks for the thought you moron - now pick it up and take it home you lazy git ..

Good things come in threes ..

As 'Feel-Good' Thursdays go, this one's got off to a cracking start. First things first, of course, so we'll get the subject of football out of the way. I watched the Man U game last night with my fingers, toes and eyes crossed and what do you know? The boys came good and beat West Ham to get to play in the game at Wembley for which I have tickets! Phew ..

Second feel-good moment is the fact that Manchester Wedding Photography has just booked its 'furthest-away' Wedding - not in distance, but in time. I'm now booked for the August Bank Holiday weekend, next year!..

And, as all good things come in threes, I woke this morning to an email from Japan telling me that one of the designer clothing shops in Tokyo is going to produce a Limited Edition run of T shirts featuring one of my Joy Division photographs!..

As I look out of the window it's started to pour down, but no amount of rain is going to dampen my spirits today ..  

Upping your game ..

A new set of Wedding albums was delivered yesterday and I felt I had to show you a photograph of them. I can't wait to present them to the bride! Of course, these things aren't cheap and it's timely that there was an article in the 'paper yesterday about a couple who have been disappointed by the photographs produced by their Wedding photographer. Amazingly, this couple weren't put off by the fact that the person they booked to shoot their Big Day was a "student" with prices starting from £125. More fool them - you get what you pay for in this game ..

Speaking of games brings me nicely on to the subject of football. I don't write about it very often but today is different. We've managed to get tickets to the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley next weekend, with the prospect of seeing Manchester United playing for a place in the final. The only problem is .. they've not got through to the semis yet! That all depends on them beating West Ham this evening. I don't think I've been this keen on a football result since I was 13! Come on you Reds ..

Falling down ..

Still one of my favourite Wedding photographs, and I think it's nice that it takes a second to clock what's actually going on in the shot. I couldn't resist it and I've decided to have a canvas print of this image made to go with my collection of 'big' shots in the studio window ..

It was nice to be back at Peckforton Castle on Saturday, although strange as I wasn't there to take any Wedding photographs. We had a family get-together to celebrate an 80th birthday and all I can say is "Peckforton, your afteroon tea was delicious!" Of course, as I was drinking tea, there wasn't much falling down done ..
 

After dark ..

Excuse the rather grainy camera-phone image, but I wanted to show you what my studio now looks like at night. I've had some new canvas prints made and the two in the window are a portrait of a little baby and a shot of a bride who married at Peckforton Castle. I've rigged up a couple of lamps to shine through them with the aim, obviously, of drawing people's attention to the fact that I'm up there.

I'll be up there most of today actually as I have a lovely family shoot to do, as well as two appointments with prospective 'Brides-to-be'. After that, funnily enough, I'm back at Peckforton Castle. Not to shoot a Wedding, but to enjoy afternoon tea as part of a family birthday celebration. I'm thinking it'll be after dark by the time I get back home again .. 

In with the new ..

There's a kind of Spring re-vamp going on at O'Neill HQ. I've just taken delivery of four fantastic big canvas prints which I've put up at the studio - you can see the Wedding and the baby portrait here - and I've also ordered a new sample Wedding album which will be the first I've designed with glossy pages. It's being delivered today and I'm like a kid at Christmas! And, yesterday, I was invited to meet with a great Marketing and PR company in Liverpool. Things are looking good there. Let's put it this way, I was greeted at the door with a hug and a plate of toast. Doesn't get more friendly than that, eh?..

Some days are just perfect ..

What a great start to the working week! Monday began with two emails from brides enquiring about booking me for their Weddings - one at the wonderful Willington hall and one at a private venue in London. If that wasn't enough I then went across to the studio to find this Thank You card waiting for me .. from Claire and Stephen, whose Wedding I photographed at Mere Court in between Christmas and New Year. My favourite line? "You seem to have captured every little detail.." - a statement that I hope is not lost on all the great Brides-to-be I met yesterday at the Hollin Hall Hotel Wedding Fayre.

All this and, as it's Lesley's birthday, I get the day off, too! Life is sweet ..

April Fool ..

I honestly believed I'd been the victim of an April Fool's joke this morning. I've been chasing an outstanding payment for four months and, this morning, I got it! I had to double-check to make sure it had actually happened! But what a state of affairs to have to wait so long to be paid. I shot the work on December 5th and you can probably take it as read that it's the last time I'll do anything for this particular company ..

However, it's in the bank at last and I can turn my mind to other matters. Main thing at the moment is Sunday's Wedding Fayre at Hollin Hall Hotel. I'm thinking BIG for this one and, to that end, I've had a whopper of a canvas print made - all of almost four feet long! I love it! If you're thinking of tying the knot any time soon then come down and see it ..

A quick explanation of today's photographs. These were shot in Bali a long time ago - they're transparencies - and I remember watching this guy videoing (as it would have been) whilst standing in the shallows. Doesn't he realise - I thought to myself - there are some quite big waves that come into that shoreline? I guess he didn't! What a fool ..