Perfect weather in Brighton, Sussex. More photography courses coming.

Last night I sat in the garden as the light faded to blackness and watched about a dozen swallows darting around above the house and it got me thinking, if, as the saying goes, 'one swallow does not a summer make,' how many swallows qualifies summers arrival? I'm sure I saw a bat darting around too in the bay tree beyond ourboundary as the light dimmed, it was too big and fast to be an insect, and could only be seen in peripheral vision against lighter elements in the sky. Sussex at this time of year is just wonderful.
The swallows have just followed hotly on the back of the stunning bluebells that have been in absolute abundance this year, and today is warm with blue skies, some cloud, but the very best light available currently. By midday the light wil be too harsh for the best of photography, returning to a less harsh light around 4pm and then giving over to the wonderful long shadows of summer evenings before the light fades again. The prospect of summer laying itself out ahead is a good one,let's all hope the English weather does not let us down...

Lots of people are booking up on the photography courses again, I think the good weather encourages people. See more here: http://www.weddingphotographyworld.co.uk/#/courses/4524725348

January and February are not terribly inspiring photographically, despite the snow. Few people want to spend all day out in challenging weather conditions. Last weeks photography course here in Brighton andup on the south Downs was a great success, both gentleman were already quite accomplished which is always potentially challenging, but I was delighted with the way both responded to encouragement and it felt almost like letting two dogs, metaphorically speaking, off the leash on the beach; they were gone in a moment enjoying what they were here to do, testing angles, bracketing, composing, just thoroughly enjoying there cameras with some new found knowledge and ideas about being creative with the camera. When people leave at the end of the day, with confidence high, and a good collection of new images for themselves, I can relax knowing that my job is done, as was the case on that day. I have at least two more dates in May for courses, and a little bit of a backlog from Christmas vouchers that have had to be postponed due to poor weather; not much point in photographing fog clouded or rain drenched landscapes and seascapes. Looking ahead, I should be clear by June and am taking photography course bookings for the rest of the summer and autumn. The success and popularity of the courses, I believe, is in part, that it is not easy to simply carve out a day with the camera, most people are too busy to dedicate to a term at night school, and there really is no substitute for being out in the landscape learning photography, particularly, Brighton's wonderful seascapes, beach huts, Victorian frontage, architecture and street furniture.

Apparently there is a remake of Graeme Greenes Brighton Rock happening, the classic with Richard Attenborough as 'Pinkie', set in the 1940's. Greene wrote the original screen play. The remake is set in the 1960's of the times Mods and Rockers would visit Brighton, amongst other seaside towns on bank holidays, for a good old fashioned punch up! Filming is expected to begin in September with two up-and-coming stars, Sam Riley and Carey Mulligan, taking the lead roles of Pinkie Brown, the thug who was originally played by Lord Attenborough, and Rose, the waitress he married to prevent her telling the police he was involved in a murder. Riley played a blinder, I thought, in his portrayal of Joy Divisions Ian Curtis, although the film for me was as much a success due to the incredible mono-tones in Anton Corbins first movie. So I have reasonable hopes for the remake; recent remakes to my mind have failed to equal or better the originals; The Italian Job being a prime example. Some things are not meant to be surpassed, now there's a thought in our banks gone bust capitalist mayhem of a society! Who would have thought that we might just simply enjoy what we've got rather than a constant, break neck speed chase and nose bleedingly charmless pursuit of ever greater wealth. I hope the remake does not turn into a gore fest on violence, part of the success of the original was the censorship back then, making the unseen and implied violence more intimidating than anything that could be graphically put to film.

Last week, I had a new Australian wedding photographer sign up to the destination wedding photographers service, and another from central Europe, so whilst I'm tired of hearing about green shoots of recovery, May has seen both people and businesses buying with more confidence again. So we have a new page on the website dedicated to Australian based wedding photographers and Australian Destination wedding photographers. However, as the saying goes ' a single swallow does not a summer make!'