Blossommm

I just realised the other day in Stanmer Park that I hadn't taken any cherry blossom photos this year. In fact, I've hardly noticed the blossoms anywhere, and certainly hadn't noticed that the lovely blossoming trees of Stanmer Park have already bloomed and withered! There was only one tree left that was still in full blossom, and I couldn't resist taking photos of it today.

A couple more that I applied some Lightroom presets on.

There you go. All blossomed out in one go. Phew! I'm kind of glad in don't feel so compelled to take photos of flowers anymore. It means (to me) that I have got so many other things that I want to photograph nowadays, which is great.

Local networking: Sugar Group

I went to a Sugar Group evening today held at the local boutique hotel Pelirocco. First, we were shown a couple of hotel rooms by the lovely and efficient duty manager Amy.

I wasn't prepared to take any great, well-lit hotel photos, really, so I just snapped some dark ones. ;-)

There were plenty of un-hotel-room-like beautiful details everywhere you looked.

Amy, probably thinking "don't take a photo of me"... haha, but she was caught by the wide angle of my lense.

After the hotel room round, we returned to the bar.

It was sugar group member Nikki Anderson's birthday and she had brought a cake for all of us to share!

Rather nice of her!

*Hope she didn't forget to make a wish.*

There were interesting and inspiring talks by businesswomen.

Our host Rachel Gedney.

Sugar Group founder Geri Brooks, and Jane Plouviez, drawing one of the fab prices!

Although I didn't have time to talk to all the ladies this time, I met some very interesting and inspirational people and I look forward to getting to know them better in future.

Fashion shoot

Do you remember Bethan Moyse? The amazing model we had at the Brighton Rock'ed Photo Shoot a week ago? Well, of course you don't remember as I didn't even mention her name then, but you will remember what she looks like, I'm sure.

Ring a bell?

We had a fantastic shoot today - Bethan has so much beauty, so much talent. My initial idea was to do kind of a fashion shoot, but in post processing it seemed to turn into vintage look.

Or maybe it was vintage all along.

I thought I'd use some fabrics again - just for fun.

Not sure if that one works, though. Perhaps more sinister edit?

Or different fabric?

Maybe this has little bit of a fashion feel? What do you think? I'm so new to fashion that I don't really know, I'm mostly guessing.

Or something like this?

Haha, that one's like OMG, my head! I can't take this any longer! I was trying to throw some interesting shadows on the background, but it wasn't easy to work with paper backdrop. Would probably be easier to work with shadows on a wall that the model can get close to, or touch and lean on, even.

More play with fabrics...

As I was editing some of these photos just now, I started to question myself whether I have gone completely Lightroom preset crazy. Am I over-doing the editing? I don't know. I'll see how I feel in the morning. Or next week. Would love to hear some comments from others... do let me know if you have an opinion. Put it as bluntly as you can. I don't get offended.

Such a great shoot, everyone enjoyed it hugely - including my lighting assistant.

Did you notice what I just said? I had a lighting assistant today! Haha. First time ever! Her name is Becca and she did such a wonderful job that I don't know whether I'd want to have a shoot without an assistant ever again! :-)

Steampunk Hidden Taxidermist

We went to a marvellous evening called Steampunk Hidden Taxidermist at the Marlborough this evening. What on earth is that, I hear you ask? Well, it's "a Neo-Victorian Cabaret featuring stuffed strange animal artefacts, mostly deceased by 100 years, live music, bizarre burlesque and interactive malarkey." What an earth is that, I hear you ask again... haha. Well, here's a sneak view into the evening: (Warning, there will be some near-nudity)

The wonderful Tarik Elmoutawakil

First act, the enormously talented cellist/singer of The Moulettes. (I didn't catch her name... she performed instead of another act that was cancelled)

Followed by the malarkey bit.

Then the hauntingly beautiful Billie Rae came on stage.

If you read my New Year's Eve blog post you might remember that Billie Rae is also a fire performer!

Then a true character, Marianna Harlotta, who performed strangely familiar songs in her unique way and had everyone laughing and whooping.

Enter The Iron Boot Scrapers.

As you can see, it's a tiny venue, really. Very fun and friendly one.

To finish, Bille Rae performed another marvellous act.

Apparently this was the last Steampunk Hidden XX event of the season. When they return in the autumn, I'm very much tempted to attend again. I recommend you do, too!