A little more elfishness

Thanks to the fact Father Christmas brought me a Kindle, I have been exploring new directions in my reading habits and have immersed myself in the wonderful world of Science Fiction and Fantasy (much of which can be found as free Kindle downloads, for those who might be interested).

The combination of my reading matter along with the arrival of the wonderful hoods from my talented sister (see earlier post) inspired me to try my hand at some elf inspired imagery. These images have been draganized (inspired by Andrzej Dragan) in Lightroom, had the blacks and the red channel tweaked in lightroom (using curves), two layers applied (one turquoise fill and one texture) and a slight vignette added. The results are quite ethereal and, I hope, elvish with a sci fi twist!

Big Prom on the Promenade

Today Portobello foxtrotted to the sound of the Big Prom on the Promenade, a retro style teadance which had young and old alike tapping their feet to the sound of the big band beat. It was hair-curlers and red lipstick a go go, fuelled by tea in pretty china tea cups and delicious homemade cakes. Another success for the Big Things on the Beach crew, who help to keep the Portobello community vibrant.

A mouse took a walk in the deep dark woods....

Cora reenacts the mouse's role in the Gruffalo in these woodland images - our first time out in the woods. Whilst she acted the elf, I took the opportunity for a few candid images with a view to trying some cross-processed "fashion" style treatments.

From the personal collection

A little showcase of some of the pictures from my personal collection, exploring Scotland with my family. These images were taken on a very windswept Kintyre Peninsula and at Kilmartin, the birthplace of the Kingdom of Alba. The light on the Kintyre Peninsula is wonderfully ethereal and a wander round the ancient sites in the nearby area confirmed the feeling of magic in the air (though my daughter just wanted to see the sheep!). Watching the sunset across the Atlantic Ocean turning the white foam pink made for a perfect birthday weekend.

As I have posted before this type of "recreational" photography is a big source of inspiration for my wedding portraiture, helping me to see creative settings and to play with different effects. My absolute favourite is the picture of Cora running into the sea with the storm clouds looming - she is as fearless as a mermaid!

Tweeting in wonder

Mary and Jesus II, originally uploaded by jo.wolak.

Just as a little aside, I have recently been exploring the marvellous world of twitter and all that it has to offer. For those who aren't already hooked on this particular social networking phenomonen, the best way I can describe it is as virtual curtain twitching: little glimpses other world and tit bits of information.

A quick search on twitter revealing some of the truly excellent photography being produced by Edinburgh students at Stevenson College, who have grabbed several of the top slots in the recent BIPP Scotland award territories. Images like Jo Wolak's Mary and Jesus are breaking new ground - it will be interesting to see where the future takes them!

I've been on vacation....

I'm just back from my summer holiday on the beautiful Isles of Mull and Ulva - full of songbirds and eagles, white sand beaches, picturesque wrecks and - for once - bathed in glorious sunshine. Just to show I haven't been idle and to make a change from wedding and portraiture, here are a few personal pictures from the trip.

Seacliff Beach, East Lothian: Portrait of Roddy

Rockstar, originally uploaded by Margaret Clift McNulty.

Another favourite from the Seacliff Beach photoshoot - this was a candid shot where Roddy was looking towards me. I love the rock star stance, which was absolutely not on purpose! I particularly like the perspective and context provided by the tiny lighthouse picked out in the background, and the dark menace given to the clouds by darkening the shadows in postprocessing.

www.cocoarose-photo.com

Rockpools at Seacliff Beach

Rockpools, originally uploaded by Margaret Clift McNulty.

I loved the way these two daytrippers were picked out against the sky and saw the opportunity to capture a moment. I like to think of this type of image as portraiture, though the figures are distant. It captures something of the way they relate to each other, particularly as they are unaware of the camera. The setting gives a dramatic sense of scale, like the moment in cinema where the camera reveals the panorama which sets the scene before closing in to capture the emotion.

www.cocoarose-photo.com

Byre Theatre Wedding, St Andrews - Fiona

Fiona, originally uploaded by Margaret Clift McNulty.

One of my personal favourites from the set of images from Michael and Fiona's wedding at the Byre Theatre, St Andrew's. Natural light from was pouring in the broad skylight and it lit Fiona wonderfully. She looks so beautiful and regal here, she reminds me of Helen of Troy.

Byre Theatre Wedding, St Andrew - Fiona and Michael

Fiona and Michael, originally uploaded by Margaret Clift McNulty.

One of the images of Michael and Fiona from their wedding reception at the Byre Theatre, St Andrew's. The theatre has lovely gardens, perfect for a romantic image!

Byre Theatre Wedding, St Andrew's - Michael

Michael , originally uploaded by Margaret Clift McNulty.

One of the images from the lovely wedding of Fiona Ferguson and Michael Gillan at the Byre Theatre, St Andrew's. The theatre was a fabulous and stylish venue for a fabulous and stylish couple!