Studio News

Associate Qualification Award

Date: January 16, 2012 Author: Chelle 16 Comments

What a weekend!!

This weekend John and I travelled to London for the annual SWPP (Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers) convention.

We were both looking forward to attending a superclass with the lovely Tom Lee and the many masterclasses that were on offer; with the weekend culminating in the Awards Dinner on Sunday evening where I had been nominated for the Science and Nature Photographer of the Year for the second year running and the results of the 20×16 print competition which I had also entered. It was also a good excuse to catch up with some old friends and meet new acquaintances.

Sadly I was pipped at the post once again for the Science and Nature Award but was really pleased that the 3 prints I had entered into the print competition all received Merit Awards.

The highlight of the weekend took place on Thursday evening. I had entered a panel of 20 reptiles and insects images to be considered for the next step in my photographic journey, my Associate Qualification. The judging session was delayed for 1/2 an hour due to all the judges being needed for the final deliberation for the overall winner of the 20×16 print competition, adding to the nerves, but when it did start my panel was 3rd out of the 4 to be judged.

After 1 fail and 1 pass it was finally it was my turn.

The judging panel consists of 5 Society Fellows from around the world and the room was packed with friends and well wishers who all seemed to know I had a panel being judged … hmm?

The judges have to award points for composition, technique, lighting skill, photographer input etc and after 15 minutes deliberation the Master of Ceremonies announced, to great applause, that I had passed.

Needless to say that despite the disappointment at the Awards night, I’m still grinning like a Cheshire Cat and am already planning my Fellowship Panel.

Once again many thanks to my supporters and well wishers on the day and also to John for just being there xx

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Published at last.

Date: December 31, 2011 Author: Chelle 1 Comment

What better way to end 2011 than to pick up a magazine and find you’re in it

In October I was approached by Kelly from Photography Monthly to see if I would be interesting in submitting an image for a section the magazine was running on achieving a particular colour palette within different genres of photography; she was specifically looking at a macro image of a butterfly I had taken at the Living Rainforest near Newbury.

I happily agreed and also completed a short questionnaire about the image, the settings I used and the way I processed the final image.

My advice for photographing wildlife in their own environment.

1. Try to use a tripod where possible.

2. Try to predict where the subject might settle; chasing after a subject will only frighten it away.

3. Have lots of time and patience. Many species are nervous of sudden movements or the appearance of a strange body in its habitat.

4. Be aware of your surroundings and try not to be an obstacle to others, particularly if you are shooting in a public place.

5. When processing nature and wildlife images try to be sympathetic to the natural colours of the species of their environment.

Science & Nature Award Nomination – 2011

Date: December 5, 2011 Author: Chelle Leave a comment

Nominated for the second year running!!

Michelle is a qualified member of the SINWP Society of International Nature & Wildlife Photographers.

Each month members may submit one image in each photographic category that is then judged by some of the world’s top qualified judges. Images that receive a Gold Award go forward to the annual judging with the winners announced at The Awards evening takes place in London at the annual Convention in January.

In August this year, Michelle achieved a Gold Award with an image of a Water Dragon in the Science & Nature Category.

Earlier today we received an email from Head Office informing us that the image has been nominated by the panel of judges for the award of Science & Nature Photographer of the Year.

Needless to say, Michelle is very pleased to have been nominated for the 2nd year running and is excited at the prospect of winning such an award and can’t wait for January to get here .

We will publish the results as soon as they are known.

Award Nomination Update

Date: August 22, 2011 Author: Chelle Leave a comment

January 2011

Sadly it wasn’t to be this year, however, I did finish as runner-up and had a wonderful evening at the Awards dinner.

I also entered the 20 x 16 print competition in the Wildlife category with an image of a Flower Beetle and was awarded the high score of 86. I understand that it was put forward for the Natural World Award and again was placed.

It was a wonderful experience and one that I hope to repeat again. So the aim for 2011 is to keep taking more wonderful pictures of the world around us and win it next year instead.

IN THE MEANTIME I’d like to thank everyone for their messages and text’s over the weekend and to the fan club heckling at the awards dinner, I can’t tell you how much it meant to me – THANK YOU ALL xxx

International Science & Nature Award Nomination

Date: August 22, 2011 Author: Chelle Leave a comment

Michelle is a qualified member of the SINWP Society of International Nature & Wildlife Photographer.

Each month members may submit one image in each photographic category that is then judged by some of the world’s top qualified judges. mages that receive a Gold Award go forward to the annual judging with the winners announced at The Awards evening takes place in London at the annual Convention in January.

In August this year, Michelle achieved a Gold Award with one of her frog images in the Science & Nature Category. Earlier this week we received an email from Head Office informing us that the image has been nominated by the panel of judges for the award of Science & Nature Photographer of the Year. It will also be placed in the limited edition of ‘The Societies Collection’ book along with the other nominated images of which there are 3 in total for this category, all of which are eligible to win the title of Science & Nature Photographer of the Year.

Needless to say, Michelle is very excited at the prospect of winning such an award and can’t wait for January to get here .

We will publish the results as soon as they are known.

SWPP Licentiate Award

Date: August 22, 2011 Author: Chelle Leave a comment

We are pleased to announce that on Friday 15th October 2010, John received notification that he was to be awarded the Distinction of Licentiate by the Society of Wedding & Portrait Photographers.

Below is the panel of images that gave John his success

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RSVP – Wedding Stationery

Date: August 22, 2011 Author: Chelle Leave a comment

On 1st October JMW Imaging launched a new project to compliment their wedding photography – wedding stationery.

Over the past year we have been asked by many couples if we do Thank You cards so that they can use one of their wedding pictures to send out as a thank you to their guests. This we have done for our clients who have been pleased with the results.

This popular request set Michelle thinking about the possibilities of incorporating wedding stationery into the existing business so set about designing a number of options for clients; these range from a single flower, possibly one to be used in the bridal bouquet or buttonhole, contemporary designs for the modern bride or embellished frames of the engaged couple.

After a several months of market research, planning, designing and hair-pulling over e-commerce on a website, Répondez s’il vous plaît was launched. The response at wedding fayres since the launch have been very favourable and we hope that it proves as successful as JMW Imaging.

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Royal Photographic Society Distinction Award

Date: August 22, 2011 Author: Chelle Leave a comment

We are pleased to announce that earlier today, Friday 4th June 2010, Michelle was awarded the Distinction of Licentiate by the Royal Photographic Society.

Below is the panel of images that gave Michelle her success.

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Bikers Ride for Afghan Heroes

Date: August 22, 2011 Author: Chelle Leave a comment

17th March 2010

As proud parents of a serving soldier and living locally we went to Wootton Bassett on Mothering Sunday to show our appreciation to the Bikers of Great Britain in their support of our troops serving inAfghanistan. At the last count over £102,000 had been raised for the charity Afghan Heroes.

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Lighting Course

Date: August 22, 2011 Author: Chelle Leave a comment

July 2009

We recently attended a portrait lighting course with Chris Burfoot at The Flash Centre and enjoyed it so much we decided to book the Nude Art course too.

The course concentrated on looking at the tones and definitions of the body using different lighting techniques.

So as not to upset people with full nudity I have only put up a very small selection of images taken on the day.

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