The setting we chose was the old ruined pier near Anne’s home. Helensburgh, the Gareloch and the hills of Argyll are in the background. This picture was a candid one before we started photographing in earnest.

Anne doesn’t particularly like standing close to the waters edge, despite swimming being her favourite activity, so the post is a genuinely comforting prop. The old pier seems to scream out for an “antique” treatment;

This time a different angle, looking across the Clyde to Greenock. Once again I couldn’t resist a faded  look, to match the mood of this other part of the old pier. This is possibly my favourite picture from the session, it shows Anne being strong and confident, which is something I love in her.

I know, duotone again, it’s the pier, I can’t help it. No portraitist could dislike the juxtaposition of Anne’s lovely expression against the softly blurred, faded pier. If I’m not mistaken, there’s that confidence again!

This is an unusual one, and while I love it, it wasn’t the look that I was trying to achieve. Sometimes the accidents reveal something surprising or fun, so I have included this one. When we looked at the file on the camera back, I joked that we had accidentally produced a “Russian Bride” look; I’m not sure she’ll ever forgive me for that. It’s something about the downward cast of her head, that isn’t her usual mode.

Anyway, it’s a great portrait in my view, the light on the water and the interplay of the piers, with the stunning Argyll backdrop; Anne very much in her place.

As always, I hope Anne likes these.

I started by checking my 70-300 mm lens to ensure I could get close without getting in the audience’s way. This fine waiting telecaster seemed a good victim.

When the music started, I realised that a tent with the sun almost down but behind the band was a recipe for dark faces.

It must be further observed that the marquee was a bit stained and blotchy as well.

So the old black and white was largely my fall-back again to introduce some atmosphere.

And the other last refuge of a photographic scoundrel, added grain!

But all this is irrelevant when a jangly telecaster features in the pictures.

Oops, two telecasters!

I feel sure there is a bassist in among all that camouflage.

In colour this photo of the band in full flight was a mess of clashing shades, so black and white again.

The band had a minor setback too, as the programme for the day listed them as the “Vampire Parade” instead of the actual name of the “Viper Parade”.

But none of this was troubling them at all.

Nothing would throw “Breeks” of his stride.

Black and white is the very thing for accentuating Mike’s manly rock and roll stubble.

It isn’t actually known whether Mike practices the “Springsteen look”, but it’s working.

Eventually, the revellers of Drymen were infected by the vibe and took to their feet. Let the dancing begin.

As you can tell I would have dearly liked to set up a flash or two for drama, or better still have the “Vipers” under a flashy lighting rig, but in the end thoroughly enjoyed making the best of the light that was there, and more importantly enjoying a brilliant gig. Flashy light shows regardless, they sounded tight and put on a great show.

Perhaps the devil might find me a tough proposition:-)

You must check these guys out, they have some great MP3′s on their site and some pictures from my last session with them.

http://www.theviperparade.co.uk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYXFhn7WKco&feature=related

http://en-gb.facebook.com/pages/The-Viper-Parade/134157649930793

http://www.theviperparade.co.uk

First the amazingly upbeat skins-man, Andy “breeks” Brand. He likes AC/DC apparently, that makes him very cool in my book.

And of course, Mike Ritchie, AKA Sean Hughes, comedian! (Anyone else think so)?

Betraying a shocking disloyalty here to the beautiful acoustic instruments he creates.

I have to admit though that telecasters are cool!

Introducing the other half of the solid-as-a-rock rythm and bass section, Andy, AKA Refugee.

Last but not least, lead guitarist Francisco Davidson. A guitar afficianado’s dream but a photographers’ nightmare. Dancing compulsively while playing guitar doesn’t lend itself to focus locking on eyes; I’m just saying…

Stick in, practice hard, and one day guys, you too might get to play in front of flourescent wall-lighters! Very hip!

Just to prove they were all in one room at the same time.

And the obligitary, the van is packed, “how about one for the road guys” shot. Identity parade anyone?

By this time I had broken their spirit and they had finally connected with the “posers within”…

I don’t think he actually smokes, the thought of that album cover just turned him into a “bad boy of rock”

Catch them somewhere if you can, watch their facebook page for gig info.

And again, just giving a sense of setting. Somehow Mike just fits these surroundings, he doesn’t just work with wood, he is utterly passionate about it; where else could he be but here.

A closer picture of Mike here, but critically folks, just for a change ignore the relaxed expression with the nice graduated light across the face, that’s the headstock of my new guitar.

And here it is, Indian Rosewood, Sitka Spruce and Mahogany, all assembled by Mike’s expert paws. I’m so excited!

Mike isn’t just a learn it and get in a rut luthier. He has made it his business to spend time in Spain studying with the spanish and flamenco guitar builders, and he has adapted many of their traditional techniques for use here in Scotland. Note the use of string and wedges where many might expect metal clamps. It’s a joy to watch this work happening.

And finally a detail of one of Mike’s near complete Classical instruments. Look at the hand finished detail round the soundhole. This is a pre-polished and finished guitar. Some lucky person will own this soon.

Mike’s workshop is pretty dark and presents a difficult photographic environment. I used a little offboard flash on occasion, and a couple with natural light only. The picture of mike holding my guitar neck was ISO 2000, and the picture of my guitar nearing completion was ISO 2500. No noise reduction was applied in Lightroom 3. You couldn’t say the Canon 7d has no noise, it has plenty at these settings, but it is surprisingly unobtrusive in real use.

There will be more pictures of Mike’s band posted soon, once I can process the next batch of challenging, low light pictures I took.

I can’t tell if this is contemplative or “little boy lost”? A friend who was strolling with us held my Canon 580 remote flash about 30 degrees to his side for all of these shots. It’s great to have a helper. The whole “session” was done in only about 10 minutes.

Jay has a real confidence, that he wears well. He is generous and looks after other people both professionally and by disposition. I think this direct and relaxed look captures him very well.

Talking of confidence though, he was too shy to also wear the pyjama bottoms!

My “Lightroom” adjustments aside, you can just see the acceleration of the warming of the light in these last two pictures. Sunset was upon us. Without the flash, Jay was just a silhouette. My 7D triggers the Canon flashes without the additional infra red transmitter; it’s great to carry one less piece of gear.

The sunset now entering its “full bhoona” phase, the flash makes the foreground colours leap out against the darker surroundings. It actually makes Jay look a bit stuck-on to the background, but I STILL love the picture enough that I don’t care; he looks seriously cool.

This last one is the only one I have used from my beloved Sigma 28mm. Very unusually for me, the rest are the 50mm f1.4. I suspect the reason these work well is that the 50mm being slightly telephoto compresses the scale of Jay against the roofscapes of Campbeltown in a nice way.

As many of you know, I really enjoy photographing people who are not confident about having a portrait done, I kind of like the challenge, and pretty much always get results that my subjects like. Jay was almost too easy for me, he behaved perfectly, was totally relaxed, looked where I asked him to look, smiled and seemed to take everything in his stride. I think I could get used to that as well:-)

Hope you like these as much as I do Jay.

Truthfully this was just a set-up shot to get the lighting and the composition right, but as so often happens I kept coming back to it is the most relaxed and compelling picture of this set. So often when your subject “knows” you aren’t really doing the picture for real, you get great results; it’s not a ploy I would deliberately use though.

Anne has a black cat! I’m just saying…

The previous shot is really unusual for me, more “set-up” and formal than I have specialised in, so a quick return to a handheld, simple close up was inevitable. Anne’s hair frames her face beautifully from this angle.

Handheld again, I couldn’t resist the mirror. I love this composition because Anne looks confident and happy in the real image, but sad in the reflection.  (ISO 1000 here as the light faded)

And finally another handheld shot at ISO 1600. Anne has this great clock and I really wanted to use it in a simple composition that reflected the slightly fantastic and surreal quality that Anne seems to me to possess. Think Alice through the looking glass? Bet you can’t guess when the picture was taken. I was really hungry! Anne has a few beautiful photographs on her walls at home. My self imposed challenge was to produce a picture that Anne will be happy to have in print on her wall. What do you think folks, will one of these meet the standard required? Wish me luck:-)

My lovely colleague and friend Fiona had so many complements on her outfit (including mine) that I felt fate was dictating that I had to take her picture. This portrait enthusiast knows that the fates must never be challenged, and so bowed with good grace to the only wise course of action available.

ISo 200, f2.8, (28mm x 1.6), 1/40th

This is the mouth of Loch Sween where my friend and colleague Dick Edie lives. Dick and I share a love of photography and we both use Flickr. Truth be told, I’m not very active now but as I throttled back, Dick started using it more. The common thread is that we were both part of the mighty, Seven Days of Shooting group in which weekly themes were translated into daily challenges which really brought your photography and creativity on. Anyway, Jim Hulme from Brisbane, AU, is a leading light in that community and is visiting his relatives in England at present. Dick kindly invited Jim to his wonderful home in Achnamara in Argyll, and thoughtfully asked if I wanted to join them; I did! (Sigma 10-20)

(Dick in the foreground on the beach) 70-300 mm lens

Here’s Dick, the perfect breakfast host in his “can I get you another egg” mode; the way to my heart anyway! (Sigma 28mm)

Dick took us to the Atlantic mouth of the Crinan Canal near his home. This was a puffer, (strictly a “VIC”) that Dick had photographed and I had seen travelling along Loch Fyne earlier this week. The sun was high and bright, which can be uninspiring for pictures, but the smoke from the puffer seemed to me to add interest along with the still, reflective water. (Canon 50 mm 1.4  prime)

OK, I have hung my hat on the portraiture hook, but I am so pleased with the curving harbour leading the eye to this colourfest of a boat from ullapool. (50 mm f1.4 prime)

Our gorgeous and charming co-host for the visit was Jacqui; I can attest that she cooks, and bakes in a way that would make Nigella Lawson weep. Truthfully I wanted the yellow of the boat to complement the green of Jaqui’s T-Shirt, but I made the error of keeping the aperture too wide. If doing it again I would choose f5.6 or 6.3 to get a little more detail in the boat to balance the picture  as Jaqui was deliberately placed on the right of the picture thinking that the yellow stern provided balance in composition. Thankfully Jaqui’s eyes and warm expression carry the picture anyway. (Canon 50mm f1.4)

Having only spoken on Skype with this wonderful man from Queensland, meeting him in person was a real thrill. I will be sad when he returns to Oz. He is a really likeable man, with a killer mix of humour and warmth, and despite the endless modesty, a striking man too. (Canon 50mm f1.4)

See what I mean!

Here are the Flickr Stalwarts in their full glory, both taking sensible precautions against the uncharacteristically hot Scottish sun today. (Canon 50mm f1.4)

However Jim could only behave for a little while while being photographed, eventually the playfulness/ misbehaviour has to break through. If Mrs Jim is looking at this, could you slap him for me on his return please! Dick is modelling headgear by Buff TM).

On my way home from this wonderful time in which Dick showed us Herons and Otters, I saw these disarmingly cute geese just strolling along the road as though it was their walkway. (Canon 70-300) This was the self timer  picture from last night using my 7D and Dick’s tripod and automatic mode for the first time in ages. This uses fill flash and I coped with the burned out sky by combining two lightroom exposures in Photomatix to let the happy quartet be seen with some detail of the Isle of Jura in the background. Safe home Jim. Thanks Dick and Jacqui

ISO: 3200 f5.6 1/15 (stabilised) (130 x 1.6)

As in yesterday’s picture, soft window light and appealing blue colours and a similar toned background were irresistible to this portraitist. Taking people pictures in colour is so often about spotting colours and thinking about backgrounds. Catherine’s blue eyes mean that blue clothes set a blue theme. The thing to look for then is either similar backgrounds or contrasting backgrounds like in yesterday’s picture.

Anyway, the new reading glasses needed a photographic début.