Motorsports Photographer: BSB at a Very Wet Brands Hatch

Every year i try to attend a round or two of the British Super Bike Championship at the amazing Brands Hatch, one of my favourite circuits.

Bikes and bike racing are a huge passion of mine and i grew up watching the likes of Barry Sheene from the early days of his career right up to his last year in Grand Prix.

Jacob and I decided to attend on Easter weekend, and of course after a superb March, it decided to rain hard all day on race day. Despite the cold and wet, there was a large crowd present and some exciting racing for most of the day.

I took along the D3s with my 180 f2.8 lens to see if i could capture anything through the catch fencing that encases the Indy Circuit.

We watched from the last series of corners as the bikes were lent over and the riders used their amazing skills to tip toe the bikes round as if on ice, before blasting through Clearways onto the start finish straight.

The spray hung in the air all the time and i have to say that camera and lens performed heroically throughout.

Wedding Photographer: A Photo of Me in the Six Bells Toilets!

Its not often i get to be photographed. Quite fortunately for the world's photographers i should add!

Last week i met up for lunch with my very good friend, Leo Ferenc, videographer and owner of the mad Coco Photo Booths. Leo is a terrific videographer and great fun to spend a couple of hours with, putting the world to rights!

We were forced to pop down to the wonderful Six bells Pub in Chiddingly, which must be one of the best pubs in the UK! Leo had just picked up a brand new Canon 5D mark 3 and was keen to try it out.

So in a packed pub, i had my arm twisted and "modelled"...if that's the right word...although it doesn't seem appropriate when i am the subject.

After his various attempts to get something he was happy with we decided to look for an unusual or interesting background and ended up with me in the gents because of the amazing wall you can see in the image below. Leo had only bought his 85mm 1.2 lens so had to stand outside in the main body of the pub with his foot in the doorway to keep it open.

It was such a laugh as we ended up with a small audience who joined in the hilarity and were full of wise cracks.

Anyway, Leo emailed me a couple of images and this is my favourite. I have it in colour on my Facebook profile page but i prefer this version that i have processed in Photoshop.



You can follow me on Twitter (@PeterPrior) or view my wedding portfolio here for further information.

Sussex Photographer: Voiglander Vito First Test film

I love my Voigtlander Vito B!

I have just had my first test roll processed and scanned. I elected to try a roll of Ilford's XP2 as this was the only roll of 35mm i had left in the fridge!

Using the camera was a challenge but very refreshing. After trawling the internet, i found a few articles about how to use the stunning little Vito. Basically focusing seems to be a bit of educated guess work, but in the main the on-line advice regarding focusing distances and depth of field worked , when i added my experience to the show. I probably lost about 20% of the roll due to "poor focus guesses", but then i was expecting that as i tried a couple of ideas to prove/disprove the on-line advice.

The day i shot the film was cursed with very bland flat light but at the end of the day, it was more about a systems check.

The negatives seem to be a tad over exposed. I used the readings i took from my Sekonic L-358 meter but in the main its going to be nothing too much to worry about. The lens itself seems to be fine and considering the age of the camera, produces very pleasing tonality and sharpness.

I am sure with further experimentation i am going to have a lot of fun producing personal images from this little camera and i will share my favourites here from time to time.

OK. Here are a couple of shots from the first 24 exposures. Both images are from scans from my lab and have been processed in Photoshop using my own actions.

Eastbourne seafont on a very cold, bleak day.



Karen and Bertie

Sussex Fine Art Photographer

I don't share a lot of personal work on this blog but i have just finished working on this shot which was taken in London last summer at a wedding reception venue opposite the O2 Area.

As i was checking the venue out i noticed this old ship and the light and sky were such they they demanded that i capture a couple of images before setting off to the bride's home 30 minutes away.

This was shot on my D3s with the 24-70 2.8 zoom and "hand printed" using CS5 and my take on HDR (an effect i dislike for my wedding and portrait work).

Sussex Wedding Photography: Peter Awarded Four Merits in the National Awards

I was absolutely stunned to receive notification that four of my images have been awarded Merits in the National Master Photography Awards 2011.

These awards are only open to full time professional photographers and despite an entry of over 2500 images, i have been blown away with this news.

My images are all short listed as finalists with the Awards Dinner being held in Newcastle in October.

Despite being fortunate to have won a couple of awards back in 2007 i am very excited to think that i may be in with a chance again in 2011.

Here are the shot listed images, three of which won their categories in the recent South East Region's MPA Awards.









You can view my wedding portfolio here.

Sussex Portrait Photography: Jacob

Although i am an extremely busy wedding and portrait photographer i rarely find time to take "professional" images of my kids.
This may sound odd i know but as the kids become teenagers it gets more difficult to bribe them into sitting for a portrait of two.

Jacob has just finished school for good and is moving onto college in September so i finally managed to convince him it was time for a decent photo of him.

I took half a dozen and this is my favourite, taken in my client gallery room by window light. It was shot on my Nikon D3s using my favourite lens, the 85mm 1.4.



You can see my portrait portfolio here.

You can also view my wedding portfolio here.

London Fine Art Images

I thought i would share a couple of Hipstamatic Images captured on my iPhone 4 using the Hipstamatic App.

These were taken on my arrival at last Saturday's wedding's reception venue opposite the 02 Arena.

The weather was extremely variable to say the least, as the dramatic skies show.

Sussex Photography: Meeting the Legend that is Sir Stirling Moss

Thursday evening saw me working for Haynes, in Maidstone. The occasion was their celebration of 100 years of being a Ford dealership. Quite and achievement, especially in these very troubled days!

The brief was to cover a few photo calls and then to document the event for their company history.

At this stage i should thank my friends at the amazing Super Event for recommending my photography to Haynes in the first place. Owned and run by Tony Brewin they are one of the best event, marquee and catering companies in the UK today!

I was greeted by Andrew Haynes, The Chairman and Managing Director of the Group and to my surprise was informed that the guest of honour was one of my all-time heroes and living legend, Sir Stirling Moss.

Sir Stirling Moss and Andrew Haynes in the Model T Ford



On his arrival, i was invited up to the boardroom, along with Ruth, a photographer from the KM Group, to cover the brief "press call". I was amazed at how relaxed, ego-free, friendly and open Sir Stirling was! Here was i chatting on 1-2-1 with a genuinely awesome man and i have to admit that it was a struggle to remain professional for a second.

Checking out some historical photos in the boardroom.



Then it was back downstairs to the main showroom, where invited guests and dignitaries had gathered for drinks and canapés whilst mingling amongst a superb collection of Fords from all decades of the company's car production life. Highlight of the show was a 1910 Model T Ford that was still working condition.

After plenty of time for the guests to enjoy the party, a few low key speeches followed and then one lucky guest won the competition for a lap of the Maidstone one-way system as a passenger in the Model T.

Here are a few favourite images of Sir Stirling Moss, a true gentleman and superstar!

Sir and Lady Moss enjoying the party.



Andrew Haynes presenting Sir Stirling, a very close family friend, with a thank you gift.





Finally a quick shot of me with the great man taken by Ruth from the KM Groups.



You can read about the amazing history of Haynes here.

View my Wedding Portfolio here.

View my Portraits and Commercial Photography here.

Sussex Weddings: Guess Who?

Thought i would share a quick "portrait" of a friend of mine.

Can you guess who it is?

Sussex Weddings: New Contact Details

Just a quick heads up to let you know that we will be back open for business from tomorrow, Monday 9th May as anticipated.

BT and Gavin of 24 Box did us proud and got us all up and running on time: thanks guys. There is still quite a bit of unpacking and organising to do but i think we are 80% there after 4 days of hard work.

We are looking forward to getting back to work, speaking to old, current and new clients, suppliers and allied businesses.


Our new contacts details are:

PETER PRIOR PHOTOGRAPHY
271 EASTBOURNE ROAD, POLEGATE, EAST SUSSEX. BN26 5DL.

TEL: 01323 486837 or 0844 4142474

Email: info@peterprior.com

Websites: www.peterprior.com and www.artvisage.co.uk

You can view my wedding galleries here.

Sussex Wedding Photography: Office Closed Until Monday 9th May

Just a note to say that from today, Wednesday 4th May until Monday 9th May, our office will be closed due our family and business relocation from Stone Cross to Polegate, East Sussex.

Our phone lines will be off down for up to 48 hours as we in BT hands as they install new lines into the new house.

If you need to contact me, please send an email to info@peterprior.com and i will do my very best to get back to you as soon as possible.

Sussex Photography: Our Hot Tub Leaves Home!

Our hot tub left home today and will be on holiday for a couple of weeks whilst we arrange our new place.

I shot this short video on my iPhone 4 and thought i would share it. Cranes look so much fun!

Sussex Wedding Photography: Peter Prior Photography is Moving

Its been a hectic couple of months but we have at last been given the green light to announce that we are officially moving next week.

After 5 years in beautiful Stone Cross, we have decided to relocate just 3-4 miles west to Polegate, East Sussex. We are moving from a lovely modern house to a newly renovated, beautiful 1930s house full of character and with space for our clients to relax away from the chaos that comes with running a business from home.

Set closer to the A27 and A22 main roads and within 500 yards of Polegate's mainline railway station it should be perfect for our client and family needs.

Moving a family is stressful enough, but also having to sort out a business move is tough!

As is the way, we are packing in the middle of one our busiest times of the year. I have four major shoots in 9 days before we move and hopefully the office will be up and running on time to ensure i don't have too many delays.

So from Wednesday 4th May until Monday 9th May the office will be closed. All being well new phone lines and internet will be in by then as BT have promised they won't let us down.

Once we are back open for business our business number will remain 0844 4142474 and we should be able to confirm our local number then as well.

In the meantime, if you need to get in touch please email info@peterprior.com or call my mobile.

Sussex Equestrian Photography

We were invited along to an equestrian event in Burwash, Sussex today by our good friends Brea and Kay to watch Brea's stunning horse, Troy compete in the cross country.

I photographed troy at the back end of last year for Brea's 21st birthday present and was really excited to see Troy again!

It was a fabulous afternoon; warm and sunny and this made for spectacular viewing as countless horse and riders thundered through the course.

Elliott riding Troy won the event with a time almost quarter of a minute quicker than the next pairing of Sarah and the beautiful Patch.

Here are a few images captured today on my trusty Nikon D300 c/w 18-200 VR lens.




You can view my wedding galleries here.



Patch



Troy and Elliott in action

Sussex Portraits: Ruby's Latest School Photo

Just thought i would share Ruby's latest "school photo".

Actually i took this right after a portfolio shoot i was commissioned to do here for an actress.

This was shot on the D3s at around f2.8 using soft light from the window behind me.

Derbyshire Weddings: Sharon and Andy's Bakewell Wedding

Last week saw Karen and i take a long drive to Buxton, Derbyshire to cover the intimate wedding of an old school friend, Sharon who was marrying Andy at Bakewell Town Hall.

We felt very privileged to be a part of their very small and personal wedding in such a beautiful place. As two of only 6 guests it made it very special indeed. Better still, we were introduced to genuine Bakewell Puddings!

We hadn't met the others before, but have to say we all got on really well and the time flew by.

Sharon and Andy first met outside the magnificent Buxton Opera House and now both work there, so we were able to capture a couple of images inside, showing the stunning decor.

Here are a couple of images of the day, all shot on my D3s with the 24-70 2.8 lens.



The Buxton Opera House is just stunning inside. This was shot at twilight after the ceremony in Bakewell.

Sussex Photography: Ashdown Park Hotel in the Snow

I just thought i would share three "personal" fine art landscapes i produced in December at the stunning Ashdown Park Hotel in East Sussex.

The hotel had commissioned me to photograph the gorgeous interior and after making the drive up through the snow, i decided to take a break and shoot some images for myself on my shiny new Nikon D3s.

Anyway, here are three favourite images, which for those of you interested are available as limited edition prints. Please email me on info@peterprior.com or call 01323 740741 for details.

I'm Covering the Wedding of a Long Lost School Friend Today

Today sees me cover the wedding of a long lost friend who until very recently, i hadn't seen since i left school.

I had attended school with Manda from the age of 4 until i left at 16 and we were always friendly throughout our time in education. As is often the case, we lost touch post GCEs as i went to work and she went off to college and beyond.

Through the power of Facebook, she got in touch just over a year ago and when she and Mick set the date for their wedding i was really honoured to be asked to be the photographer for their special day.

So I am driving up to Northamptonshire to cover their big day at Kilworth Hall today. I'm really excited about being a part of their wedding day and meeting their families at this special time of year.

Congratulations guys!

Not for the Feint Hearted: Photos of Yours Truly

Being a professional "people photographer" has many advantages. A major one as far as i am concerned is that i rarely get to ruin pictures by appearing in them!

However, i do feel that being the other side of the lens and in the firing line is good way to appreciate how clients might feel when in the "hot seat" so i recently agreed for my good friend and very talented photographer Nicky Thomas to capture a few images of me.

To say i felt uncomfortable at the prospect was an understatement, but i have to say she quickly put me at ease and produced some lovely images that even made me look OK!

Thanks Nicky.

Here are a couple of my personal favourites.

Canon G10: Ruby in the Snow

Just thought i would share an image that i grabbed on my Canon G10 whilst walking the dogs in the snow yesterday.

Ruby is becoming quite a poser as she grows up and wanted me to take a couple of photos of her in her new coat, in the snow.

I had left the G10 in the car over night so had to wait for the lens to de-mist when it hit to freezing air!

The dogs were more interested in getting home and sleeping in front of a warm fire!