My Favourite Photos of 2008
2008 was probably the year I rediscovered photography. I took more this year that the previous two combined. I'd become a little bored with just taking photos of the same places over and over again. These are my favourite photos of this year. They aren't the best technically or artistically but these are the ones that bring back the best memories and thats what its all about.
So what else is there to do when your waiting for your flight? On the red-eye? On a stag weekend? The best part was the expressions of the other travelers.
Are you coming to the activities Jim. Are you sure? You feeling OK? Alright then, we'll just leave this bin here in case you need to puke.
As if being rolled down a hill in an inflatable ball filled with water isn't bad enough, they gave Steve and Jeff's ball an extra special touch.
Steves fancy dress birthday party. Jim's fake 'tash ended up at Glenn's fake eyebrows.
Steve and Gina's wedding was coming up quickly, I had a brand new lens that I'd been trying to dial myself in with and I hadn't managed to take even a semi-decent picture with it. So when this one came out OK, I was so relieved. Now that lens is one of my favourites.
I'd been more then a little worried about the formal shots after the ceremony, so I was very glad to get this one.Confetti
Poor Thu, shes not a drinker. But she'll always find a comforting shoulder to rest on.
The thing about photographs is that they often provide no context, and they freeze a single moment in time. Sometimes that moment is just when your pulling a funny face, and the resulting image will take a 1,000 words to explain. Six of those words are usually "It's not what it looks like".
The morning after, Esther has absolutely no recollection of doing this.
Possibly the best picture I took in 2008
I'm of the belief that we aren't meant to spend our days in an office. This is much more like it - laying back on beanbag chairs on a beach in Turkey, watching a blood red moon set accompanied by a cocktail and your friends.
A great night out. 3 am in a Karaoke bar in Olu Deniz. Luckily enough I was still able to hold the camera straight enough for this one.
Jim completes a karoke performance that can best be described as 'energetic'.
I didn't take this one, but I'll include it anyway. Stupidly hot temperatures were combatted with waster pistols, hosepipes and buckets of water. Note Stu's missing cowboy hat - I wonder what happened to that?
Chilling out in the back of the jeep with a couple of beers after the jeep safari.
I just wanted to get one decent shot of the Eurofighter, so was really please to get this one.
For some crazy reason I decided that I'd sit outside for the entire crossing to Sark. I curled up in this little gap watching the waves breaking over the bow and going straight over my head. I stayed surprisingly dry and had a laugh doing so. When the seas appeared to calm, Jim came out and within a second or two he was wetter then I was. I was also shocked how well this came out considering it was taken on a mobile phone!
Sark was great this year. We got amazing weather for September and it was really nice to have everyone together again.
I bought a crappy screw in macro lens for my Nikon 50mm, the results were far too soft overall, but some parts of the image were nice and sharp. I can't remember when I first saw this technique, but its a style I like - taking a single image and applying a few different processes to it resulting in slightly surreal images.
I bought a new camera this year, called the Panasonic Lumix DMc-LX3. It more then anything else has got me taking photos again. One of the things it does superbly is make these great black and white images even in low light. I just love the lighting in this image.
Another example of a black and White image taken with the LX3. I love the way that this turned out, even considering that I was literally sat on my vespa, helmet still on, and taking this parked at the side of the road. Sometimes you get lucky.
He's a photogenic little bugger isn't he!
Cocktails in the B-Bar on my birthday.
Another good night out, plenty of drink was flowing including these lethal cocktails.
Magic the Gathering.
So what else is there to do when your waiting for your flight? On the red-eye? On a stag weekend? The best part was the expressions of the other travelers.
The Morning After
Are you coming to the activities Jim. Are you sure? You feeling OK? Alright then, we'll just leave this bin here in case you need to puke.
Hydro Zorbing
As if being rolled down a hill in an inflatable ball filled with water isn't bad enough, they gave Steve and Jeff's ball an extra special touch.
Bushy Brows
Steves fancy dress birthday party. Jim's fake 'tash ended up at Glenn's fake eyebrows.
Castle Cornet and Bathing Pools
Steve and Gina's wedding was coming up quickly, I had a brand new lens that I'd been trying to dial myself in with and I hadn't managed to take even a semi-decent picture with it. So when this one came out OK, I was so relieved. Now that lens is one of my favourites.
Kiss
Just like the expressions with this one.
Carls Moment
Something a little more light hearted after the main ceremony and formals. I'm pretty sure Carl is still grinning with the memory.Bride and BridesmaidStu and Esther at the Reception
Stu and Esthers co-ordination lets them down momentarily at the reception, but they recovered and it all turned out alright in the end.
The end of a long day
Poor Thu, shes not a drinker. But she'll always find a comforting shoulder to rest on.
Worth a 1,000 words
The thing about photographs is that they often provide no context, and they freeze a single moment in time. Sometimes that moment is just when your pulling a funny face, and the resulting image will take a 1,000 words to explain. Six of those words are usually "It's not what it looks like".
Table Dancing
The morning after, Esther has absolutely no recollection of doing this.
Calm Seas
Possibly the best picture I took in 2008
What its all about
I'm of the belief that we aren't meant to spend our days in an office. This is much more like it - laying back on beanbag chairs on a beach in Turkey, watching a blood red moon set accompanied by a cocktail and your friends.
Jim takes a power nap.
A Turkish nightclub really isn't then best place to catch a quick nap.
Have you got your camera?
A great night out. 3 am in a Karaoke bar in Olu Deniz. Luckily enough I was still able to hold the camera straight enough for this one.
Born to be Wild
Jim completes a karoke performance that can best be described as 'energetic'.
Jeep Safari
I didn't take this one, but I'll include it anyway. Stupidly hot temperatures were combatted with waster pistols, hosepipes and buckets of water. Note Stu's missing cowboy hat - I wonder what happened to that?
End of the day
Chilling out in the back of the jeep with a couple of beers after the jeep safari.
Eurofighter Typhoon
I just wanted to get one decent shot of the Eurofighter, so was really please to get this one.
Sark Ferry
For some crazy reason I decided that I'd sit outside for the entire crossing to Sark. I curled up in this little gap watching the waves breaking over the bow and going straight over my head. I stayed surprisingly dry and had a laugh doing so. When the seas appeared to calm, Jim came out and within a second or two he was wetter then I was. I was also shocked how well this came out considering it was taken on a mobile phone!
Good Times in Sark
Sark was great this year. We got amazing weather for September and it was really nice to have everyone together again.
Eye Eye (Eye Eye)
I bought a crappy screw in macro lens for my Nikon 50mm, the results were far too soft overall, but some parts of the image were nice and sharp. I can't remember when I first saw this technique, but its a style I like - taking a single image and applying a few different processes to it resulting in slightly surreal images.
Self Portrait
I bought a new camera this year, called the Panasonic Lumix DMc-LX3. It more then anything else has got me taking photos again. One of the things it does superbly is make these great black and white images even in low light. I just love the lighting in this image.
Cup and Saucer
Another example of a black and White image taken with the LX3. I love the way that this turned out, even considering that I was literally sat on my vespa, helmet still on, and taking this parked at the side of the road. Sometimes you get lucky.
Mac the Rabbit
He's a photogenic little bugger isn't he!