On our visit to my parents home we had the added bonus of photographing my Father’s beloved garden on the one day that did not rain. Here are the results. I have decided to give them their own folder in the ‘Flower Art’ section of this website, the folder is titled ‘The Garden.’. So its open now to do more at a later date, or photograph other peoples garden. Thank you as always to Amy for her help and to Mum and Dad. X
See you all next month.
Welcome everyone back to this Mays blog from Lujon Rael
I wanted to say a few words about the passing of one of my friends. His name was Robert Leslie Armstrong (known as Les to us) and he served our country bravely during World War 2 in the 73 Squadron RAF as a ground crews man in both France and West Africa. By the time of his retirement Les had attained the rank of Squadron Leader.
I first met Les when he used to attend a photographic club I ran in London some years ago and we had kept in touch ever since. He was always a friendly and likeable man who had time for you, but I possibly felt he did not suffer fools gladly. A point being when one hapless club member, (who shall remain unnamed) thrust a copy of a Spiderman comic book into the eighty year old war veterans hands (!) And then was jovially told told ’There, go and read that.’ The young man got short shrift from the Squadron Leader then sent on his away with a flea in his ear for his troubles Les was a popular, respected and valued member of the photographic club … as well as being my friend.
Born 26th January, 1920 , he quietly passed away on 14th May, 2021, aged 101. Les will be missed by his family and all those that cared and loved him.
Till we meet again Les x
I must apologies for the bit of a lateness with this months update, as my angina has been causing me some serious problems. I simply did not have the strength in me to update this blog until today. There was to be a male model shoot on location this month, but sadly it has been postponed due to the models work schedule clashing. It might have been just as well as I was not feeling up to it anyway.
Thank you to all involved with this months images to Amy for her help and input and to Chris and Wendy at Brambles Florist and Flowers To Yours.
See you next month x
I wanted to put together a few pictures from the work that Tyler and I did together over the years she was with me as a thank you and wonder down memory lane. Its a long slide show and tune provided by the late Isaac Hayes.
I seriously doubt that I shall ever find another model like her again.
Model: Tyler Dyce Music: ‘The Look Of Love’ Isaac Hayes
A bit of an oriental feel to the pictures for this month, with my stab at three Japanese inspired images. The two vases were pictures I took some time ago now and never got around to using (In truth I ran out of ideas knowing what to do with them!). So here with a lot of help from Photoshop are this months Digital Art offerings
Only two pictures for this month and they were taken in my kitchen using a Halo Lamp I purchased from Amazon in one case to produce the intense red colour. The flower is a tulip Amy had grown in the garden and had well past its sell by date, but still looked photogenic.
Here is another I found hidden away in a cupboard. Its an old hand developed print of a view on one of the beaches at Hayle in Cornwall. I remember this view mesmerized me when I took it as the eye is led down to the sea by the poles and cable supports. I had to give it a sepia tone in Photoshop as the original print was made on a very unstable paper called 'Oriental Seagull' which turns a nasty colour over time.
As the year draws closer to Summer, the flowers getting more lovely with each month. This month being no exception to that rule. Brambles Florist and Flowers To Yours have provided me with a great choice to shoot, my only problem was that when I got half way through I realised I had not changed what is called the 'Aspect Ratio' on the images. By which time it was too late so this month every image is the same size. Still thanks to Chris at Flowers To Yours and Wendy and Nina at Brambles Florist for the lovely choice. Thank you also to Amy for her help and input.
Thank you for coming back to the Lujon Rael monthly blog, the April 2021 edition.
Its been a bit of a busy month with the COVID restrictions being lifted ever so slightly and I have managed to get in two model shoots I have also been digging through the vaults to find any old stuff that might be worth looking at in the 'Projects' section of the site. I came across some random landscape images I had done ages ago, mostly on print film and eventually scanned onto digital. I have also found some old architectural pictures from the vaults that I have used. On the subject of architecture, I have renamed the 'X00 Multiplies' gallery to a new more user friendly title of 'Architectural Metaphor.' People were having a problem pronouncing the first title, this new title has more of a ring to it I think.
With regards the two fashion shoots, I was fortunate enough to have great weather and luck to work with two amazing new models Shay Holden and Moyolistic. One on location in Nottingham and the other at the Boardroom Studio in Derby. Check out the results. I haven't got much planned for May besides a fashion shoot with a male model and drummer named Karl who I am looking forward to working with. Fingers crossed for the weather and good health.
I still have been unable to make up my mind with regards to my retirement, made all that harder with the contact I had with my dearest old friend and excellent model Monalisa Moyo after so long. We plan to do an 'Albert Watson' high fashion inspired shoot in the July time in a hotel penthouse if we can. So something to aim and look forward to..
T hats it for this months round up, I hope you enjoy the work below.
Viewed here are some new and old mix of images I recently took of the Nottingham Contemporary Art Gallery along with some really old architecture shots from a shoot I did decades ago in Rock Cemetery.
I am happy to bring you a random mix of old images for the landscape project. They are not new and many are from transparencies and old print film scanned in and brought up to date photoshop. Still old as they maybe, I do think they are worth another good look.
Model: Shay Holden Track: ‘Truth’ Mark Ronson (featuring Alicia Keys & The Last Artful Dodgr)
The lovely Shay Holden contacted me through Instagram a few weeks back and we agreed to hook up for a shoot on location in Nottingham, and I am glad we did. Not only because it got me out of the house, but also it was fun being on location with this great new model from Lincoln. We went to the Nottingham Contemporary Art gallery for most of the shoot with Amy in tow to help me out.
A big shout out must go also to my brilliant makeup artist Shadrine at Ka'Vour Beauty for her great work. We came to her shop, we had the makeup done, drank her tea and vandalised the shop !! Sorry Shadrine. xx
Model: Moyolistic Track: ‘Silent Sorrow In Empty Boats’ Genesis
Model; Moyolistic Track: ‘Tighten Up’ The Bamboos
The second shoot of the month took place in The Boardroom studio in Derby with another new model calling herself Moyolistic. She was the runner up in an African Beauty contest and was amazing in front of the camera. The shoot was set into two half's with the first half being a more ethereal look with a wedding vail and peonies provided by my friend Chris at Flowers To Yours. Colour graded blue in Capture One and Photoshop the set is titled 'Délicate,' and has its own sideshow to compliment it.
The second part of the shoot was based around the Panton Colour of the Year which is Yellow, so all things yellow were in employ. The original pictures were a lot darker, but I warmed it up in editing to gain a pleasing result. Thanks then to model Moyolistic for being great. Thanks also to Shadrine at Ka'Vour Beauty for her amazing makeup as always and to studio owner Phil for the use of his pad. Enjoy the results.
The flower gallery for this month was again provided with the great assistance of my friends at Brambles Florist and Flowers To Yours. I really could not do this without their valuable input and hope the pictures do them justice. Shout out then to Chris at Flowers To Yours and to both Wendy and Nina at Brambles Florist. Check out their web sites at the highlights above, you will not be disappointed. That is it for this month, so please do come back in May.
Thank you x
Welcome back to the March blog update and all it has to offer.
I would just like to say a fond thank you to my friend and work partner of many years Tyler Dyce. As we speak she is very heavy with child and so is taking it easy. This is obviously a life changing event for her and I sadly doubt that we will see her again infront of the camera. Which is a shame as it is like the end of an era for me. Yet still all my love goes out to her and her new family for the future.
This then has sharpend things in my mind as I no longer have a muse that I can bounce ideas off, so what shall I do? I have said before that I am physically finding it hard to get around and even stand up too long. My heart doesn’t beat as it should and I get tired easily. So I am giving serious thought to retirering from doing fashion shoots and only now do flowers and still life images. I have four shoots left to do - Covid permitting - but aftert that nothing booked in. I have had thirty one years at this and for the most part enjoyed it all. Its been a great ride.. But now might be a time to stop.
We shall see…. Watch this space as they say.
Look out for the new project gallery called ‘X00 Multiplies’ and a thanks to everyone who has supported me this month. From my dear wife Amy to Chris and Wendy at Brambles Florist and Flowers To Yours.
To Tyler … I have been and always shall be your friend. I owe you so much. Good luck, no ill will and ‘Luv Ya’ still x
For this months digital art I have had a theme on the late Austrian artist Gustav Klimt. I watched a biography on TV about him and liked his work so did some research on him and his style. Here are six gold inspired images, in a style like the great artist. … but nowhere near as good as him.
This is a new gallery project all about buildings and architecture that have a symmetry about them. In point Art Deco design, which sadly they do not have in my town. But they do have some great modern buildings that a designed with thought. It is all in black and white for effect, thank you to Amy for her support.
After a brief time away from this project, I finally found the strength to go out and do a bit for the sound of the suburbs gallery. Thanks to Amy for her help on those days.
