Stuff for the streets of your town site 1 (derelict shops)

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On the same day as my father took us out into the countryside for some scenic shots, we stopped then at the rear of some shops in the town. My Dad had previously pointed them out as an eye sore, but I thought of them more as an opportunity for photos as you do not often get to go near enough dilapidated buildings. This site was not fenced off, rather open to the public. We did not venture too far in as it is better safe than sorry when it caves in on you. I do think we got some half way decent shots both Amy and I. My favourites are of the graffiti wall with wisps of cloud above it in the blue sky. I hope you like them.

Stuff for the streets of your town site 2 (the voyage home)

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On our journey home we travelled up the A14 to join the M1 motorway in what was bloody awful weather to drive in. It was a heavily overcast day, dank and horrible, but great to do some moody shots in/ Like the derelict house, these have been put on the Streets of your town website. The aim was to emulate the American photographer Saul Leiter style of image. Lots of dark moody looks with plenty of rain and car rear tail lights he did so well/ I am not saying my work compares anywhere near to his, but it was a fun try and I would like to do it again some day.

Project – 'Landscapes' and 'Architectural Metaphor' Update

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This years offering of landscape pictures were taken in Rutland. A trip north of Corby was taken with the help of my father to this nice little county and a very scenic view from a viaduct across the valley. There was not many people around as the area was flooded, which added to the glare of light that day. But I think both Amy and I managed to get something decent for the site as well as some shots of Kettering telephone exchange added for the 'Architectural Metaphor page. Brutal building as any, not the greatest of designs, but not a blot on the landscape as my Dad calls it.

Digital Art Update

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Only a one off offering this month with a still from Decembers shoot with Mercybongo at The Boardroom Studio in Derby. I used a lot of bokeh in the picture which is what I did many moons ago with some of the old flower shots that can be seen on the website. Its a good way to hide empty spaces?

Still Life – Update

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Just a few still life images for this month. This was a flower given to us by Brambles Florist that had a very interesting stalk. They on there own were worth a set of pictures I thought and have turned out okay I think.

January 2024 Flower Updates

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Start the year as you mean to go on with some great flowers to work with from our friends at . Brambles Florist and Flowers To Yours. The quality of their flowers is always tip top and I am very much reliant upon them for their help. So thank you to Chris and the ladies at Brambles and Flowers To Yours. A thank you also to Amy for her help taking the pictures in our home studio (outhouse).

That is it for this month. Thanks for coming back to see us and hope you drop by again at the end of February.

Bye x

December Updates and it is Christmas Again !

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Seasons greetings and welcome back to my little rant … sorry blog …. on the web

Is it just me getting older or is time moving faster? It does not seem long ago when it was last years Christmas period. So not only is it Jesus birthday but it is also the time when Mariah Carey and Michael Bublé come out to play again alongside some golden oldies from Slade and Roy Wood of Wizard. Its all a bit much for me and try my best to ignore it. But when you hear one of those tunes its like an ear worm and it plays over and over again in your head. Very annoying when you are trying to get some shut eye. As a seasonal treat the other day I ate a 'Snickers' Chocolate bar and was hugely disappointed. I can remember when they used to be called 'Marathon' bars. They were huge, so big that you could beat a man to death with one and needed to dislocate your jaw like an anaconda to eat it. Now its this small pathetic little thing that is twice the price it used to be. Or is it that I am looking back through rose tinted glasses? Never mind, nothing lasts forever … except B.O..

Its been quite a busy year this year with plenty of shoots and still more to come in 2024. I am already booked up till May. Looking ahead we will be working with Zoe Birtwhistle again in February and saying hello to a model who first contacted me twenty years ago. From Manchester the amazing singer and celeb Alexis Victoria Hall. After all this time, we are finally going to be working with each other. I just pray the weather is decent and it is not snowing?

The street photography website is coming on with even my wife Amy taking the camera out on her own and doing some great shots. So much so that I have had to add her name to the website as a contribute. To remind you all again the site is called 'Streets Of Your Town' (See it here).

That s about it for now, so here is wishing you all a great Christmas and even greater New Year. Thank then to all of the people who have collaborated on my work this last year. I could not have done it without you (for sure !). To many to mention, but you know who you are. Thank you.

Enjoy this months blog.


Digital Art - Update

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Turn back the clock to Novembers blog when I spoke about a shoot I did in the Boardroom Studio and Zavod Studio on the same day? One was with tattooed model Izzy Holliday a recreation of a panel from a graphic novel called 'Judgement On Gotham' (Judge Dredd vs Batman) where Judge Death is being tormented by his fears (Cuddly toys) With Izzy we also made a pictures with Izzy kicking a vending machine in Death Valley. picture is called 'Shit ! …. and I came all this way …?' Notice the child's tricycle and UFO's above. So who has come all this way?

Check out also pictures of taken of Xenia Model in the Debbie Harry 'Koo Koo' inspired LP, shot in her Zavod Studio in Sheffield/.The pins through her face were created by using knitting needles and added to the portrait in post production (Photoshop) edit As well as a simple portrait that stops and makes you look twice … asking what is wrong with this picture? There is also a one of digital creation featuring Mercybongo. That I will go into in the shoot section below.

Still Life – Update

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A few still life pictures for you all. I was inspired by something I viewed on Instagram of a still life using pears. I could not stop going back to it and studying the way it looked, light, angle, grain and colour. So then I wanted to do one for myself only better if I can? Here is the result thrown in with a few Still Life Daffodils I did also, but will only use one of them in the Still Life gallery (the blurred one)y. Please enjoy.

Mercybongo, Together Again & Vogue Scandinavia Shoot

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This here is Decembers studio shoot and again we are back with Mercybongo, who always looks and puts in 100 % to any job she does. Here we were creating an editorial style look in a red dress and black Vogue Scandinavia bag. The bag was padded out inside with rolls of toilet paper to give it some body, at no expense spared ! We also made a one of image based on a segment of the Janet Jackson video 'Together Again' where she is sitting under a tree in Africa, cuddling another double of herself. It pretty much worked and can be seen in the Digital Art section above. So thanks then to all there that shoot. To Mercybongo, to Shadrine at Kavour Beauty. To Phil Lynam at the Boardroom Studio and to both Amy and Carl for their help.

December Flower Updates

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So t his pretty much brings us to a close for this months session and another productive year. I know it always seems like I am handing out applause like a kid in sweet shop, but this really is team effort. Brambles Florist and Flowers To Yours go out of their way to get me some truly lovely flowers to photograph. They have never let me down. So huge thanks to Chris and all the staff at the Brambles and Flowers To Yours. A mention and thanks also to my dear wife, who help is invaluable.

I do hope you enjoy the four slide shows above for some of this years highlights and see you all next month … and see you all next year.

Seasons Greetings …. Bye for now x

November Updates and two shoots in two studios in two Cities and my final say on Parcel Farce

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Welcome back to my little piece of the internet, the Lujon Rael Portfolio site. Your all welcome x

Its been a busy month this month culminating with a three model shoot in two studios, in two cities.

Firstly we were at The Boardroom Studio in Derby to photograph the extraordinary Izzy Holiday model. A model full of tattoos she was not like the other models I work with. I normally have a preference for non – tattooed models, but Izzy fitted the job description to a tee. Sadly I have not finished editing them, so I shall have to share them with you at a layer date.

What we do have however is two sets from two models I shot with the team at the Zavod Studio in Sheffield. Zavod is owned by my friend a lovely model we have worked with before called Xenia. She is Russian (like Izzy Holiday) and has some strong opinions on the ongoing war in the Ukraine. Its safe to say she is not Vladimir Putins best buddy !! Anyway, Shadrine from Kavour Beauty did all the hair and makeup fro all three models, and we went for a very sophisticated look for both models at Zavod. The second model as a brilliant rising talent named Holly Whaling from Leeds. She reminded me of the young Jane Seymour actress, when she was in 'Live and let die' James Bond movie. Both models were oozing class and sophistication, which I do like in pictures. So please enjoy the the team and I created.

So that brings us to the ongoing disagreement with Parcel Farce as I like to call them. They paid £50 for my loss of the camera in their care. Yes they wiggled out of their customer responsibility and showed themselves to be a thoroughly bad player all round. And that is where I have left it. I was going to go after them and get my pound of flesh like Shylock, but that way leads to frustration and illness. I am reminded of the old Jamaican proverb … when you go after vengeance, be sure to dig two graves. I am also aware of the other adage, Dont waste your time flogging a dead horse? I have lost that camera. I will never see it or use it again. I am never going to get the money owed to me for its loss. But I will not get myself ill over it. Life really is too short for that. I have let it go. My only satisfaction is to let everyone know who is going to post a parcel, not to use the services of Parcel Farce from the Royal Mail..

Anyway enough of that BS here are this months photo offerings from the team I hope you all enjoy them and come back for more next month with a year ending shoot featuring the amazing Mercybongo.

Enjoy ...

Still Life Update

Some fresh still life images hot of the press. Featuring some flowers from the Brambles Florist and stuff Amy found in the hedgerow Do not get me wrong, I do not send Amy out to rout through the local hedges in her spare time, but she finds something interesting like a gnarled old stick or some berry's on branches that have fallen. Then bring them home and see if we can put them to good use in still life shots or even at studio photo shoots we have done in the past. So here are the results of this months offering, I hope you enjoy them. They were all taken in natural light and using several filters, some with Vaseline smeared on them so as to add a blurred effect. I am pleased with them and hope to do some more very soon if we can. Thank you Amy x.