Akesson PhotoBlog

Well now this is what we call “putting the horse before the cart!” . Yesterday some wedding shots and tonight some from their prewedding Romance session. But there’s a very good reason. I didn’t get home til close to 10pm tonight - budgets and forecasts from the day job! So these were already set to go. That said we had an absolute ball taking these. Hope you enjoy them.

a couple of pics then if you want to see more click on the link “2“.

Don’t go away yet … heaps more fabulous photos if you click on the Read More>> tag below

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I love creating photos. Lots of them. Often. And photoblogs are designed to show photos. Lots of them. Often. Sadly my photoblog has been through a drought.

BUT THE GOOD NEWS is that I have been taking heaps of photos.  Two weddings on my own and several I’ve shot with Chris Brown of Small Package Films.  He’s a great photographer - very consistent in his output.  Shooting with him is really giving me the opportunity to see things from a different perspective.

So this last month I’ve been processing them as fast as I can. So my June 15th resolution is to try to put up at least 10 new posts over the next 15 days.

So today’s post is a few more from the Gingin wedding of Melissa and Sean. And I’ve got 3 more weddings to blog that are in the processing stage. So here goes.

Melissa has an awesome smile - just completely lights up her face. She must have some inbuilt batteries that never run dry!!! This pic was just moments before she walked down the “aisle”.

And not everyone thinks taking photos is a ball of fun

Nonetheless he was great whenever we asked him to participate. And in the end that’s what really matters.

Do you love great kids photos? I must admit I really enjoy taking pics of young kids as they grow.

Well here’s a new blog to keep an eye on. Nils has launched her blog for Fig Tree Photography this weekend. She’s a young mum with an almost 1 year old bub. And she has a fabulous eye for a photo. Launched her business in North Perth.

Can’t believe how well she is doing. But as I said,… she has a natural eye for a creative pic. Go check out Nil’s blog and link to the rss feature to keep an eye out for some great developments.

Here’s a pic I took of her and bub about 9 months ago - must put up some of her and hubby that I took about 4 or 5 weeks ago. They are a fabulous couple.

Well this guy has been building and repairing his web for some weeks now. Started out just a little garden spider and now has a massive web and huge food storage supply. Rain and wind has not dislodge him.

But today we noticed that he is a she. There are little spiders circulating around her web. No wonder he [she] is about 10 times large now. And we have noticed that there aren’t many mosquitoes and other insects around at the moment. So at my daughters urging I got close with the new 100mm f2.8 macro canon lens. Hand held and as close as I could get without losing focus.

Don’t know if there is a Mr Garden Spider around,… have only seen one.  So I guess the wedding photo is of her on her own!  The Web has to be her Veil maybe…!

Wedding photography is a team game,… a two way street .

It’s not only the photographer’s perceptions and influence but it’s also the expectations and participation of the various people involved. Since doing some second shooting at weddings [where I assist the contracted photographer - Chris Brown ] I’ve spent some time contemplating / analysing / reflecting on my experiences when it comes to shooting the guys in all the weddings I’ve shot.

Hmmm! Often it’s been less than relaxed. Chaotic even. More intent at burning off the nervous energy than getting ready for pics. At the same time you have this photographer who can make the mistake of assuming they would keen to get their faces into a digital image.

What’s the answer? Clarity in pre-planning with the groom and communicating that first up with all the guys. A bunch of guys on a wedding will, if there is no direction, go in all directions at a whim. It’s a team thing. At this wedding I talked to each of the guys as I took their individual photos first up. Told them what the pics were going to be used for.

So guys, this is what I had in mind with those first pics - simple portraits with a purpose. Sure we took heaps more pics of you during the day. But you got into game right from the start. It’s not just about the glamorous girls mostly but not all.

Now here’s a topic to create huge division in Australia,…. just talk about politics and politicians. Everybody has an opinion about politicians in general. And everybody has an opinion about our leaders. Even I have an opinion.  So here goes.

I got to go listen to our Prime Minister at a breakfast in the Grand Ballroom number 2 at Burswood this morning. A few others also came [about 650 others]. I have two impressions to convey. First reflects a personal opinion on public speaking.   Second reflects my response to what I heard.

1.  PM Kevin Rudd is not too bad a speaker,… in terms of political figures in Australia who are all very careful not to veer off the beaten [or written] track. There’s safety in a carefully cultivated creative writing. That’s the way it is nowdays with everyone ready to pounce if a phrase is ever so slightly open to interpretation.  Sadly the loss of eye contact with the audience is a victim of the current climate. Politicians should go listen to some of our contemporary Pentecostal Pastors and learn how to really communicate to the hearts of people.

2.  Nonetheless he spoke with conviction; with a degree of passion and a steely commitment to the long term future of our country. I couldn’t help but continue to gain the impression that not only had we voted for a change of government at the last election, but we had also received a generational change. He might only be about 15 years younger than our previous PM, but he is a generation of difference.

If that was all I got out of this mornings breakfast,… well it would have been sufficient. For me there was a sense of hope, a perception that all will be well in the next few years with Kevin Rudd at the helm. It’s something that I had been feeling since before the election. It’s something that reassures my heart as a father that my daughters’ future in this country remain bright.

But then who really cares what I think. Here’s a pic I took, from the middle of the Grand Ballroom Number 2, of our Honourable Prime Minister this morning.

Go for it Kevin.  Make your own daughters proud of you.  And continue to give my daughters generation hope for the future.

Few weeks ago I posted some pics of a prewedding shoot with this terrific couple.

Well last Sunday they were married in an afternoon outdoor ceremony about 100 kms north of Perth. Great wedding. Fabulous day - though a bit bright outside during the ceremony [that's the photographer in me who likes a pile of fluffy white clouds to help with the lighting!!!] The whole wedding party were a fun group who appeared to really enjoy themselves all through the day. And with all the hard work that went into making the day just right it was really great that the day progressed pretty well without a hitch. A wonderful wedding.

Melissa was so beautiful that Sean just had to shed a tear when came down to join the ceremony. They both wore ivory/cream and the ladies had little black gowns.

One pic for tonight and some more during the week. For those who took part in the “photobooth” we had up, you can see some of them on the Akesson Photo Gallery. You will need a password - Melissa’s surname again. Again there will be more pics up in the various sections over the next week or so.

Now it isn’t very often that I get to take pics of Heather these days. Mostly when we go out for coffee it’s a “no camera” zone,…. that is she wants my attention not my focus and exposure … if you get my drift!

Well last week I got to take a few pics - I’ve been using Nikon digitals for a few years and recently have been loaned a Canon 30D. Well I needed to keep testing it - didn’t I. Tell you what, the 30D is certainly much faster/easier in focus than my current Nikons. But then it’s newer technology too.

And today we when we went for a coffee we went out with the intent of checking out the wireless flash equipment. Now I know I could have done that at home with a stuffed toy or an empty box, but it’s heaps more fun doing it with a real person at the end of the lens.

Thing is I need to give good consideration, at the moment, as to whether I stick with Nikon and buy one of the brand spanking new fantabulous D300 units or do I take the plunge and go over to the DARK SIDE and buy a Canon 40D or even a 5D full frame. It’s an expensive shift. I can get two 40D’s for the price of one D300. Now I know that the D300 is 5 times better than the 40D but will the end results be that much better? That’s a good question. And the price of camera’s suggests get it right before buying.

So here’s one more from last week. We were sitting having coffee outside the London Court Cafe in central Perth. Heaps of fabulous light being reflected from the old bricks and cream painted walls.

For the last 4 years our Kids Church at CCCHH have held an annual Hepburn Heights Super Star event for all the young budding entertainers of primary school age.  Last Sunday morning it was on. And I am truly amazed how talented some of these young kids are.  The odd butterflies to begin with but once they are on they are really into it.  And sometimes the winning talent just seems to come right out of left field.

Two of my favourite pics for today.  The first I felt was one of those really dramatic pics that I didn’t realise was so good til I processed them.  As you can see George the Gorilla was baaaaaaaaaaaaaack! So this one will be my opening pic for the slideshow.

And then the guitarist.  He was really good.  Sang that Linkin Park song,… What I’ve Done.  Tough song for a kid so young; a bit long for him.  Nevertheless I reckon he did a pretty fair job at it.  His guitar work was really great.

Went shopping in the city of Perth with Heather this morning. Wanted to take a few photos to celebrate her birthday [which was on 26th Feb]. Another amazing early autumn day. We must be the most blessed people in the world to live in this city!

Then lo and behold,… she goes strolling off with this rather tall gentleman in a dark brown suit. Managed to get a photo of her as evidence. As you can see she’s step for step with him. Heading right into St Martins Square. What can one do except post a photo

For those that missed it, these 5 ‘gentlemen’ were set in place in 2004 to celebrate Perth’s 175th foundation anniversary.