Goodbye 2009 - Hello 2010!!!!

Happy New Year everyone. I hope it brings you everything you wish for.

I've been having a look through some of the photos I shot last year. In common with most photographers I like to get out and about with my camera and shoot some personal stuff when I'm off duty. In 2009 I managed to shoot over 3500 images just for the sheer  pleasure of it.  Here are some of my favourites, not necessarily because they are amazing images, mostly  just because they bring back nice memories.  Hope you enjoy them.

 Photographer's Favourites

This was taken on a weekend away in the peak District. Poor Bob, I nearly walked his legs off while we were here.

Love, love love this image. It's like it's raining sunshine.  The effect was created by using my lensbaby. That's 'my lensbaby' - not 'my lens, baby.'  What do you think?  It's not a lens you'll see me using at weddings as the results are completely unpredictable - and that's why I love it.

Fairies, dragons, princesses and knights at Hoghton Tower during the summer. These little princesses are our grand daughters.

I think this one was hiding from the dragons!

Aaah, spring time.  In the woods on my hands and knees, covered in mud,  and looking for bluebells.  Found some!!  Odd? Me? What do you mean?

This was taken in the grounds of Chatsworth House. Bob and me went to a friends 'posh do' in Sheffield and decided to make the weekend of it.  Good times.

During the summer I joined a walking group. The Wednesday night 2 hour walk was always a bit of a challenge. Not so much a walk as a slow ish jog.  Some of the views were spectacular.

This exotic sunset was taken from - our front drive!   I was thrilled when this image was used for the cover of a glossy magazine.

Norway

In May Bob and me went to Norway for a weeks holiday. One day he'll get to go somewhere warm, sunny and touristy (or  possibly not).   I can honestly say we have never been soaked through and freezing cold so many times in one week - and we loved every minute of it. Norway is magical, you can point your camera in any direction and get a decent picture  - ahem. What I mean is that with my vastly superior camera skills and expert eye I got some nice images. (Phew, think I got away with that!)

 I didn't think you'd want to see all 650 of my shortlist so here are a few of my absolute  favourites.   If you enjoy looking at other people's holiday snaps then there are loads more of the Norway images on Flickr

This little chap made me smile, not so scary as trolls go but very, very cute.

This cross was in the grounds of a very beautiful and old church in Olden.

Briksdal Glacier

Bob was convinced I was trying to kill him, he's not used to heavy duty walking, especially in the pouring rain. It was worth the trek, the glacier, and this is only a tiny bit of it was awe inspiring. To give you an idea of the scale - can you see the teeny tiny little twelve person dinghy to the left of the glacier, near the rock face?

We saw a lot of street art while we were there, some of it was really interesting - some of it I daren't show you!!!!

This is what a waterfront village looks like from the top of a very tall ship if you use a fish eye lens.

These last two images are of the fjord as we sailed into Olden.  Can you hear Grieg's, 'The death of Aase'  playing gently in the background? Seriously though, it was very moving, I'd go again in a heartbeat.

  Meet The family

In common with most mothers I wanted a family portrait of my rapidly expanding family.   I wanted something that reflected our personalities so there was no way we'd be sitting all neat and posed for more than a nanosecond.  This was my favourite out of them all.

"Hang on' I can hear you thinking, 'how did you manage to take the picture if you're in it?'

Good question.

I asked my very good friend Sheila if she'd do the honours.

Didn't she do well?

So there it is, my 2009 round up. Hope you enjoyed it.

Merry Christmas to one and all

Bob and me would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas

and

a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year

Now it's time to play in the snow!!!!! YIPPPEEE!!!!

 (sings) Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock...........

In search of Narnia

icy, originally uploaded by lesley v.

To celebrate the snow that has landed just in time for Christmas I thought I'd share this picture with you from last year.

Christmas Buddies

Ove the years Bob and me have amassed many a Christmas decoration. I usually pick something up from any holidays and I seem to be totally incapable of walking past a Christmas shop without going in to it, no matter what time of year it is. Of course I still have all the ones the kids made when they were little all of which bring back lovely memories.


Of all our I'd have to say that these little chaps are my absolute favourites, my Christmas buddies.  We saw them while we were on a weekend away in the Peak District a couple of years ago and I instantly fell in love with them.  I can't look at them without smiling - and that can only be a good thing, eh?

cheers

cheers, originally uploaded by lesley v.

The Christmas season is well and truly here. Yay!!!!

Over the last few weeks I've been steadily working my way through the small mountain of reprint orders and albums so that you'll have them in time for Christmas and now I'm off to put my feet up, eat a mince pie (or two) and wait for Father Christmas to arrive.

This image is one from last Christmas. Now the Christmas spirit is upon me I'll shooting some more festive images for you to enjoy very soon.


DEEEEECK THE HALLS WITH BOUGHS OF HOLLEEEEEEE...............

icy

Playtime in the studio today. Here is my version of the ice princess. What do you think?

She looks a bit frosty to me. Teeheehee.

Nik & Nicola

Nik and Nicola took delivery of their wedding album  this weekend.  Here are a few of my favourite pages. Enjoy.

Maisie

Little Maisie came to see me last week. 




Maisie definitely wins the prize for being the hungriest baby of the year, we had to stop every five minutes to feed her - obviously a girl after my own heart!  Keep me fed and I'm a happy bunny.

Is it just me or is everyone trimming up for Christmas really early this year?  Maybe everyone needs cheering up because of the recession. Whatever the reason is, I like it. 


Christmas is one of my favourite times of year and I love to see all the houses decorated, cheers up a drab winter no end!


The Christmas fever has obviously got me because I was out in the barn this morning resurrecting all the decorations and having a good old sort through them while I decided what colour this years tree was going to be. Not that I have a lot of decorations or anything (cough cough).  I've decided that this year it will be lime green and red.  Yummy.


Now I need to resist the urge to start trimming up - we have a lot of birthdays in our family in December and if we aren't careful they can get lost in the Christmas rush.  Well, I might just put a few little trinkets here and there. Ooh, I might just put up my Christmas elephants to get me in the mood. 


(sings) Deck the halls with boughs of holly........................




I'm in the mood for Christmas!!!!    Bring it on.

Little Angels

Now that her  Mum and Dad have seen the photos I can show you a few more from my photo shoot with baby Charlotte.  What a character!

You are funny, Dad.

Christmas is coming!!!

All I need now is a puddle.

I loved her little wellie boots, and as she spends most of her time in them it made sense to include them in the photos. It's nice to include things that signify  the character or lifestyle of the person in the photo. Loads better than the very formal photos my Mum had done of us as kids.

I remember me and my younger brother standing and squirming while this bossy old chap told us to keep still and smile nicely.  Have you ever tried to 'smile nicely' when someone's told you to? It looks like you're gurning! The pictures would have been much more in keeping with our personalities if we'd  been covered in mud, grazed knees and hair stuck up all over the place like we'd been dragged through a bush backwards.  Now I'm an adult, I still usually look like that, dagnabbit! Can't imagine why my Mum wouldn't have wanted pictures of us like it!!