www.richardbudd.co.uk

Working with Dan (Blackacre Farm Eggs) and Russell (Chef Russell Brown) on some promotional stills and a short film – hope you enjoy them.

More at http://www.blackacrefarmeggs.com and http://www.chefrussellbrown.co.uk

Somerset based free-range egg producer, Blackacre Farm, has teamed up with Dorset’s only Michelin Starred Chef, Russell Brown. Based at Sienna in Dorchester, which is the smallest Starred restaurant in the Michelin Guide, Russell has endorsed Blackacre Farm and will be working closely with the team during 2012 to help raise the profile of its award-winning free-range eggs.

“We are absolutely delighted to be working with Russell and are incredibly proud that he has chosen Blackacre,” said Dan Wood from Blackacre Farm. “Over the next 12 months Russell will be spending time with us on the farm and will be creating a range of recipes using our free-range eggs to help show off their incredible versatility. These will be available on our website and will also be demonstrated by Russell at selected food shows and events throughout the year,” continued Dan.

Blackacre Farm has been run by the Wood family for over 30 years and has long been known for its consistently delicious eggs, which were the first to be awarded a Gold One Star in the internationally acclaimed Great Taste Awards.

Chef Russell Brown commented: “In essence my cooking is very straightforward, therefore I rely heavily on my choice of ingredients. Blackacre eggs are high quality, consistent, fresh and 100% free-range with the added bonus of being produced in the South West. This is exactly the type of product that meets all my requirements.”

Russell’s recipes will be found on Blackacre Farm’s newly revamped website, at www.blackacrefarmeggs.com. Dan Wood from Blackacre and Russell Brown will also be producing some filmed recipes and will be working together to promote news of the partnership, shows attended and new recipe launches online through twitter and facebook.

I’ve photographed quite a lot of weddings but this was a first – a bride in water. OK so it wasn’t her wedding day and Charlotte kindly spent most of it in cold water (thank you Charlotte) but it certainly produced some lovely results.

I love sailing – I spent many wednesday afternoons (sports day) in Weymouth harbour as a youngster wondering why my mates were playing football instead. I’ve since forgotten the cold damp bus trips home of course.

The Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy called to ask me to help with publicity for their upcoming wedding fayre. So along with hair and makeup artist www.SianStone.co.uk I set off for the Academy where they built a temporary pool for me – I’m not sure if they thought I was mad to ask but they did a great job and a massive thanks to the staff behind the scenes.

Many thanks to Oxfam Bridal (Poole, Dorset) for a fantastic dress, and above all Claudia for letting us get involved.

The Bridal Fayre is on the Monday 9th April 2012 – so put this in your diary and see you there, as Richard Budd Wedding Photography will also be exhibiting there on the day. Don’t forget to come and say hello at our stand.  For more information go to http://www.wpnsa.org.uk/functions-and-seminars/weddings-functions/

On a mild evening in November I set to work shooting stills of magician Paul Hyland during his show at Bridport Arts Centre – and what a show, I’m gobsmacked!

As a photographer I spend all my time using my eyes to prove things are happening . It’s quite confusing photographing a magician at work! Cards are doing strange things, a cord cuts through metal…concentrating on the shots I start to feel like I’m going a bit mad. (I heard that!)

The show also includes poetry and it’s really very surprising and entertaining. It’s really worth catching Paul when you can. Check out his website http://www.magician.org/member/paulhyland 

Here is a selection of images from the shoot, Paul was pleased, his comments are below….

“It’s a creative pleasure to work with Richard Budd. He puts me at my ease, enables me to relax and feel natural in front of the camera. He never imposes things on me, but comes up with visual ideas I haven’t thought of, creating shots of real quality that convey the spirit of my magical performance.” Paul Hyland, author and magician.
http://www.magician.org/member/paulhyland

It was great to spend some time with BBC Inside Out’s Jon Cuthill discussing his photographic needs and working on a set of images for his personal website.

Like most things when I shoot portraits like this I have my own favourites but I like to produce a set of different images to give the client a choice. I don’t tell them which ones I like best! I have to say Jon’s experience in front of the TV cameras was a big advantage, he confidently nailed it with this set of stills. He’s great fun and a joy to work with.  Find out more about Jon Cuthill here  - http://www.joncuthill.com

Back in the summer I was shooting a black tie event in the Royal Bath hotel, Bournemouth when I was just packing away my kit and met Katie. I had the pleasure of hearing Katie Francesca and Kev Stockley playing in the hotel and asked if it was ok to shoot some stills as they performed. I shot a set of images using a blue strobe as a backlight and soft key-light as a fill. Here is the link to those images I blogged about then http://www.richardbudd.co.uk/blog/?p=1389

 Well we have just shot a set of images for Katie’s new website www.katiefrancesca.co.uk working in the Bartley Lodge Hotel in the New Forest which has just been refurbished. Many thanks to the staff who kindly looked after us during the shoot and allowed us to use the venue to create these images.

More info:More about Bartley Lodge http://www.newforesthotels.co.uk/hotels/bartley-lodge-hotel-cadnam/

Back from another sunny day out with the Live‘n’Deadly crew from BBC Learning. Shooting all those wiggly animals!

Yes, I am over the snake problem, thanks to  Steve Backshall and Mark Amey. Although, when I get back from shooting this event I do unpack my camera back very carefully thinking every cable and clip is a creepy insect, bug, snake or wiggly thing!  Especially after spending time with Pete (the bug man) and Jess who seems to always make me jump with fright every time she opens a Tupperware box! 

Special thanks to Marie, Naomi Wilkinson and James McKay, Jo and Michelle in the Doodle Tent – and of course Colin Brady for driving and keeping me awake en-route.  Getting some lovely feedback from the crew too – which makes it all worthwhile.

 

Getting some lovely feedback from the crew too…

“This weekend we were lucky to have a fantastic photographer at the event who has made a great presentation showcasing the best of the event – including the team of course!”
Melanie Fryer | BBC Learning | Assistant Producer | Live’n'Deadly

“Thanks a million, the pictures are fab!”
Marie BBC Learning

It’s always a pleasure shooting food photography for Chef Russell Brown – nothing like a great natter and catch up over a double espresso with my good friend. Today’s project was to shoot a recipe Russell has written for a wine supplement in The Times – the idea is this is a “comfort food special you could cook at home”.

I got to work styling the shot with some wooden boards, brown parcel paper and plastic flowers. Adding to the scene with a nice glass of chilled white, and a bottle.

More about Russell Brown here or to book a table at the restaurant.

The techie bit:

Using a couple of wireless strobes – I opted for a nice large backlight (softbox) then ran a rake of golden light (CTO gelled strobe with grid) across the flowers to give that morning sunshine feel. A great way to warm the image, echoing the wild mushroom colours.

Hope you enjoy the images just as much as I enjoyed eating the pasta once we had finished the shoot.

Special thanks to Chef Russell Brown for a great shoot and wonderful food – once again top of his tree!

What a day that was! Today’s shoot was on location at Simon’s Delicatessen (Dorchester, Dorset). Shooting stills for nicer designs

Christian Flux the chief designer at nicer designs came up with the idea of collecting people’s thoughts on coffee experiences. What better way to do this than surrounding yourself in coffee (Origin coffee of course).

Coffees were poured and then ideas collected – and photographs taken. Simon’s Deli is a lovely location, shelves of packets and jars and the smell of freshly brewed coffee! Those happy “origin” coffee drinkers posed away for me and what a lovely bunch they were. As a thank you all the models I have made a set of prints for you.

I am using the same rules I use when returning to the Sudan with 6x4inch prints. I normally say to people I’ve photographed “if you are IN the photograph then you can take THAT print – it’s yours.” So people what are you waiting for – if you were fortunate enough to be at Simon’s Deli during the event and modelled your print awaits you!

Go, go, go………….. a little thank you from me. To find out more about how Christian got on visit http://nicerdesigns.co.uk/

For more on Simon’s Deli go to http://www.simonsdeli.co.uk

And for the coffee http://www.origincoffee.co.uk/

The techie bit:
A solid setup using the Elinchrom Quadra ranger, a beauty dish with honeycomb grid for the key light. A touch of side light from camera left from the window natural light. The dish was set to the B socket for minimum power to achieve a wide aperture in order to get that shallow depth of field “showbiz portrait” look. The post production achieved in Lightroom. Happy days.

Been a day when it ALL happens.

Here’s some latest tearsheets.

RB