I've decided to move my blog back to Typepad. This one will still exist, but from now on I'll be posting at http://jeffascough.typepad.com so please update your newsfeeds as appropriate.

The reason for the move has been brought on by a need that I have to regulate comments on the blog. For some reason I seem to attract the occasional muppet and weirdo who thinks it is in some way amusing to leave offensive comments on my blog, and to do this anonymously. What's even more worrying is that these people are obviously photographers, and god help anyone who commissions these people for photography. I suspect jealousy plays an enormous part in these people's lives. It's sad. It really is.  

I remember discussing this point with my good friend Marcus Bell last year. He was setting up his terrific blog, and asked me what I thought of allowing comments. At the time I advised him to not allow comments as he would be constantly policing them, as pretty much every top photographer has to do. His blog, like mine, was never designed to be a sounding board for other photographers, or a forum, or anything else for that matter. For me it is simply a way of showing my latest work and getting some of my thoughts out into the big wide world.

The Typepad system is pretty good, and it's set up to not allow comments, or at least they will be held in a queue until I can verify them, and the commentators IP address has been recorded.

So there you go....see you all over on the Typepad blog!!

 

As it's been a while since I last posted some wedding images, I thought I'd post some of my favourite pictures from my last four weddings.

All the images were taken on the Canon 5DMKII, and processed with my 'Ascough Silver Actions' (available from the end of June).

 

 

It's a funny thing - 'inspiration'. Photographers talk about it all the time. I suppose being involved in the visual arts, we take 'inspiration' from all sorts of visual media. Photographs, movies, music videos, paintings etc. Or do we?

If I'm honest, movies don't really interest me in the way they do other photographers. I like to watch films that entertain me. I'm a sucker for post apocalyptic, sci-fi films. I watched 'Doomsday' last night starring Craig Conway as the blood thirsty leader of a tribe of cannibalistic punks. The film was 'Mad Max' meets 'Escape from New York'. To me it was highly entertaining, especially as I shot Craig's wedding a couple of years ago, and he's such a lovely person - so far removed from his character in this film!! I like to switch off and be entertained when watching films. 'Terminator - Salvation' will be high on my list of 'must see' films this summer, but I can't really see me utilising metal skeletons with red eyes on my next wedding ;-) So do I get influenced from movies? Not that I'm aware of.

Music videos. Now there's something I am genuinely interested in. Although my music taste tends to lean towards 'indie' music, and the thought of seeing Doves in concert in a couple of weeks has me really excited, as does the prospect of seeing the incredible Kasabian along with Oasis next week. However,  I'm not really sure how watching the video to 'Empire' really inspires me when taking wedding pictures - although I'm pretty sure it will be on my playlist in my car on the way to Saturday's wedding.

Art galleries and paintings. I think I enjoy looking at paintings, but I don't have any in my house apart from abstracts. I suppose painting is too formal for me. By it's nature it's a static medium, and this isn't really something that gets me too excited. I reckon if I were a portrait photographer, then paintings would be of real interest to me.

No - my inspiration has always come from photography. I feel photography, and in particular photojournalism and documentary photography, has a power that simply isn't there in other visual mediums. I must confess though, that I often ignore the content of the image and look at the composition and lighting. I bought the James Nachtwey book 'Inferno' a few years ago, and after showing it to my Dad, he was perplexed as to why I had such a book. The images are often disturbing, in some cases horrific, and yet I see a beauty in the lines and composition that run through Nachtwey's work. It's the same with Eugene Richard's 'Cocaine Blue'. Disturbing images, and yet I'm in awe of Richard's use of wide angle lenses. Alex Webb's 'Instanbul' is another favourite of mine. Webb's composition tends to utilise a componant in the image that splits the picture into two - maybe a wall, a pain of glass, a lampost. His images could be two pictures in one frame. Utterly brilliant.

When I look back at my images, I can see 'influences' from these photographers in my wedding work. They are certainly subconcious, as I never go out to take a 'Nachtwey' image on a wedding day. But they are there. I suppose it's years of being immersed in documentary photography. Even my landscape work has more in common with Don McCullin than any mainstream landscape photographer.

One of the things I get asked to do a lot, is look at other wedding photographer's work. But if I'm truly honest, looking at wedding photography doesn't really interest me. It never has done. The trouble with wedding photography is that it's driven by fad and fashion, and that isn't really me. I've only ever wanted to pursue my own style of photography - to develop a 'look' to my images that is mine. Over fifteen years I've been shooting with this mindset. I've been refining my style, and improving my images constantly and each year my goal is to change my images on my website with better images.

Even when it comes to post production and printing, my documentary influences still come to the fore. Early on in my career I was immersed in the work of Ansel Adams, and in particular his ideas on the Zone System. With digital I've been able to incorporate some of his Zone System ideas into my work, but more importantly I've taken on board his ideas on getting the very best out of black and white images. But perhaps a bigger influence was the look of the images from Sebastiao Salgado and W. Eugene Smith. Smith was a master in the darkroom, and his ideas on accentuating the main subject within an image still resonated with me today as I worked on Saturday's wedding pictures...which were inspired in some way by all of those great photographers.

 

For some reason, I've had a spate of emails from photographers asking me about the equipment that I shoot with. I think it was the great Elliott Erwitt that refused to discuss equipment with people that asked, simply because he believed that it was largely irrelevent to the images he was making. I kind of feel the same way in that I don't believe that using the same camera/lens as another photographer suddenly gives you that photographer's eye.

I remember buying a blue Fender Telecaster back in my late teens thinking it would turn me into Andy Summers. I loved The Police, and since Andy's favourite guitar was a Fender Tele, I had to have one. I saved up for the guitar, went to the shop, played it and bought it. I was in heaven. But did that guitar turn me into one of contemporary music's greatest guitarists? Nope. I was still the same teenager playing just as badly, but on a nicer guitar :-)

These days I know the limits of my skills with the electric guitar, and I also know that the actual instrument is possibly the least important part of what makes a guitarist great. It's the same with photography. Great photographers have an innate ability to see and understand what works visually, and a sense of timing and rhythm that allows them to capture the decisive moment. Cartier-Bresson used to insist on seeing contact sheets from aspiring photographers at Magnum. He wanted to see if the photographer's work had a 'rhythm' to it. This was important to him. Not the camera, or the lens, but the photographer's eye and the visual processes that he employed in capturing a subject.

So, you might have guessed I'm not really into this whole 'equipment worship' thing. A camera is a tool to take an image. I've shot weddings on everything from 30 year old Hasselblads, through very early Canon cameras, Leicas, and high end DSLR's from Canon and Nikon. I like to shoot my personal stuff on a Canon point and shoot, and I've won awards with images that were shot on nothing more than a mobile phone. I would like to think that I could turn up to a wedding and get decent images on pretty much anything that I was given to shoot with (within reason). The camera doesn't make the photographer, but obviously a great camera can make it easier for a photographer to take pictures, and these days the cameras we have available to us are just amazing. There really aren't any excuses when it comes to the mechanics of the picture taking process.

On a side note, I had a comment from one anonymous photographer (why is it that photographers that like to criticise never leave their real names and email addresses?) who stated that my work was better when I shot with Leica cameras. The interesting thing for me is that there are five Leica images in my website portfolio. I'd challenge him to tell me which ones they are.

Anyway since so many people are asking about the equipment...

I prefer to travel light when shooting a wedding. I'm constantly amazed at the sheer quantity of equipment that photographers take to a wedding. I often wonder how they can work for 8-10 hours, and stay reasonably fresh with so much kit on board. Magnum photographer Steve McCurry said pretty much the same thing when asked why he shot with smaller, lighter prosumer grade cameras and a couple of lenses. I also think that the less I look like a photographer, the less intrusive I will appear on the day.

Currently I utilise two Canon 5DMKII camera bodies and three Canon prime lenses - 24 f1.4LII, 35 f1.4L, 50 f1.2L. I also have the available 85 f1.2LII just for the speeches if I can't get close enough to the subject.

The 5DMKII's are fitted with EG-S focusing screens, and I currently use manual focus for a great many of the images I make. People will probably be scratching their heads over this, but by utilising manual focus, I'm able to slow the picture taking process down, and this in turn forces me to think about the image in greater detail. I believe this process of slowing down is fundamental to my success as a wedding photographer. Chatting with George Weir last week, he utilises other methods within his M.O. to slow himself down when shooting. It's so easy to let the camera do the work, and blast away without thinking about the image. I was brought up on manual focus, and was shooting photojournalism on a 20 year old Hasselblad 500CM, manually focusing and metering, some 15 years ago. The EG-S screens have given me a choice which wasn't available to DSLR users previously, and I'm enjoying my time with them immensely.

In my opinion the Canon 5DMKII is currently the best DSLR on the market for my style of photography at this moment in time. Its size is perfect for my small hands, it handles like a dream, and the quality of the files especially at high iso is quite extraordinary. It wasn't so long ago that I used to shoot weddings with film speeds no higher than 320 iso. These days I can attain higher quality at speeds approaching four stops faster than in previous years. Yes I could use vastly more complex and expensive cameras, but the 5DMKII works for me and the way I like to shoot.

Fast prime lenses are preferred as I don't like to use flash. I find it to be incredibly intrusive, and it restricts the amount of freedom I have just to observe. I use shorter focal lengths as I like to place the subject in context with the environment and narrative. I find longer focal lengths tend to isolate the subject too much for my taste. Robert Capa's famous quote is ingrained in my soul when it comes to my work "If your pictures aren't good enough, you're not close enough."

I don't work with an assistant unless there is a substantial amount of driving involved. I find that working alone allows me a greater access to the wedding day, and presents me with more opportunities to get better images. I also do all my own post processing, as I feel that it's important that the image I pre-visualised prior to pressing the shutter, is the same image my clients receive. I don't want to have anyone else interpret that image for me.

So there you go. There are no big cameras. No big lenses. No big camera bags containing tons of equipment. Two small bodies, three small lenses, and my eye for a picture. What else do I need ;-)

 

I'm really excited to announce that I will be doing a full day seminar with one of my favourite wedding photographers and good friend George Weir.  The seminar will take place on Sunday 19th July in Manchester (details still being finalised) and promises to be something very special.

George is originally from Scotland, but resides in the States. In my humble opinion, he is one of the best wedding photojournalists in the world today. His style of journalism is more art based than most, and his images have a timeless quality that I've never seen in any other wedding photographer's work.

Unlike a lot of seminars, we will be concentrating purely on the photojournalistic aspect of wedding photography - influences, shooting, attitudes, workflow and presentation. Above all you will get a unique insight into the thoughts and philosophies of two of the world's best exponants of the photojournalistic style of wedding photography.

Demand for the limited number of places is going to be high, so if you wish to get in before the main advertising goes out, you can pre-register by email at jeffascough@mac.com Those that pre-register will be able to book two days earlier than everyone else.

 

Traditionally, May signifies the start of the main wedding season. From now until October most of my time will be taken up with all things wedding. However, I'll still be shooting my personal work, as this is becoming such a big part of my photographic life.

Here is a trio of images taken last week on the estuary. The camera used was the Canon G10 which has become my main camera for my personal work.

 

 

First of all, I'd like to thank all of the delegates that attended my Digital Workflow seminar this week. It was a privilege to speak to you all, and the many positive emails that I've received from you are greatly appreciated.

I enjoyed the two days immensely, and I'm already putting together another seminar for the North of England to take place in July/August. This promises to be something very special. Watch this space for more news as it becomes available.

During the seminar I was made aware of a company called The Trained Eye, who evidently train photographers to photograph weddings. One of the delegates at my seminar made me aware that they had used a picture of mine at the SWPP convention in January to promote their business.

I'd just like to make clear that this organisation did not have my permission, or the permission of my clients to use any image of mine. I have no relationship with The Trained Eye, nor do I endorse what they do.

 

All the images were shot on the amazing Canon G10, and processed using my Ascough Silver Actions.

 

I'm still amazed at how great this little camera is. It's the best carry around camera I've ever used. Here are some recent images taken a five minute walk from my front door.

Bookings opened today for people that pre-registered with me. As it stands, 50% of the places have gone in just over 12 hours. 

For people thinking about making the trip to Watford; on both days the seminar starts at 10.00, with registration and coffee from 09.30. The seminar will finish at 17.00.

The Watford Hilton has a special room rate for delegates wishing to stay overnight. A single room is £65 b&b, and a double/twin is £75 b&b. Just ask for the 'Jeff Ascough Seminar' room rate when booking.

Big Folio have an interview with me on their blog

I love this company. Our complete online presence is completely taken care of by Big Folio. Our websites, blogs and now our new online cart solution are all from Big Folio. Great company, and it was a pleasure to do the interview with them.

Details about my forthcoming digital workflow/Photoshop seminar are now available online.

www.jeffascoughseminars.co.uk

Booking opens on 2nd April to those that have registered their interest in attending. They will get first refusal on the limited places that are available. If there are any places remaining, these will become available on the 4th April.

It promises to be a great couple of days, and just in time for the start of the new wedding season. What I'm particularly excited about is that there hasn't been a decent Photoshop/Digital seminar available in the UK specifically aimed at wedding photographers, and taught by a practicing wedding photographer.

 

Client comments are so nice to receive. Here are a couple from this week;

"Hi Jeff,
 
I’ve just got back to work and seen the beautiful wedding album .
It is hard to express how chuffed I am with it but it is just so stunning!!
 
I can’t wait to show it to Rob tonight. I’m sure both him and our families will be as delighted to see it.
 
Thank you so much again!"

Sanaz Mehdipour

 

________________________________________________________________________

 

"Tom & I just wanted to say thank you for the stunning images of our wedding day.  Our album arrived yesterday and we loved sitting down and going through the whole day all again.  As much a fan as we are of online images (they make life so much easier) we still appreciate having something tangible to hold and look at and we can't wait to have our parents over to have a look too.  We're so pleased with our pictures, they capture the emotion of the day just perfectly and mean so much more to us than the standard posed shots that wedding photography often offers.  So many of our family and friends have waxed lyrical about them being the best wedding pix they've seen and that they got just as much enjoyment out of re-living the day as Tom & I did and that means so much to both of us.

Many many thanks."

Helen & Tom Williams.

Here are my favourite images from my Valentine's Day wedding at Castle Ashby.

Over the past twenty years I've shot in excess of 1000 weddings, and yet I can count on one hand the number of weddings I've covered where there has been snow present. In this case the snow was lingering after the severe weather conditions that took place a few days earlier. So I got the best of both worlds; lovely Winter images without the hassle of traveling in bad weather.

 

 

First of all, a big thank you to everyone that has expressed an interest in attending my Photoshop and workflow seminar. I have been literally swamped with people asking for details. So much so, that it has been impossible for me to email everyone back!

We do have some details for you all, and a website with booking information and further details will be available in a week or so.

The seminar we have confirmed is on Sunday 26th and Monday 27th April. It will take place at the Hilton Hotel in Watford. The seminar is broken down into two days. Delegates can either attend both days or just one; however those that attend both days will receive my new set of Actions worth £70.

Booking will be open to everyone on the 3rd April; but for those that have registered an interest with me, there will be a pre-sale available on the 1st and 2nd April, so that you can ensure you get a place.

We also have arranged a fantastic room rate if people wish to stay overnight at the Hilton.

 

DAY ONE

Sunday 26th Aprii

This day is designed for those that are new to digital wedding photography; and those that need some help with their workflow. It also serves as a refresher course for photographers that are more experienced with Photoshop.

- Digital workflow for wedding photographers. Looking at capture; colour space; RAW processing; basic RAW enhancement; output. Getting you up to speed quickly and effectively with working with wedding images and RAW.

-  Using basic Photoshop skills to enhance your images. Making actions; taking the mystery out of curves and levels; black and white conversion techniques; basic retouching and image enhancement; colour correction.

- Output options for blogs, online galleries and printing. Optimising your images for blogs, websites and prints.

 

DAY TWO

Monday 27th April

This day has been designed to follow on from Day One's content, but will cover more advanced techniques.

- Advanced RAW correction techniques.

- Black and white processing. Learn how I convert and manipulate my images to get my signature look.

- Advanced image enhancement. - how to turn a good image into a great image. How I approach my images, what I look for, and how I enhance the images. Advanced use of curves, levels, layers, and masks. Advanced colour correction.

- Retouching techniques. How to make sure your brides will love you!! Advanced retouching of skin tones; bringing detail out in the environment; getting rid of distracting elements within an image.

 

The cost of each day will be £140 + vat. This includes a decent lunch, coffee, pastries and refreshments throughout the day.

Those that book both days at £280 + vat will receive a copy of my new Ascough 'Silver' Action set, due to be released on April 2nd, and priced at £70.

With the wedding season just about to start, the seminar is perfectly placed to help you spend less time in front of the computer, and more time doing more productive things. You will get a unique insight into my personal style of workflow and processing images. Above all, this seminar is designed purely for wedding photographers, and is being taught by a wedding photographer!! Something that seems to be quite a rarity these days ;-)