The world of #Biomass energy…..

To those that know me and my work, most of the time I am photographing things with two to four legs, people and animals are what I specialise in.

This time last year I had a call from a local marketing company after I was recommended to them by a local design company in Thame. ‘I’ve got a bit a of a challenge for you’ said the voice down the phone. ‘What do you know about biomass energy?’

Ironically I had photographed a small biomass boiler in a pub I photographed for the Princes Countryside Fund a few months before. Biomass energy is a very efficient way of heating and many businesses are using it now to heat their premises due to it being cost effective and better on the environment. I had photographed a small boiler in a shed that was heating a small country pub but apart from that my knowledge was limited. Always one to rise to a challenge I accepted this gents offer to meet up for a coffee and discuss the project. Biomass boilers run on small wooden pellets that have to be manufactured and I was asked to photograph everything from the plant in Wales where the pellets are made to a swish BMW showroom and leisure centre in Milton Keynes who use biomass energy to heat their premises.

‘It’s boring stuff’ I was told, ‘you are going to have to be creative’ and ‘I’m thinking black and white’ came with the brief. So dates were put into the diary and off we went to these various locations to photograph the world of biomass!

It was brilliant, I totally enjoyed the whole project. I have always had a design head on my shoulders, wanting to be a product designer before finding photography many years ago. I enjoy the processes involved and the way we start with this and end up with that. I will bore you no more, but biomass can be interesting (he says hesitantly….) To find out more about biomass energy here is a link to follow.

If you are looking for a photographer for any commercial photography projects then please do get in touch, I would be delighted to discuss your ideas you may have.  My client was thrilled with the images and told me if i can make biomass look exciting I can probably make anything look interesting.

Here are a few of my pictures from the biomass days…… Biomass Photographer-IMG_6620BW_001 Biomass Photographer-IMG_6648BW_002 Biomass Photographer-IMG_6689BW_003 Biomass Photographer-IMG_6699BW_004 Biomass Photographer-IMG_6740BW_005 Biomass Photographer-IMG_6769BW_006 Biomass Photographer-IMG_6801_007 Biomass Photographer-IMG_6818_008 Biomass Photographer-IMG_6921_009 Biomass Photographer-IMG_7267_010 Biomass Photographer-IMG_7277_011 Biomass Photographer-IMG_7283_012

Biomass Photography-IMG_3370bw_007 Biomass Photography-IMG_3362bw_006 Biomass Photography-IMG_3294bw_005 Biomass Photography-IMG_3291bw_004 Biomass Photography-IMG_3277bw_003 Biomass Photography-IMG_3244bw_002 Biomass Photography-IMG_3237bw_001This is what I love so much about my profession. The way that one thing leads to another through referral and how one day I can be photographing a beautiful country wedding and another day a mucky old boiler. Variety is the spice of life they say. I think so!

Kick start 2014 off with a new profile pic for #Twitter

With the increasing use of social media in the corporate and business world it is important to keep a fresh looking image of yourself for your professional profiles on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

I photograph many business people from different walks of life from authors to surgeons who want to keep their image up to date. I offer a simple approach to business portraits in the Henley on Thames, Marlow, Oxford and Thames Valley area, I can either come to you at your home or office or we can meet somewhere in the local area for the shoot. The shoot will last half an hour or so and I will capture a variety of relaxed but professional looking portraits from which you can choose your favourites.

With session fees from just £25 why not kick off the New Year with a new look? All images are digitally enhanced to soften lines, remove blemishes if necessary and can be supplied in colour or black and white.

For more examples of my business style photography please visit my website http://www.marklordphotography.co.uk

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It may be stormy but #LOVE is in the air…..

I’ve had several orders placed over the weekend from various shoots and thought I would choose one of these images for my blog post today. It’s from a pre wedding shoot I did in the local countryside near my home last year of a couple who’s wedding is later this year.

I love the composition of this pictures, with the nettles giving some foreground interest, the dramatic sky and of course the lovely expressions on the couple. My portrait shoots or pre wedding shoots are always very relaxed and fun and it’s a great way to get to know each other before the big day. For the bride and groom, it gives them confidence in knowing how they look in front of the camera, and for me I can see if I have any serial blinkers!

Portrait Photography Oxford

To see more of my portrait and wedding photography in Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and beyond please visit http://www.marklordphotography.co.uk

Family Portrait #Photography #Oxfordshire

It may be blowing to gale out there but we do get some beautiful days here in the Spring and Summer – honest! Here are a few family portrait pictures I shot last summer on a gorgeous day, the family owned a farm so it made sense to do the shoot on the farm. Farm yard locations for family portraits are one of my favourite locations as there is plenty to entertain the children and also some lovely backgrounds.

I offer a great family portrait shoot offer from just £25 to £75 depending on location. Why not treat your family to a family portrait voucher this year. All vouchers purchased before the 31st January 2014 will be valid until the end of 2014.

A portrait session is a great way of bringing an extended family together, can be great fun and you will have some pictures to show for it  at the end.

Please call me on 01844 351218 or email me info@marklordphotography.co.uk for more information.

Check out my portrait photography galleries at http://www.marklordphotography.co.uk

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Laura and James’s #wedding @stokeplace

It’s been a while since I have worked at Stoke Place but it’s certainly one of my favourite Buckinghamshire wedding venues and only a stones throw from London. It was a real pleasure to work there again as it’s a great location to have a wedding reception. The grounds are wonderful with established parkland and a lake for the guests to enjoy the reception and pretty splendid for great wedding photography too!

The interior of this Queen Anne Manor House retains all of its old charms and features, updated with handpicked modern designer pieces giving you great backdrops for your wedding photography should the weather turn.

Laura and James’s wedding was great fun with a few moments that still make me chuckle…. Those that were there will know what I mean!

I have just posted a selection of images onto my Facebook page here so Laura and James can have a sneaky peek whilst on their honeymoon.

Here are a few of my favourite images from the day…..

Heritage Harvest – using traditional skills to grow traditional cereal crops – #NCW13

A couple of weeks ago I met John Letts who runs Heritage Harvest in the Buckinghamshire Oxfordshire area. John and his small team help farmers grow heritage cereals for thatching straw and grain and distributes bread and flour through the Oxford Bread Group. The Prince’s Countryside Fund have helped John by giving him a grant to develop his business further. The Fund’s grant has helped to establish a demonstration farm and education centre of heritage wheat varieties in collaboration with a group of 100 thatchers, organic farmers and traditional millers. Their aim is to reduce the UK’s dependence on imported thatching materials while encouraging the development of this traditional skill and providing a valuable diversification opportunity for farmers. 10 school visits have taken place and 2 summer placements for agricultural students completed. The flour is now being used in 4 lines of Astons organic bakery and is available through the Tru Food Group with 350 members.

On a personal note John made me understand the problems we could potentially be facing as a result of global warming and how farmers need to diversify and change their farming methods in our ever changing climate. I was also introduced to some of the earliest forms of wheat including Einkorn which is one of the earliest forms of cultivated wheat dating back to 7500BC. John was very kind and loaded my car with eggs, 4 bags of flour, a sourdough starter and some fresh fruit picked from his allotment. Mrs Lord has since made some delicious sourdough bread using Einkorn and Rye flour.

Keep a look out for Heritage Harvest’s website, John is an excellent supplier of flour to anyone who enjoys baking real bread!

To find out more about the Princes Countryside Fund and how you could help please click here.

In the pictures below John is weeding the borders of the fields with a scythe, he does use motor driven vehicles for sowing and harvesting but enjoys using traditional tools where he can. I was given the opportunity to have a go with the scythe and lets just say I will stick to using a camera!

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West Wycombe house and village from the air! #NCW13

Recently I was asked by EJ Churchill a nearby clay pigeon shooting ground to do some aerial photography of their ground from the air. I was reserved a helicopter with a local helicopter company & the door was removed so I did not have any glass to contend with. I was belted and gaffer taped in and off we went! We were only up for 20 minutes but long enough to get some great shots of EJ Churchill and then a few pictures over the magnificent West Wycombe Park and House.

Only two years ago I had never worked at West Wycombe but I have now photographed several corporate events, schools leavers balls, gun dog events and The Prince’s Countryside Fund charity events there. The house offers England’s finest example of Palladian architecture set amongst Rococo follies and temples in an area of outstanding natural beauty. It is truly a breathtaking place and an amazing venue for weddings!  If you are getting married at West Wycombe house and looking for great wedding photography then please get in touch by clicking here.

Here are a few pictures from the air of the house to whet your appetite for a great Buckinghamshire wedding venue! To find out more about having your wedding reception at West Wycombe house please take a look at their website by clicking here.

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It’s National Countryside Week this week….. #NCW13

This week is National Countryside week and in the last few weeks I have not only been photographing fabulous weddings, lovely people and drooling dogs but I have been busy taking photographs in our glorious countryside. So every day this week I will post a few images of our beautiful green and pleasant land.

 

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Last Saturday, what a day.

Firstly I awoke to lovely weather. The 1st June – ‘Is this the start of Summer’ I asked myself?

On Saturday Sarah (one of my assistants) and I photographed the wedding of Kathryn and David at Christ Church, Henley on Thames and then onto one of my favourite Buckinghamshire wedding venues, the magnificent Hedsor House. When I initially got an enquiry from Kathryn for wedding photography and was told it was a Hedsor House I was thrilled. You only have to look at the Hedsor House website to realise how fabulous it is with all of the awards and accolades awarded within the wedding industry.

“Vogue’s Dream Wedding Venue”
VOGUE
“Wedding Venue of the Year”
The Wedding Industry Awards Shortlist
“UK’s Prettiest Summer Wedding Venue”
Wedding Day Venues
“Top 100 Wedding Venues in the UK”
Brides Magazine 
“No.2. Royal Wedding Venue in the UK”
The Times
“No.1 Top Venue”
TATLER
“No.1 Wedding Venue in Buckinghamshire”
Brides Magazine
“Marie Claire’s Top Wedding Venue”
MARIE CLAIRE
“Top 10 UK Film Locations”
The Telegraph
“Event Venue of the Year”
Eventia Awards
If you have got this far then you may wish to take a closer look at what Hedsor can offer for your wedding day.
Kathryn got ready at Hotel Du Vin in Henley on Thames with her bridesmaids whilst David travelled up to Henley from Winchester on the morning of the big day. The service was a very special occasion at Christ Church, Henley on Thames as the church was very personal to Kathryn’s family. Her parents got married in the church and her grandfather was very involved in the church and even made the weather vane that adorns the church spire!
After a lovely service, the bride and groom went in a beautiful Bentley supplied by Christophers whilst the guests were all taken to the venue by coach.
On arrival at Hedsor House I heard comments such as ‘Its like something from a fairytale’ as the entrance to Hedsor House is so grand, long sweeping driveway, through the beautiful gardens and parkland before passing the highland cattle and finally seeing this magnificent house in front of you. With a beautiful blue sky it really was like something from a fairytale.
Entertainment was provided for the guests in the form of a Dixieland Jazz band playing in front of the house and a very popular Ice cream trike on the terrace provided by Benecci Ice Cream Bikes The beautiful flowers were all supplied by Hot Flowers and Art at nearby Wooburn Green, and the sensationally delicious catering by Caper and Berry.
The whole operation was meticulously organised by Kathryn with the help of Rachael from Serendipity Wedding Planning who did a fantastic job at keeping proceedings going as well as organising some gigantic balloons!
So without further ado here is Kathryn and David’s sneeky peek. I will be working on their images over the next few weeks and hope to show you all some more soon.
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Ohh…. and the dress…… A beautiful Ian Stewart – one of my favourite wedding dress designers.
What a day – hey?

 

Portrait Of Heston Blumenthal

Today I was photographing The Princes Countryside Fund charity clay pigeon shoot at West Wycombe Park, Buckinghamshire. One of the ambassadors of the fund is Heston Blumenthal, a cookery legend.

I asked Heston if I could do a few portraits of him before we went into the house for lunch and he obliged giving me a couple of minutes. I spotted a small archway on the West Wycombe Estate where the light was great and did a few half length pictures of him, then I spotted this magnificent statue and asked him if I could photograph him underneath it. ‘Of course’ came the reply. Here’s the picture!

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I will soon finish the rest of the pictures from today and will post a few on here soon.