Michael Richards Photography

Mars Black @ Ronnies

2010-05-26T06:18:00.000-07:00

Hello all,

One night over the weekend (21st May 2010) With the sun shining i went down to Ronnies Bar, Macclesfield to take some photographs of a great local band called 'Mars Black'

Here's a link to there facebook page....

On the night I began on shooting with my new lens. 50mm f1.8 at a ISO 16000, however as the night went on, the sun began to set so I needed to push my ISO up higher so that I could capture the movement of the band.

I really enjoyed myself Friday night, getting in front on the band, the middle of the crowd and listening to some local talent...

Facebook Page: Mars Black

Really love being infront of great music and love it more if i have my camera in my hand.

So i've posted just some of the images that were taken on the night below.

Over the summer, I hope to expand my live band/events portfolio and try to push myself forward into the music scene as a reportage photographer capable to capturing emotion and excitement within my imagery.

So if your an artist that's looking for imagery on stage, or even a portrait of yourself, then get in touch.

Stay posted for more imagery....

Michael

Fashion Design... Product Photography

2010-05-19T13:38:00.000-07:00

Hello all,

Long time no speak...

I've fallen behind on the weekly blog post, so to show you that i have been shooting and have been keeping myself busy. I aim to post one a day for the next 5days.

I shot some funky clothing, there were designed by Fashion design students at Uclan, Preston. I was asked to travel to Preston and spend the day shooting various items of clothing that the students had created and made for their own project.

The lighting was simple but affective, I used two lights both bounced off walls and the ceiling, this gave me an even light across the clothes.

Sorry not a great deal to read, but some product images for you to see...

Thanks, michaelrichards

Rough Twist Album Launch Night.....

2010-03-24T05:59:00.000-07:00

On the evening of 20th March 2010 a up and coming local band hosted a huge night of music. Rough Twist are one of many bands in the Macclesfield area that have genuine talent and passion to create great music.

Live acts on the night were Christopher Birdsall, The Tensions and Rough Twist, below there are link's to their webpages.

Rough Twist's: Facebook Page, Myspace Page.
The Tension's: Facebook Page, Myspace Page.
Christopher Birdsall, Website

The main aim/idea of the night was for Rough Twist to promote their debut album release and create a larger fan base... this certainly gathered a crowd as people were taking about them weeks before the actual launch night.

This sell out event was being held at Fresh (website) was full, people were even queuing to get in without a ticket.

Here are just a sample of the images that i took over the evening.

First to the stage... Chirstopher Birdsall.

The Tension's.

The crowd gathered at the front and awaited the arrival of Rough Twist.

Thanks for looking, more images from this evening on my Facebook Fan Page: Michael Richards (add me)

The Warehouse....

2010-03-16T09:43:00.000-07:00

Over the next coming months I will be part of a photography team which over each weekend will host a whole day of family portraits.

The Warehouse, Manchester (149 Barton Road, Stretford) will be the venue.

I have been assisting Sandi Hodkinson for many months now, and i can honestly say she is amazing. Taught me so much about photography lighting, equipment, how to speak to models/children and most importantly helping me to set up myself as a photographer in the competitive business.

Sandi is one of the main photographers that's put Warehouse Portraits together, and she has asked me to join the team.

We set up a practice day, to ensure that both studios could work simultaneously....

Me and Sandi shared our family. Sandi took control of the shoot and I was given 20mins at the end.

Here are just some of the images that i'd taken on the day.

I'm very happy with the results and have recently found out that the family has purchased 5 images in total and 2 of them were taken by me...

More portrait updates to come....

Michael

Sneaky Peak At New Site......

2010-03-12T01:15:00.000-08:00

Hello to all my reader's....

If you had tried to get on my webpage you would of seen that it's currently under construction. With plans to set up 2 separate webpages.

www.michaelrichardsphotography.co.uk
Will be for my portraits/music/commercial portfolio.

www.mjrichardsphotography.co.uk
Is being created with the thought of an online shopping gallery for my documentary/landscape/fine art portfolio's.

Above is the homepage layout for michaelrichards site.
(main image subject to change)

Will let you guys know when its running live.....

Sunday Night With "The Tensions"

2010-03-12T00:51:00.000-08:00

Good morning all...

Over the weekend i went down to Ronnies bar, Macclesfield to hear some of the great local talent. I have perviously taken photos of "The Tensions" before last summer at Windystock day festival in 2009.

Now there back and with a whole load of new songs. Check out there myspace page for info and downloads....
Myspace Page: The Tensions

I have posted some of the images from the night below.

More images will be posted on my own facebook fan page.
Click the link below and become a fan.
Facebook Page: Michael Richards Photography

I'm sure you'll be seeing/hearing more of "The Tensions" soon....
I know that I'l be at their next gig when the two man band will be supporting up and coming band "Rough Twist" live at Fresh in Macclesfield on the 21st of March.

If you have a gig/event coming up and would like to hire me to take photographs of yourself and your performance.
Get in touch.... mj.richards@hotmail.com

Michael

Ebony and Lola continued.....

2010-03-10T09:46:00.000-08:00

Earlier in the year I posted one image of Lola Stewart (Baby Portraits). Having found myself taking more child/baby photographs I think that now would be a good time to push this part of my photographic experience.

So thought I would post a couple of the images that the family and I fell in love with and wanted to share with you.

I'm currently filling my spare time with more portrait based work.....
New Site Coming Soon complete with 2010 prices and service's......

Michael

Headshots @ Cheshire's Silk 106.9

2010-03-03T04:53:00.000-08:00

Hello all,

Over the last week I've been busy editing loads of shoots, so keep coming back for new updates/photographs.

On Wednesday 24th February 2010 i was asked to go into Cheshire's Silk 106.9 for the day and take photographs of all the radio presenter's. The main aim of the shoot was to create imagery for each of the profile page's on Silk1069.com.

Posted below is a small selection of imagery from the day.

Dave Chipman

Andy Bailey

Hannah

Andy Clewes

This collection of images, will be posted on the Silk1069's web page in the next few weeks. Homepage: Silk1069.com

I set up a very small mini studio inside the Silk 106.9 building.

Equipment included; 2x SB600 speed lights, 60x60 softbox, Grey backdrop, and the usual camera body plus lens. Nikon D700, 24-120mm f3.5, 50mm 1.8

I'm really happy with the lighting in all my images. Only used 2 speed lights. I recently bought a portable softbox that uses speed lights as the main source of light. So with my new equipment, i created a soft lit main light at placed at a slight angle to bring out shadow and definition in the face. The second light was placed just behind the model and aimed at the background at a small angle. This creates a nice backdrop.

Overall.... Very pleased.

So this is now another area of photography that I'm now available to do.

More headshots to come I think.

Thanks, Michael

School Exhibition...

2010-02-26T09:24:00.000-08:00

Good evening all.

Taking place this weekend, there will be an art event over two days, Saturday and Sunday with a complete range of various art work. Location. 57 City Street, Rochester, Kent.

The reason I'm bringing this up in my own blog is because some of my own work has be selected for an exhibition.

The event has a theme of 'School' as i've not seen the venue or not heard of any other artists that have submitted i don't have anymore information.... Sorry.

6 of my images from the Henbury High School project.

(here's just a couple, more on www.mjrichardsphotography.co.uk)

First Image;
School's Gymnasium.

Second Image;
Math's Corridor.

Both images were taken on my 35mm film, Nikon F90x camera. Not too sure what film i used as these photo's were taken January 2008 at a guess HP5 rated at 400iso.

Over the next couple of months i hope to submit my works to exhibitions in local areas. Mainly Manchester and start getting my work recognised.

Hopefully i will have some images of the exhibition to post up at a later date.

Michael

Baby Portraits...

2010-02-17T10:03:00.000-08:00

Over the last few weeks i've found myself taking photographs of subjects i never thought i'd do.
Whilst at university I very rarely shot portraits and more importantly children/babies.

As i've had more time to play around with my camera i feel that i may try and push my photographic experience with child/portrait/family imagery.

One of my girlfriend's best friends has two beautiful little girls, Ebony (3years old) and Lola (4months)

Below is just one of the images from that in-home photography shoot.

The equipment used for the whole shoot were, Nikon D700, 24-120. f.3,5 lens and only one speed light SB600 on a wireless remote.

I used a small table and soft cushions for the baby to lay on, and had my backdrop as a plain white wall. Bonced the light off the ceiling to create tone and texture.

As you can see its a simple shot that only use's the basic's to create. With plans to carry on with children's portraiture, i have many more ideas and style that will soon be posted on here for all you people to see and hopefully like.

I have all the portable equipment required to create a photographic studio in your own home.

Currently available for portraits, contact for rates/prices.

So get in touch if you (or somebody you know) may like some images of the family, children, babies, pets. etc etc. All can be acomdated for.

Michael...

Virginmary's @ Ronnies Bar.

2010-02-12T13:07:00.000-08:00

Good morning all,

The other night (10th Feburary 2010) I went along to Ronnies Bar, Macclesfield to take some photographs of a great local band called 'The Virginmarys'

Go have a listen to some of there songs on myspace....

Myspace Page: Virginmarys

Below are just some of the many images that were taken.

In the next couple of months I'm hoping to expand my live band/events portfolio and try to push myself forward into the music scene as a reportage photographer capable to capturing emotion and excitement within my imagery.

So if your an artist that's looking for imagery on stage, or even a portrait of yourself, then get in touch.

On the night I began on ISO 3200 and shot on f.2.8 however as the night went I needed to push my ISO up higher so that I could capture the movement of the band

Sorry but don't really know what else to say.....

I really enjoyed myself Thursday night, getting in the middle of the crowd and the band. Love being infront of great music and love it more if i have my camera in my hand.

Stay posted for more imagery....

Michael

1st Attempt At Night/Snow Photography

2010-02-03T05:51:00.000-08:00

Hello all,

After starting this new blog, i thought i needed some new imagery that has never been seen before.

So here you go.

Over the new year we had days and days of heavy snow. So with the long nights followed by short days, i felt that i need to go out when i can, even in the cold and take some photos.

The image i have selected here was shot on my 35mm Nikon F90x with a 50mm f1.4 lens.

The film was Hp5 rated at 100iso, as you can see from the image, there is alot of grain that has shown up on the negative.

This particular tree is located in a small town called Henbury, near Macclesfield. When taking images at night, It's ideal to be away from any obscuring street lights and car head lights so this area was a perfect location.

I am very happy with the results, Let me know your thoughts?

Michael.

1st Ever Blog !!!

2010-02-03T04:52:00.001-08:00

Hello all, this is my first blog post.

So i apologise you think if its abit weak and pointless but hopefully you'll keep coming back to see my most recent photographic work and news.

For people that have never seen, or heard of me. I'm a recent graduate of Photography and over the last 6months i have pushed my own practice by branching out into other areas of photography aswell as assisting portrait, fashion and commerical photographers.

A little about my own photographic work.

I consider myself as a documentary photography that use's the tradional methods to record a time and place.

http:/www.mjrichardsphotography.co.uk

Above is a link to my running webpage, on there you'll see some of my personal projects over the last couple of years.

New Project/Work.

Having assisted various portrait, fashion, wedding, commerical photographers, i seem to be inspired to start taking photographs of people.

With this new inspiration i am currently looking for models for TFP/CD (Time for Prints/CD) to work with to help me gain much needed experience and hopefully give my portfolio another side to work with.

If your interested in having some photographs done, i would be very happy to arrange a shoot.

Im happy to shoot; Model Test's, Headshots, Portraits, Baby/Child Portraits, Fashion, etc etc...

Please get in touch if interested.

Back to my documentary work....

With plans to start numerous projects, in Macclesfield, Stcokport and mainly Manchester. So watch this space....

I hope to be posting a new blog/images at least once or twice every 2weeks.

Any questions?? Please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Thanks for reading.

Regards,

Michael Joseph Richards