Screen Icon & Secret Crush

More years ago than I care to remember, or confess to, I fell in love (or was it lust!) with that wonderful French actress with the soft seductive accent, Leslie Caron. She made hearts flutter, mine included, in 'American in Paris', 'Gigi', and more recently 'Chocolat'. As far as female screen icons go she is up there with the best. Well, at the Cheltenham Literary Festival this year, I had the greatest of pleasure to snatch a few quick images of her as she rushed to get ready to promote her autobiography. I was there as an accredited photographer and was promised time to meet her, but unfortunately she arrived far too late due to travel problems and had to rush into her dressing room. The pics I took were more snatched than I wanted, but she was a star to the end and ensured I got what I wanted. One of the greatest of pleasures of what I do is meeting people I have long admired, and I was not disappointed!

BLATANT RIP-OFF?

I have been looking at noise reduction software, and basically there are two products on the market, namely Noise Ninja and Dfine from Nik Software. I opted for Dfine because it is slightly easier to use, and I use other Nik Software products BUT HERE IS THE CATCH. If I could buy the download in the USA it would cost me $79.00 which is just below £50.00. Because I live in Europe I have to buy from Germany, and it is €119 which is around £107.00. We are talking about exactly the same product which is downloaded from the same place - I am not talking about hard copy, but a computer download. I have contacted the company by telephone, but they can offer no explanation at all to me, and I they refused to take a message for the sales manager to call me back. I think this is a blatant rip-off - I don't know about you!

Fixed Price Sales

I am pleased to tell you that I have a growing number of images with a new stock library 'Clustershot' where I am offering great photos at a fixed price. Because of the way these things work, the process of uploading images there is ongoing, but t the moment there are 240+ available, with more being added virtually every day. If you don't see something there you want, then please email me at gwpics@me.com. Enjoy looking!

Books by the bucket load!

Scarthin Bookshop in the small Peak District village of Cromford is one of those gems which come as a total surprise. Named as one of the top ten bookshops in England, this Derbyshire shop is crammed to the gunnels with books to satisfy every taste. I found a couple of photography books I have never seen before (and which have now been hidden away ready for my birthday), and I had trouble getting my wife out of there. The even rarer treat these days are the friendly and knowledgeable staff who to have the ability to to disappear into various nooks and crannies, only to reappear just as you need them. Top all this off with a small first floor vegetarian cafe that serves great coffee amid the jumble, and you have heaven for any book lover! It is certainly a 'must visit' for anyone in the area.

You meet the nicest people!

One of the great pleasures of my work is that I get to meet the nicest of people, and today was no exception when I met and photographed Paul Hayes of televisions "Cash in the Attic" programme, amongst others. Paul was encouraging people at the Tesco Extra superstore in Winchester to bring along their valuables for free information and valuation, and Venetia Wheway was pleasantly surprised at what he told her about her antique riding crop. I find celebrities like Paul can sometimes be a pain in the proverbial to work with, but he was the sort of person I felt I could become friends with, making my task so much easier! Thanks Paul, and I look forward to seeing you again sometime!

Happy Birthday Ronnies

Today is the 50th anniversary of the opening of Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club - Britains greatest jazz club that has hosted just about anybody who is anybody in the jazz world. I wanted to add my name to the list of people world-wide who will want to congratulate this tremendous venue. I must confess, I have never been through the doors, but I am very proud to have a letter in my files inviting me to photograph there any time I want personally signed by Ronnie himself. I met Ronnie at the one and only Southampton Jazz Festival back in 1974, sent him some black and white pics, and received the invitation in return. The shot above is from that session. Sadly Ronnie is no longer with us, but his memory endures in his great club, and long may it do do. Congratulations Ronnie Scotts!

Peak Practice

The title of today will be remembered by my UK readers, and I am here in Crich in Derbyshire with the Peak District high on the shooting list for the week. Today I started with a visit to the first stately home highlighted for the week, Hardwick Hall. For the historians, it was the home of Elizabeth Shrewsbury (Bess of Hardwick) who was Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth 1 in the Tudor period of English history, and the second richest woman in the Kingdom after the Queen. The home is truly grand, with some of the finest rooms I have seen. Luckily it was also a re-enactment day so plenty of people in Tudor costume which made some fine photographs to be posted on my web site next week. In the meantime here is a quick (uncorrected) sample.