Focus on Imaging

It was the last day of Focus on Imaging at the NEC today. For those that don't know this is the big event for photographers that happens once a year and really is considered a must.

I always manage to find something of interest when i go and amongst others i discovered this camera cover seen in the picture. Basically it's a rubber body that slips over your current camera (they do other colours too). I can see the advantage of something like this especially when the cameras tend to be thrown in and out of open bags when working. However they didn't have one that would fit the D2x so that saved me some money! Apologies for the picture quality, it was taken on my phone, as its considered very very uncool for a pro to be seen with a camera at focus.

Again Canon didn't bother to be there (2nd year running) in my opinion a disgusting way to treat the pro users! Nikon were there with their new stand and put on some excellent talks and had hands on for every camera model and lens that they make with experts available to answer questions ..... Great service AGAIN for Nikon users.

Interestingly another big player that weren't there this year was Kodak! Having talked to the manager at my lab (Redwoods) it would appear that Kodak have no interest in the consumer market anymore and are chasing the mini do it yourself print labs.

I also talked myself into buying a Fong Dome. I've been looking into them for about a year and decided to take the plunge. I'll give it a go and then post some stuff up on here on my thoughts. All in all a good show and happily different to last year.

Free Money, I don't think so

I received an e-mail today (see below) and i thought i would share it with you. I wrote back to this guy and told him i didn't want the money and to donate it all to charity (I'm all heart). I also said that if it would save time would it be easier if i just sent him my bank details and pin number. Suprisingly he answered almost immediately .... strange that.

From The Desk Of:
The Auditor General:
Korea Exchange Bank,
30 Old Jewry
London
EC2R 8EB.

ATTN:Martin Wilmott,

I am Dr Edward Organ. The Auditor General Korea Exchange Bank London. In the course of our auditing I discovered a floating fund in an account in the Bank company which was opened in 1990 belonging to a dead foreigner late Mr. Mark -Wilmott(untill his death),used to be a private contractor with the Shell Petroleum Development Company in Saudi Arabia. He was involved in an auto crash, unfortunately led to his demise.

Since then, I have made several enquiries with his country embassies to locate any of his extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful.I decided to track his last name
over the Internet, to locate any member of his family
hence I got in contact with you. I have contacted you to Quietly assist me in repatriating this huge amount of money left behind by the deceased in my Bank before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the BANK/INSTITUTION. The deceased had a deposit presently valued at USD25.2 million.

After going through the company records and files, I
discovered that :
(1) No one has operated this account since 1993; (2)
The owner of the account died without a heir, hence
the money has been floating. (3) No other person knows
about this account and there was no known beneficiary.
AND IF I DO NOT REMIT THIS MONEY URGENTLY, IT WOULD BE
FORFEITED FOR NOTHING.
This money can only be approved to a foreign
beneficiary with a valid international passport or
driver's license and an account, hence I am contacting
you. I will require your urgent reply so that I give
you the next step
I am willing to give you 15% of the entire funds.

All I require is your honest Co-operation, Confidentiality and Trust to enable us see this transaction through.I guarantee you that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect from any breach of the law.
All I ask from you is the following:
1. Your full name
2. your telephone/mobile and fax numbers
3. your physical Address.
Your urgent response will be highly anticipated and appreciated.
Best regard.
Dr Edward Organ.

Lifestyle Photography Shoot

I'm completely snowed under at the moment but had to add this slide show from last week.

I think the images came out really well and I'm sure everyone enjoyed the shoot too.

For anyone interested in the Lifestyle portrait training day on the 4th March there are just two places left until we close the books.

Looking forward to meeting you.

Photography Training Day

It always gets me excited when I chat on the phone to the people coming on the next lifestyle photography course.

I can feel the energy and enthusiasm of the people and I just know we're all going to have a great time. The next course (4th March) is already proving to be great, and theres some cool tricks we're going to share.

There are very few places left so if you want any information on this course just drop me an e-mail (martin@martinwilmottphotography.com) or even better pick up the phone 01376 567995. Here's a quick slide show of the last course we ran.

One of the things I have noticed about people who contact me is, aswell as wanting to learn my methods in photography there are a hard core of people who need to learn more. These are the gys who have a talent for taking pictures but need help in how to make it pay. With this in mind the " shoot to sell" course has been devised. The dates will be the 23-24 April 2007. The course is designed to take a person who can take a photograph and give them a structure into launching that skill into a succesfull business! It will cost £495.00 and will include meals but not accomodation.

For those of you who've already registered your interest watch your email box very closely the details will be arriving shortly.

If you wanted to be added to the hot list to get the information about the "Shoot to sell course" just drop me an e mail to martin@martinwilmottphotography.com. I truely believe these two days will kick start peoples careers into the photography world. What are you waiting for? An e-mail costs you nothing but could earn you a life!!

Finally here's the link to a few of the images from the portrait session I mentioned from last week enjoy.

Superbowl

Last night was the final of the professional American football season in the states, which is effectively referred to as the superbowl. It was a great game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Chicago bears. The colts eventually took control of the game by about the third quarter and finished worthy winners.

A couple of days before the game i'd received an email from Wayne Paulo, he's a pro sports photographer, who I had some business dealings with a while back and we've semi kept in touch since. He was in Miami preparing to shoot the game. Now this is a job that many photographers (probably including myself) would easily have cut an ear off to have had the chance to shoot .... well maybe not, but it would have been nice.

Whilst I'm on the subject of sport I must mention this website, it's one i've had my eye on for a few days now. Check it out it's really worth a giggle. To me it just shows the typical Brit sense of humour in not being afraid to be laughed at (aka the office etc).

I'm up to my eyes in editing at the moment as I shot another fantastic family at the weekend, and i stil haven't finished the wedding shots from last week. Sometimes I really do miss the ease of shooting on film!