People and Places Photographer – Malmesbury, Wiltshire, England, Great Britain.
I’ve never photographed boxing before……..so when I got a message asking if I could take some images at Malmesbury Amateur Boxing Club‘s show, I couldn’t say no! It was a lot of fun, a really well put on night. Can’t wait to shoot some more!!
Please leave any comments on my Facebook Page, thanks.
Weekly Portrait #44 – “People I now know” (Working Title) – Sarah.
I first photographed Sarah in October 2015, after revealing to everyone on Facebook that she was suffering with Alopecia we tackled it head on with some striking portraits – I’ll post one below but take a look here for the rest – rupertbarker.com/alopecia-a-portrait-to-help , a Weekly Portrait before I started this project I guess you could say. Fast forward 2 years and Sarah also sat for my 40:40:40 project (more of that in the very near future) and today we made some portraits with Sarah and her first wig.
The wig for Sarah is quite simply about choice, she can wear it one day, her familiar headscarf the next and perhaps soon, when the weather warms up, she can wear nothing at all. And so confident is Sarah, wig on or wig off, her personality radiates through……thank you Sarah, until the next time!!
Drop me a message if you’d be interested in being a sitter/victim.
For those of you who missed my other instalments or are new to my site, I set a challenge of shooting a self-initiated portrait every week of 2016, and as its the 3rd week of 2018 I thought I’d better get on with it……. You can find the rest of them here My Diary.
It’s a deliberately broad brief started under the working title of “People I know” already renamed “People I now know” I’m looking forward to continuing the journey, still unaware of the destination.
I’d also like to hear your thoughts, please comment on my Facebook Page here:RupertBarker Photographer on Facebook
Weekly Portrait #43 – “People I now know” (Working Title) – Phillip.
One week of a crazy work deadline and a second interrupted by snow and I’ve managed to miss 2 weeks of my WPP, so back to it and with a fun shoot with my very good friend Phillip. A couple of hours of tea, lino printing and talk of projects, books and parenthood!
The prints you see in the images are from a nursery rhyme book Phillip is working on, checkout The Wooden Spoon Press for updates.
Drop me a message if you’d be interested in being a sitter/victim.
For those of you who missed my other instalments or are new to my site, I set a challenge of shooting a self-initiated portrait every week of 2016, and as its the 3rd week of 2018 I thought I’d better get on with it……. You can find the rest of them here My Diary.
It’s a deliberately broad brief started under the working title of “People I know” already renamed “People I now know” I’m looking forward to continuing the journey, still unaware of the destination.
I’d also like to hear your thoughts, please comment on my Facebook Page here:RupertBarker Photographer on Facebook
Weekly Portrait #41 – “People I now know” (Working Title) – Ceri.
Yesterday I got to spend a fantastic couple of hours at Brinkworth Dairy with Ceri Cryer and her team. A mixed shoot of part Weekly Portrait Project and part complementary commercial shoot that I promised before the end of 2017, well that slipped a bit I don’t think anyone noticed!! So there will be another post in the next few days about the Dairy, this post is about Ceri…….dress, wellies, cow muck and all…….
895 deciding to have a snot and dribble shake!
Drop me a message if you’d be interested in being a sitter/victim.
For those of you who missed my other instalments or are new to my site, I set a challenge of shooting a self-initiated portrait every week of 2016, and as its the 3rd week of 2018 I thought I’d better get on with it……. You can find the rest of them here My Diary.
It’s a deliberately broad brief started under the working title of “People I know” already renamed “People I now know” I’m looking forward to continuing the journey, still unaware of the destination.
I’d also like to hear your thoughts, please comment on my Facebook Page here:RupertBarker Photographer on Facebook
Weekly Portrait #40 – “People I now know” (Working Title) – Luke or Syd.
It’s back…….
So my Weekly Portrait Project is back, and to kickstart it off a Malmesbury Celebrity…….Syd from The Stencil Shed or Luke as most of us know him. For those of you that don’t know Luke, he’s a spray paint and stencil artist made famous by his appearance on Channel 4’s Amazing Spaces ‘Shed of the Year’ and his persistent decoration of our small North Wiltshire town……we also live on the same road, the best road in Malmesbury!
Shot at the The NEW Stencil Shed……it was a really nice treat to hangout for a couple of hours, put the world to right, and make friends with Holly and Bramble.
Drop me a message if you’d be interested in being a sitter/victim.
For those of you who missed my other instalments or are new to my site, I set a challenge of shooting a self-initiated portrait every week of 2016, and as its the 3rd week of 2018 I thought I’d better get on with it……. You can find the rest of them here My Diary.
It’s a deliberately broad brief started under the working title of “People I know” already renamed “People I now know” I’m looking forward to continuing the journey, still unaware of the destination.
I’d also like to hear your thoughts, please comment on my Facebook Page here:RupertBarker Photographer on Facebook
I’m not a wedding photographer, but there is something really special about a bride dressed for her Wedding Day. So why do it just once……… this is were ‘Trash the Dress’ shoots come in. Please don’t run away now, you don’t actually have to destroy your expensive and treasured gown, the idea of these shoots is to get images you’d never have the time or location to shoot on your busy wedding day, an excuse to get dressed up again, have a photoshoot in a special place to you and not worry about whether Aunt Maud will like the starter! That being said, water, paint or even a trip to the seaside can really create a long-lasting experience and images that might leave your dress less perfect than it was on the day. But we also have another option, my friend Claire Lawrence can rent or sell to you a ‘stunt’ dress if you really want to go crazy but want to keep your own dress in its box in the loft!!! Drop her a message.
So the other weekend Claire put her money where her mouth is and donned one of her dresses and jumped in the River Avon here in Malmesbury, we had a lot of fun and I think you can tell this from the constant laughing…….
Firstly Claire wadded around in the river before we got 5 children to throw water bombs at her, once soaked there was no going back and massive kudos owed to Claire for splashing around before lying down in the river in a slightly (very!) chilly September….
If your interested in this type of shoot, or have your own ideas of a shoot in your wedding dress (after the honeymoon, all tanned and relaxed….) get in touch for a chat and lets see what we can do.
So you can blame me for the change in the weather, I was the one who ordered a new paddling pool in the middle of the heatwave….. anyways Tallulah and Scarlett would not be put off, so wetsuits on and in they went…….
13 years ago in February my Granny had to move into sheltered accommodation that did not allow her to have pets. I had just bought my first house here in Malmesbury and Sooty came to live with me. Today I had to make one of the hardest decisions of my life and let her go. At the grand old age of 21 and blind, her back legs had finally given up on her. She was a grumpy, mad and wonderful cat that I’ll miss so much, I have cried today the most I can remember in my adult life.
She was not a lap cat, she would sit next to you on the sofa at the most, but she did like to sleep on Kylie’s hair, pinning her to the pillow when she woke. She would wake us up in the middle of the night, soaking wet almost to tell us it was raining, once towel dried, she would disappear and we’d here the familiar sound of the cat flap as she went back outside. She tolerated Thor but took pleasure in sitting on her food cupboard and playfully ‘batting’ him on the nose when he tried to say hello. She tolerated the children when they arrived, I remember a frozen Tallulah calling out to me when, as a 1 year old, she was held to the spot by the same cupboard with a single claw in the scalp, Sooty nonchalantly looking the other way, “Well I warned her”, you could imagine her saying.
She loved to chase a wine cork on a string, ‘Sooty Fishing’ we used to call it. She loved her Cat Mint pot in the garden and would fiercely defend it from anyone. She loved to have her tail pulled and tickles behind the ears. She was quiet mad, climbed into every box, especially open jigsaws, drank milk every day and slept on a plastic bag, especially if it was in a box!
I’m not a religious person, I don’t know what happens next, but if the reading I gave for my Uncle at my Granny’s funeral is correct, she is crossing that rainbow bridge now, back with Granny.
I’m going to miss you Mad Cat – Miaow Miaow.
Weekly Portrait #39 – “People I now know” (Working Title) – Robin.
Corrective Farrier and partner at Willow Equine. Horses hooves smell like burning hair, obvious really but still truly stinky!
Drop me a message if you’d be interested in being a sitter/victim.
For those of you who missed my other instalments or are new to my site, I have set a challenge of shooting a self-initiated portrait every week for this year. You can find them here My Diary. It’s a deliberately broad brief started under the working title of “People I know” already renamed “People I now know” I’m looking forward to the journey, not knowing the destination.
I’d also like to hear your thoughts, please comment on my Facebook Page here:RupertBarker Photographer on Facebook
Fourth instalment of showing you the calendar images I shot for Happily Ever After Dog Rescue, please go to their FB page and send them a message to order one. If you’ve missed the previous images, look back through My Diary
The Calendars are A3 in size and just £10+p&p – BUY ONE NOW! In fact order them as Christmas gifts for your friends and family too – Happily Ever After Facebook Page
Weekly Portrait #36 – “People I now know” (Working Title) – Uncle John.
This weeks Weekly Portrait Project is a deeply personal one, please meet John, or Uncle John as he is to me. Illustrator, Artist, Musician, Veteran Cyclist, Woodsman, Series 1 Landrover Owner and so much more to me as a virtual surrogate father. I have posted before about Queen Anne Lodge in the village of Milton, just outside Cambridge, being a sanctuary for me, here is the man along with my Auntie Gaye who makes it such a place.
My visit last weekend was arranged a long time ago as Uncle John had a book launch I wished to attend, more of that another time, but certain demons have been rearing their heads again recently and this visit could not have been better timed. Self-understanding, self-doubt and soul searching are frequent bedfellows that are almost a cliche within the creative mind, but when that spills over the consequences can often be the exact opposite of that creativity, sometimes even destructive. Something I have kept to myself until now is the healing and cathartic aims of this project, yes I set out to challenge myself to produce a body of work throughout the year, yes it was to give me something to blog about and share on social media, yes it has made me put myself out of my comfort zone at times, yes it has been generally lighthearted, but it is also a form of self-medication. It has forced me to reevaluate who I am as a photographer, as an artist, too easy is it to sit in my studio and wonder why, thanks to this project I have had to make contact with sitters, figure out locations, try to tell a story. It’s just about working, but without the help, support and counsel of people such as my Uncle I’m not sure I’d still be in this game at all!
I’ll stop that train of thought there before it goes too deep into my psyche, scroll down an enjoy the portraits I shot with my Uncle John this weekend, using his 62 year old Landrover like it was intended to be used and visiting his latest commission on the nose of a Yakovlev Yak-52, he is a hugely successful and international renowned illustrator but took up a new challenge for Ian to create a truly unique piece in on a material he’d never painted on with sign-writter paints he’d never used before…..
Drop me a message if you’d be interested in being a sitter/victim.
For those of you who missed my other instalments or are new to my site, I have set a challenge of shooting a self-initiated portrait every week for this year. You can find them here My Diary. It’s a deliberately broad brief started under the working title of “People I know” already renamed “People I now know” I’m looking forward to the journey, not knowing the destination.
I’d also like to hear your thoughts, please comment on my Facebook Page here:RupertBarker Photographer on Facebook
Some of you will have read or seen posts I’ve liked about the Calendar project I worked on for Happily Ever After Dog Rescue – well the calendars are out and available – I’m going o be sharing the images here on my blog over the next few weeks with the same message PLESE BUY ONE!
The Calendars are A3 in size and just £10 – message the team at their Facebook Page and order yours, in fact order them as Christmas gifts for your friends and family too – Happily Ever After Facebook Page
Weekly Portrait #34 – “People I now know” (Working Title) – Niki.
Niki and her partner Robin run Willow Equine just outside Malmesbury – an equine rehab and training centre. It was a beautiful morning yesterday, perfect to spend at the farm with Niki, we got some photographs for her new website, made plans for some super exciting (and glamorous) future photoshoots and we managed to squeeze in a Weekly Portrait at the end too! Niki’s horse Roo is recovering from an injury just at the moment so he wasn’t ridden, and for the same reason was a little (too) excited to be out and about, once he’s fully fit we’ll be getting another shoot done! Niki is also the UK distributor for Scharf bespoke and customisable riding hats, something you may see more of round these parts soon, in the mean time if you want to know more get in touch…..
Drop me a message if you’d be interested in being a sitter/victim.
For those of you who missed my other instalments or are new to my site, I have set a challenge of shooting a self-initiated portrait every week for this year. You can find them here My Diary. It’s a deliberately broad brief started under the working title of “People I know” already renamed “People I now know” I’m looking forward to the journey, not knowing the destination.
I’d also like to hear your thoughts, please comment on my Facebook Page here:RupertBarker Photographer on Facebook
Weekly Portrait #33 – “People I now know” (Working Title) – Dave.
Meet Dave, creative director by day, musician and producer by night! Dave has his own Creative Agency in Bristol – Different Kettle – and when not working on the latest campaigns for the likes of Macmillan or Amnesty he is playing, recording and producing music, in particular he’s the driving force behind Malmesbury’s very own ‘Albumcentric Scratch Band’, The Long Players – there next gig is at The Kings Arms, Malmesbury High Street performing Blur’s Parklife on November 19th, keep an eye on their FB page for ticket details – The Long Players.
Drop me a message if you’d be interested in being a sitter/victim.
For those of you who missed my other instalments or are new to my site, I have set a challenge of shooting a self-initiated portrait every week for this year. You can find them here My Diary. It’s a deliberately broad brief started under the working title of “People I know” already renamed “People I now know” I’m looking forward to the journey, not knowing the destination.
I’d also like to hear your thoughts, please comment on my Facebook Page here:RupertBarker Photographer on Facebook
Weekly Portrait #32 – “People I now know” (Working Title) – Janey.
I met and photographed Janey in June, I always felt ther was going to be another shoot, her dedication to collecting tatoos is an ongoing story and after I read a piece about Alan Powdrill’s Project – ‘Covered’ check out his work here – I dropped Janey a message to see if she had heard of his work and indeed she had, and using that as a starting point we had another hugely enjoyable shoot.
Drop me a message if you’d be interested in being a sitter/victim.
For those of you who missed my other instalments or are new to my site, I have set a challenge of shooting a self-initiated portrait every week for this year. You can find them here My Diary. It’s a deliberately broad brief started under the working title of “People I know” already renamed “People I now know” I’m looking forward to the journey, not knowing the destination.
I’d also like to hear your thoughts, please comment on my Facebook Page here:RupertBarker Photographer on Facebook
So this blog post was originally written in November 2014 – Anneliese is fighting a different battle with cancer now and unfortunately having to leave Malmesbury to be nearer her family in Essex, so that they can be of support to her and Mia. This was originally on my old blog that is no longer publicly available unless you are super web savvy, I’m not and have found some other posts I may share as time goes by. We are organising a special Malmesbury Portrait shoot for them both before they leave to go to give them both something to remember this special little town by.
November 12, 2014
Rather than let chemotherapy take her hair whilst fighting breast cancer she decided to shave it off – doing it on her terms.
This included a brief hiatus halfway through to ‘try out a pink mohawk’.
Anneliese has done this for her own empowerment but also to raise money for The Royal United Hospital’s Forever Friends Appeal. They are currently trying to raise the money to build a dedicated cancer unit at the RUH, something I was surprised to know did not exist.
For more on Anneliese and if you can to make a donation, please follow this link: https://www.justgiving.com/Anneliese-Bushnell/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=fundraisingpage&utm_content=Anneliese-Bushnell&utm_campaign=pfp-share
Today is Scarlett’s first day at school and I know your Facebook feeds will have been full of the little darlings in their uniforms – guilty as charged – but whilst I was taking a photograph of Scarlett this morning, Tallulah asked to have one with both of them. This is the first frame, all the rest were silly faces and pushing and jumping, look out anyone who crosses them, these girls have got each others backs!!
Weekly Portrait #29 – “People I now know” (Working Title) – Andy.
Chairman of Malmesbury Marlins swimming club, Andy will be swimming the English Channel in late August/early September. Along with Helen Braid, Andy will swim tandem all the way to France raising money for British Heart Foundation, Heals of Malmesbury and Combat Stress, all awesome causes. Please visit their page – justgiving.com/crowdfunding/Braid-Pointer – and donate whatever you can, in the mucky and dark waters of The Channel they will appreciate every penny! I proudly call Andy a friend.
Drop me a message if you’d be interested in being a sitter/victim.
For those of you who missed my other instalments or are new to my site, I have set a challenge of shooting a self-initiated portrait every week for this year. You can find them here My Diary. It’s a deliberately broad brief started under the working title of “People I know” already renamed “People I now know” I’m looking forward to the journey, not knowing the destination.
I’d also like to hear your thoughts, please comment on my Facebook Page here:RupertBarker Photographer on Facebook
Weekly Portrait #27 – “People I now know” (Working Title) – Alex.
Running her ‘Shisha Tent’ at Boondocks Festival last weekend, truly bringing the spirit and magic of another land to this little corner of North Wiltshire, apple is delicious!
Drop me a message if you’d be interested in being a sitter/victim.
For those of you who missed my other instalments or are new to my site, I have set a challenge of shooting a self-initiated portrait every week for this year. You can find them here My Diary. It’s a deliberately broad brief started under the working title of “People I know” already renamed “People I now know” I’m looking forward to the journey, not knowing the destination.
I’d also like to hear your thoughts, please comment on my Facebook Page here:RupertBarker Photographer on Facebook
The best thing about Boondocks, Malmesbury’s own home-grown festival, is………………………………………………..
Weekly Portrait #25 – “People I now know” (Working Title) – Jodie.
So yesterday I was up near Blackpool to photograph Jodie Prenger for a different project I’m working on, (you’ll find out soon as I’ll be shouting about it lots!) and after that shoot Jodie very kindly agreed to feature in my Weekly Portrait Project. It was a short but special shoot, Jodie provided lunch with an audience of chickens and still had time for my personal project, she really is one of the good ones, thank you Jodie!
Drop me a message if you’d be interested in being a sitter/victim.
For those of you who missed my other instalments or are new to my site, I have set a challenge of shooting a self-initiated portrait every week for this year. You can find them here My Diary. It’s a deliberately broad brief started under the working title of “People I know” already renamed “People I now know” I’m looking forward to the journey, not knowing the destination.
I’d also like to hear your thoughts, please comment on my Facebook Page here:RupertBarker Photographer on Facebook
Weekly Portrait #24 – “People I now know” (Working Title) – Catherine.
Multi-Instrumentalist Catherine, singer, songwriter and festival organiser. Folk and Bluegrass, Folk on the Quay and Purbeck Valley Folk Festival. Oh and I nearly forgot always ready with a smile, laugh and a joke!
Drop me a message if you’d be interested in being a sitter/victim.
For those of you who missed my other instalments or are new to my site, I have set a challenge of shooting a self-initiated portrait every week for this year. You can find them here My Diary. It’s a deliberately broad brief started under the working title of “People I know” already renamed “People I now know” I’m looking forward to the journey, not knowing the destination.
I’d also like to hear your thoughts, please comment on my Facebook Page here:RupertBarker Photographer on Facebook
Day 7 – Before we headed home (and the reason I’m posting today, a day late!) we had a final few hours at Crantock Beach, we had a leg stretch and dog walk here on the journey down, so seemed appropriate to visit on the way home. The Beach has the River Gannel running through it which makes for a different play area for the children, even if all the signs tell you not to, everyone uses the river for the children to paddle in. I guess at extremes of the tides there must be some hairy currents taking you out to sea. No swimming today but plenty of cart wheels from Talulah and sand jumping of the banks.
Brilliant holiday, weather couldn’t be faulted and loved out cottage in Goonhavern, drop me a message if you want contact details for the owner, one of Kylie’s clients and it comes with a massive recommendation from all of us.
Day 6 – Last full day in Cornwall and glorious blue skies again. Today we headed back to St Agnes and Trevaunance Cove, this time we arrived at low tide so spent a while clambering on the rocks and searching the rock pools. Scarlett and I were the only ones to don wetsuits for a swim today, Scarlett lasted about 3 minutes being carried then asked to get out, so a solo swim for me today, no one wanted to ‘belly board’! Obligatory castle was made and substantial hole next to it, how no one fell in I don’t know, lucky as it was an emergency wee spot!
The tide came in and was a high one so the beach all but disappeared, we headed up the road to Genki Cafe for delicious cream tea, ice cream and lolly, I’d thoroughly recommend the short walk up from the beach and carparks, especially if a nice day as the garden is wonderfully calm, even with our lot playing hide-and-seek!
Day 5 – The girls asked for a day away from the beach today so we agreed but told them we had to walk the dog before we could go to the shops, so we walked Thor across the golf course and along Fistral Beach, none of them seemed to notice that we had gone to the beach again!!
After a week of picnics we had lunch out and discovered the awesome ‘Beached Lamb Cafe’ loads of Veggie and Vegan food and milkshakes for the girls, and some of the brightest painted walls I’ve seen in some time, and dog friendly!
Beautiful sunshine all day again, overcast weather went back to Somerset with Grandma and Auntie Katie last night. Normal service to resume tomorrow, beach, belly boarding and castle construction!
Day 4 Today is a joint blog post, Weekly Portrait Project and Happy Birthday to Kylie. Auntie Katie and Grandma came down to visit and we had our first overcast day, clearly their fault! ‘Belly boarding’ resumed and I squeezed myself into a wetsuit and had a go myself, no waterproof housing so no photographs! We still found time for a bit of sand jumping. All cousins together!
Today is also Kylie’s Birthday so when better to have he feature in my Weekly Portrait Project –
My lover,
My girls mother,
Glue that holds us together. x
Day 3 – Sun still shining, but a pretty strong onshore wind kept us out the surf today, ‘belly boarding’ to resume tomorrow, after I’ve got myself a wetsuit I think!! The wind did mean it was great for kite flying, rubbish for ‘boom ball’ and excellent for sand jumping and dune running!
Day 1 of a long overdue holiday, Kylie, Tallulah, Scarlett, Thor and I have an addition to our usual clan, Molly our niece is joining us for half term away. We are in Cornwall for the week, Goonhavern to be precise, a name that makes me chuckle each time I say it, I’m probably saying it wrong but it spelt “Goooooonhavern” in my head!
Today was mostly spent at Perranporth Beach, we had glorious sunshine but as we rounded the headland to descend into the town we saw the sea fog below us! I loved it, it wasn’t cold (but not hot) and constantly shifted so one moment you could see back to the cliffs, the next time you looked nothing but you could see the surfers and life guards at the waters edge.
Our day was spent, playing ‘boom ball’, flying a kite, digging a big whole (and jumping into it) and ‘boogie boarding’, renamed ‘belly boarding by T’!
Weekly Portrait #20 – “People I now know” (Working Title) – El & Tig
A double portrait for our dear friends El and Tig who are getting married later in the summer, can we call this an engagement shoot? It’s my project so I make the rules so I guess it is. Such a lovely couple and spending an hour or so in the buttercups at Daniels Well was a perfect way to spend an early evening.
Drop me a message if you’d be interested in being a sitter/victim.
For those of you who missed my other instalments or are new to my site, I have set a challenge of shooting a self-initiated portrait every week for this year. You can find them here My Diary. It’s a deliberately broad brief started under the working title of “People I know” already renamed “People I now know” I’m looking forward to the journey, not knowing the destination.
I’d also like to hear your thoughts, please comment on my Facebook Page here:RupertBarker Photographer on Facebook
Weekly Portrait #17 – “People I now know” (Working Title) – Miranda
So I had already planned to photograph Miranda in the oil seed flowers 3 or 4 days before the tragic news of Prince’s death, we decided that we needed to twist the theme just a little in his honour, so in came purple – dress (originally blue!) pashmina, scarf and paisley shirt – and then we found out Dan’s new hotrod has a purple interior! A nod to the little genius. Loads of shout outs on this one, thanks to Xen for the scarf, Kylie for the pashmina, Roy for the shirt (not sure how much he knew), Duncan for making sure my strobes did not take flight and Dan for your awesome ’36 Ford Hotrod. And thank you so much to Miranda who managed to not get hyperthermia even though the rest of us had at least 3 more layers of clothing on!
Drop me a message if you’d be interested in being a sitter/victim.
For those of you who missed my other instalments or are new to my site, I have set a challenge of shooting a self-initiated portrait every week for this year. You can find them here My Diary. It’s a deliberately broad brief started under the working title of “People I know” already renamed “People I now know” I’m looking forward to the journey, not knowing the destination.
I’d also like to hear your thoughts, please comment on my Facebook Page here:RupertBarker Photographer on Facebook
Dan not Miranda in the ‘rod!
Roy featured in last weeks ‘Weekly Portrait’ see it here if you missed it (Weekly Portrait #13 – “People I now know” (Working Title) – Roy ), well he and Xenia have been close friends of ours for most of the time we’ve lived in Malmesbury. They have featured in quiet a bit of my work! Well today is their 1st Wedding Anniversary, congratulations you beautiful people. I was initially really scared when they asked me to take some photographs on their wedding day, “I’m not a wedding photographer” was all I could think, I have tried weddings but they really don’t gel with how I work….. However Roy and Xen just wanted me to make some portraits of them after the ceremony at the fantastic Westonbirt House. Cheer’s to many more guys.
Weekly Portrait #9 – “People I now know” (Working Title) – Scarlett
Time to introduce the first member of the family to my project, or should that be most recent? Here’s Scarlett enjoying making bubbles in the garden and spinning till she’s dizzy!
Drop me a message if you’d be interested in being a sitter/victim.
For those of you who missed my other instalments or are new to my site, I have set a challenge of shooting a self-initiated portrait every week for this year. You can find them here My Diary. It’s a deliberately broad brief started under the working title of “People I know” already renamed “People I now know” I’m looking forward to the journey, not knowing the destination.
I’d also like to hear your thoughts, please comment on my Facebook Page here:RupertBarker Photographer on Facebook
Weekly Portrait #8 – “People I now know” (Working Title) – Dan
Painting under the name Paynes Pinstriping: check out his awesome striping, spraying and hand lettering here: Paynes Pinstriping on Facebook
Drop me a message if you’d be interested in being a sitter/victim.
For those of you who missed my other instalments or are new to my site, I have set a challenge of shooting a self-initiated portrait every week for this year. You can find them here My Diary. It’s a deliberately broad brief started under the working title of “People I know” already renamed “People I now know” I’m looking forward to the journey, not knowing the destination.
I’d also like to hear your thoughts, please comment on my Facebook Page here:RupertBarker Photographer on Facebook
Weekly Portrait #6 – “People I now know” (Working Title) – Nicki
My open brief portrait project/journey moved on again this week, here is Nicki, an artist I met through Facebook and this project, she is exhibiting at Malmesbury Town Hall until 26th February, get down there and check out her powerful work, perfectly timed for the stormy times we are having right now.
For those of you who missed my first three instalments or are new to my site, I have set a challenge of shooting a self-initiated portrait every week for this year. You can find them here My Diary. It’s a deliberately broad brief under the working title of “People I know” I’m looking forward to the journey, not knowing the destination.
I’d also like to hear your thoughts, please comment on my Facebook Page here:RupertBarker Photographer on Facebook
1st_Tooth_Down! – after what seems to have been weeks of wobbling and questions like “Daddy why won’t my tooth fall out?” and “What happens if I swallow my tooth, will the ‘Tooth Fairy’ put money in my tummy?” Tallulah’s first tooth has parted company with its gum (with a little help from Mummy!) – One very happy 5 year old, went to bed possibly the quickest I’ve ever seen! We just hope the one that comes through to replace it does not cause us as many sleepless nights as when the little piece of dentine and enamel under pillow grew through her gum 5 years ago!
Weekly Portrait #3 – “People I know” (Working Title) – Weasel
For those of you who missed my first two instalments (where were you!) or are new to my site, I have set a challenge of shooting a self-initiated portrait every week for this year. It a deliberately broad brief under the working title of “People I know” I’m looking forward to the journey, not knowing the destination.
I’d also like to hear your thoughts, please comment on my Facebook Page here:RupertBarker Photographer on Facebook
Reworked an image from last summer for some new promotional material. What do you think?
Scarlett, aged 3&1/2, climbed Glastonbury Tor solo today for the first time! Except for a firm handhold to stop her being blown away in the wind she made it all the way up and half way down before ‘Daddy Shoulders’ were asked for! #prouddad
My first professional photography job was with LAT Photographic, part of Haymarket Publishing, I was an ‘Archivist’ of all the new images (transparancies back then) collating and filing all the images for the picture editors from Motorsport News, Autosport and all the other motoring magazines to be able to find them. I was also allowed to take some spare kit out and shoot some rallies, combining my hobby and my job – I was a bobble hat with a press pass! My first (and unfortunately only) full season shooting the WRC was 2001, Richard Burns became the first and so far only English World Rally Champion that year, sadly exactly 4 years later, 25th November, he lost his battle with brain cancer. Here are a few images from Cyprus, Finland and Wales of Richard Burns – World Champion. RIP Richard this world and rallying is poorer for your absence.
For those interested, all images were shot on Fuji Velvia with a Canon EOS 1n or 1v – sorry no metadata on transparencies but I’m guessing lenses were 35mm f2.8, 70-200 f2.8 and 300mm f2.8!
Every Thursday, and some Tuesdays I drop Scarlett of at pre-school, it was a pretty special kind of light this morning! 
Just remember to stop to take the photo or you’ll get told off from the back seat!!!
Please can I ask you all to sign this petition to help Sandra, she is possibly the most dedicated person I have ever met, almost single handedly she is saving the unwanted dogs and cats of Dubrovnik. All she is asking for is what has been promised to her. The petition text explains the back story better, please click below and share as wide as you can.
Here is a post I wrote last year, its from my old website, but I may start bringing them into my new website – just need to figure out how!! – and some of the photographs I took whilst there. Please any help would be so gratefully received.
“A few years ago I was lucky enough to visit Croatia and meet an incredible lady called Sandra Sambrailo who almost single handedly runs a dog rescue sanctuary outside Dubrovnik. Her sanctuary is an old fort high on a mountain above the UNESCO World Heritage Centre of The Old City of Dubrovnik that was used by the Yugoslav Peoples Army to shell the city during the Croatian War of Independence. Sandra looks after hundreds of dogs and cats and was one of the most inspirational people I have ever met. As we walked up to the fort I heard a whimper from a road side bush and when I crouched down puppy timidly emerged, I carried the dog unto the fort imagining it to be an escapee, but no Sandra informed me people leave unwanted dogs near by, knowing she will look after them and give them a home, no matter how many she is already looking after. ‘Lucky’ as Sandra named him is the little puppy with the kitten.” – 29th May 2014
My Brothers youngest had her 6th birthday on Saturday, T, S and I went down to Fleet for a party with 40+ 6 year olds running and shouting round the hall (I forgot to pack ear defenders!). We raced home for Malmesburys fantastic fireworks display and a chip tea.
Today we went to Whitehall, to take the girls ice-skating for the first time, with Dexter, Martha & Maxine. Scarlett preferred the ‘banana’ to the penguin, Tallulah & Dexter had the basics understood by the end, but all were most excited at Olaf the snowman joining us! I just wish they swapped the direction of travel halfway, constant left turns were a pain in my dodgy right knee. And Scarlett deciding to run off in the packed Christmas shop did nothing for my claustrophobia, thankfully she was found after 5 minutes frantic searching, looking for the toilets.
Home to feed the girls then back out to The Spice Merchant for Roys birthday! Home stuffed and sleepy!
Whilst in Cambridge at the weekend we had to wash stinky Murphy,
he seemed to like all the attention and stood happily in the galvanised bath tub whilst many hands lathered and rinsed him!
Scarlett lost interest after a while in her ‘lead holding’ job and went to drive the 1953 Series 1 Landrover instead.
Girl after my own heart. Told you Queen Anne Lodge was a step away from day to day reality!
A few weeks back I learned via a Facebook post a previous client and fellow Malmesbury resident – Sarah – suffered from alopecia. For some reason I was touched by her story and was compelled to ask if I could boost her confidence with a portrait shoot, emersion therapy, clatter into the issue with bold portraits hopefully to show how striking Sarah still was without the trappings of the convention of hair styles.
We had a relatively quick shoot down by the river in Malmesbury, and lost the light quicker than I’d initially hoped but a quick move downhill and the setting allowed me to create images I had not initially thought I’d attempt. It is a testament to Sarah’s strength and confidence that she really did let me create some edgy portraits that are about her as a human being right at this moment and the situation she faces.
I’d love to hear your thoughts, please leave comments on Facebook. –Rupert Barker Photographer – Facebook
Thanks Sarah.
Fantastic and busy few days! Thursday drive up to Cambridge for the beautiful wedding of Harriet and Ant on Friday (photographs to follow, I took the 5d3 for a change, and I refuse to rush edit away from the studio!)
Saturday was a day of friends and family, fun and laughter. Oli, Tash, Ella and Izzy the Rupert, Clare, Tilly and Belle, and finally time with Auntie Gaye, Uncle John, Louis and Granny. And stinky Murphy!
A weekend spent at Queen Anne Lodge soothes my mind and allows a wonderful ‘checking out’ from the crap that surrounds everyday life and fills it with crap of wonderment and joyous entertainment, truly a sanctuary that I am lucky enough to run away too whenever I have needed it.
John Holder (Uncle John to me!) with his #dogwalktherapy buddy Murphy hanging out at the logging copse. Proper country pursuits, wish I lived closer. Love you all.
Whenever we visit Kylie’s family in and around Glastonbury, we always make time to climb the Tor, for its personal connections and elemental power. On the way back from Cornwall was no different, but I did discover a ribbon tree I’ve never seen before!
During our holiday near the North Cornwall Coast I seem to have produced Panoramic iPhone images of coastal and fluvial geology. It was rather nice to not have Wifi for the week, it took so long to check Facebook or download emails, that I didn’t, read a book instead! Back to the diary now!
Fantastic break, if not particularly restful, lovely coastline and got to catch up with two sets of great friends who have moved away from Malmesbury, John and Georgie, Dave and Margaret it was so nice to see you all again.
The holiday cottage has no WiFi, quiet nice really! Yesterday we went to Crackington Haven and Widemouth Bay, got stung for coffee and hot chocolate at Crackington! Scarlett calls Widemouth Bay, ‘Bigmouth Beach’ which made us all laugh! Today we’re south of Dartmoor at Ivy Bridge meeting up with Dave and Margaret for a dog walk!
Mad Week of work, I’m back! If I had time to sit in front of the computer I wasn’t blogging, loads of shooting and editing going on, all embargoed so can’t even say who for but I need to buy more hard drives!
We had a fantastic weekend in Lincoln, visiting family. A quick visit to Lincoln Cathedral to check out the venue for my cousin Sarah’ wedding next year, and show Scarlett where she’ll be a flower girl! Haven’t been to the Cathedral for probably 20 years, its still as impressive! Squeezed in visits to my Grandparents, Kylie’s brother and family, a quick engagement shoot for Sarah and Oli, visiting cousin George and Suze with baby Ophelia and enjoying the wonderful hospitality of Uncle John and Auntie Judith, all in 2 days with 3 hours drive either end!
Sunday conker collecting!
Monday’s are Daddy Daycare, when I asked Scarlett what she wanted to do today – ” me go on basket swing at park” – were working on the ‘I’ bit but that’s what we did with our free time this morning. After lunch it is ballet-schoolrun-gymnastics!
Scarlett has a cackle of a laugh that does not fit her 3 year old face, she’s doing it in this photo!
Techno fans: Canon G12 – 1/640 sec at f 3.5 ISO 400
Today Scarlett and Tallulah decided to spend the afternoon as Batgirl and Spidergirl, much posturing and dramatic leaping was required, followed by a ‘super-scooting’ to Uncle Phil’s house for the wrap of his open studio weekend and a little belated birthday gathering!
For those with any technical interest – Canon 5dmk3 24-70 f2.8 and the absolutely awesome Elincrom Quadra’s.
This is the first appearance of Magic Light River on my new blog and I’m sure it won’t be the last! I walk past this section of The River Avon every day that I am in town, it is one of my favourite points of my morning walk that I call #dogwalktherapy. A special place.
There are not enough, flour, egg and milk based food day celebrations so today we had ‘Banana Fritter Tuesday’! Perfect when Scarlett needs to eat cooked fruit at the moment.
Jelly_Cat!
After a fanfic 10 minute portrait shoot, I waited for the sunshine to shoot Solar Park number 2. Sun came out and gave me about an hour to do half a days work! Location work is never predictable!
Here’s a photograph Scarlett took of her Jelly Cat (inseparable toy) for her pre-school homework, she adjusted exposure and released the shutter herself, we did use a tripod though!
Scarlett likes to find the best place to sit. Mummy sorting out her work diary, her feet are the perfect place to sit and check your new felt tips!
Spent all day chasing the weather – and cursing it! I know it won’t change when you shout at the clouds but photographing a Solar Farm without any of the ‘solar element’ can be frustrating!
Here is Tired Topknot Scarlett
8 years ago today we lost Colin McRae, the term legend is banded around too much, he is the personification of the word. Here is photograph I took as Colin and Nicky Grist won the 2001 Cyprus rally. Fun times.
Family #dogwalktherapy with Granny and Poppy too. Mid-walk Waitrose stop for coffee and cake.
After noon of sorting, tidying and DIY that seems to have left more to sort and tidy than there was this morning!
#reflection
DIY day, mainly building shelves!
But did get interrupted by this little fella.
And also found an abandoned beginning of a wasps nest in the shed, kinda glad they decided against it!
Went to Bristol Museum and Art Gallery with Tallulah’s Class today, thankfully 7 other adults too!
The children were there to learn about fossils and dinosaurs and for 31 5 & 6 year olds we did really well to leave the museum in much the same state we found it in, don’t think any priceless treasures were pocketed!
