I’ve mentioned it to a few people, but for the most part I haven’t really talked much about my new regieme.  For the past couple of months, I’ve basically cut out all of the booze I drink plus any food that I didn’t prepare myself (apart from the occassional night out with friends on both counts), in addition to going to the gym.  There were a few reasons for the switch, but for the most part I was just trying to keep my mind occupied and stay busy and this managed that all quite nicely.

I had a lot of help from a personal trainer as I’m not really a gym guy, and recently I’ve been working with a nutritionist as I’m well aware I need to put on some weight (10kg according to my nutritionist!).  It seems like a lot of weight and I’ve been struggling to eat as much as I’m supposed to each day, but I’m trying!

Anyways, I did a couple of self portraits that are a bit racy!  A lot of the look is done with the lights so I’m not quite as these seem (yet!) but I’m getting there.  No real photoshoppery apart from the black & white conversions.

A few of us wandered out to Sandwich, Kent for an evening of off camera flash shooting.  It’s something I’ve been trying to do a lot more of as I really like the looks that can be achieved.  I’m still a long way off from where I’m happy with the shots I’m getting, but you’ve got to start somewhere right?

There’s a few shots here and a couple more in the gallery.

With the impending launch of the Central London Fencing Club website, I’ve been taking quite a few extra photos of the action.  Partly because the new site needs some shots, but largely because I haven’t been doing as much photography as I’d like lately so it gives me an excuse.

So, there’s a few new albums of fencing shots taken over the past couple of weeks.  I’ve added the CLFC logo to them as well as my own contact details.  The reason for this is that I’ll probably just be uploading fencing shots to the gallery over at the CLFC site.  Here’s a few of my favourite shots and there are more in these galleries (1, 2, 3).

Got together with Neal, Mitesh and Neal’s friend Shaz this past weekend for a few shots of the city.  I was hoping for a longer day so that I could put the strobes & light stands I was hauling around (my poor back) to use, but that will have to wait for another time I guess.

Anyways, here’s a couple of shots I rather liked plus a few more in the gallery.

I’ve had a bit of a summer funk and haven’t bothered to take many shots.  I think my motivation and inspiration took a bit of a summer holiday, but I’ve promised myself to change that in the coming weeks.

Some of you may know already, but I’ve been putting together a website for my good friends who’ve recently bought up our fencing club.  It’s going through a general rebranding and concepts are still being finalized, but the club name and website address have been decided upon.  From now on, I’ll be fencing at the Central London Fencing Club.  The website should be up and running before the end of September, assuming we get completed designs in time.

Part of that process has involved me taking a few more fencing photos which I’ll get online soon (I can feel your excitement).

In addition to all of that, I decided to take a few self portrait shots this past weekend.  Mainly because I really want to start doing some more portrait style shooting and I don’t have a willing model these days, but also because I hardly ever photograph myself.  It’s challenging if nothing else.

This is sort of how I’ve been feeling over the past 2 months, although no tequila was harmed in the taking of this shot. (setup is here)

Simple 2 light setup at home for this one. I took an awful lot before I finally managed one I like.

There’s a new self portrait section of the gallery with these and future self portrait images here.