Ben Web

Floral Wallpaper

Ben Web — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 08:30:43 +0000

Shaun needed some quick photos for his portfolio. There were taken in his front room, utilising the floral wallpaper there. One flash head was used to camera right with natural fill from the left (my second flash head stopped working as we started the shoot!).

Luke on a Sunny Sunday Afternoon

Ben Web — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 12:13:28 +0000

I took these photographs of my friend Luke on a sunny Sunday afternoon at the end of May. He wanted the shots for his own personal use, and they came out rather well.

After the shoot, Luke made Jamaican Jerk Chicken and we drank fizzy wine while the sun came down.

A Big Change – Becoming Self Employed

Ben Web — Sat, 22 May 2010 13:07:09 +0000

After working silly hours for the last few years, in an effort to satisfy the demands of my day job as well as the needs of my part-time business, I’ve finally bitten the bullet and decided to take the business full-time. Not that I’m earning enough to really be able to afford it yet, nor because it’s a safe bet, but purely because I’m ready to take the business to the next level and just can’t do so while my focus is split between two, very different roles.

I made the decision whilst on holiday in Spain earlier this month (thanks to Henry for listening). Being removed from working all the time gave me a chance to think through the situation properly, and make some decisions about where I want to go from here.

I’m really looking forward to the challenge and, although I’m a little scared of the difficulties that lie ahead, I’m optimistic about the future and know I’m making the right decision.

So, I’m currently working my notice at the day job and am getting ready for kicking-off properly with the business expansion. The next few months are going to be hard work and I expect, also provide some very interesting experiences.

Hopefully I can pull in enough pennies to pay the bills and keep myself fed while building the business. If not, does anyone know if the Red Cross do parcels for budding entrepreneurs?

Wish me luck

Lib Dems for 2010?

Ben Web — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 18:16:03 +0000

For the first time in my life I’m wavering away from voting Labour in a national election: there’s been too must dishonesty in politics in recent years and I no longer trust Labour like I once did. The Conservatives certainly haven’t come-off any better and I’ve not voted for them previously as their values just don’t match with mine.

The remaining party is, of course, the Liberal Democrats but am I really considering voting for a party just because I dislike them the least? Well, no: they actually appear to have spent a lot of time working-out how to improve our country and their would-be chancellor Vince Cable really seems to know his salt.

This is the first election in living memory that people are not automatically saying that “a vote for the Lib Dems is a wasted vote”. Maybe we could actually see a radical and positive change in our government.

Like me, you may as of yet be undecided and I urge you to visit the Liberal Democrats’ manifesto and consider a party that has now become serious candidate for our potential future:

What are your thoughts?

Cloudy Day in Manchester (More of Kyle)

Ben Web — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 21:16:24 +0000

Yet more photos of Kyle, you can tell I like him

This time we prowled the streets of Manchester on a cloudy day, complete with speedlite, lighting stand and brolly to add some punch to the pics.

Studio shots with Charlotte

Ben Web — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 19:35:27 +0000

Here are some shots taken on John Clements’ studio lighting course at Calumet in Manchester today.

The course was interesting and gave a good overview of some useful lighting techniques. The model’s name is Charlotte:

A Walk in Castlefield, Manchester.

Ben Web — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 15:38:03 +0000

I’m just home from a sunny morning’s walk around Castlefield. Although bitterly cold, it was a beautiful morning and Sam, Dunkan and I took the opportunity to get some photos.

Here are my favourites:

Ben’s gone all WordPress

Ben Web — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 12:59:48 +0000

With being a .NET person, I’ve persevered with BlogEngine for a couple of years but have always been disappointed with its functionality; which possibly explains why I’ve not posted much in the last year.

After hearing so many good things about WordPress, mostly from the guys over at AI Digital on their Internet Marketing Podcast, I’ve decided to make the switch.

So here I am, an hour or so after install and I’m running a blog with infinitely better looks (thank you Digital Nature) and functionality with very little effort at all. WordPress has even been happy to import all by old blog data via RSS, though I had to manually get old comments in.

This of course forces the question, why the hell haven’t I done this before?

Urban Portraits 2

Ben Web — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 10:00:48 +0000

This is the second set of photos utilising abandoned and run-down landscapes in the local area. Here, Kyle poses in an army style jumpsuit, bomber jacket and red jock. The photos were taken for his own portfolio.

Editors Note: You would not believe how hard it is to take a photo of someone wearing mirrored sunglasses! Photos taken in August 2009.

Urban Portraits

Ben Web — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 19:36:32 +0000

I love the contrast between the vivid colours of the graffiti and dilapidated environment under the railway arches here; it provides an intriguing background for these portraits.

The arches are no longer accessible; apartments were built overlooking them and the developer didn’t think they’d help with sales. Photos taken in September 2005.