Purple Clouds Photography – Phil Oldham’s Photoblog

Christmas Bank Holiday. Fantastic. Another day in the way of the life… not even the chippies were open. Depressing. Thankfully, Mr Gary Eddleston from ‘near Liverpool’ but not ‘South Liverpool’ doesn’t work bank holidays.

We started the day off with a slippery trip to Etherow Park, at Compstall, Stockport. The hide was full on arrival so we went for a wander in Ernocroft Wood.. got bored and headed back to the now empty hide. We set up our perch and laid some seed out for the birds.. and it was business as usual! Even Gary got some shots

The cold set in after lunch time and we decided on some lunch. Lunch was had. Next up?

Strobism! I took Gary to the deserted Reddish Vale, at the Denton end and we found some snow and funky trees and had a play with some off camera flash – the sunsetting was just lucky, but as ever.. we weren’t quite lucky enough to catch the best bit!

The attached shot consists of a reflective umbrella, high to camera left and fill provided with a shoot through umbrella, low to camera right. Wonderful!

Stephen & Laura booked me to do their wedding in the Summer of 2008, and how time has flown since! The weather this week has been very festive, and despite the city centre location (The Castlefield Rooms, Manchester) there was still a good amount of snow around. Its not very often that it snows at weddings – especially in good ol’ Blighty, so I intended to make the most of it!

I chose to post this picture though, because it is also not often (probably less so) that you end up with the Manchester United defence – albeit injured ones – turning up at the same venue for a pint. Probably before watching their colleagues being beaten 3-0 at Fulham! Left to right we have Rio Ferdinand, Johnny Evans, Wes Brown and finally John O’Shea.

More images are available to view from this wedding in the wedding portfolio. See the link at the top of the page!

All in all – a good day!