Leicestershire
I was invited by the creators of this amazing little music festival to create some photography of the bands and the festival goers and was given carte blanche on shooting my own creative style with my street photography flair.
So I did just that and had lots of fun….
Over the past few days I’ve been getting lots of messages from customers that know about my jigsaw puzzle making, that all knew of The Flying Scotsman and that it would be traveling through Hinckley, my home town.
They all told me about it and probably was secretly hoping that I would go and get a photograph to make in to a Jigsaw Puzzle.
How could I refuse such a unique opportunity?
Of course, I couldn’t and now I have a great photograph that i will make in to a jigsaw puzzle of The Flying Scotsman!
Yes it’s exciting isn’t it?
I know!
Here it is…..
The Flying Scotsman passing through Hinckley Railway Station in Leicestershire.
So the plan is to now get stuck in to creating a new design for the packaging over the Christmas period and create a point of sale for you to place your orders.
Once again I’ll be offering pre-orders at a discounted rate while the puzzle is in production.
So make sure you sign up for my emails to stay in touch and find out when it’s ready should you wish to get one for yourself or a loved one.
Here’s a little bit of information around how I made it…
After receiving lots of tip offs, I dropped my daughter at school on the Wednesday morning of the 13th of December 2023 and headed to my studio to sort out my equipment and then drove to Hinckley Railway Station. Upon arrival I sat in my van because I was about 10 minutes early. I wanted to stay in the warm because it was a bit chilly and sat scrolling through my Facebook feed and to my horror, I came across a post that said The Flying Scotsman had made a flying stop at Humberstone Gate in Leicester and was therefore going to go through Hinckley station 10 minutes early. I grabbed my camera and ran to the station to find there was already approximately a hundred people on the bridge and lining both platforms.
I made my way to the end of the platform because I knew it would work best if I went to the back and zoomed in to the composition I wanted so it would compress the image and include more details in the frame, which always works well for a jigsaw puzzle.
I took my position and then looked around and spotted some of the other professional photographers that I knew on the other side of the platform, to which we had some banter across the tracks. It did actually raise a concern to me over whether I’d picked the right side of the platform though.
I wanted to have the station visible in the background and get the people on the bridge.
Then an Intercity came whizzing through and I noted the speed, considering that The Flying Scotsman would emulate that speed as it wasn’t stopping. This meant to me that I would have to increase the shutter speed to make sure I could have a sharp image.
The settings I used was 1/800th of a second at f6.3 with an ISO of 3200.
In post production I performed a post crop to 7:5 in order to be the right size for a jigsaw puzzle. I altered the exposure to look as it did when I was there, sharpened it a little and had to do Denoise because of the amount of ISO I had to use to get the fast shutter speed.
I then prefocused the shot on the station and when she came flying through I just kept hitting the shutter button and managed about 6 photographs to get to choose this single one.
That’s how I made this photograph, so if you would now like to express an interest in buying this puzzle when it’s ready, please enter your email address below and I’ll be in touch when it’s ready.
Tanzeena and Bilal married in 2020
Wedding photography is a special and unique art form that requires a great deal of skill, creativity, and experience. A wedding photographer is responsible for capturing all the special moments of a couple's big day, from the preparations and the ceremony, to the reception and the dance. The photographs that a wedding photographer creates will be treasured for a lifetime and will tell the story of the couple's special day for years to come.
One of the most important aspects of wedding photography is the ability to create beautiful and timeless images that will be cherished for a lifetime. This requires a great deal of creativity, as well as an understanding of lighting, composition, and post-processing techniques. Wedding photographers should also be able to work well under pressure and be able to think on their feet to capture the perfect shot.
Des and Naomi married 2021
Another important aspect of wedding photography is the ability to connect with the couple and create a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere. This is particularly important during the preparations and the ceremony, when the couple may be feeling anxious or nervous. A good wedding photographer will be able to put the couple at ease and create a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere, which will help to produce better photographs.
Finally, a good wedding photographer should be professional, reliable and have excellent communication skills. They should be able to work well with other vendors, such as the wedding planner, and be able to manage their time effectively to ensure that all important moments are captured. They should also be able to communicate effectively with the couple and provide them with a detailed timeline and plan for the day.
Wayne and Charran married 2021
Overall, wedding photography is a challenging and rewarding profession that requires a great deal of skill, creativity, and experience. A good wedding photographer will be able to create beautiful and timeless images, connect with the couple, and create a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere to capture the special moments of their big day.
Alan and his best man an hour before their wedding in 2014
Hinckley, Burbage & Bosworth Photographed 2012 - 2022 All time greatest hits!
This is my gift and a message of thanks to everyone that has supported me and followed this project since 2012.
I’m progressing my art form now to ensure I can thrive as an artist in to the future, making sure I can create a more stable income. That begins with an expansion with my documentary wedding photography and filmmaking business as well as branching further in to the field of supporting other entrepreneurs with their marketing needs.
So thank you for subscribing to my emails and my blog.
Have a happy new year and manifest the best life for yourselves.
Come and join me and a group of likeminded people to learn more about photography.
I’ve got three group workshops currently available and spaces for 121 coaching.
On my workshops, I’ll get you using manual mode and will hand over complete creative control to you, teaching you how to set up your camera and use it in a simplified way that places the image as the challenge.
I’ll even teach you the basics of composition, exposure and post production.
Street Photography
Urban Landscape Photography
Rural Landscape Photography
I can teach you street photography and Landscapes - Urban and Rural with a documentary led style that is perfect for travel and hobbyist photography.
Check out the below workshops for more information and for booking.
Spaces are always limited to four per course.
These are the available 3 courses for now.
For more workshops, please subscribe to my emails for news of new courses as they’re released.
Front Cover - Ducks Corner, Stoke Golding, Ashby Canal
On the run up to deciding which photographs would make the final production for next years calendar, I spoke to my audience and asked what they would most like to see and it was an overwhelming voice telling me they prefer more rural images that offer the beauty of our area.
So I’ve mostly followed that idea with the exception of a few more urban photographs but only those that really hold special locations within the Hinckley, Burbage and Bosworth district. I also put the shortlist out to the voters for them to pick their favourites.
This is the final selection and now the calendar is ready…
I’m very excited about this calendar and feel that it’s one of, if not the best one I’ve ever produced. The photographs work so well for each month. I do only have a limited amount of copies available though and currently only have about 40 left. So if you would like to buy one, you can collect directly from me at my studio in Burbage, have it delivered anywhere in the world via the postal system or if local to the area, I will deliver them personally. Please choose the best option for you at the checkout.
If you need to consider gifts for the photographers in your lives, then please browse my online shop or have a look through some of these links at the bottom of the page for suppliers that I”m affiliated with.
I always use Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom for the post production part of my process and couldn’t make the photographs I make without them. Click on the photograph to be taken to their subscription page where you can learn more about joining up.
My favourite shop for all photographic equipment and only in Birmingham!
Click on the photograph to visit their website.
Low Light Night Photography and Long Exposure Group Workshop
I’ve been working professionally as a photographer in many different areas for 10 years this year and have shot as a hobbyist for many more years. You’ll discover a burning passion for photography within me that runs so deep as if I was put on this earth for this purpose. My ethos has always been to be playful with my photography and this amazing skill I can pass on to any student that joins me on one of my workshops.
The Wharf, Hinckley - Night Time Long Exposure Group Photography Workshop
I’ve already ran four group photography workshops this year and have 4 courses available to book in the near future. My workshops are brilliant fun and ideal for photography enthusiasts / hobbyists who want to learn how to be more playful with their photography as well as learn more of the how to do’s.
I always teach people how to simplify setting up their camera and using it with zero complications but at the same giving the knowledge to my clients to be able to understand their cameras better and handing over complete creative control to them by simply explaining an easy way to make photographs in manual mode.
I’ve developed a technique to explain manual mode use that makes life so much easier for my clients.
Then I teach them how to measure the light, use the light with designing strong compositions through form, shape, framing and how to see a photograph that’s worth making.
With my workshops, my clients can take away the knowledge and manage the process on their own outside of my courses. Although many come back to get more information and do more workshops with me. I have loads of repeat customers.
“I spent a great night out learning how to take incredible night-shoot photography. It has re-inspired me to pick up my camera and start having fun again. Loads of insight & experiences shared across the group, well worth attending for all levels.”
“Went on one of Paul’s. Workshops.. Had an excellent time and managed to learn a lot about my camera...will definitely going on more workshops with him .. explained everything in a easy to learn terms ... come away with a bit more artistic eye for a picture...I would highly recommend one of his workshops...its also a way of meeting like minded people .... great bloke and a good instructor....”
If you need any help or would like to chat to me about any of these workshops, then please hit this button and fill in my contact form. I’ll get back to asap.
Naomi and Des both finally got married on Friday August 6th 2021 but they’re journey started much earlier back in 2019 when they chose to book me to create their memories for them. They planned to get married at a gorgeous mansion in the midst of the Cornwall countryside in 2020. I’m sure you can guess what turned up to spoil their plans. What happened was they were given another chance to realign their wedding more with their own values and came up with the wedding of the century.
I very happily took the challenge on with honour. I say challenge because if you’re not challenging yourself, you’re not pushing the boundaries and that for me is where the art lies, beyond the boundary.
Darren and Naomi gave me full trust from the beginning, which is all I need to be able to create something they can really enjoy remembering their wedding day. I mean let’s face it, it might not have been easy to remember all of it. These amazing pair didn’t go for the traditional Church and Reception do, Oh No!
They wanted a wedding festival and the effort they put in to designing what was by far my favourite ever wedding, was incredible. Most of their friends and family joined in with helping to create the wedding, a gigantic collaboration of their favourite people.
Anyway, don’t waste any more time listening to me waffle on about how great it was, have a look for yourself.
Ps/ This latest film might just have inspired me to start doing weddings again!
Press the play button in the centre of the photograph below to play the film.
I’m just gonna put this out there, if you like this film and are getting married and would like to have something like this made for you to remember your wedding by, then please get in contact me.
Loughborough’s 800th Street Fair 1,000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle.
I was reluctant to put another jigsaw puzzle in to production this side of Christmas because it’s such a tight deadline that there’s no guarantee to be ready for Christmas, although it probably will be ready right at the last minute.
I did this last year with The Mews, Ashby De La Zouch and 70 people had ordered one, meaning I’d got some serious pressure on my back. Well I’ve eased that level of pressure a little by only ordering 10 puzzles.
So if you’re in to your jigsaw puzzles and would love to have a go at this one, you need to act fast.
This button will take you straight to the ordering page on my website.
The Wharf, Hinckley, Leicestershire
I started my business in 2012 at the same time that I enrolled on to a level three photography course at North Warwickshire and Hinckley College. I’d alway loved photography but never realised I could do it for a living. I wished I’d thought about this when I first left school because I’ve made billions of mistakes in what feels like hundreds of different jobs.
I’ve never been a very good employee! I always know better, hate rules, can’t apply myself to other people’s businesses as an employee and my nature is really quite rebellious! Believe me I’ve tried. I can’t say I’ve been a bad person within my past jobs because I’m a people person and love to be around others and get on with almost everyone and have stuck it out at some jobs. Three years was my longest reign in just two jobs.
Anyway, I was made redundant from Croner Consulting as telephone appointment maker for Health and Safety and Employment Law consultancy services. It was a tough job, speaking to over a hundred people each day to try and make an appointment for the business managers to go and close a sale.
St. Catherine’s Church, Burbage, Leicestershire
I think I’m digressing as usual!
I opened my photography business initially to be a wedding photographer until I learned more about the artwork side of things through college. Anyone can be a wedding photographer, all they need to do is buy a camera and watch a few YouTube videos. That’s all there is to it really, if you don’t factor in experience and knowledge! I know some amazing wedding photographers and by the same token, many who think they’re that! I also worked freelance for local and international businesses and charities, which was all great until the Coronavirus Pandemic popped over to the UK.
At that time, all businesses were ordered to close, taking all the people I could work for with them and leaving me with nobody to hire me. Of course I wasn’t the only person in the world for this to happen to but this is my journey…
Locked Down, Documentary Project
I had nothing to do, so I began to document the lockdown and ended up making a book and working with the community to tell their stories. My book publisher then began to also make and produce photographic jigsaw puzzles for their photographers and I jumped on the bandwagon to see how it would work.
As if all I needed to help me get off the ground was a global pandemic!!!
I couldn’t believe it, upon making 6 of my favourite local photographs into JIgsaw Puzzles, right in the middle of a jigsaw puzzle boom was all it took! I guess we all need a break every now and then. Well this was my moment and I grabbed it with all of my hands!
That was my turning point.
Since early Summer in 2020, I’ve been making puzzles now and I’ve been fumbling my way through. I had zero experience of selling retail, especially my own products. It all went amazingly well until the summer of this year 2021. The lockdown was lifted and everyone went back to work. Plus the summer was here and people wanted to be in the garden instead of sat around the dinner table doing a jigsaw puzzle.
This hurt my business massively because I’d been led down the path of abundance throughout 2020 and this was very different. Less people were buying my jigsaw puzzles and I’d been caught out through ordering lots of stock and a reduction in sales. For this I have literally just had to bide my time until things picked up for me. I knew Christmas would be good for me.
The Horsepool, Burbage, Leicestershire
I’m finally getting around to telling you the actual point of this blog. I’ve had to be like water and flow with my business, which controls me more than I control it. I’ve become a slave to my business and I love it!
To move with the times and help my customers have a better experience, I’ve flattened my puzzle pricing out to £20 for any puzzle. I was selling them at £22 because I needed that extra bit of income to help pay for things like my office and insurance etc. When selling my artwork on the local markets, it was sometimes a bit awkward dealing with the additional coins. I’m hoping that by flattening my pricing, it might lead to more sales on the market. So far it seems to be working, let’s see how it pans out on the run up to Christmas.
If you’d like to learn more about my interactive artwork and local Leicestershire Jigsaw Puzzles, please visit my shop.
