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  • POTD 1 Jan 2010: It’s about time! 1 January 2010

    Model of a British Police Box (TARDIS) (Image Reference: 20100101A-E00011)

    It’s about time my POTD came back. I’m going to try a so-called 365-Challenge. One photo every day for a year. I did the same challenge in 2008 and the results were posted here on my POTD. This year I’m still going to post the results here on the POTD but I’m also going to be posting them to flickr. There are quite a number of people I know on flickr who are doing the challenge so I want to post the result there as well as here.

    Why the police box for today? Today the BBC will broadcast the final Doctor Who episode for the Tenth Doctor. Because of this, I wanted to do something on a Doctor Who theme. I had thought to photograph the group of friends who will be watching it with us. But while I was sorting out my camera and flash units this shot occurred to me.

    Update January 2020 – It was ten years ago today that I posted this and New Years Day is again a Doctor Who day. Today, instead of saying good-bye to a Doctor (I still find it hard to believe that it is TEN years since we Doctor number ten left the TARDIS) today we welcome back Jodie Whittaker as Doctor number 13 for what, by all accounts is going to be a very special opening story to the Series 12 or Season 38 if you prefer)

    Oh and if anyone is wondering the POTD challenge didn’t last very long back in 2010 and this year… I’m not even going to try!

    Settings: 1/160s, f/11, ISO 100. Lens: 105.0 mm @105 mm.

    You can see the other images from this shoot here: http://photos.imb.biz/tabletopmisc

    PLEASE NOTE: This is not a source of free photographs.
    This photograph is (c) Ian M Butterfield. All rights are reserved. No use is permitted (including non-commercial use) without prior permission. If you wish to use any of my photographs please ask first.

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  • POTD 2 Jan 2010: Silver Birch in Black and White 2 January 2010


    Silver birch tree in the snow

    Snow! More snow. Once again our estate became a giant snowslide for cars. I was getting a little stir crazy so went out for a short stroll with my camera down toward the River Mersey. Got a few reasonable shots but to make anything of them I needed to do some sort of post processing.

    I had a lot of trouble deciding which of the images I took should be my picture of the day. In then end I settled for this image of a Siver Birch trunk I like the abstract nature of the bark particularly now that it is converted to black and white and made a bit more contrasty. You can see my other images from the day here: www.flickr.com/photos/ianbutty/archives/date-taken/2010/0…

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  • POTD 3 Jan 2010: Christmas Tree Decoration 3 January 2010


    Christmas Tree Decoration

    I took my camera to C3 (Church) today to look for a suitable picture. Lisa bagged the bird footprints. I started to photograph some presents but they got unwrapped before I could get a decent image (ie one in focus) so I had to resort to photographing the Christmas tree decorations. This was the best of the bunch.

    PLEASE NOTE: This is not a source of free photographs.
    This photograph is (c) Ian M Butterfield. All rights are reserved. No use Is permitted (including non-commercial use) without prior permission. If you wish to use any of my photographs please ask first.

    Image Reference: FC0103A-E00045

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  • POTD 4 Jan 2010: Grave in the snow 4 January 2010


    Gravestones in the snow

    For today’s POTD/365 image I headed up to our local church to take some photos of the churchyard in the snow.  Nice to see a few graves with red flowers or wreaths attached to them. 

    Needed to use an off camera flash camera right to fill-in the shadows on the front of the grave.

    You can see a couple of other images from the shoot here:
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/ianbutty/archives/date-taken/2010/01/04/detail/

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  • POTD 5 Jan 2010: Self portrait in the snow 5 January 2010


    Self portrait in the snow at Sidings Orchard which is part of Heaton Mersey Vale nature park.

    Self portrait in the snow at Sidings Orchard which is part of Heaton Mersey Vale nature park., Heaton Mersey, Stockport, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom We were well and truely snowed in today (at least from the point of view of getting a car out). My model shoot cancelled – not fair to ask the model to travel from Liverpool on public transport. So I ventured out into the snow to get some images. You can see the results here: www.flickr.com/photos/ianbutty/archives/date-taken/2010/0…

    It was mostly grey skies so I needed a splash of colour to make this image work. Thankfully I was wearing my read waterproof so I put the camera on self-timer. Rested the camera on my bag and result… one self portrait in the snow.

    A LITTLE PLUG
    Can I give a little plug to the training course that I’m runing on “An Introduction to Digital Photography”.  It starts this Sunday evening (10th January) in Heald Green.  The course runs for six sessions over eight weeks.  If you know anyone who has recently got a new camera and wants to learn more about photography please let them know about it.  I’ve still got a few places left.  More details on my website: http://www.imb.biz/page.php?pg=introdphot

     

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  • POTD 6 Jan 2010: Beni and the Snowman 6 January 2010


    Beni, a teddy bear, in the snow with a snowman

    On January 6th, 2010 I wrote…

    My thanks to Mark Boadey (http://www.flickr.com/photos/30653621@N07/) for his suggestioin of a mini snowman for today’s POTD/365 image. I had been wondering about doing a ‘Beni’ photo for today’s image so when Mark suggested a mini snowman the choice of shot became obvious.

    A few technical details. 30 second exposure and f6.3. Flash hand held and manualy set off twice from camera left to give a little definition to the snowman and to Beni.

    If anyone is wondering why the snowman doesn’t have a mouth – it because he was meant to have a pipe but it wouldn’t stay in place.

    PLEASE NOTE: This is not a source of free photographs.
    This photograph is (c) Ian M Butterfield. All rights are reserved. No use Is permitted (including non-commercial use) without prior permission. If you wish to use any of my photographs please ask first.

    Image Reference: FC0106A-E00134

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  • POTD 7 Jan 2010: Pedestrian Slipping 7 January 2010


    Even the green man is having trouble crossing the road!

    I wanted to do something fun for today POTD/365 image.  Had to go up to the shops to get some milk and decided to photograph the crossing at the end of the road.  The pavements are still pretty icy and it appears that even “the green man” is loosing his footing!

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  • POTD 8 Jan 2010: Green House 8 January 2010


    Small green cardboard house

    Haven’t been out of the house all day because I’ve been preparing my “Introduction to Digital Photography” course.  The course starts on Sunday I’ve got enough people signed up to make it worth while running the course but I could really do with one or two more.  Anyhow that’s getting of the point… 

    I knew I didn’t want to do yet another snow pic for my POTD/365 image, and I’d sort of decided that I wanted to do something to do with the house.  That’s when I remembered a small carboard house made out of green card.  I brought it back from a church weekend away in October with the intention of photographing it as a stock photo.  So no time like the present.

    Tecnical details.  Two flash guns on camera left and slightly behind the house pointing up at the ceiling on full power… (it’s an old flash gun that my dad gave me and only has full power!) my EX550 camera right and infront of the house on 1/128th power to act provide a highlight on the front of the model.  Both triggered wirelessly.

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  • POTD 9 Jan 2010: Pyramid in the Snow 9 January 2010


    Stockport Co-operative Pyramid in the snow on a sunny day

    I wanted to get some photos of Stockport’s pyramid in the snow so I headed off there today.  Blue skies and sunshine – excellent conditions.  I had a bit of a hard time trying to pic just one as the the POTD.  This one eventually won because it “ticked the right boxes” for me.  Main subject on the 1/3rd line forground interest in the snow bank at the front.  That back of snow also served to show what I had set out to get the which was the pyramid IN THE SNOW.

    If you want to see my other attempts you can find them here:
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/ianbutty/archives/date-taken/2010/01/09/detail/

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  • POTD 10 Jan 2010: The Temptation of Edmund 10 January 2010


    A box of trukish delight in the snow. Inspired by a scene in “The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe”

    I wanted to do a different sort of snow shot – a still life where the snow is part of the story. Thus this image called “The Temptation of Edmund” fans of “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” will understand it instantly. I have a great deal of sympathy for Edmund. If I had been offered Turkish Delight by the White Witch, I would almost certainly have given in to temptation too.

    PLEASE NOTE: This is not a source of free photographs.
    This photograph is (c) Ian M Butterfield. All rights are reserved. No use Is permitted (including non-commercial use) without prior permission. If you wish to use any of my photographs please ask first.

    Image Reference: FC0110A-E00228

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  • POTD 11 Jan 2010: Three Sisters 11 January 2010


    Stockport Garrick Theatre: Three Sisters – In Rehearsal

    Rehearsing tonight for “Three Sisters” at Stockport Garrick Theatre (www.stockportgarrick.co.uk).  I’m playing Kulygin, but during the sequences when I’m not on stage I managed to grab a few shots of the rehearsal.

    If you want to book tickets to see the play (we open Saturday 23rd January and run till Saturday 30th January) you can do so by visiting this website:  http://www.quaytickets.com/WhatsOn/EventDetail.aspx?EventId=3429

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  • POTD Tue, 12 Jan 2010: Digital Rain Test 12 January 2010


    A young woman shelters from the rain under a newspaper

    On Saturday I’m leading a workshop in Manchester on Digital Rain, Digital lightning and wet-look glamour. Today I had a shoot with Wendy-Louise, who will be the model on Saturday. The shoot was so that I could check my lighting setups, create some example images for the workshop and to familarise Wendy Louise with the sort of images we will be working on.

    If anyone wants to know more about the workshop please contact me and I’ll gladly tell you about it.

    If you want to see the full gallery of images from the shoot you can see them here: http://photos.imb.biz/model/shoot/wendylouise1 (please not that some images contain nudity).

    —–

    If you want to know about my 2015 version of this workshop you can find detail here:  http://www.ians-studio.co.uk/events/digital-rain-wet-look-glamour-workshop-4/

    PLEASE NOTE: This is not a source of free photographs.
    This photograph is (c) Ian M Butterfield. All rights are reserved. No use Is permitted (including non-commercial use) without prior permission. If you wish to use any of my photographs please ask first.

    Image Reference: FC0112B-E00361

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  • POTD 13 Jan 2010: Dalek Tie 13 January 2010


    Dalek Tie on the back of a chair

    Ooops… a day late in posting.  It went up on Flickr on time and got lots of comments.  But somehow I failed to upload it here.

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  • POTD 14 Jan 2010: Course Notes 14 January 2010


    Laptop notebook and word document on the screen

    I am playing catch-up with my POTD/365 project.  All photos have been taken and on the correct days too.  But a combination of factors has delayed my posting of them.  Those factors have included, the need to work some silly hours recently to prepare for the two training course I’ve been running, being out at rehearsals, and the card read on my PC died too.

    This image (day 14) was my view of the world on the 14th January 2010.  A laptop screen on which I was preparing workshop notes, turorials and screencasts for my Digital Rain workshop.

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  • POTD 15 Jan 2010: Notes 15 January 2010


    Workshop notes and feedback form

    The POTD/365 catch-up continues. This was probably my most worst shot of the year so far.  Spent the day working on training materials, no inspiration for a POTD/365 image.  Out of desperation I photographed the notes and feedback form that I would be using the next day.

    As the old saying goes…. “Move along… move along… nothing to see here…!”

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  • POTD 16 Jan 2010: Wet hair 16 January 2010


    From the digital rain, digital lightning, wet-look glamour workshop

    The digital rain, digital lightning, wet look glamour course went well.  Good feedback from the attendees.  I am hoping to rerun it again in the next few months so those that weren’t able to attend get a chance to do so.  Keep an eye on my website or subscribe to my newsletters it you want to be kept informed.

    I chose this image as my POTD as it is just a little bit different.  I just like the way the wet hair was hanging over Wendy Louise’s face.

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  • POTD 17 Jan 2010: Three Sisters 17 January 2010


    Script for Three Sisters by Anton Chechov.

    I was ment to be doing the cast photo at today’s Three Sisters rehearsal but due to circumstances beyond my control (ie we didn’t have all the costumes and we didn’t have the chairs) it will have to wait till Thursday’s dress rehearsal.  Which should be easier as I’ll have Lisa (aka yattyimages) there to help…. for those who don’t know I’m acting in the play as well as co-ordinating all things photographic to do with it!

    All this left me without a POTD/365 image.  Last thing at night I had the script out to take to bed to learn my lines (yes… yes… that’s right I’m going to bed with three sisters every night!).  So as a quick ‘I’m running out of time shot’ I did a table top shot of the script.  Quite pleased with it, truth be told.  For the benefit of those on my intro to digital photography course… Subject large in frame, strong diagonals, narrow depth of field, vignetting and I almost managed rule of thirds on the the title!  A text book shot… or at least it would have been if it had been a text book and not a script.

    Tickets still available for the play…. http://www.stockportgarrick.co.uk/  You can even buy tickets online… http://www.quaytickets.com/WhatsOn/Booking/SelectPerformance.aspx?EventId=3429

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  • POTD 18 Jan 2010: Another wet-look shot… 18 January 2010


    Water in a glass

    Ok, so it has been done many times before and probably a lot better but I need something for today’s theme.

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  • POTD 19 Jan 2010: Model shot 19 January 2010


    Spider-Man figurine

    And with a little bit of help from your friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man I am up to date again with my POTD/365 challenge…. oops… it’s now past midnight.  Got to think of a new shot.  Does this never end??

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  • POTD 20 Jan 2010: Rubbish Photo 20 January 2010


    Rubbish in a skip.

    Spotted this while walking up to the shops, thought it might make a good POTD/365 image.  Failing that I’ll get sent to the stock libraries.

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  • POTD Thu, 21 Jan 2010: Three Sisters 21 January 2010


    Stockport Garrick Theatre – Three Sisters

    Dress rehearsal for Three Sisters tonight at Stockport Garrick Theatre. Lisa (https://www.flickr.com/photos/yatty/) was doing the photography on my behalf, because I’m in it. I did manage to grab a few images from the wings though, including this one of the three sisters. I wanted an slightly aged look to the image so a sepia (with a hint of colour preset) in lightroom and some vignetting.

    You can see the full set of images (both mine and Lisa’s) here: http://photos.imb.biz/garrick/3sisters

    PLEASE NOTE: This is not a source of free photographs.
    This photograph is (c) Ian M Butterfield. All rights are reserved. No use Is permitted (including non-commercial use) without prior permission. If you wish to use any of my photographs please ask first.

    Image Reference: FC0121E-E00873

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  • POTD 22 Jan 2010: Light meter 22 January 2010


    Sekonic Light Meter

    Ok, playing catch up again.  Needed a quick shot of a light meter to go in my Introduction to Digital Photography training notes.  Not very inspiring but necessary for what I was doing today.

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  • POTD 23 Jan 2010: Sam 23 January 2010


    Sam

    This image is a shot for my Intro to digital photography course. This was to help illustrait correctly metering subjects against a bright background. Sam our cat for once stayed where I wanted him long enough to get this shot.

    PLEASE NOTE: This is not a source of free photographs.
    This photograph is (c) Ian M Butterfield. All rights are reserved. No use Is permitted (including non-commercial use) without prior permission. If you wish to use any of my photographs please ask first.

    Image Reference: FC0123A-E00912

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  • POTD 24 Jan 2010: C3 @ Etherow 24 January 2010


    C3 @ Etherow

    C3 had their Sunday service walking round Etherow Country Park.  We stopped at the jetty for a time of prayer.

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  • POTD 25 Jan 2010: Muddy trainers 25 January 2010


    A pair of muddy Nike trainers

    I went out for a run today.  I’m in training for the Manchester 10K in May.  Nearer the time I’ll be looking for sponsorship, trying to raise some money for the Alzheimers Society.

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  • POTD 26 Jan 2010: Keyboard 26 January 2010


    Computer keyboard

    A new “toy” arrived today.  Canon 50mm f/1.8 lens. Not really had the chance to play with it yet, but I have grabbed this shot just to check it works.  I got the lens for it’s wide aperture.  It’ll come in very handy when doing theatre photography and be useful for creative narrow depth of field images.

     

    3 Feb 2010: Just realised that I haven’t uploaded the last few images to my website.  They made it to flickr (www.flickr.com/photos/ianbutty) but not to here for some reason.

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  • POTD 27 Jan 2010: Talking to 'the guy upstairs' 27 January 2010


    A telephone box and a church.

    I was struck by the juxtapostion of a telephone box and a church in Heaton Moor.  Made me think of prayer.  I also like the way the steeple was pointing upwards as if it was signally who we should be talking too.  As the old BT advert used to say “It’s good to talk”…. especially when it’s to ‘the guy upstairs’.

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  • POTD Wed, 27 Jan 2010: Good to talk 27 January 2010


    A telephone box and a church.

    I was struck by the juxtapostion of a telephone box and a church in Heaton Moor. Made me think of prayer. I also like the way the steeple was pointing upwards as if it was signally who we should be talking too. As the old BT advert used to say “It’s good to talk”…. especially when it’s to ‘the guy upstairs’.

    PLEASE NOTE: This is not a source of free photographs.
    This photograph is (c) Ian M Butterfield. All rights are reserved. No use Is permitted (including non-commercial use) without prior permission. If you wish to use any of my photographs please ask first.

    Image Reference: FC0127A-E00942

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  • POTD 28 Jan 2010: Russian Dolls 28 January 2010


    Russian Dolls

    One of the cast members of the play Three Sisters was giving some presents to the rest of the cast tonight.  I was given this set of Russian Dolls.  There is actually a fifth doll inside the smallest one but it is so tiny that it won’t stand up so I didn’t include it in the shot.

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  • POTD 29 Jan 2010: Caretakers 29 January 2010


    Truant Company: Caretakers at the Library Threatre 29 January 2010

    I was shooting Caretakers at the Library Theare today for Truant Theatre Company. The play is running there for two days as part of Re:Play. For more images from the play please take a look here: www.flickr.com/photos/ianbutty/sets/72157623185640311/

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  • POTD 30 Jan 2010: Outstanding Men 30 January 2010


    Stockport Garrick Theate: Three Sisters – Backstage.

    The soldiers from “Three Sisters”.  Last night of the play and the last photo I took to do with it.  “Outstanding men, salt of the earth, what outstanding men!”

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  • POTD 31 Jan 2010: Death 31 January 2010


    Discworld Death

    This image was a quick shot I grabed while setting up a demo on lighting at the Introduction to Digital Photography course that I’m currently running.

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