Jeff Ascough's Blog

The Jeff & Joe Show - Dates

Dates have been finalised for the UK section of the  Ascough/Buissink tour which is happening in April of next year.

April 20/21 - Watford - SOLD OUT

April 25/26 - Edinburgh

For more information and booking please click here

The dates have been broken down into seminars and masterclasses. Watford and Edinburgh have both available. The masterclasses are completely unique and will look far more deeply into the philosophical and psychological aspects of how and why we shoot, and also into the running of our businesses. If you ever wanted to get into the minds of two world class photographers - this is for you. Delegates can choose to do either a seminar or a masterclass, or both for a discounted fee (recommended).

We are releasing the dates nearly five months in advance for two reasons; the first is that VAT is set to increase in the New Year, and by reserving your place now, you will avoid paying the extra tax. Secondly, this workshop will make a great Christmas present for the photographer in your life. :) Don't forget that you can claim 100% of the seminar cost against your business.

Now the observant amongst you will have noticed that there aren't any European dates confirmed as yet. We are still trying to organise these around Joe's busy schedule, but there will almost certainly be an event in Paris on April 28.

If anyone has any questions about the event, please feel free to comment below.

**UPDATE 9th December** Watford is SOLD OUT,  and Edinburgh is 50% full.

You got lucky

One of my favourite haunts on the internet is the Telegraph's Photography section. Today it was this article on the latest Wildlife Photographer of the Year images that caught my eye, and in particular this quote from the article;

"Few things irritate photographers more than that knowing smile as someone looks at one of their pictures and tells them how lucky they were to get it. But with modern cameras capable of doing much of the photographic process automatically, it is hard to shake off the suspicion that photography is getting easier."

So much of the content of the article rang true with my own experiences albeit in wedding photography rather than shooting wildlife. If I had a pound for every time I've read on forums and heard people say to my face "You got lucky with shot" I would surely be a millionaire by now!! All this shows is profound ignorance of the processes involved in taking a photograph, and a belief that in order to be a photographer, you just need to know how to work a camera.

Photography is as hard today as it has always been; granted the mechanics of photography (pressing the shutter, working the exposure out etc) have become easier, but that is such a tiny part of taking a picture. A photographer is usually hired on their ability to see a picture - their 'eye' if you like, not how easy their camera is to operate.

For me, the camera constitutes just 10% of the actual picture taking process. The latest camera technology just makes that small part of the equation a little easier to accomplish, and for the experienced and creative professional, that 10% can allow the photographer to become more creative as a result. However it must be stressed that the camera does not take the picture - the photographer does. A poor image will still be a poor image regardless of how great the camera technology is.

Canon 1DsMKIII for sale

I have two Canon Eos 1DsMKIII camera bodies for sale.

21.1 megapixel full frame camera with dual Digic III processors. Stunning build quality with breathtaking resolution and image quality. In terms of DSLR image quality, especially with regard to fleshtones, these cameras are the best out there and a favourite with many a fashion photographer.

Both camera bodies are less than 18 months old, but show some signs of use around the shutter button and bottom grip. They have both been serviced and calibrated by Canon UK, with one body serviced as recently as last month.

These are stunning cameras, and I am reluctant to let them go, but two 1DMKIV bodies forces the sale. In light of the 1DMKIV I am offering these at a truly bargain price of £2250 each. Considering the build quality, the resolution, and performance, this is an amazing price for Canon's flagship camera - and of course you can be assured of my utmost honesty and integrity when it comes to selling this gear.

If anyone is interested please email me jeff@jeffascough.com

Lucy & Oliver's wedding in Mawdesley, Lancashire

Following on from my 1DMKIV post earlier this week; here are my personal favourites from Lucy & Oliver's wedding.

Overseas readers may not be aware but the North West of England has been ravaged by high winds and torrential rain in the past couple of weeks, resulting in severe flooding in parts of Cumbria and the Lake District. On the coast where I live we've seen the storm clouds pile in from the sea, on their way to drop their payload onto the peaks and hills further inland. The weather has been appalling, and unfortunately Lucy & Oliver's wedding was caught up in it.

The day was wet, dark, and offered nothing in the way of natural daylight. However, the atmosphere was fantastic as is customary at this time of year, with low light, candles and the intimacy of the venues all playing a part in a really lovely winter wedding. 

The images were taken on the Canon 5DMKII and the stunning Canon 1DMKIV. I refuse to use flash photography at a wedding, so even though this wedding was photographically 'dark' I still stuck to my principles, and got some great images that really retained the integrity and atmosphere of the day.

"These are truly amazing, we were expecting an awful lot from you (I've been following your blog since we found you!) and you haven't disappointed. So thrilled and cannot stop looking at them, not helping my first day back at work!" Lucy.

Click on each picture for a larger view.