Mini Picture is here!!

Mini Picture has arrived in Knutsford!

Mini Pictures are 12cm square white PVC resin blocks which are 25mm (1") thick, they are scratch and water resistant and printed with Eco Solvent inks which will not fade in UV light.

Best of all, every single one has one of my photographs on it - there are pretty images, urban, themed, multiple and every combination you can think of.

At the moment they are for sale at the Canvas Lounge Gallery in Knutsford, Cheshire for just £9 for a single block - surely an ideal gift for the festive season! The shop is up and running, so if you are in the area, or know someone who is, why not pop in and have a look?

Hopefully I'll be adding the blocks to my Etsy shop soon.

Have a Seat

I photographed this beauty when I was out working with mum in deepest flattest Lincolnshire, we'd just visited a charming man in a filthy recycling depot and on the way out through the thick mud on the endless bumpy drive I spotted this poor abandoned seat - I like to imagine that some of the staff there would take a seat, have a breather and watch the landscape and that it isn't destined for the skip too soon.....

I've made a new Blurb Book!

I was suddenly and unexpectedly inspired this afternoon to make a new book on Blurb.

The title of my new opus is 'Abandoned Christmas Trees', I've quite a nice little collection which I shot mainly at the start of 2009 with a couple as recently as August so I've worked on them a little and I can proudly present my new book:

Abandoned Chri...

By Sarah Franklin

Book Preview

It's 56 pages long, with an image wrap hard cover and on Blurb's special Premium Paper, I've just ordered my own copy with Express Delivery using a 50% off promotion so I'll definitely have it by the 24th.

I think it looks great and if you click on the image above, you'll go straight to my Blurb Bookstore where you can view a full preview and (hopefully) treat yourself to an alternative Christmas book.

Revisiting Morocco for Getty

Time for a quick blog post with this lovely Treasury from Masaoms who bought one of my 2010 Calendars last week, so a double thanks to her in lovely Barcelona! I have no idea which song she's referring to which could inspire a picture of a bicycle, a chalk board and a beautiful big green ring, so I'd better do a bit of research.

Inspired by Pete Yorn and Scarlett Johanssen Song
by Masaoms

I'm causing all sorts of glitches on my computer by uploading massive scanned Holga images to the Flickr/Getty site. Out of my latest sumbissions from September and October they are interested in 48 of the pictures which is great. I've no idea what sort of numbers others are having accepted, but I'm very pleased. There are a few which require property releases which I'm never going to be able to acquire now, which is a shame as they're nice images, but there are plenty which don't need anything other than some details and in the case of the Holgas I feel that my 3mb images aren't big enough (they were fine for Flickr which is where Getty found them) so I've had to go back to my scanned TIFFS which are rather meaty, the Volubilis Triumphial Arch was a massive size at 14,0000 px square and I couldn't export it so I reduced it to a more sensible 7,000 px square and re-tweaked it and cleaned it up a bit more.

The Essaouira Fishing Boats needed to be flipped as the film rebate and the numbers on the boats were reading back to front (oops!) so I need to change my print template and listing details too.



The upload process is slooooow for these big pics so here I am having a minor blog moment.

Dr Who Treasury and New Camera.

It's been one of those fallow Treasury phases for a while now, so I was very relieved to see this nice nerdy number this morning with my Dalek print along with more cool Dr Who stuff. We watched the watery episode the other night and it has whetted my appetite for the Christmas special where David Tennant's Dr will disappear forever......

Dr WhoooOOooo..HEY! Dr Who.
By K C Burk

I'm off to the gym in a minute and I've decided to have my first 'run' for months, I hope I survive it. I'll only be on the treadmill where I can be suitably cautious and I'm quite looking forward to it as I have missed it, the crosstrainer, while being fun and a great calorie burner just doesn't have the same satisfaction value.

I finally got my act together and bought my happy-snappy camera and here it is - the Panasonic Lumix FX60, it's a cute little thing with a lovely satin finish, far too many daft pre-set scene options (with a rather cool pin-hole one), and all sorts of bits and pieces I'm sure I won't use, but it's spec is good and I'll be looking forward to having a camera on hand at all times again as I've missed many opportunites in the recent past. My Birthday Banners collection has particularly suffered and I'm pleased that the next time I see one somewhere vaguely accessable, I'll be able to get a snap of it.

What a happy sight!

....A pile of five desk calenders in cases all printed, cut, made up, wrapped and ready to go!

I've sold one to Barcelona, one to Finland and four to my mum (which still counts!).

When I started to make them I realised that I had really messed up the sizes - precision never was my strong point! I faffed around trying to make it better, but it just got worse and worse and trimming each individual page by hand just wasn't fun. So I did what I should have done in the first place and set up a proper Master Page and started from scratch. Then it worked perfectly and I was happy and my printer was churning out sheets of Super A3 as fast as it could and my super sharp scalpel skimmed over my crop marks and we were done. Wrapped, packed and two posted.

The flat is, yet again, resembling a bomb site as loads of stuff which we'd been storing at mum's has now come back here to torment us. It's everywhere, boxes and boxes of stuff, my old school trunk, clothes which I don't wear but don't want to chuck out (Ebay is calling), my long ignored violin and even my lacrosse stick. And we have people coming for supper and here I am blogging with about 40 minutes to arrival. The Chinese red braised lamb shanks are slowly turning suculent and sticky in the oven and smelling divine, the spuds are in a big pot of water waiting to be turned to smooth and creamy mash, there's a pile of green veg to be plunged into a pan of boiling water, then we're ready to go. To start we've a spicy prawn cocktail with a coconut dressing and to finish, I'm admitting to a cheat and serving a Gu Torte, which is far better than anything I could have managed in my super busy day today, so I shall not feel guilty.

It's the Etsy Made in Manchester meeting tomorrow morning, there will only be three of us but we have decided to go ahead and have a gossip and lots of tea, it's always nice to have a catch up. Then there's a lunch at Al Faisal's with various friends and then I have every intention to get to Jacobs to purchase a new happy-snappy camera as I really don't like not having one on me all the time and I am convinced that I have missed hundreds of shots in my happy-snappyless time.

Then there's a birthday party in the evening, then on Sunday lunch at mum's for the first time in her temporary for six months flat. I hope she's worked out how to use the oven, dad's up for a few days too.

Print your own 2010 Eyeshoot Calendar.

After much faffing and putting aside of the whole thing, I've finally finished and listed the Print Your Own version of my 2010 calendar. I've still not sold one yet, which is slightly offputting, but there you go. Hopefully this will change all of that!

I've made the layout so that it can be printed on both A4 and nice and conveniently on US Letter for my lovely American customers. I wonder what the standard paper size is across Europe, I've never thought about it.

The images are exactly the same as for the main calendar which comes in the case and I really hope that someone likes it.....

Print your own Eyeshoot 2010 Calendar - A bargain $10

Click here to buy without going to Etsy.

Up Periscope - Vintage Banksy Graffiti Made into a Print

I've had this lovely Banksy snap knocking around in my archives for a while but hadn't really done anything with it up to a few days ago when I cropped and re-sized it for my secret new project which is in the pipeline. As I'd tweaked it to look much better than it had previously I decided to add it to my little shop. I wonder if it actually exists on the streets of London any more, I know these things don't last forever and I did shoot it some time ago.

Up Periscope - From Eyeshoot $35

This deserves to be on Etsy's Front Page!

Here's a stunning Treasury which features my Path Through Moss print, and many other beautiful items:

Ode to Oscar the Grouch
by Haut Totes

Lincoln Cathedral and some new kit.

After much reading on websites about remote shutter release devices for my D300 and getting very confused, I decided to phone Calumet who have always advised me well in the past. I settled on a very reasonably priced own label set up which has a radio trigger kit and an adapter for my Nikon camera. One half of the trigger kit is attached to the camera by Velcro or a metal clip (I was hoping for a hot shoe fitting which would be nice and neat, but that wasn't to be.) and the other half if a little do-dah with a button which fires off the shutter. I had a very quick play yesterday and it works which is a good start, but I'll have to have a proper session with the camera on the tripod and set up in Live View Mode which is how I'll be using this new arrangement on my next shoot for Balfour Beatty.

I also got around to sorting through my pictures from Lincoln Cathedral and here's a taster:

Now available as coasters!

In an exciting new development, a selection of my photographs are being made into waterproof ceramic coasters by Bill at House of Six Cats, he's using a range of images from members of the Photographers of Etsy Team of which he is one of the co-leaders.

The coasters are printed using an Epson R2880 Exhibition quality printer, on a state of the art material that is water-proof, smudge-proof, and stain resistant. The material is also self adhesive so it creates a permanent bond with the tile, and this means there is virtually no transitional lip from print to tile. Each tile measures 4.25” x 4.25" and is backed with black foam that ensure against table abrasion and sliding. They can also be used as back-splashes in the kitchen or bathroom which could look rather amazing!

Here's a shot of the four finished tiles, I think they look rather lovely.

Four Ceramic Coasters - $20 with free postage

One set has already sold out of Bill's shop which is great for both of us, and they are also available from my shop. He has artwork for two more sets using my images, one set of four different graffiti pictures and one using my Crosby Steps photo which will be printed over all four so that they fit together to make one big image. They're not available yet, but hopefully it won't be long.

I've made another sale on RedBubble which is one of those selling sites that I tend to forget about as it runs so smoothly and doesn't bombard me with messages and newsletters that I don't really bother with it, but with the notification that someone has bought a framed print of The Ministry of Silly Walks I remembered that they also offer calenders. As I have made my own calendar I thought I may as well offer a similar range of images there, so this morning, I have made one brand new one with a few clicks of the mouse and it's there in my shop looking lovely. If fact it was so simple that I totally edited and redesigned one which I had made ages ago.

I've got a meeting this morning about some exciting new goings on which I'll write about in more detail when I know for sure what's happening......

And to finish off and to add another picture, here's a Treasury:

Simply Morocco
by Vintage Bess

Featured twice and multitasking.

I've been very good this morning and have had a good session at the gym with my new iTrain workout which I do on the cross trainer. It's only for thirty mins which isn't as long as some of the others which I do regularly, but it gives me plenty of time to do my weights, abs and stretches and leave after an hour feeling very virtuous. Today I destroyed 750 of the calories I scoffed during our four hour Chinese lunch yesterday!

I've also been working on the photos from the Balfour Beatty shoot on Friday. They all look good but my Sigma wide lens is seriously filthy and I'm spending most of my time removing the splodges which is irritating to say the least. Also some are looking a bit soft so I think that if I am going to get more work like this (fingers crossed) I may have to look into getting a remote shutter release which should solve that little problem.

I've also almost finished booking my surveys in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire for tomorrow and Wednesday amidst all of this fevered activity have managed to find that my work is featured in two more Treasuries today - how nice!

All Together
by PDX Craft

Chestnut
By The Brick Kiln

Many thanks to both curators for including my work in your lovely Treasuries!

Look at these three lovely Treasuries!

I'm featured in three gorgeous Treasuries today - how wonderful and many thanks to the three clever curators for taking the time to find my work!

A Woodland Walk
by Paisley Chainsaw
Hurrah - made it to the Front Page!!

Black and White
by Mr Yen

We are all Human Beings....fragile as eggs
By Heidi Burton

Despite my lack of posts, I have been busy, or perhaps that's why there's been a lack of posts....
I have had some major software glitches and was without CS4 for some time and only got it all back if full working order yesterday and have been busy making the print your own version of my 2010 calendar which should be in my shops very soon.

I've been busy working with my mother, we spent a day in the Lake District which was totally stunning, the autumn colours were perfect - we didn't do much work, but somehow managed to be in the car for 12 hours which isn't great, but at least it was pretty!

Then I did a proper shoot for Balfour Beatty at a school on Friday afternoon which went well and will hopefully lead to plenty more similar work in the future. I'll be getting on with the post production for that on Monday.

Tuesday and Wednesday mum and I are off on our travels again to Yorkshire and then over to Lincoln where we will stay overnight. I don't think I've ever been before, but I do have a major soft spot for cathedrals and must make the effort to get to see it properly before we get on with our work, and take my camera.

Then we're off on Friday to London for a family Bar Mitvah on Saturday which will take us through to Sunday. It will be good to see family I haven't seen for ages.

Off shortly for Dim Sum at Glamorous with friends, and I'm looking forward to indecent amounts of steamed prawn dumplings and choi sum with garlic, yummy!

Eyeshoot's First Calendar has been born!

I've finally finished my 2010 calendar - for the last couple of years I've wanted to do one but just haven't got around to it, but this year I seem to have got my act together! I think it looks great - I especially like the clear cd style cases, they're so simple and effective. I plan to make a 'print it yourself' version as well and possibly a version all on one page like a poster as I've seen other that sell well on that layout and now I've got the artwork sorted out I can tweak it to my heart's content!

The images are a collection of my favourites all of which have been for sale in my Etsy shop, some are very good sellers, others undiscovered gems!

You can find it here.





I've been very busy lately which shows in the scarcity of posts here.....I've had plenty to say and show, but haven't quite got around to it. I was working in London for three days with mum last week which was hard work, but it's always nice to be there for a while. We had a terrible journey home, arriving back late on Thursday and then the next morning, Peter and I drove for seven hours to start our long weekend in Dartmouth for a family wedding. I took photos as a freebie, I haven't even looked at them yet & we have the happy couple staying with us on Wednesday this week so I'd better get my skates on and at least do a first edit. On Thursday we're off to stay with our friends in Henley and in the evening going to The Young Vic to see one of Peter's sons in a play called Lub You at the Young Vic. The short play was in the 24:7 theatre festival in Manchester this summer and was voted as one of the three most popular plays which let to a short run at the Bolton Octagon and then to London. There's a great website designed by Peter and built by anther of his sons.

I've been planning and cooking a supper tonight for seven for what seems like forever. We're just having a swift g&t while we wait for our guests to arrive. On the menu:
Smoked Mackerel Mousse with capers and salad leaves.
Boeuf Bourguignon with new pototoes and green veg.
Pears poached in spiced vanilla syrup with chocolate sauce.
Brie with garnishes.

I need a holiday.

Chocolate Pavlova

Here's the yummy pudding I made for supper last Sunday, if you want to read all the detail, just click and it should pop up in another window large enough to read.

It was very delicious!

Julie Julie Julie 50 Today

Julie Julie Julie 50 Today, originally uploaded by Eyeshoot Photography.

I like this one - it somehow seems to be a spontaneous sort of design.

Shot on the same old roundabout as usual.

Does anyone know what this flower is called?

Fallen Blossom., originally uploaded by Eyeshoot Photography.

I photographed this gorgeous flower exactly as I found it on the cobbled floor at the Triada Monastery in Crete. I have no idea what type of flower it is and would be grateful if anyone can help me with a name.

A Few Photos From Crete

A small selection of pictures taken on my recent trip to Crete - you can see many more at my Flickr site. Some new prints will be appearing at my Etsy shop as well.

Postboxes at Stavros.

Three Domes at the Triada Monastery

Monastery Cat.

Cafe Owner at Imbros - maker of Svakian Pies.

The Last Master Baklava Maker in Greece in Rethymon Old Town.

Friendly Olive Trees.

Blue, Green, White and Brown.

Back from Crete and a Treasury

We arrived home from Crete last Tuesday and have been rushing around like a mad thing pretty much ever since. Sunday has offered me the chance for a little down time despite having to bag up and freeze the epic vegetable soup with home made stock which I whipped up yesterday, popping out for ingredients for a chocolate and raspberry pavlova for supper tonight, making the meringue (photographing the process and which is now in the oven smelling yummy), putting on yet more washing, having a quick flick through The Observer. Phew. Then when Peter's back we'll be off to the airport to collect my cousin Jamie from Holland who I haven't seen for a million years, taking him to mum's house where he's staying for a couple of days before a pre-uni starting field trip, having lunch at mum's, shopping for the rest of the Pav ingredients not offered this morning by my small local shop, back home to finish the Pav, have a bit of a breather and back to mum's for supper. I 'll need another holiday after all that.

We had a lovely time in Crete and I'm working my way through the 450 photos and they'll be on line soon and there will be some new prints for my shop too.

Here's a lovely Treasury featuring my I Love You print:

I Love You
by Go Bead

Icy, red and preparing for holiday!

It's been a long time since I've posted a Treasury screen shot, so to break the drought, I give you:

Icy
by The Fuzzy Monkey

The Fuzzy Monkey has a shop full of the sweetest felted bowls embellished with buttons, stars and flowers and a cute range of knitted vases. I particularly like this little bowl:

fuzzy red felted wool bowl with three white amaryllis flowers $15

We're off on our hols to Crete on Tuesday and the flurry of finding long forgotten summery clothes has begun- I've rediscovered a fab DKNY dress from years ago which has made me happy, it's long, black, sleeveless, fitted with a tight top and a flared bottom with a zip all the way up the front, it's really comfortable and looks pretty smart, it's a bit faded now, but I think it will be coming along for the trip.....

Off out into town to play with my new little 50mm lens which I bought last weekend and haven't really used yet - I hope the rain stays away.

Mackerel on the bbq.

Fwd: BBQ mackerel., originally uploaded by Eyeshoot Photography.

Mum phoned this morning (well at 11.00) when we were still in our dressing gowns, Peter snoozing and me at my computer having just printed of a print to post to the USA on Monday (I do like to wake up to a sale) to ask if we fancied bbq mackerel for lunch. After considering the proposition for about five seconds we got our acts together and the day begun.

A quick trip into town resulted in my lovely new and much desired Nikon 50mm f/1.4 lens to replace and upgrade my similar but slightly lacking 1.8 version of the same. Adam will be pleased that I won't be constantly borrowing his!

Then off to mum's garden in a rare show of properly summery weather. Wine was uncharacteristically refused after our excesses last night and the shiny silvery fishes were slapped on the barbie bursting with bushes of rosemary and lashings of garlic. This was a first time cooking experiment and despite losing most of the skin after the first turning due to not oiling the bars, the results were delicious especially with the flesh liberally sprinkled with Maldon salt, freshly ground black pepper and a good squeeze of lemon juice. The result was very yummy and the rescued bits of skin had crisped up to perfection. I suspect we'll be doing it again!

Contemplating the View.

Mow Cop, originally uploaded by Eyeshoot Photography.

After our visit to Little Moreton Hall (see previous post for picture) we pottered down the road to Mow Cop which is a castle on a hill in Staffordshire. It was built as a summerhouse in 1754 for Randle Wilbraham I of Rode Hall. It's an imposing structure although there's not much left of it!

We had a good scramble around walking off some of the food we'd noshed at Little Moreton, it's not a great walk, only a very short climb up to the top but the views are great.

Here's Laura sitting on a rock to the side of the ruin contemplating the dramatic vista below.

Little Moreton Hall

Little Moreton Hall, originally uploaded by Eyeshoot Photography.

It's been ages since I last blogged, life's been getting in the way but today I got around to uploading some pictures from the last couple of weekends to Flickr so here's one of them.

We visited the stunning Little Moreton Hall in Cheshire with friends last weekend, it's one of the National Trust's smaller properties, in fact, I think it's pretty much the perfect size for a Sunday visit. It's small enough that you don't get bored with looking at too much stuff and it's basic enough and not full of precious pieces to make the staff a bit less paraoid about you getting close to things - there's not much to break.

We had a very nice country style lunch in the tiny tearoom, pottered around tagging on to the end of a tour, sat in the grounds eating ice cream while being hassled and hassling the masses of ducks.

A perfect Sunday's entertainment!