white light gallery & CPHphotocourses.dk blogspot

World Online Poker Champion signs with Bet24

2012-02-19T13:03:00.012+01:00

Thomas "Kallllle" Pedersen from Aarhus, Denmark won the World Championship Of Online Poker in September 2011, earning a cool $1.2 million - the highest single online tournament cash prize won by a Danish poker player ever.

A professional poker player for a number of years, Thomas has recently signed to join online poker site Bet24's professional team, and came for a publicity photo shoot with us last week. It was a great session, and I can confirm that it is possible for a hardened poker player with nerves of steel to also be a really nice guy!

Thanks to Thomas, and to Allan from Bet24, and best wishes for your collaboration.

Galilee, Israel - the beautiful land of diversity

2012-01-20T15:55:00.005+01:00

Shakshuka - eggs in a spicy sauce - is a favourite dish for brunch in Israel. Shakshuka means "all mixed up" in Hebrew, and is a metaphor for Israel itself... surprisingly diverse not only in terms of cuisine (there are culinary influences from northern Europe, the Middle East, Iraq, Yemen, North Africa and Russia in the food here) but also in religion - in the Galilee in Israel, Jews live side by side with Muslims, Christians and Drize and both Arabic and Hebrew are both widely spoken. So writes Anthea Gerrie who I spent 5 days travelling with in the Galilee region, on a commission for Food and Travel magazine.

As well as amazing food, Israel is also a country with stunning landscapes and some surprises too - who would have guessed that Israel was the third largest consumer of sushi after New York and Tokyo?....

Read the full article in the February print edition of Food and Travel magazine UK, out now.
For more culinary and travel inspiration, visit their website www.foodandtravel.com

Visit the Israel gallery on my website to see more images from the Galilee.

Love is in the air...booking your wedding photography

2011-12-28T19:35:00.008+01:00

Need to find a wedding photographer?

Maybe you just got engaged over Christmas, or have been planning your wedding for more than a year already? Either way, January and February is the high season for booking wedding photography. There will be a lot of people out there all searching for the right wedding photographer for them. It's a good idea to find the photographer you like and book well in advance to secure your date in their schedule. Saturdays, particularly in the summer months, are popular and tend to get booked early.

What should you consider?

There are many photographers out there, so how do you choose?! It is important to find one that you feel at ease with (always try to arrange to meet them in person before making your booking), and whose photography style suits you - contemporary or modern, posed or candid? Try to imagine what you would like, or look through galleries of different photographers work for inspiration. Very importantly and for your own peace of mind - check the photographer can demonstrate a depth of experience of shooting real weddings (photographing weddings well is a LOT more difficult that it seems) and that some of these have been similar to yours in terms of size and style - and that they have good references from previous clients.

Why book me to shoot your wedding?

I have shot many weddings of all shapes and sizes, in many locations here and overseas, and in all weathers over the last seven years! I am always on the look out for creative opportunities, and have learned from experience to expect the unexpected, and to deal with all sorts of challenges....Along the way I have met many wonderful people, and captured a huge amount of love, fun, and special moments. It's hard work but the most wonderful job!

I aim to capture natural emotions and the real events of the day as they happen in a modern documentary style. I also like to have time to work with the bride and groom to produce creative bridal couple shots - this involves a little posing to achieve the best result, but I work to ensure that they look natural and convey real emotion. I don't shoot all couples in the same poses - instead I create a collection of wedding photographs unique to the particular couple, and using the location they have chosen to its best advantage.

I think it is very important to develop a true and friendly rapport with the bride and groom and their guests. Being an integral part of anyone's wedding day is something I respect and consider a privilege.

I am based in Copenhagen, and am available to travel to shoot weddings in Denmark and internationally.

On location wedding packages in Copenhagen start at Kr. 3.995,- incl moms.

All day packages start at Kr. 10.995,- incl moms.

For more information, visit the wedding page on my website, or
contact me for a quotation.

To view sample wedding images from my portfolio, visit my wedding gallery.

Read references from my previous clients on my testimonials page.

More about travel photography on Aspire's blog...

2011-12-28T11:36:00.002+01:00

Aspire magazine have posted an extended article about my travel photography tips on their blog, with photographs included.

Check it out to see why I selected Bhutan, Japan, Bolivia, Poland and Peru as some of my favourite destinations for different genres of photography, and to see some sample images:

http://blogs.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/aspire/2011/12/best-photography-spots.html

To see more travel images on my website, visit the world travel gallery

Some of my favourite travel photography destinations

2011-12-19T20:43:00.002+01:00

I was asked earlier this year by Aspire magazine to provide some tips for great locations for different genres of travel photography. I was happy to oblige and you can see a snapshot of the tips column here, which forms part of an article entitled "Get the Picture" by Nathan Midgley.

In the article, Nathan discusses the expanding market for holidays aimed at serious amateur photographers, and which he introduces by stating "Photography might feel easy, but it isn't...."...never a truer word said!

Aspire is the luxury travel club magazine and website produced by Travel Weekly for travel industry professionals in the UK.

To see images from the destinations I recommend in the article and more, visit the world travel gallery on my website.

How good is the camera on your Blackberry?

2011-12-14T20:49:00.008+01:00

Most photographers will at some time find themselves in photogenic places without their camera, and getting a shot on their smartphone is better than nothing! I found myself in this situation last weekend at the Bella Sky Hotel in Copenhagen, when the unique modern architecture and panoramic view from the 23rd floor 'Sky Bar' was just too tempting - I couldn't leave without taking a few shots so decided to use it as an opportunity to put my Blackberry Bold's camera through its paces.

The camera had various scene settings to help you get better shots under different conditions (low light, landscapes, portraits etc), that you were able to set the built-in flash to on, off or auto, and that you could zoom in or out for better composition.

The impressive lighting in the Sky Bar with the reflections that overlayed the view of the city outside were quite a challenge, but using the low light setting and flash turned off, I was able to focus accurately and capture sharp shots. As you might expect, straight off the camera the images were quite "noisy", but with some noise reduction in post-production the end result was not bad at all (but some artefacts did remain). In the gorgeous morning light the next day, the camera coped admirably...sharp crisp images with no flare and nice colour saturation.

The images are around 2000px x 1500px at full size, and files are between 250kb and 550kb on average.

So definitely no substitute for a good SLR, but very handy in a "caught without a camera" crisis, and with results a lot better than I expected. I'd be interested to compare with the cameras on other smartphones...feel free to send me some sample shots!

Discounts on our courses for Photografica customers

2011-12-14T12:18:00.001+01:00

Thinking of buying a new SLR camera for yourself or as a Christmas gift? Buy it from Photografica in central Copenhagen and receive a discount card applicable to a range of our courses - while stocks last!

Photografica are having a Christmas opening day with gløg and æbleskiver this coming Sunday 18th December from 12.00-16.00, and I will be there from 13.00-15.00 to answer questions about our courses. Drop by and say hi! Photografica is located at Skindergade 41, 1159 København K.

A "camera and course" combo makes a great gift for anyone interested in photography. Our courses teach you how to get the most from your new camera by simplifying terms and explaining which functions to use in real situations. Small groups ensure personal attention for everyone. Most courses include practical shooting sessions so you can put theory into practice straight away - there's no better way to learn!

Find out more about our courses on our website here

Like our CPHphotocourses.dk page on facebook here
Like Photografica's page on facebook here

Studio Lighting Course gets creative juices flowing!

2011-12-02T10:23:00.006+01:00

Here are some pix from our recent Introduction to Studio Lighting Course. With the help of the lovely Evgenia who kindly modeled for us, everyone got to learn about the operation of the studio equipment, how to control exposure in a studio situation, how to arrange lighting to achieve different effects and moods, and how to give direction to their model.

Students were able to see and try out for themselves the effects of different lighting modifiers (softboxes, umbrellas, beauty dish, gels, snoot) ....and we even put our fan to good use, adding some great energy to some of the photographs. All the students got fantastic shots - see a sample below.

Shooting in a studio is a very different experience to shooting in natural light, and opens up a whole new world of creativity. This course is a great way to try it out, without the need to buy your own equipment.

To find out more about the course click here: Introduction to Studio Lighting
If you would like to join us on the next course on 14 January 2012, call us on 31 75 24 75, or send us an email using our contact form: Contact us

If you would be interested in modeling for one of the courses in return for receiving copies of the best shots taken by each student, drop me a line. You don't need to be a professional model...you just need a little patience and a willingness to have some fun!

Find out more about our full range of photography courses at www.CPHphotocourses.dk

How many litres of water does it take to make one pair of jeans? You won't believe it....

2011-09-07T23:14:00.013+02:00

The answer is 8,000.

If that is hard to take in, how about the fact that 16,000 litres are used to produce 1 kilo of beef, 150 litres to grow one orange and 10 litres to manufacture one sheet of paper?!! Its not often you hear statistics that really, truly make you think. But these knocked me sideways.

The stats are displayed at the interactive sustainability exhibition at the Autostadt in Wolfsburg. I was there during a tour of Lower Saxony on a commission for Food and Travel magazine back in July, with journalist Kieran Meeke. It is a unique eclectic place where you can also collect a brand new car from VW's impressive glass towers, and eat a 3-star Michelin lunch at Aqua in the Ritz Carlton afterwards, with a view of the iconic old VW factory.

Before reaching Wolfsburg, we had managed to visit another 4 cities in as many days, encountering everything from beer to bucattis, and everyone from the Pied Piper of Hameln to the (American) nightwatchman of Osnabrück, and Michelin chefs Thomas Bühner and Sven Elverfeld.

Amongst the culinary delights we sampled were rats tails (I joke you not...but at least they are made from pork and not real rats!), coffee flavoured with real vodka (but with all the alcohol removed using a very secret process perfected by Carlos Tomaas at Tomas Cafe Art), jam made with Mumme beer and the lightest and fluffiest cream cake EVER.....I think it was basically just cream and air, but it tasted amazing!

If it is quaint, cobbled-street charm you are after, Osnabrück has it in abundance. Prefer modern architecture that will make you smile?! Check out the cartoonish 'Rizzi House' in Braunschweig. Lower Saxony has something for everyone, and the ever efficient German train system make it easy as (cream) pie to explore!

To see the online version of the October article containing the article (see page 86 onwards), click here

View the images from the shoot in our Lower Saxony image gallery

Eyecatcher project : image #5

2011-08-18T11:57:00.004+02:00

On a recent trip to Australia, I visited the Sydney Opera House during what photographers often call "witching hour"...that time just before and after sunset when the light is magical and the photographic opportunities are often at their best. On this visit, it was the beautiful subtle colours of the sky silhouetting the birds circling overhead that caught my eye.

I locked exposure on the mid-tones in the sky to silhouette the birds, and used the digital 'noise' created by shooting at a high ISO to my advantage, to add a grainy atmospheric effect to the image. In post production, contrast and the colour temperature were increased to enhance the yellow tones and the contrast in the cloud areas.

f/5.0, 1/40 sec, 100mm

To view the image in larger size, visit our Eyecatcher gallery

To see more images from Australia, view the Australia gallery

For details of our photography courses, visit our new website www.CPHphotocourses.dk

Calling all Expats in Copenhagen!

2011-08-18T09:59:00.002+02:00

Are you an expat living in Copenhagen? Come along to the Copenhagen Expat Fair at the City Hall, on 13th September! Supported by the City of Copenhagen, the Copenhagen Post, Spousecare and others, the event gives expats the opportunity to talk to clubs and associations offering leisure activities for you and your family in the Copenhagen area...and try the apparently world famous "City Hall Pancakes" (that will be a first for us too!). We will be there providing information about our photography courses...hope to see some of you there!

Click the image below to view the invitation in full size. Click here to sign up to attend.

Launch of CPHphotocourses.dk

2011-07-27T18:42:00.002+02:00

It's here! This week we are excited to announce the launch of our new website, dedicated specifically to our photography courses and private photography training: CPHphotocourses.dk. We have designed the site with what we believe is a simple, fresh, easy to use format, to create a great user experience. It has its own identity but is still owned and operated by us at White Light Gallery. And to celebrate the launch of the new site, we have also launched some new courses not previously advertised!

We offer group courses and private 1-to-1 tuition for photographers of all skill levels with any camera, and offer gift cards if you would like to purchase a course or training as a gift.

We plan to launch more new courses according to demand, so if you don't see a course covering what you are looking for, write to tell us about it! We will also post special offers on the site, so check back from time to time for our news and great deals.

You can also join our mailing list, to receive our news, offers and photography tips direct to your inbox.

We look forward to seeing you on one of our courses one day soon!

Portraits in the Park - Sunday July 31st

2011-07-27T18:11:00.003+02:00

Would you like to take better photos of your family? Join us for the "Portraits in the Park" picnic - a fun and informal photography course that we are running for "Expat in Denmark", this Sunday 31st July in Kongens Have, Copenhagen.

Learn how to take great portraits, using your own camera. We will be covering composition, controlling light, achieving correct exposure, posing and more...and it's only Kr.100,- per family/camera! Everything explained in simple terms, and there'll be lots of time for questions and solving common problems.

Sign-up now to secure a place, as there are only 20 spots and they must be reserved in advance. To find out more and sign up, click the link below to Expat in Denmark's website:

Expat in Denmark Portraits in the Park event

Hope to see you there!

Sarah

New Copenhagen walking photography workshop

2011-07-16T09:30:00.027+02:00

This month we announce the launch of a new photography course for beginners - a one day walking tour of wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen! During a fun and interactive day, attendees will learn to master basic photography techniques, whilst visiting a selection of the best sights that the city has to offer.

Next course date : 13th August 2011

Price per person Kr. 1.650,-

For beginner or intermediate skill levels and any type of digital camera

8 hours, 10.00 - 18.00

Lunch and entry fee to Tivoli Gardens not included (budget Kr300,- for this)

What the course covers:

Understanding of the most important camera buttons and functions and when to use them

How to control your camera and leave automatic mode behind!

Aperture and shutter speed - what they are and how they work together

Depth of field - how to control blurring the background

Landscape, portraiture and macro (close up) photography skills

Composition and framing

Lenses and focal length - which lenses to use and when

Use of light - how to identify and use direction and properties of light to enhance your photos

and more!.....

Sights visited:

Kongens Have gardens and the beautiful Rosenborg castle

The colourful Nyhavn canal area

The Opera House standing magestically on the waters edge

The Amalienborg Palace

Skuespilhuset - the beautiful and modern home of the Royal Danish Theatre with a panoramic view of the harbour

Christiania, the renowned "free state" within Copenhagen (note that photography is not allowed inside Christiania itself)

Strøget - the longest pedestrianised shopping street in the world

Tivoli Gardens , the beautiful and historic amusement park with its iconic entrance gate

Click here to view other photography courses and private training options on our website

Copenhagen city tour run in association with our affiliate, Focus10 photography in Australia.

Galician Gastronomy article in this month's Rejs magazine

2011-07-10T15:13:00.010+02:00

My article on Galician gastronomy is published in this July's edition of Vagabond Rejs magazine, out now in Denmark. The setting for the shoot was the beautiful and historical city of Santiago de Compostela.

Galicia is often referred to as "green Spain", and it is distinct from the rest of the country in many ways - rugged unspoilt coastline, mild Atlantic climate and Celtic-influenced culture. Santiago de Compostela is Galicia's capital, and the ultimate destination of the "Way of St James" pilgrimage route. It is a magical atmospheric place with magnificent granite architecture, narrow stone medieval streets and also a passion for food, with a buzzing tapas and restaurant scene offering amazing traditional and modern cuisine. See the full article in the magazine.

The full gallery of images from the shoot can be viewed on our website:

Galician gastronomy

For more information about Rejs magazine, visit http://www.vagabond.info/default.asp?id=2397

Dubai - the land of reinvention

2011-06-16T23:21:00.002+02:00

In April this year, I visited Dubai for the second time. The extent of its transformation since I was last there more than 10 years ago is breathtaking. It is now the place where the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, dominates a skyline that defies gravity. Where you can go skiing inside a shopping mall or "dune-bashing" in a 4WD in the desert, buy gold by the metre, live on your own island visible from space (if you have the $$$!) and shop until you literally drop, if that's your (Louis Vuitton) bag. Or if you're more of a beach-baby, you can gaze over the waters of the Persian Gulf, watching VIP guests land on the helipad of the world's only (self-proclaimed) 7 star hotel, built just offshore in the shape of a ship's sail.

But amongst all this innovation and opulence, glimpses of "old Dubai" charm still exist, in the shady streets of the Bastakiya district, in the souks where haggling is still a way of life, and along the Creek where traditional wooden dhows and abra taxi boats spill their cargoes and passengers onto the shore. And the desert has an eternal jaw-dropping beauty that rivals anything made by man.

Dubai is a land of extremes and extraordinary contrasts, that really does have to be seen to be believed. There's nowhere else quite like it...

View the gallery here: Dubai gallery

The Children's Fair 2011

2011-06-15T20:05:00.003+02:00

‎"The Childrens Fair 2011" organised by the Copenhagen Post will be held this Sunday 19th June at Valbyparken, 14.00-17.00. More than 40 associations and companies (including us) will exhibit the children's activities, classes and clubs they offer, and there will be demonstrations of ballet, softball and rugby. It's aimed at both Danish and international families. Check out the attached flyer for more info. Should be fun - hope to see you there!

Winter in Australia

2011-06-15T13:25:00.003+02:00

I visited Australia in April, when the season was creeping slowly from autumn to winter. Although not a harsh, wintery climate by European standards, it still made for variable weather and gorgeous moody skies. Visiting at this time presented an opportunity to take a great mix of shots, departing from the usual "sun and sand" image of Australia that we so often see.

I visited Sydney, Melbourne and Perth - three very different cities, each showing a different face of Australia and offering great photographic opportunities at every turn....

The full gallery can be viewed on our website here: Australia gallery

Food and Travel magazine article - Seine et Marne, France

2011-04-30T23:12:00.015+02:00

Marne-la-Vallée station is where the tourist masses disembark the Eurostar train to visit Disneyland Paris. But little do many of these visitors know, that the beautiful and historic Seine et Marne countryside is just a stone's throw away...

Seine et Marne's landscapes and charming villages such as Barbizon, Fonteinebleau and Moret-sur-Loing provided inspiration for renowned 19th century impressionist painters such as Money and Sisley. Today, it is also the land of brie, cream, and barley sugar made to age-old traditional recipes. Of patisseries, pastel-coloured macarons and poppies. Ice-cream and jam flavoured with roses. Rolling farmland, cobblestoned villages, scenic rivers and chateaux. And if you like a little 'contemporary' or 'quirky' to go with your 'rustic', you can eat in a restaurant serving molecular cuisine or stay in a tree-house hotel. Quite simply, it is the France that dreams are made of...and apparently, the forest of Fonteinebleau actually gets more visits annually than Eurodisney!

I was commissioned to photograph the region last Spring, travelling with the wonderful journalist Michael Raffael. The article is published in May's issue of Food and Travel magazine in the UK, which is out now.

To view the full image gallery on my website click here: Seine et Marne gallery

The magazine containing the full 11-page article will be available to view online next month. Watch this space for the link....in the meantime, here's a preview of a few of the pages and images.

Article for Lloyds Register UK - Jacob Sterling from Maersk Line discusses sustainability

2011-04-28T10:28:00.002+02:00

In February this year, I photographed Jacob Sterling, Head of Climate and the Environment at Maersk Line for an article that recently appeared in Insight, the magazine published by the UK's Lloyds Register Group.

Before joining Maersk, Jacob spent much time in Borneo researching his Biology MSc and has worked for the WWF. He is one of Maersk's leaders in their efforts to be more sustainable. It was a pleasure to meet Jacob and interesting to spend a rather chilly hour on the shoreline near Maersk's offices on Esplanaden, Copenhagen, chatting about his role whilst photographing him.

To read the full article pdf, click here: Insight February 2011 pdf

Eyecatcher Project: image #3

2011-04-05T09:31:00.004+02:00

Whilst on a recent visit to my hometown of Benfleet in the UK, I visited the ruins of Hadleigh Castle, situated on a windy hilltop overlooking the Thames Estuary. I will be posting a gallery of shots soon, but in the meantime I have selected this image for my Eyecatcher Project.

I chose a viewpoint downhill from the peak of the hill, so that the trunk of the tree on the other side of the peak disappeared below the horizon. I exposed for the sky thereby throwing the tree and hillside into silhouette, and composed the shot with the tree off-centre and low in the frame. In post production, the saturation of blue in the sky was enhanced.

Eyecatcher #3 : Tree Below the Horizon

f10 1/400 sec 58mm

To view the image in full size on our website click here: Eyecatcher Gallery

Muslims in Copenhagen - At Home in Europe Project with Open Society Foundations

2011-03-17T08:44:00.009+01:00

Last year I was commissioned by the Open Society Foundations, to take photographs at the Eid Festival in Copenhagen. One of the Foundations' initiatives is the At Home in Europe Project, which seeks to improve the integration of Europe’s minority and marginalized communities, including Muslims. They sponsored a photograph booth at the Festival, where I photographed visitors of all nationalities and backgrounds, who were asked to answer a simple question about identity and belonging - "Who are you?". They could choose to interpret the question any way they wished and were photographed with their answer.

It was a really fun and good-natured day despite the wet weather, where we met visitors from all over the world and a truly diverse range of backgrounds.

Visit Open Society Foundations website to see their recent article about the event and find out more about the At Home in Europe project.

Open Society Foundations was founded by the investor and philanthropist George Soros in 1984. The Foundations' aim is to "build vibrant and tolerant democracies whose governments are accountable to their citizens. To achieve this mission, they seek to shape publolicies that assure greater fairness in political, legal and economic systems and safeguard fundamental rights."

To see more images, visit our website: Open Society Foundations Gallery

Eyecatcher Project : image #2

2011-03-02T23:50:00.006+01:00

This image was shot from the gallery of the church in Frederiksborg Slot, Hillerød. A shaft of sunlight from one of the windows illuminated some of the chairs in the pews, turning them a beautiful deep orange. I used the gallery rail to steady the camera and opened my aperture up very wide, to avoid camera shake. I exposed for the chair that was the most brightly lit, rendering the darker areas almost black. Minimal post-production - just a little increase in saturation and contrast, and a vignette to further darken the corners.

Eyecatcher #2 : Chairs in Sunlight

f 2.8 1/80s 100mm

See this image in larger size and higher quality in the

Eyecatcher Project Gallery on our website

Being an expat photographer in Denmark - interview in the Copenhagen Post

2011-02-24T17:10:00.004+01:00

I was recently interviewed by Victoria Steffensen of the Copenhagen Post, about being an expat and starting my photography business here in Denmark. The article appears on page 11 of this weeks edition... and I was surprised and honoured to find out that I also made it onto the front page! Big thanks to Victoria for making the interview an enjoyable experience and for the great finished article.

Photographs from my shoot this week of "Oleanna", the new play from That Theatre, also appear in the "In & Out" entertainment guide in this weeks edition. See the online version of In & Out here: Copenhagen Post In & Out

For more information about the Copenhagen Post, the Danish news in English, visit their website http://www.cphpost.dk or their facebook page

Oleanna - an electrifying play by That Theatre

2011-02-23T14:00:00.009+01:00

Earlier this week I was at Krudttønden, Copenhagen to shoot reahearsals of Oleanna, a forthcoming stage production by That Theatre company which premieres on February 28th and runs until March 26th.

The play is written by the award-winning David Mamet whose work also includes "The Postman Always Rings Twice" and "The Untouchables". That Theatre's production stars Ian Burns and Sira Stampe and is directed by Barry McKenna. Their website promises "electrifying dialogue, blazing emotion and an ending that will leave you talking for weeks". Having witnessed Ian and Sira in action during the shoot, I can confirm that the first two claims are most definitely true, and I am looking forward to seeing the ending unfold at the premiere....it's a must see!

See more images from the shoot here: Oleanna Gallery
Buy tickets at Billetten.dk
Find out more about the play at That Theatre

The largest Renaissance palace in Scandinavia

2011-02-21T10:29:00.003+01:00

It was a crisp, cloudless, sunny winter day as I approached Frederiksborg Slot, its magestic grandeur reflected in the frozen lake by which it is surrounded. Built in the 17th century, it is the largest Renaissance palace in Scandinavia and is a place of breathtaking beauty both inside and out.

Since the late 19th century it has housed Denmark's museum of National History, and its huge collection of paintings, portraits and furniture is quite awe-inspiring. I would thoroughly recommend a visit - allow at least half a day to see it all!

The entrance fee is Kr. 60,-. Photography without flash is permitted but take your camera in as small a camera bag as possible, as no large bags are allowed inside.

Click here to see a collection of images from the day:
Frederiksborg Slot gallery

Watch this space for a later post to find out which of these images was selected for our Eyecatcher project...

'Eyecatcher' project launch

2011-02-14T00:10:00.013+01:00

Today I launch "Eyecatcher", a creative photography project with an open theme. I will post one new photo every 7-14 days, of something or someone that catches my eye. The ordinary or the extraordinary. In the studio or out and about. Interesting people. Beautiful or not so beautiful places. Sometimes with, sometimes without, post-production. Just about anything.

The aim is keep my own creative juices flowing, provide a brief summary of how the shots were taken for those who are interested, describe any post-production work that has been carried out and to invite discussion. So please feel free to post comments by clicking on the comments link at the bottom of this post.

Eyecatcher Project #1 - Soda Bubbles

See this image in larger size and higher quality in the

Eyecatcher Project Gallery on our website

In the studio, soda was poured into a glass and lit from behind by two Bowens strobes. The soda was stirred to make it fizz just a little and the bubbles against the inside rim of the glass were shot using a macro 100mm lens. I chose to process the image to give it an surreal feel. It was cropped and rotated, the orange / brown colour tones of the soda were inverted (image - adjustments - invert) and a hue/saturation adjustment applied to intensify the blue tones.

Want to learn more about photography? Join our "Starting Photography" course or book some private training.

Klingen and Intens release new singles

2011-02-01T22:56:00.006+01:00

Klingen and Intens, both signed to the Duo music label, released new singles today. Klingens track "Engle Smiler" featuring Niarn is currently at number 1 on the hip hop/rap chart on the Danish iTunes store, and Intens are at number 28 on dancechart.dk with "Vi Går Live".

They came to the studio last year for a photo shoot along with their management and a TV crew who were filming them for a TV documentary pilot. It was a lot of fun..and crowded! Klingen has used one of the images from the shoot as the cover shot for his single, and Intens are using theirs to promote their single on facebook and for their promo tour which starts 26 February.

We wish them all big congratulations and continuing success! Click the links below to find their singles on iTunes or to visit their facebook pages:

http://itunes.apple.com/dk/album/engle-smiler-feat-niarn/id413268899?i=41326890

http://www.facebook.com/KlingenFanside

http://itunes.apple.com/dk/album/id413252780

http://www.facebook.com/intensonline

To see more images from their photo shoot, visit the gallery on our website: Klingen and Intens gallery

Our new exhibition opens at BioM restaurant

2011-01-26T19:48:00.006+01:00

We today opened a new exhibition of travel prints at BioM organic restaurant, Fredericiagade 78, Copenhagen. Drop in for a delicious organic brunch, lunch or dinner and take a look at the collection, which includes images from Brazil, Vietnam, Peru, Japan, Ireland, Cambodia and USA.

All displayed art is for sale. Prices from Kr. 495,- incl moms.

For more information about the exhibition prints and prices, please contact us

Click here to go to BioM's website: BioM

Get the Most from Your Camera - event for Spousecare

2011-01-19T09:15:00.006+01:00

Spousecare assists the spouses of employees recruited into Danish companies from overseas, to help them feel at home here, assist them in getting to know the Danish culture and to establish a social network of their own.

I will soon be hosting an informal event, open to members of Spousecare, called "Get the Most from Your Camera", where I will be providing tips and advice on how to take better photos with any camera, in a fun, informal and inspiring environment.

The event will be held at the Fotocafeen, at Vesterbrogade 45, 1620 Copenhagen (very close to both Vesterport and Hovedbanegården stations). This is Denmark's first cafe devoted to lovers of photography, with exhibitions of beautiful prints, a professional quality printing service, and photo books and magazines to browse through over your cup of coffee. You can even use Photoshop on their computer.

Come along and meet some new people, and take home some new photography skills!

If you would like to find out about joining Spousecare and to register for the event, contact info@spousecare.dk or visit http://spousecare.eu/

"Get the Most From Your Camera"
11th February 2011 at 10.00-12.00
Vesterbrogade 45, 1620 Copenhagen
Kr. 75,- per person
Spousecare members-only event. Pre-registration by 1 February required.
20 places available.

Ian Burns in "Oleanna" - That Theatre Company

2011-01-07T11:37:00.011+01:00

I had the pleasure of working with and photographing the actor Ian Burns just before Christmas. Ian is one of the founders and principal actors of "that theater company" in Copenhagen, which stages theatre productions in the English language, and appeals to native English speakers, danes, tourists, students - in fact, pretty much everybody!

Their next production "Oleanna", Pulitzer prize-winner David Mamet's most controversial drama and a play with just two actors, promises to be explosive and to provoke heated debate amongst the audience. Their website invites you to "take a side...if you can". The play runs from Feb 28 to March 26 2011. Tickets available now. For more information about "Oleanna" or that theatre company, visit http://www.that-theatre.com/.

"Understand Your Camera" course - 50% off for 24 hours!

2010-12-16T08:21:00.001+01:00

Offer price: Kr. 497,- incl moms (save Kr. 498,-)

Today (16th December 2010), we are offering a huge 50% off our "Understand Your Camera" course on the "I Love Lyngby" website - for 24 hours only. The offer is limited to ten places - five each on 16th and 29th January 2011.

This is an introductory course, for beginners who own either a compact or SLR camera. It makes a great gift for anyone who owns a camera, or is going to receive one for Christmas. Personalised gift cards can be provided.

Attendees receive 3 hours tuition in our studio in Lyngby, including:

the most important functions and menu options on their camera
when and how to use them to get the best results
composition tips
how to avoid common mistakes
techniques for better portraits
and more!

It will help users feel more confident about operating their cameras in modes other than automatic and see an improvement in their photographs straight away. The small group sizes ensure that everyone can receive personal attention and have time to ask questions.

The discounted places can only be booked on www.ilovelyngby.com, and will be guaranteed once five of the places have been sold. Book for yourself or as a gift for someone special this Christmas...but hurry - the offer only lasts until midnight on 16 December 2010!

The wonders of Nepal

2010-12-07T12:30:00.013+01:00

A commission for Food and Travel magazine earlier this year took me to Nepal, together with writer Lucy Gillmore. We trekked in the Annapurna surrounded by jaw-dropping views, got up close and personal with rhinos on a jungle safari, flew in a small aircraft over the peak of Mount Everest, visited local villages, experienced the chaotic buzz of Kathmandu and the contrasting oasis of tranquility that is Dwarikas boutique hotel...and met friendly people and ate amazing food everywhere we went. And I discovered that eating daal bhaat (traditional Nepali rice and lentils) with your fingers is a lot harder than it looks!.....

The article appears in the January issue of the magazine which is out now in the UK, with an image from Nepal on one of the two different front covers.

To view the full gallery of images from the trip, click here : Nepal Gallery

To find out more about Food and Travel, or to subscribe, visit www.foodandtravel.com

Images of Krakow

2010-12-03T14:15:00.025+01:00

Krakow may be best known by many people for its proximity to Auschwitz and the horrific events that occurred there under Nazi occupation during World War II. The tragedy of this war-time loss can still be felt and seen here, but Krakow is also a beautiful city in its own right, with many other reasons to visit. It boasts the largest medieval square in Europe, plus Poland's most visited attraction and UNESCO world heritage site - the breathtakingly beautiful Wieliczka Salt Mine. You can tour the sprawling communist-built Nowa Huta district in an old Trabant car and see a Stalinist tank parked on the pavement. You can also visit stunning churches and the historic Wawel castle, dance on the bar-top in the vibrant Kazimierz, eat in great restaurants and meet friendly welcoming people. It is a city of contrasts, quirks and surprises. Special thanks to Crazy Guides and Cracow Trips for their guidance... and patience!

To view the image gallery, click the link below. The first page provides a little information about each of the districts of the City. You can pause the slideshow (pause button in bottom left of the gallery screen) if you would like more time to read:

Link to Krakow Image Gallery

To see images of Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II Birkenau, click the link to the separate gallery below. Please note that this gallery contains images of concentration / forced labour camps and victim's belongings that some may find distressing.

Auschwitz I and II gallery

Style Makeover Day August 2010

2010-09-12T10:36:00.005+02:00

Seven girls, each with their own style, personality and ideas for their perfect look, booked a Makeover Day in late August. They spent time first with professional stylist Tanja Nielsen who applied their make-up and styled their hair, and then each had a shoot with me in the studio. If anyone was a little nervous of getting in front of the lens, dutch courage was provided in the form of moral support from the other girls, plus a glass or several of wine! After 9 busy hours of wardrobe changes, hair curling, applying false eyelashes, posing, pouting and loads of fun, everyone had done an amazing job and looked fabulous.

Click here to see a selection more images from the day: Makeovers gallery

2-hour style makeover sessions including make-up, hair styling, a 1 hour photo shoot, online gallery and edited images on disc costs Kr. 3.500,- incl. moms. Discounts are given for two or more friends who book to have their sessions consecutively on the same day. Gift vouchers are also available if you would like to book a session as a gift - they make unusual and very special presents!

Call or email us for more information, or visit the information page on our website (scroll down to "Portraiture"): Makeover info or Contact us

After the session, we can produce prints, albums, portfolios or wall-art if you wish, so you have a stylish memento of your day in the studio. Pricelist available on request.

Stylist: Tanja Nielsen of Total Styling

Copenhagen images for Food & Travel magazine, UK

2010-09-06T22:38:00.013+02:00

Back in late June, I was commissioned by Food and Travel magazine in the UK to shoot images of Copenhagen for a "Gourmet Traveller" article for their October issue. I accompanied the charismatic journalist Michael Raffael for four days, visiting a selection of the best restaurants, cafes and hotels that my home city of Copenhagen has to offer. Along the way, we had the opportunity to explore "new Nordic cuisine", meet the gastronomic entrepeneur Claus Meyer plus many talented chefs, and to see their kitchens in action.

The October issue, containing the article entitled "Copenhagen's new Nordic cuisine" is out now. The magazine is packed with articles on eating, drinking and gourmet travelling to destinations worldwide, plus loads of news, offers and fantastic recipes.

To view the full article online, visit http://view.vcab.com/?vcabID=gpSelggScghclp&page=71

To view the gallery of images from the shoot on our website, including those in the Food and Travel article plus more, click here: Copenhagen gallery

To see more of Food and Travel magazine online or to subscribe, visit: http://www.foodandtravel.com/

"Baby's First Year" portrait packages - new product launch!

2010-08-25T16:34:00.021+02:00

We are pleased to announce the launch of a new great value product - our "Baby's First Year" portrait packages. Babies change so fast in their first 12 months of life, and we aim to help parents capture all those special milestones by offering them the opportunity to make several visits to the studio over the course of the year at a discounted price.

All packages include the studio photo-sessions, an online photo gallery with a password that can be shared with family and friends, plus a hard-cover photo book including shots from each session, at the end of the year. Clients can then choose which additional print products they would like included in the price by opting for one of the three different packages.

For more information, see our website: Baby's First Year packages

To view our baby portraiture gallery, click here: Babies photo gallery

Art exhibition at BioM

2010-08-18T19:57:00.010+02:00

A collection of our landscape images is now on display at BioM, an organic restaurant at Fredericiagade 78, Copenhagen.

BioM's tagline is "mad med mening" ("food with meaning"). In addition to using organic ingredients in their dishes, the proprietors Brian and Søren also try wherever possible to use organic and recycled materials - even their restaurant chairs are made of recycled plastic bottles and wool. BioM has a bright and airy stylish interior and it's a great spot for brunch, lunch or dinner.

We are delighted to be invited to exhibit there and believe that the images, which depict the beauty of the natural world, complement the restaurant's organic philosophy. The collection on display includes landscape images from Scotland, Ireland, Laos, Bhutan, Bolivia, Vietnam and USA. Contact us or BioM if you would like to request a pricelist.

To learn more about BioM, visit their website: http://www.biom.dk/

Spitzenklasse at Rust

2010-07-11T23:23:00.008+02:00

Spitzenklasse raised the roof with a fantastic gig at 'Rust' in Copenhagen last night. On one of the hottest summer nights of the year, an enthusiastic, whipped-up crowd were jumping despite the heat, and we were there to capture the moment... Coooool gig guys.. you rocked the house!

Were you there?... spot yourself in the crowd! Couldn't make it and want to see what you missed? Visit the full photo gallery on our website:
Photo Gallery Spitzenklasse at Rust

Become a fan of White Light Gallery photography on Facebook:
White Light Gallery Facebook Page

Cara Lea Dawson publicity shoot

2010-06-17T15:12:00.008+02:00

Cara Lea Dawson, a singer from the UK, recently visited our studio in Copenhagen for a new set of publicity shots. Cara's musical influences include Katy Perry, Ida Maria, Joss Stone and Amy Winehouse. As well as having an amazing voice, Cara is also a versatile model, pulling off many looks ranging from gritty urban to soft and pretty..and using an eclectic range of props including stepladders, knives and roses! What originally began as a two-day shoot then turned into a two-week extended stay due to the volcanic eruption in Iceland.....

Click here to see the image gallery of the shoot: Cara Lea Dawson

To find out more about Cara, visit www.myspace.com/caraleadawson

Shots in polka-dot dress and with flower in hair styled by Tanja Nielsen: http://www.tntotalstyling.dk/

Faces & Places: a private exhibition at Maersk

2010-05-21T21:44:00.020+02:00

I am thrilled to have been invited to exhibit my work on the premises of one of Denmark's largest and most respected companies. From now until the beginning of August 2010, I am staging a private exhibition Maersk's offices in Copenhagen. Entitled "Faces and Places", it includes a selection of 18 portrait and travel images from my portfolio.

Contact us if you would like to organise of a private exhibition on your company's premises.
To view more images, visit www.whitelightgallery.com

Denis Racette: article for Journal Les Affaires, Canada

2010-05-09T12:42:00.006+02:00

I was recently commissioned to take a portrait photograph of Denis Racette for Journal Les Affaires magazine in Canada. Denis originates from Quebec and is the International Marketing Director for Tuborg. The photograph was taken inside the fascinating historic brewery house at the Carlsberg factory in Copenhagen.

To see the photograph and article by Diane Bérard, click here:
Journal Les Affaires

Photo-art exhibition in Hørsholm, 24 and 25 April 2010

2010-04-20T22:30:00.004+02:00

I am excited to announce that I will be exhibiting a collection of photo-art prints at the premises of "Comfort Clinique", Usserød Kongevej 22, Hørsholm, on 24 and 25 April from 10.00 until 15.00.

View newspaper article in Hørsholm Ugebladet (see page 23) : http://www.e-pages.dk/ugebladet/241/

See online article: Ugebladet online

I will also be setting up a studio and offering portrait photo shoots at the clinic on both of the exhibition days, between 07.45 and 09.45 and between 15.15 and 18.00, for Kr. 495,- which is less than half our normal studio portrait price.

Entry to the exhibition is free, refreshments will be served, and a 10% discount will be offered on the first three print sales. Discounts will also be offered on all print orders and photography bookings.

For more information and/or to book a portrait shoot, call me on 31 75 24 75 or see the news page on my website: news

Portrait-shoot bookings can also be made online: visit www.comfortclinique.dk and click 'booking'.

Or just pop in to say hello.. I look forward to seeing you there!

Sarah

1940's glamour

2010-04-07T19:21:00.004+02:00

With the help of gorgeous model Aleksandra and the ever-fantastic stylist Tanja Nielsen, the glamour of the 1940's was re-created in the studio last week. Diamonds, pearls, chic style and ruby red lips that could stop traffic...

click here to view the gallery: Aleksandra 1940's

To see more of Tanja's styling work, visit www.tntotalstyling.dk

Fashion shoot with make-up artist Tanja Nielsen

2010-03-24T07:52:00.009+01:00

I recently had the opportunity to work with fabulous make-up artist and stylist Tanja Nielsen on a fashion shoot in the studio. Everyone worked really hard and did an absolutely amazing job. The results are fantastic - big thanks to Tanja and to models Tina and Emilie. Click the links below to see images from the shoot:

Emilie image gallery

Tina image gallery

To see more of Tanja Nielsen's work, visit http://www.tntotalstyling.dk/

Spitzenklasse press photo shoot

2010-03-23T08:21:00.007+01:00

Last week the music group 'Spitzenklasse', one of the 24 finalists in this years KarriereKanonen competition run by DR, came to the studio for a press photo shoot. Frederik, Alex and Jonathan were really fun to work with, and their electronic/rap track is cool.... find out more about them and listen to their track on dr.dk and become a fan on facebook - links below. Good luck with the competition guys!

Click here to see more images from the shoot: Image gallery

Visit Spitzenklasse's page on DR and hear their track:
Spitzenklasse KarriereKanonen 2010

On facebook: www.facebook.com/spitzenklasse

Baby James

2010-03-21T18:07:00.005+01:00

Baby portrait shoots are always fun and last week's shoot with little 10 month old James was no exception.. he laughed and smiled his way through the shoot and had us all in hysterics.. he has such a big personality already!

Click here to see more photos from the shoot: Baby Gallery

Naja puppy portraits

2010-03-12T21:24:00.007+01:00

Naja is a beautiful St Bernard puppy who was brought to the studio for a portrait shoot and turned out to be a natural in front of the camera. She took the whole thing in her stride and posed perfectly!...

Galician Gastronomy in Santiago de Compostela

2010-03-11T22:14:00.014+01:00

In mid-February, I was commissioned to shoot Galician gastronomy in the beautiful historical city of Santiago de Compostela. Galicia is often referred to as "green Spain", and it is distinct from the rest of Spain in many ways - rugged unspoilt coastline, mild Atlantic climate and Celtic-influenced culture. Santiago de Compostela is Galicia's capital, and is a magical place with a passion for food - magnificent granite architecture, narrow stone medieval streets and a buzzing tapas and restaurant scene with amazing traditional and modern cuisine. Many thanks to Turismo Santiago for looking after us so well.

To see more images from the trip click here: Gastronomy in Galicia

Duo Music shoot and TV documentary

2010-03-03T21:58:00.014+01:00

Last weekend we had music artists Klingen and INTENS, plus the production and management team from Duo Music, in the studio for a shoot. They were accompanied by a TV documentary crew who were following them for a week, filming a pilot TV show. It was a new experience for me to be in front of the camera as well as behind it... and we set a new record for the most people we have had in the studio at once! Thanks to everyone involved for a really great day.

To view the images from the shoot click here: Duo Music gallery

Find out more about Duo Music at www.duo-music.dk

Portrait shoot: Umar Nyonyintono

2010-02-06T18:27:00.045+01:00

I had the pleasure of working with model and actor Umar Nyonyintono in the studio this week. It was a really fun, collaborative photo session with creative input from both of us.

Click here to view the images: Umar Nyonyintono gallery

G-star raw reporter competition

2010-01-27T08:30:00.013+01:00

I have entered a competition run by the fashion label G-star. The prize is to photograph New York fashion week for them.

To see the photo I have entered and to vote for me, click the title of this post or the link below. You can vote once every day until 1st February 2010, and also pass the link on to others. Thanks for your support!

http://nyfw.g-star.com/index.php?id=1370

New images: West Coast USA

2010-01-22T21:32:00.014+01:00

I have just returned from an amazing photography trip to west coast USA. We covered an enormous 2000 miles in 2 weeks, visiting San Francisco, Yosemite National Park, Los Angeles, Monument Valley, Death Valley, the Grand Canyon and ending with New Year's Eve in Las Vegas (where crazy doesn't even come close!..). Beautiful natural landscapes, sun and snow, and cities that never sleep.. Check out the images in recent work on my website.

Launch of new website

2010-01-22T21:19:00.012+01:00

I am very excited to announce the launch of my new photography website. The address remains the same: www.whitelightgallery.com. The site contains two different sets of galleries - 'recent work' showing collections of images from recent shoots and 'portfolio' containing images grouped by genre. The image size has been increased and there is an option to view the site in full screen. Please feel free to take a look at the new site and post any feedback here on the blog.