Wedding with a twist

Without doubt the wettest wedding I’ve ever had the please of participating at but also the most interesting. It took place July 30th on Glastonbury Tor. For a little bit of background to this magical place...the town of Glastonbury has a history immense and intriguing, full of myths and legends they combine in such a way that you cannot but feel the “vibes” and powerful energy of the town. Glastonbury is the cradle of Christianity in England but is also reputed to be the burial place of King Arthur. Glastonbury is believed to have been a site for pre-Christian worship. It’s creation dates back five thousand years. All that remains of the medieval church at the top of the Tor is the tower. The legend of Avalon as told in Celtic folklore Avalon was an isle of enchantment, the meeting place of the dead. Legend has it that King Arthur, and his wife Guinevere, are buried in the grounds of Glastonbury Abbey. So what better spiritual center to celebrate your “marriage” in. Though when it rains there is no cover so it’s essential that you employ the mind over matter theory and feel the love. The groom in kilt is in fact Italian and his bride to be English and they were both delightful and positive while the rain came down in torrents. As a photographer trying to get images and at the same time trying to protect my equipment it was the most difficult shoot but as I mentioned earlier the most interesting and somewhat fun shoot I’ve ever done.

Final of the coupe de France in Réville

Coupe de France The normally sedate town of Réville in the Cotentin Normandy was a hive of activity this morning with the preparations of the coupe de France of pedal cars. From the atmosphere of excitement and tension one could get the sense that this was not just a Sunday afternoon of fun, the drivers and their vehicules were all under scrutiny from the gathering audience who had travelled from as far away as the UK for this big race. The cars were in all makes and shapes, some serious looking machines and many comical looking contraptions were getting last minutes tune ups and polishing. By 2pm the atmosphere was tense with anticipation for the starting gun to be fired, drivers stretched their muscles and limbered up in the hope to avoid the cramps that arrive after pedalling like hell in a tight space for 3 hours. The circuit was in the town and no more than a kilometer in distance which circumnavigated the church passing by the local baker, butcher and the only hotel in the sleepy village which today was alive with visitors. By 2.45pm the contestants starting squeezing into their respective "cars" many of them disguised as cartoon characters or traditional Normande dress. They are not only judged on speed but on their costume and the decoration of their "cars". Bang on 3pm the starters gun was fired and the "drivers" took off in earnest and with all their might in order to get poll position in the first lap. Spiderman was up to the task closely followed by the union jack. Tailgating was it seems obligatory, and when the first tense laps were passed some voiced their annoyance of being tailgated by saying 'you're giving me a pain in the arse!' But it was all good fun. People clapped and cheered as they zoomed past, though not all had the speed to zoom. The weather was perfect, no wind, some sunshine with lots of huge cumolo nimbus clouds creating a dramatic backdrop to this important sporting event held every year in Réville. I might just join in next year so watch this space...

Ireland and Photo tours

Are photo tours for you? Do you have an interest in the great outdoors and a desire to discover Ireland, and or France? Are you curious and enjoy getting lost and off the beaten track. My tours always end up off the beaten track! A photo workshop is where you get advice and instruction on how best to capture what’s in front of your camera. It’s important that before you book your tour/workshop that you make as sure as is possible that it suits your needs. And never hesitate to ask a question,more often than not it's a question others in the group hesitated to ask. If you're a beginner I strongly advise you to try and get some one on one tuition before going on a group tour. If you need more info feel free to reach out to me @ kevinhayden62@hotmail.com or Tel 06 71 93 72 81 If you’re interests are in architecture then a city based tour of Paris, Dublin or Rome for instance would satisfy your needs. Likewise if you’re a street photographer these cities are perfect. Make sure your tour organizer has inside knowledge and knows the area well. But don’t get stressed if or when they get lost, that is often the time when the magic happens. Everything happens for a reason and being able to recognize the opportunities that have been presented to you is a skill in itself and one that I talk about on my tours and workshops. Being centered, silent and in the moment. Taking your time to breathe, closing your eyes and connecting with the earth beneath your feet, making that connection and having a communion with your environment or subject will lead to creating images that the viewer can also connect with. Remember a piece of blank paper is just a piece of blank paper, as a photographer your aim is to put some feeling and emotion on that blank piece of paper. You want your image to touch and move people. Move them enough to buy the image and help pay for your next tour of Ireland or France with me Kevin Hayden as your guide and

teacher. One last tip, make sure you check out the images from previous tours that way you will see if the tour leader can take a photo and a photo style that appeals to you.