Henry Szwinto Photography
Follow me
Latest Photography News
Downward Dog
This photo of Vincent has just been given “Front Page Image” status on PurplePort. In many ways it follows on from my image Top Dog which was also given FPI status but Downward Dog came first. When Vincent wants to play he always adopts the position of Downward Dog so I simply had to do a photo of him reading a book on Pilates for dogs. Maybe I should do a series. I’m working with a bodybuilder later today so maybe in the next one Vincent will be visiting the gym.
This was a composite of 6 images plus some extra colouring.
Another Front Page Image!
After my success a couple of days ago I now have another Front Page Image on PurplePort. This photo called “Getting Carried Away” was great fun to do and it’s something I can provide as part of my Family Photography. If you are interested get in touch and let’s talk about your ideas or take a look at my Family Portrait Page Always start with the thought that anything is possible.
Top Dog
This is one of my favourite photos so I’m pleased to say Top Dog has been awarded “Front Page Image” status on PurplePort. PurplePort is an online forum for photographers, models, MUAs, dress designers etc. and there are some very talented people there so this is a nice feather in my cap. This has led to an interesting offer from a London studio. It would great to get my work seen a bit more in the big city.
Outnumbered!
I did a family photo shoot with Geoff, Katie and the girls a few years back and this image that came from the shoot is still one of my favourites. It does me pretty well in various photo competitions and again won a small prize for me yesterday. The whole process of this kind of shoot is a lot of fun for everybody involved and can create some images above and beyond the “usual”. The photos can also make great presents for Nan and Grandad for birthdays or even Father’s Day.
If you are interested in a family photo shoot then please take a look and click here:- “Family Photo Shoot”
Baby Blue Tits.
So today our Blue Tits were leaving the box. Lovely little things and a rare chance to use my 50mm macro lens to photograph birds.
Which do you think is better?
Both these pictures are of the same tern fishing for prawns down at Pennington Marshes. They were taken 5 minutes apart at around 6.30am. I rely mostly on timing rather than burst rate so I’m pretty pleased with both of them. One photo doesn’t seem to do fantastically well in competitions. It’s as if the judge/viewer can’t work out what is going on. One judge even turned the print through 90 degrees because he thought it might have been presented the wrong way round. The other scored a 10/10 and a seal last night at the club. So which do you prefer?
If you would like to learn a bit about taking photographs like these have a look at my Workshop and Tuition Page.
Back from Indonesia
Jo and I had a lovely extended break in Indonesia. It’s a superb place to go with your camera. The people are lovely and very welcoming. The landscape is beautiful and the wildlife ranges from Komodo Dragons, to beautiful coral reefs together with giant manta, sharks, turtles, eagles, sunbirds and flying foxes. Here are a few photos but I shall be posting more.
Thai Boxing
When Joanne and I visited Thailand recently we went to watch some Thai Boxing.
It started with a junior match and then steadily built up to the star fight of the evening via different categories and a ladies bout. Oddly after the senior fight they finished with a couple of 5 year olds.
Koy Ya
During a recent holiday in Thailand we found the Happy Snapper Bar which was a great music venue in Khao Lak. There we saw Koy Ya performing. She had long orange hair, tattoos and wore a short tartan mini skirt and black crochet crop top. Jo decided to ask her if she wanted to do a photo shoot with me. Koy Ya said yes and we set one up. I had no studio equipment with me so we worked with the light from the bar and some pretty pathetic illumination from a couple of smart phones. With the pool table in the bar there was a photo I wanted to try. This is the result (after a little bit of tinkering on the computer) and on Monday it won “Action” photo of the year at Southampton Camera club. I really liked this photo but when you are so closely involved in the setting up and production of something like this you have a lot of emotion attached to it which can affect your judgement so it’s great when you find other people like it too.
Thank you Koy Ya.
Here are a few more photos from the shoot. If you like your music and you are ever in Khao Lak be sure to find Koy Ya and The Happy Snapper Bar. You will love it.
What a privilege.
Yesterday I had the great privilege of getting up close to two wonderful red deer stags here in the New Forest National Park. If you know how to behave around them and allow them to come to you, you will get beautiful views. Both these stags walked straight towards me until they were so close they didn’t fit in the lens any more. The rutting season is just getting going so these stags are wandering round looking for females. To illustrate how dangerous the fighting can be, take a close look at the big stag in the first photo and you will see he is blind in his left eye.
Photo of the week.
The Modern Pentathlete
I’ve chosen this photo of Zoe Davison as photo of the week for 2 reasons. Zoe has just come 4th in the World Junior Modern Pentathlon Championships even though she is nowhere near the top of the age group. Also I finally got the chance to use it in a recent club competition where it gained a seal. The judge said “it’s great when you get to work with a professional model because they are so good at giving you a natural look”. But Zoe is no professional model, however, she is great at understanding what the task is and delivering. That’s one reason why I am not surprised when I hear news of her great performances. We will be working again together when her competitive season finishes and we have some great ideas lined up.
Watch this space!
