Is everyone is starting to feel suitably festive? Only 2 weeks to go! 🙂 I have to admit I’m feeling stupidly excited, adorning my windows with fairylights and baking xmas spice biscuits & the like. I’m trying to make the most of the build up, as I find sometimes the big day can sneak up so quick, and you haven’t had much chance to get in the mood because of being so busy. I’m looking forward to getting my Christmas tree tomorrow, I have all my decorations ready. I also bought a plain wreath for my door and spent the evening decorating it with leaves, bows, paint, glue and general sparkliness. Super happy times! 🙂

I hope people didn’t have too many problems with all the snow, I managed to drive around unscathed, including trips for duo work with the Bink last week, but further north on my visit to Leicester I needed to be pushed up the icy hill where my Mum & Dad live, slightly scary but all good experience I’m sure :-S

The snow was fairly light in my area, but still so beautiful to look out at, especially very late at night, it has that quiet magnetism that makes you stand still and observe. When all the world is sleeping and the empty streets are silent and still, the white ground glows alive in the darkness, glistening slowly with tiny twinkles, and weightless flakes fly through the light of the streetlamps… that is a peace in the world, that feels such an honour to witness, like discovering a hidden jewel.

I drove to Oxford earlier this week and the countryside was like a wonderland. Every tree and hedge covered in a snowy coating, frosted branches draping elegantly from weeping willows with a backdrop of stunning blue sky. I met up with Ella Rose and we went to the Christmas markets, which felt really festive. Oxford is very atmospheric around this season, great to do some present shopping.

I also have a few images to share that have that wintry mood… these are some more from shooting with Rayment Kirby down in East Sussex (see my previous post ‘Snakes & Ladders‘) including some beautiful moody portraits by candlelight and some amazing textured effects (not post processing!) He is a very clever phoptographer indeed, and a superb craftsman, mixing traditional photography techniques with modern technology and using whatever he can find/make/recycle for props, accessories and equipment.

© Rayment Kirby ~ www.raymentkirbyphotography.co.uk

Rayment has recently published a book with images from our shoot together with full details and diagrams on how to achieve varying lighting set ups around the home, using some great DIY techniques and handmade & post-shoot editing styles. So this would be a great guide for people looking for help in equipment and technical tips, as well as a source of creative inspiration. The link is here ~ www.blurb.com/books/photosession