'Untitled' Kodak BW400CN

Untitled' Scanned Print, Photographer: J Kenny

This still was taken from a roll of KodakBW 400CN. Shot at the end of August of this year using a 35mm Canon FTb with a 35mm-85mm zoom lens attached.

It is my first time using this particular roll of film and I've to say I quite like the results. I used to use Ilford XP2 a fair bit this was mainly down to my inexperience with developing actual black and white film. These kinds of black and white films are processed using the C 41 process, the same process used to develop colour film. Making it easier and cheaper to have them developed by whatever photography store you use.

The problem however with these films is that in order for you to get the best results you need to have them printed onto black and white paper rather then colour as the later can result in off colour images. This is true in particular for Ilford XP2, but if you get them printed on black and white paper you get a really nice rich tone. The problem of course is explaining this to the printer, who more often then not will be restricted in what they can offer, or simply can't be bothered and prompt you to send it away to another lab for processing.

Every now and then I might use Ilford XP2, but these days I tend to stick with actual black and white film, my top 3 favourites in no particular order are:

Kodak 400TX
Ilford Delta 100
Ilford Delta 400

Of course I haven't tried every film out there this is purely my own opinion. Personally I find Kodak 400TX to be extremely good as well as forgiving if the film ever needs pushing or pulling depending on available light at the time of shooting.

I would recommend anyone who is interested in photography to learn how to develop black and white film, it's not that difficult, there are loads of YouTube instructional videos showing you how. You will save yourself a lot of money and perhaps the most important fact and point you will have 100% control over how your images look. Even if you use Digital photography exclusively at this point in time film development is still worth knowing how to do and it's super fun especially when you see your first image appear.

A few links to online resources:

Ilford Photo Getting Started.

Ilford Photo resources: 'Processing Your First Black and White Film'. 

I Still Shoot Film is one of the best film photography websites to date with mass amounts of information and learning resources. 

And finally the online store will be going through some changes this month so please bear with us while the updates take place. 

That's all for now

Take care of one another

John

Acorns

"Acorns"

Liverpool Fashion Week Special

Fashion Designer Leelielou's Popup Store

Lead Singer Zara of Audio Zero performing.

'Lambrini Girls'

Fashion Designer: Leelielou's Collection.

Fashion Designer: Leelielou's Collection.

Fashion Designer: Leelielou's Collection.

Fashion Designer: Leelielou's Collection.

Fashion Designer Leelielou with two models modelling her Collection.

Leelielou's Collection was well received.

Dora Bauer's Collection.

Dora Bauer's Collection.

Dora Bauer's Collection.

For more photographs of Liverpool Fashion Week please go to the Golden Frog Studio Facebook Page. 

Some useful links:

Leelielou's Twitter page: @leelielou

Dora Bauer's Twitter Page: @dorabauerdesign

Liverpool Fashion Week.

Studio's Twitter Page: @gfrogstudio

The 20% off Promotional code has now expired, but don't despair there will be one more before the year finishes.

Absolutely love Black Sabbath's '13' album. I gave in about 10 days ago and bought it on vinyl and boy I'm glad I did. 

Check it out because you won't be disappointed it blows Megadeth's 'Super Collider' out of the water. Not that Super Collider is a "bad" album it's just not as good as '13', in my humble opinion. 

Right I'm off to finish eating Halloween sweets and cakes, and watch some more horror movies, enjoy the weekend.

Take care of one another

John 

Liverpool Fashion Week

Liverpool Fashion Week

Taken at Liverpool Fashion week, a taster of what's to come over the next few days, including Photography of Leelielou's new collection and  Dora Bauer's.

Stay tuned and don't forget to follow us on Twitter: @gfrogstudio


Take care of one another

John

Fashion Designer: Charmaine Southworth Fashion shoot 2013

Photographer: John Kenny

Photographer: John Kenny
Fashion Designer: Charmaine Southworth (charmaine.southworth[at]hotmail.co.uk)
Model: Charmaine Southworth
Assistant: LeeAnne Kenny

All Photographs are owned by Golden Frog Studio Photographer John Kenny, if you would like to use any please get in contact with the studio first and we will provide a written consent form. Thank you.

The Online promo code is still valid until the 1st of November 2013, type in: Z65XF1 at the checkout to receive 20% off your complete purchase!

Online Store' 

We are currently listening to:

Reign Of Fury's 'World Detonation'. This is a great album, if you are a fan of the older trash metal bands such as Megadeth then you should give them a listen. They have added their own unique twist, " Old School Trash the new way!". You can find them here!

Speaking of Megadeth we are also listening to the new album 'Super Collider', I've not made my mind up about this album yet and in all honesty I have only listened to it a couple of times.

That's about it, I'm off to do a Portrait shoot now.

Take care of one another

John 

LeeLieLou Liverpool Fashion Week

Spring/Summer 14

LeeLieLou will be showing a brand new collection on Monday night ( 14th October 2013 ) at Liverpool Fashion Week, needless to say we are all super proud of her here at the Golden Frog Studio and can guarantee from a sneak peak that the new collection looks fantastic!

You can follow her on Twitter or go to her website.

We wish her and everyone else who is partaking in Liverpool Fashion Week the best of luck!

Fashion Designer: LeeLieLou

Photographer: John Kenny
Fashion Designer: LeeLieLou (LeeAnne Kenny) (Twitter: @leelielou)
Model: Ruth Hudson
Hair and Makeup Artist: Jeannette Kenny (Twitter: @JMKMakeup)


Promotional code: Z65XF1

Promotional code to be used within the Online Store!
Type in the above code at the checkout to receive 20% off your complete purchase! expires November 1st 2013.

Take care of one another

John 

Actress Headshot

Photographer John Kenny

Fashion Shoot with Designer: Nazima Siddiq & Model: Ashba Yashin

Fashion Designer: Nazima Siddiq

Photographer: John Kenny
Fashion Designer: Nazima Siddiq
Model: Ashba Yashin
Assistant: LeeAnne Kenny

All Photographs are owned by Golden Frog Studio Photographer John Kenny, if you would like to use any please get in contact with the studio first and we will provide a written consent form. Thank you.


As promised a brand new promotional code to be used within the online store:

Promotional code: Z65XF1

Type in the above code at the checkout to receive 20% off your complete purchase! expires November 1st 2013.

The studio is also on Twitter @gfrogstudio or click the Twitter button to your left.


Take care of one another

John 

Fashion Designer: LeeLieLou - Crosby Beach

Hair and Makeup Artist: Jeannette Kenny

Photographer: John Kenny
Fashion Designer: LeeLieLou (LeeAnne Kenny) (Twitter: @leelielou)
Model: Ruth Huson
Model: Shauna Powell
Hair and Makeup Artist: Jeannette Kenny (Twitter: @JMKMakeup)

All Photographs are owned by Golden Frog Studio Photographer John Kenny, if you would like to use any please get in contact with the studio first and we will provide a written consent form. Thank you.

There are a number of new Photography prints that have now been added for sale over on the online store Including:



'Sleeping Dog'

To take a look at the other new prints please visit the online store!



Take care of one another

John 

Fashion Designer: LeeLieLou

Model: Ruth Hudson

Photographer: John Kenny
Fashion Designer: LeeLieLou (LeeAnne Kenny) (Twitter: @leelielou)
Model: Ruth Huson
Hair and Makeup Artist: Jeannette Kenny (Twitter: @JMKMakeup)

All Photographs are owned by Golden Frog Studio Photographer John Kenny, if you would like to use any please get in contact with the studio first and we will provide a written consent form. Thank you.

In response to a previous email enquiry yes we are currently taking commissions, if you would like to work with us or find out more then please get in touch.

The studio can also be found on Twitter @gfrogstudio or click the Twitter button to your left.

That's all for now

Take care of one another

John 

Fashion Designer: Nazima Siddiq

Model: Ashba Yashin

Photographer: John Kenny
Fashion Designer: Nazima Siddiq
Model: Ashba Yashin
Assistant: LeeAnne Kenny

All Photographs are owned by Golden Frog Studio Photographer John Kenny, if you would like to use any please get in contact with the studio first and we will provide a written consent form. Thank you.

More Photographs from this shoot and others I am currently working on to follow over the next few weeks, as well as promotional codes to be used within the online store. 

The studio is also on Twitter @gfrogstudio or click the Twitter button to your left.


Take care of one another

John 

Fashion shoot with Designer Nazima Siddiq at the Blackburn Museum

Fashion Designer: Nazima Siddiq

Photographer: John Kenny
Fashion Designer: Nazima Siddiq
Model: Ashba Yashin
Assistant: LeeAnne Kenny

All Photographs are owned by Golden Frog Studio Photographer John Kenny, if you would like to use any please get in contact with the studio first and we will provide a written consent form. Thank you.

More Photographs from this shoot and others I am currently working on to follow over the next few weeks. 

I got to see a few exhibitions last week, my personal favourites:

Charles Fréger: The Wild and the Wise at the Open Eye Gallery in Liverpool which is on until the 26th of August. 

Moyra Davey: Hangmen of England at the Tate Liverpool. This exhibition is on until 6th of October.

A Fraction Of A Second (Or More) at the Shipping Forecast, 15 Slater Street, Liverpool. This exhibition finishes 31st July.

If you get the chance to see them I would recommend you do as they were fantastic, I loved Moyra Davey's concept of mailing back the images to their city of origin, in this case Liverpool and Manchester, and how the folds/creases stamps and stickers became components of the final images.

I am still working on my current project 'Shelved', the project has the potential to continue indefinitely but I'm tempted to give it an expiry date so it's completed and doesn't go stale or ironically get shelved.

If you don't already then please follow us on Twitter @gfrogstudio or click the Twitter button to your left.




Take care of one another

John 

More from the fashion shoot with Designer Nazima Siddiq

Model: Ashba Yashin

Photographer: John Kenny
Fashion Designer: Nazima Siddiq
Model: Ashba Yashin
Assistant: LeeAnne Kenny

All Photographs are owned by Golden Frog Studio Photographer John Kenny, if you would like to use any please get in contact with the studio first and we will provide a written consent form. Thank you.

More Photographs from this shoot and others I am currently working on to follow over the next few weeks. 

The sale has now ended over at the Online Store!

I'm currently reading 'On Photography' by Susan Sontag and 'Robert Doisneau: Paris' by Robert Doisneau.

Both are amazing books, I seriously recommend you purchase them. Susan Sontag's book is a collection of critical essays on photography each essay is awe inspiring and will make you look at Photography in a whole different light. I have to admit I have read this book a few times over the years but I keep coming back to it.

The Robert Doisneau book is a large collection of his Paris photographs featuring over 500 photographs as well as notes and comments from the photographer. It's an excellent collection and well worth a look.  

The Photoworks website have a fantastic set of articles over on their site in the Ideas section :

"What makes a good photograph? Against what criteria can these judgements be made? (4 articles)"

Again worthy of taking a look.

If you don't already then please follow us on Twitter @gfrogstudio or click the Twitter button to your left.


Take care of one another

John 

Fashion Shoot with Designer Nazima Siddiq

Fashion Designer: Nazima Siddiq

Photographer: John Kenny
Fashion Designer: Nazima Siddiq
Model: Ashba Yashin
Assistant: LeeAnne Kenny

All Photographs are owned by Golden Frog Studio Photographer John Kenny, if you would like to use any please get in contact with the studio first and we will provide a written consent form. Thank you.

More Photographs from this shoot and others I am currently working on to follow over the next few weeks.

There is currently a huge sale going on over at the Online Store! so please take a look, the majority of the limited edition Prints listed have nearly sold out.

If you don't already then please follow us on Twitter @gfrogstudio or click the Twitter button to your left.

Take care of one another

John 

My Father

Photographer: John Kenny 

Taken in Blackburn while waiting for the start of a fashion show that featured my sister's work. He was deep in his own thoughts at the time and was unaware I was stood there.

Take care of one another

John

Crosby Beach Fashion Shoot with Designer LeeLieLou

Fashion Designer: LeeLieLou

Photographer: John Kenny
Fashion Designer: LeeLieLou (LeeAnne Kenny) (Twitter: @leelielou)
Model: Ruth Hudson
Hair and Makeup Artist: Jeannette Kenny (Twitter: @JMKMakeup)

All Photographs are owned by Golden Frog Studio Photographer John Kenny, if you would like to use any please get in contact with the studio first and we will provide a written consent form. Thank you.

More Photographs from this shoot and others I am currently working on to follow.

If you don't already then please follow us on Twitter @gfrogstudio or click the Twitter button to your left.

Take care of one another

John 

More From The Beach Fashion Shoot: Designer LeeLieLou

Fashion Designer: LeeLieLou

Photographer: John Kenny
Fashion Designer: LeeLieLou (LeeAnne Kenny) (Twitter: @leelielou)
Model: Shauna Powell
Hair and Makeup Artist: Jeannette Kenny (Twitter: @JMKMakeup)

All Photographs are owned by Golden Frog Studio Photographer John Kenny, if you would like to use any please get in contact with the studio first and we will provide a written consent form. Thank you.

More Photographs from this shoot and others I am currently working on to follow.

If you don't already then please follow us on Twitter @gfrogstudio or click the Twitter button to your left.

That's all for now, all the best and check back later next week for the rest of the photographs.

Take care of one another

John 

Beach Fashion Shoot: Designer LeeLieLou

Photographer: John Kenny

This image was taken from one of the fashion shoots I was talking about in my previous Blog post, more images to follow at the end of the week.

Photographer: John Kenny
Fashion Designer: LeeLieLou (LeeAnne Kenny) (Twitter: @leelielou)
Model: Ruth Hudson
Hair and Makeup Artist: Jeannette Kenny (Twitter: @JMKMakeup)

All Photographs are owned by Golden Frog Studio Photographer John Kenny, if you would like to use any please get in contact with the studio first and we will provide a written consent form. Thank you.

More Photographs from this shoot and others I am currently working on to follow.

If you don't already then please follow us on Twitter @gfrogstudio or click the Twitter button to your left.

That's all for now, all the best and check back later this week for the rest of the photographs.

Take care of one another

John 

On going series: Shelved

'Untitled' Scanned print, shot with a Canon FTb by J Kenny.

This is a still taken from one of two on going series that I am currently working on, working title 'Shelved'.

This series looks to explore items people collect and choose to display within their homes, a more detailed summary and statement to follow.

 Lots of updates and stuff to follow over the next few weeks, I am currently working on numerous fashion shoots so as soon as I can I will upload examples from each shoot.

That's it for now,

Take care of one another

John

Fashion Shoot Still

Fashion Designer: Nazima Siddiq
Model: Christina Hudson
Photographer:John Kenny

The Snail and the Dog

'The Snail and The Dog' Canon 500D

A Stroll: Meols Beach

'Untitled' Taken with a Nikon Coolpix L120

I spent most of the day location scouting for a client yesterday. The location she was interested in wasn't ideal for the future shoot but it doesn't matter we have a few other locations to look at and months before the shoot begins. The client has a strong visual idea of what she wants which is a major plus and having previously worked with her I feel we have a good rapport, her work (Fashion designer) is visually stunning and an absolute pleasure to photograph.

 Afterwards I decided to take a stroll, the sun was already setting I had about 35 minutes of natural light, the weather really wasn't great but I wanted to try out the Nikon Coolpix L120.

This is the first time I really used the Nikon Coolpix L120, a point and shoot camera that was a gift. It's a pretty good camera with some nice features although the manual controls are some what limited. My usual digital point and shoot is a very compact Samsung S1030 . A camera that again is limited (compared to SLRs) but the size really makes up for the reduction in manual settings. A link to a previous post with photographs taken with the Samsung S1030 can be found here.

These days I always carry a camera wherever I go, at the bare minimum a point and shoot camera like the above mentioned or an SLR. Most times I will carry both a point and shoot (film or digital) and either an SLR or DSLR. This time it was a Canon FTb and a 35-80mm lens plus the Nikon Coolpix L120.

The reason I've not used the Nikon Coolpix L120 more often is because of its unusual size. As it has a larger and more advanced lens then the Samsung s1030 it is too big to fit in your pocket but not big enough to warrant carrying a bag around. It's one of those cameras that's ideal to throw in a camera bag along with larger equipment or for storing in the car in case you need a camera, I will have to definitely use it more often.

I'm currently reading 'Batsford's Modern Chess Openings 15th Edition by Nick de Firmian' in my pursuit to be a better Chess player.

That's it for now, if you get a chance please take a look at the online store, you never know you may see something you like. Also if you do not already then please remember to follow us on Twitter.

Take care of one another

John

Rebecca J Lea

'Rebecca J Lea' Canon EOS 500D

One of my favourite shots from last year, The fantastic Rebecca J Lea performing in 'The Mask Behind The Face'.

Take care of one another

John

The Future

Taken with a Canon 500D

I'm looking forward to what this year will bring, I had a fantastic year in 2012 concerning my photographic work. I personally feel it was a productive year and enjoyed working on various projects, some in fields I had never worked before and others covering old ground but in a new light.

I thought I would start the new year with a still of the dog, All who follow this blog know the dog is a prominent subject matter that I constantly come back to again and again. One reason is out of affection, I know it's soppy and emotional but it's the truth I've enjoyed his company for 13 years and he has never left my side, never judged me or treated me with disdain or hate. He always greets me with warmth and kindness. The pessimist will tell you it's nothing you feed him of course he likes you but those who have experienced what I'm speaking of will tell you it's something else, maybe it's love a devotion or at the very least an understanding.

 Another less soppy reason why I constantly photograph him is because I find him to be one of the most perfect subject matters I have ever had the pleasure of photographing. I love how film captures the contrast of his black and white fur and if I catch his eyes just right I believe I see the very essence of life, the soul, reflected back.

I started the year off with this still and blog title 'The Future' because there was a very real possibility that he wasn't making it to 2013, due to a series of strokes the first one occurring back in August which left him temporarily paralysed. But with some minding and care he has been nursed back to health, and is happy and mobile once again.

I don't know what this year has in store but I'm glad I have that dog in my life for a little longer.

Here's to the future, whatever it may bring.

Take care of one another

John