Oxford from the skies - lucky birds!

For my love’s 40th, we took to the skies over Oxford, with a little help from a big red balloon (and thanks to his parents! - a brilliant double birthday gift).  The views where breath-taking, and I found it a profoundly moving experience - we didn’t want to come down.  And of course, I took my camera.

The wind was just right and carried us straight over the very heart of Oxford, dangling us above the High Street, Radcliffe Camera, All Souls, new Islamic studies centre on Marston Road, and up, up and away over 20 miles to the North East of Oxford.

I particularly loved the views of autumn trees from above, and seeing the way herds of sheep huddle and move through their fields, leaving clear paths from daily use.  Fantastic patterns.

Below are a couple of my favourites - hope you enjoy them.  To see a full gallery, head here to my website.

Thanks Peter and Diana, for sending us on an incredible adventure!

With love, from a very happy photographer.

Autumn colours

I love this series - the trees from above are stunning

A favourite

Another favourite

Happy birthday love

http://www.mimsaxl.com

Reuben - baby photography

I recently did a shoot with my friend's beautiful sons, Reuben & Jude, aged 6 months and 3 years. After a mini shoot at my house, I did a longer shoot at their home - I find that with little ones it's really nice to photograph them surrounded by their own toys and belongings, and items of personal significance, and, particularly with the older ones, it's great fun to catch them at play - relaxed, happy, and more likely to drop their guard.
Many, *many* cute shots to chose from, so I'm blogging them in two parts, starting with my favourite pictures of 6-month-old Reuben.

Hello Reuben!

Checking his toes

On the move already, helped by his mum

ha ha! funny lady with a camera!

I love getting some shots of little ones just in their nappy - their vulnerability is emphasised, especially when held by their mother's hands

Amusement in Reuben's beautiful big blue eyes

I love this is b&w too

Mother & baby - hand shots are cliche but there's a reason they're so common, and each one is so different and precious

Big brother in the background - Jude looks on

Mother & child - stunning (and you see where Reuben gets those eyes)

My favourites from Jude's shoot, and of the brothers together, coming soon!

www.mimsaxl.com

A grandad's 70th birthday - extended family portrait shoot

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of joining a woman called Jane and her family (three generations of it) at a local hotel, where they were celebrating her father's 70th birthday.  They called me in to do a group portrait of their 25-strong gathering - a group ranging in age from 3 weeks to 70 years old, including 13 grandchildren!  We spent just over an hour working through a large number of different configurations, and I took individual portraits of Jane and her siblings, their children and father, as well as couples, family groups, and the group as a whole.  It was good fun and it left me with a huge number of photos to edit, as they went off to enjoy a big cake.  These are a few of my favourites from the day (I have not included photos of everyone, as that would just be too many pictures).  I feel the pictures of Grandad with small groups of his grandchildren sitting in the alcove are particularly successful.

Hope it was a brilliant 70th birthday - what a beautiful family!

The birthday boy

Daughter and mother

A favourite picture of one of his four sons

Another son

Youngest of the group at only 3 weeks - welcome to the world Roisin!

I really love this one - a hint of the self-consciousness that comes with teenage years, but there's a quiet bravery in those eyes

Beautiful eyes - one of many lovely granddaughters

Can you see the family resemblance between siblings and cousins?  Something that is great fun about family shoots.  Again, I love this one - a very open and relaxed smile (especially considering I was looming above him with my camera!)

Beautifully unselfconscious - lovely to see

I love the way little people prepare for a photo

Sisters

Proud grandad

I felt these smaller group shots of grandad and grandchildren worked particularly well - love the leaves on the ground

Three generations of boys - this series seemed to also work nicely with low saturation

Lovely family group

Little Roisin

Proud father and siblings

Nice in black and white

13 grandchildren - I have not photoshopped this picture as I enjoy the different expressions - it captures a genuine moment and shows the kids as they are (I could still edit this however to reduce the glare of the white shirts a little)

The whole family (with white shirts edited to reduce glare in the centre of the picture).  I will also now be working on putting together a version of this using the 30 I took of the same group to create one final shot where everyone looks perfect!- but again, I enjoy keeping a copy as is, at it shows the life of the moment.

www.mimsaxl.com