The funeral of L/cpl James Hill Mortar Platoon.
1st Battalion, The Coldstream Guards. at St Matthew Church Redhill Surrey.

Wow, it is funny sometimes how lady luck can play you a hand. I had a job today, opening of the refurbished Scope charity shop in Horley by the Grand Dame of fashion, the mother of Punk herself. Vivienne Westwood.

It just so happens and purely by coincidence that this was one of the shops I chose to provide us with an Autumn outfit last week for the charity fashion shoot.

She was a big draw to the opening and, along with the in house photographer we got her to do a little more than just cut the ribbon. Following a pretty long autograph session, She gave me a little time to do a short piece to camera for the fashion competition. I was really wanting her to say good things about charity shops and, with some hesitation she was pretty good.

There is a piece early in our conversation, not very well caught on camera, where she says my photographs of the models are ‘ very nice’
I’m happy to take that to the bank!

She found it difficult to choose a winner out of the five outfits but she picked 2 front runners. Where do we go from here? Invite readers to vote on line I guess.

I think I have a bit of an edit ahead to rework the fashion shoot video and that will be a challenge but, I’m well up for it.
UTube stats are looking like just over 1k views for the video so, if you have voted then thanks. if not…… what are you waiting for..

EMAIL YOUR VOTE NOW email.

have a good weekend.

It coming close to the end of the ‘first day at school’ supplement season and I have been quite surprised by the difference in reactions to my visits.
When I worked the Croydon Advertiser patch, schools were almost without exception glad to see the local paper snapper. Booking the hall making sure children had permission for pix and er, not much else needs to be sorted out. It was seen as what was done and happened without problems. Friendly staff and teachers, even the odd cup of tea.

Down here on the Surrey Mirror patch it has been rather different. Some schools appeared happy to see me but the majority were grumpy and I must say acted pretty much as if they were being really put out.

I know its a hassle to have the children’s day interrupted for 15mins but its a historical thing to have the local rag in to do this and shouldn’t be a surprise to anybody.

One teacher was openly hostile when I suggested that it would be far better to take the picture in the hall rather than the cramped and cluttered classroom. No, of course I didn’t say it was cluttered or cramped.

The teacher went ballistic. ” we always have the picture done in the classroom” “why do you need space to set up lights?” “how much longer are you going to be”

Why is there such a difference here in the countryside?
I really don’t know. I’m not a rude man so, smiled sweetly and said that if it was inconvenient to move the children into the hall why not take a bench or two outside the classroom. That compromise did happen but not without complaints.

I always try my best to do the best possible job I can but, sometimes you just have to shoot what you are given.
When those children see their badly set up picture in the paper and maybe look back on it in years to come they may be disappointed.

On the upside, the fashion video is being viewed allot and my editor likes it. Lets hope they use the photos well in a spread in the print editions across the region.

I’m asking IT to put a copy of Premier elements on the work laptop so I can start the process of learning that to help the reporters when they start to shoot video content.

No, you cant just plug a flip camera into utube and upload the story including shots of your feet and the sky.

The challenge for the 5 charity shops was to come up with a stunning Autumn outfit. Here is what they gave us.
Cancer Research, British Heart Foundation, Marie Curie, Oxfam and Scope. Which is your favorite?

Please cast your votes via email.