Caelen Weber Photography

2011-04-30T14:21:00.002+01:00

We have a new arrival at CW Photo! This is our second daughter, and she's a beauty!

TOMS, oh how they rip.

2011-01-18T14:49:00.002Z

So, I got a pair of TOMS in remembrance of my brother-in-laws good friend who passed away recently and was an avid TOMS advocate. We all actually got some as Dan said that his friend would've wanted that.

They are great, and comfortable and support a good cause so there aren't really any downsides...except that the canvas, which makes up the entire Classic shoe, ripped on the toe within 3 weeks. I swear I don't have any weirdly long toenails, nor do I sharpen them! But nevertheless my toes were peeking out of the front of my TOMS.

So...I needed a fix. About 2 months ago I finally found Contact Cement in the UK that is exactly the same as the stuff in the US. I quickly identified it as the same by it's strong and memorable smell(watch out brain cells!)which is engrained in my head from my father always using it in leather craft.

I then purchased a small leather hide not even thinking about my torn TOMS.

After getting back from America we have been cleaning house and recuperating and I put my TOMS at the bottom of our steps with intent to figure out a fix. I also placed the leather I bought on the steps. Destiny brought them together!

The fix was simple: I stuffed newspaper into the TOMS to stretch out the toe panel, then I cut out two leather pieces to entirely cover the toe, then coated the bottom of the leather and the top of the TOMS toe panel in contact cement. Let it dry for a few minutes then firmly stuck them together. I glued the leather right down to the sole, then used a razor knife to cut it back, and peeled the unwanted leather off. Presto!

I'd say if you have a ripped pair of TOMS, find some contact cement and have a go! It doesn't need to be leather either!

A great night for Wonderland!

2011-01-18T02:33:00.014Z

My sister-in-law casually mentioned her upcoming cosmetology competition, and at first I thought "Cool..." As she has been in cosmetology school now for a few months at York College, but then it hit me. "A cosmetology competition?!" So I hurriedly asked her about it. "We're doing a rendition of Alice in Wonderland", she told me, and I immediately asked if she and her team wanted me to take any photos of their models after the show for portfolios. She happily squealed and said yes.

Later, as the evening approached, I was almost having second thoughts due to a kind of long day and a very cranky 2 years old who is still suffering the havoc of international flying! But as the time drew near, my phone buzzed and my brother-in-law told me that the show was nearly over and the judges were deliberating. If I was going to make it, now was the time to go!

I grabbed my awesome new ThinkTank camera bag with all my camera gear, added one light stand and my monopod for a boom, and headed out the door.

When I arrived the judges were still deciding. I saw my brother-in-law through the glass front of the York Racecourse and went inside to see what was going on. The judges started announcing the winners in each category, with the teams last for judgement. So I nipped outside for a minute to scope out any locations we could use and found some steps, cool doors/gates, and some benches. Satisfied on locations, and with some direction for the shots in my head, I went back inside and started prepping my gear as the judges droned on through the different brackets of the competition.

At last we heard "Now for the group competitors!" Ears alert, we listened as the judges lamented that they wished they could make everyone 1st place winners etc etc. Sarah, my sister-in-law, was sure they were not going to win. The judges announced 2nd place, "Group 3, the Chitty-Chitty Bang-Bang group!" We all glanced at each other while nervously clapping. "The next contestants, who have been chosen for 1st place..." All our throats tightened and stomaches felt tingly "...is Group 2! Alice in Wonderland!"

Many shrieks, triumphant bounces, hugs and high fives were dolled out! They then got to perform their small skit again, which was very well done for only having rehearsed for 5 minutes in the dark! I told them I'd be outside and I rolled my bag out and got ready to shoot.

First I shot the Card Soldier. She was awesome and very photogenic. As it was the first shots of the set I was still fine tuning my setup on the go, and there are many ideas hitting me now that I would've loved to try, but I am pretty stoked on the shots I got of her. Here is one of the better ones:
This used 2 flashes, two behind and at the sides for the rim and one on a lightstand boom into a silver umbrella.

Next we shot Alice, as she was getting pretty chilly pretty fast. We used nearly the same setup as previously with VALs holding all my lights...slaves! Heheh...Anyway, this was her innocent/faraway look, which worked out quite well I thought:

And last but certainly not least was the Mad Hatter! The makeup and hair was excellent and the creepy grin just kept getting creepier!...Although I did ask for it. This setup was a bit different with the key light being the silver umbrella boomed close camera right, but partially collapsed to minimise spill. The two other flashes had Lumiquest SBIII's on them and acted as a hair light camera left and at about 11 o'clock, and a back rim/hair light camera right at about 3 o'clock. This one is my favourite I think:

After I got home I simply pulled them off my CF card, popped them into Adobe Bridge and edited solely in Camera Raw. I am totally amazed at CS5 and it is worth it's weight in gold! I then ate a curry, caught up on client emails and wrote this blog post. Now, time for BED! :)

Hope you enjoy.

Oh, PS ©Caelen Weber, All Rights Reserved.

An update due

2010-12-19T05:48:00.002Z

So...You may have noticed that my blog and twitter backgrounds have changed. Well, you probably didn't because my blog and twitter tend to be rather boring. But anyway...I am in the process of redesigning my website to somewhat match, and will hopefully be able to get it done by February, Lord willing!

The new design should have a few much needed updates and remakes, including more galleries/portfolio to view as it is painfully unpopulated at the moment, and I have so much to add! One main issue will be load time, with preloaders and such in effect that will be a thing of the past I am hoping!

I would love to keep it iPhone/iPad friendly, but Flash tends to play well with large galleries, so that may be the route I have to take. If anyone has some suggestions as to HTML 5 or the like for galleries with fade-in/cross fade abilities, let me know. *wink wink*

Anyway, I'm excited to bring a new design out and hope it will be slick and clean and beautiful! We'll see how it comes along!

Break in the weather

2010-12-03T10:19:00.002Z

I'm excited to be shooting a wedding today in the lovely snow with a perfect, clear, sunny and freezing day! Going to try to continually introduce some media onto my blog so it's not just all text...and boring. :) Be back soon!

So...still alive. :)

2010-11-19T21:51:00.002Z

Yes. I am still alive, though my Blogger account seems to be dead for the better pat of the year! Lots of things happening which tend to keep me from posting. ie Pregnancy #2, consistent work(Yay!), awesome wife and lovely 2 year old girl. So, I hope you'll forgive me! :)

Photographically things are wonderful! Weddings after weddings, which I am grateful for and have been enjoying. I also have a wedding in Seattle, WA in the States coming up. Excited about that one.

Looking forward to this week with an Engagement shoot, magazine editorial and then a wedding before jetting to the States for the holidaze!

So, hoping to start doing more blog updates soon. Keep an eye here...but if you need it elsewhere you can borrow it back.. :)

Going to meet a master...

2010-05-25T17:35:00.004+01:00

Tomorrow is the Leeds UK Strobist tour day! I am going to have the honor and pleasure, plus the education, of meeting David Hobby and learning from him about dynamic lighting using hotshoe flashes. I am extremely excited and will be certain to put all the knowledge to use and hopefully have some pics up here as I experiment and push my creativity more.

Time flies! Busy busy...

2010-05-22T00:47:00.002+01:00

So, time does fly by! I have been so busy with life, wife, daughter, church, coffee shop, and photography! Looking forward to an engagement shoot tomorrow, and upcoming weddings with lovely, interesting people!

Also have a shoot for a very talented local jewellery artist in the works that we're going to have a blast with! Aiming for a vintage/high fashion edge, and we'll see if we can pull it off. Hopes are high! Just have to garner more props and pursue concepts!

I also had the pleasure of shooting a friends CD cover for his upcoming Hip Hop release. Keep an eye for some a posting on that...

-CW

Adding to the family

2009-10-08T08:05:00.002+01:00

On Saturday I'm shooting my wonderful sister-in-law's wedding. I'm looking forward to this one since we all know each other well and can be more relaxed and 'crazy' than a normal client/photographer wedding. Hoping to get some very cool shots! Very excited about the 'trash the dress' session, as it is becoming autumn over here and we're going to make a day of it.
-CW

I could KISS this...

2009-08-20T18:05:00.005+01:00

And I just may! I am now offering one, beautiful, and frankly perfect, wedding album. KISS wedding books is where it's at. I'm very excited to work with these guys who share the passion that fuels the art!

Image copyright Matt Ramos

Congratulations Mr & Mrs Hutton!

2009-08-01T21:12:00.003+01:00

Introducing Mr & Mrs Hutton! Married July 25th, 2009.

Was a wonderful, flawless day with a lovely reception at the Great Yorkshire Show Grounds. Awesome wedding and couple. I'm looking forward to a post wedding photo session. Thanks you guys!

Awesomeness...

2009-07-19T22:47:00.001+01:00

This is a very inspirational and challenging video! Keep an eye out for me on your street...

Back to Leeds

2009-07-19T20:03:00.003+01:00

Another wedding coming up on the 25th in Leeds! It'll be a fun one with lovely locations. I look forward to it and the challenges it may bring. I'll post some photos after the weekend.

-CW

Working, working

2009-07-19T00:00:00.002+01:00

More of my website is coming. I swear!

Busy life going on over here. Lots happening in the non-photo side of life that has kept me. All very important, very good things. Short on staff for our coffee shop, and it's been quite busy down there at Gatehouse Coffee. Walmgate seems to be a quiet street until we are understaffed! But, God is so good, and we are so blessed.

So, keep checking back, or subscribe, to see when I've finished more.

-CW

Ramon & Sarah

2009-06-28T07:02:00.006+01:00

I had the privilege of shooting a friends wedding at the start of the month. Ramon and Sarah's wedding went very well, despite fears of possibly very poor lighting in the church. It was a good day, photographically and weather-wise! Here are just a few images so far. -CW

Wedding today...

2009-06-06T06:28:00.001+01:00

Doing a wedding today. It's a bit dreary, but I think it'll turn out alright, though we may have to do photos inside only.

We'll see...

Home! and a BIG surprise!

2009-06-03T15:38:00.004+01:00

We have safely landed in England and and now at home, but with a twist.

We have had a home makeover! A crazy, amazing and awesome home makeover! From a uninhabitable construction zone to a comfortable and beautiful home! God is so good and so is His family!

We are so grateful for all that we've been given and for every one of His blessings!

Check out the pics below:

Baby in Phoenix

2009-05-11T21:47:00.002+01:00

Here are a few quick pics of our baby giving us a very thorough talk. She pulls some priceless faces!
-CW

America....

2009-05-11T05:50:00.002+01:00

Well, my lovely wife and I are now in America for our US Tour with the baby! It's been a great time and good relaxation with lots of wonderful family.

We're heading back to the UK in about 3 weeks and I'm hitting the ground running with a good friend's wedding on June 6th. Should be quite a fun shoot.

I'll post some 'vacation' pics soon...

Good night.

-CW

Hmmm...Blogger eh?

2009-04-28T15:37:00.001+01:00

So, I now have a blogger account. Soon I will be posting to this space a lot...Hopefully.

Keep your eyes on it.

Oh, I do have a flickr, so check that out too if you so desire: -HERE-

-CW