Gurushots is an online competition which I have been involved in for the last two years.

It gives me the chance to gauge my ability on an international stage.

I think the thing I like about it most, is that is a blind voting platform.

You cannot know who you are voting for, the image is judged on its merits alone.

The more votes you cast, you fill your 'exposure bonus' meter up to a set value.

You must vote on other images for your images to be seen, in hope your own images will attract votes.

In theory all images in a competition will be seen the same amount of times, so it is an entirely even playing field.

It does not matter if you are based in Invercargill, with a limited social circle, smoking too many cigarettes.

Its not a popularity contest, only the image matters.

The scope and reach is quite mind boggling at times.

Some competitions attract almost 50 000 other photographers.

From internationally renown photographers, to mums and dads wanting to show off their kids.

I am quite pleased with some of my results.

I have learnt to selectively enter competitions.

I am a portrait photographer, there is no point in me entering landscapes or astro photography.

Below is an example of a current competition with eight thousand other photographers.

Each submits up to 4 images, thats potentially 32 000 images.

Having an image ranked 11 out of 32 000 is something I still dont think I comprehend.

I know I am no Lisa Holloway or Jessica Drossin. .

A certain reverence is held for those who have achieved what I have not.

They are big names in America, big internationally in their genre.

They have successfully marketed in their niche, and are damn good at what they do.

Gurushots gives me an opportunity to put my images side by side with some off the greats. They are my competition.

But the thing is, at times, I am close.

In terms of mass appeal, in terms of being judged by my peers, I am competitive.

I hope I will never succumb to the urge of overly post processing my images.

(Or convert images to black and white because the color balance is driving me nuts.)

But perhaps that is what it will take. That will be the next great leap forward.

Time will tell.

For now, I want to wear out the camera, get it right in the camera.

Photoshop is for when I am bored. Push buttons and learn new stuff.

Its not just the 'arti farti' images that do well.

Above is a family session at Gem stone beach (Thanks Jo).

This is what you can expect from me any given time. World class images.

That is not my opinion, this is the true value of Gurushots.

The ability to place my images alongside the best in the world, and to do well.

That (in my opinion lol), is a fact.

Gurushots also gives you the opportunity that would normally be out of reach of geographically disadvantaged Southlanders.

Occasional competitions offer the chance to be shown in art gallery's all over the world.

How many other photographers in Invercargill can say they have had their images shown in art gallery's in three different continents?

I already know the answer to that.

#notmanyifany

It is a huge time sink.It is my new Asperger trait driven 'thing'.

I have recently joined the Gurushot union.

A group of enthusiasts formed the for the soul reason of finding cheats.

Those who 'borrow' others images and try to pass them off as their own.

Many hours have been spent reverse searching entry's into competitions, trying to find the original copyright owner and then gathering evidence to prove that fell play is a foot.

I have caught and reported two members in the last two days, many more I have my suspicions, but proving it is a little harder to do.

There is no pride or satisfaction in having members removed, it is just something that needs to be done.

I am glad to say that the practice of 'borrowing' images is not wide spread.

Out of he millions of images submitted, the majority play by the rules.

I have to say I am very much addicted to all these shenanigans.

I know that I am still not there.

But it is within reach. With time, and effort and practice.

Top 100 still attracts a buzz, top 10 even more so.

Especially when an image, which is merely me and my daughter fart ass'ing about with a new light (such as the one above) does well.

A little more thought, a little more pre-planning, the potential is endless.

That is the exciting part. Not what I have done and acheived.

But what is still yet to come, what I am to learn, what I will acheive.

I know there are strategy's and tactics to be learned. It is a game after all.

I seem to lose placings every time I go to bed, only to gain a couple during the day,

only to lose them again sleeping.

It does suck being asleep when the majority of the world is awake.

But still, if it was easy I would have been bored of it already.

Bring on the challenge, bring on the nuance, bring on the detail I am missing.

That is the difference between being good and great. The little things.

I have never wanted to be good, but to take it further.

A pretty picture of a pretty girl is easy.

I do enjoy the process. The what if's and maybe's

The fire in my belly is just enough to counteract the doubt.

The dream of becoming a Guru myself is very much alive.

"A million dreams is all it's gonna take"

If you want to check out my portfolio. Just click on these links below.

Cause every night I lie in bed The brightest colors fill my head A million dreams are keeping me awake I think of what the world could be A vision of the one I see A million dreams is all it's gonna take

Inspiration comes from many sources.

Currently "The greatest Showman" is uplifting my spirits. Not just as a visual medium, but also the theory. Theory is important to me.

There is a fire in my belly. To show you what I can already see.

The skill set is not yet completed, I have set my bar sky high.

I have the vision, I have the inspiration, I have the theory.

I need the repetition, the practical, to push buttons and dance with light.

A million dreams is all it's gonna take

I am slowly warming to the idea of family photo's.

I have always thought of family photo's as large groups.

Large groups are exponentially harder to control. Both in terms of light and pose.

When I first started out, it always led to compromising some of my values and it had to be 'what it is'.

Now I am a little more experienced, the light does what it is told on a more regular basis, and embracing the character of subjects can be a delightful experience in itself.

I still have that picture in my head, but the compromise from that goal is something I inevitably accept.

And that is OK.

Different does not mean it is wrong. Different, is well, just different.

(Damn Asperger trait again)

I am seeing a flow through of my experimental stuff in commercially viable material now.

The inverse law, 'gel'ing' the lights, rim lighting, key and fill.

The financial outlay in equipment is paying dividends.

The light is more reliable, more powerful, and portable.

One less excuse for compromise.

I still cant quite predict the outcome before I hit that shutter button. But that time will come.

The light trials at home continue.

It was a big shot in the dark with Mikayla. Uncontrolled light.

Recently my son was given laser party lights for his birthday.

A happy coincidence engineered that it may have photographic applications.

I knew it would be a technical nightmare.

Suck in the ambient light, ensure there were no 'hot spots', and then balance the exposure with flash.

With no standard to set colour balance (black isnt black, and neither was white), it was a shot in the dark (and it is damned hard focusing at f/1.4 in the dark)

I have to say I am pleased with the results.

Already I see how I can make them 'better'. To appease the 5% who are photographers.

The next incarnation will bring in more lights.

Lights to balance the frame, rim lights to isolate the subject, lights to gel the black.

This is not about photoshop. Applying filters or colour grading.

It is about the photography. To push limits 'in camera', problem solve and improve the skill set.

Photoshop is to polish an image, not to create it.

I am a photographer, not a digital graphic artist.

What you see is real. The skills that are honed are transferable and repeatable.

From my lounge floor, to the wedding dance floor.

Its always about the journey, the destination is undetermined.

And of course there are always improvement to pose and engagement with the viewer.

That is part of the journey, refining, improving.

Good is good. Great is better.

The fortnightly trip to the local greyhound track continues.

It still alternates between the sublime and the 'dum dog' moments.

I am being drawn into the culture. Old 'Wheel chair Norm' is sitting on 96 wins.

I so want to be there when that grey bearded veteran hits 100.

The 'buzz' of a good shot stills resides, but as they become more frequent, the endorphin rush is not as great.

Like a junkie I want to push it further.

It will be a fine line between producing commercial safe shots and attempting that 'perfect' shot.

I know I need to compress that depth of field with the zoom (I already shoot at f/2.8), perhaps get closer without annoying the TAB.

Timing is almost impossible, they are too damn quick.

But the theory is sound. Just like rodeo. Jump click kick. (Well opposite lol)

Not easy with 1/2 a second to play with.

Small steps, I am paid to do a job.

I am eternally grateful to Dave Robbie for the opportunity.

It is paying for my 5dmk4.

But more than that, greyhounds gives me time to think away from the interweb.

To ponder and plan. Fight the frustration of not doing more stuff.

It gives me some Timmy time. Something I have never quite mastered.

They can say, they can say it all sounds crazy They can say, they can say I've lost my mind I don't care, I don't care, so call me crazy

We can live in a world that we design

I always second guess myself writing these.

Feedback in the past has suggested I am too negative, I am too hard on myself.

I wonder if I am too arrogant, disconnected and aloft?

I am far too concerned with others perceptions. My 'drafts' folder is testament to that.

I have to let it go. Be that peculiar self that I am.

I am not the businessman.

The 'marketing guru's' and charlatans can play their game. I will be me.

Anyway, on with the usual programming......................

A recent health scare has put some perspective on the current 10 year plan.

A 10 year plan maybe rather optimistic now.

I have had a habit of putting things off until tommorow.

I have had the attitude that today maybe good, but tommorrow will be better.

I know now tommorrow will not be better.

Today is as good as it gets.

That is liberating. That maybe the kick in the ass I need.

We are still talking years rather than months.

I can still make commitments. And I have time to achieve my goals.

The experience I obtain today, will make me a better photographer tommorrow.

That skill set will only grow. There is time to put that skill set into practise.

But there is an urgency now.

Everyday gone is gone forever. I am all too conscious of that fact now.

A frustration is ever present of wanting to do more stuff.

Flesh out the sketches that already exist in my mind.

Throw off that comfort blanket of being 'good', in hopes of reaching 'great'.

Perhaps I need to take more risks.

Grab the attention that part of me has never wanted.

Every now and then my arm is twisted for family portraits.

My sister visiting from Oamaru was one of those times.

There is a spark in the back of my mind to offer heirloom portraits.

Images that will stand the testament of time.

A majestic portrait of my great grand parents of their wedding day in 1896 reminds me that photography means something. Not just to me.

But to my children, my children's' children. (and your children's children)

The appreciation will not be fully felt until long after my passing.

But it has to be timeless, it cannot follow fads.

Instagram and snapchat have shaped many perspectives.

In 20 years today's fashions will be distant memories.

Neither can excuses be made for it as 'art' or 'my style'.

It is good or it is not. 'Rules' translate from one language to the next.

It is not a feeling, or an opinion. They are universal.

The technical quality will remain, artistic qualities may change with passing generations.

The future of digital iconography is unknown.

I cannot claim I yet have the ability to translate my vision into reality.

For that I need to practice, repeat the process over and over, tweaking theory as I go.

To show you what I can already see in my mind. Not good, but great.

It cant be all serious stuff.

There are always allot of smiles, laughter and goofyness along the way.

Smiles cant be faked. Emotion is important too.

There will always be room for the 'arti farti' shots.

The shot between the shots. The character, the personality. Memories.

The concepts, the cool stuff I have seen from across the globe.

Doing stuff that others just cant do.

That is good news for the residents of Southland.

For until I can replicate my vision consistantly, I will be affordable.

You will be my guinea pigs, my muse's for perfection.

I cannot yet charge top dollar for that. It is a process. It is something that drives me.

Sometimes I curse the fact that I am a 'people photographer'.

I shoot people.

For it isnt something I can do on my own.

For with all the creative energy, for all the countless hours spent researching, learning and pondering. I still need you.

You are the most important part of the puzzle.

But then again.

If it was easy, everyone would do it.

Good isnt great. But I will be.

Well I have well and truly broken this new years resolution.

“Communicate more”

Aww shucks. I am not too sure what happened there.

But “Falling down is a mistake. Staying there is a choice”

Time to get back up again.

The passing months behind the scenes it has been hectic.

The day job, team photo's, the last of this seasons weddings.

And a little time for creative projects.

I have already started the pre-consultations for next seasons weddings.

I am fully booked for the 2018/2019 wedding season. (October 2018 – April 2019)

Next summer will be a crazy time.

If you are thinking of getting married in the summer of 2020, please contact me now.

I am already receiving bookings for the popular months.

Speedway season has finished.

There maybe big changes on the infield next season due to health and safety recommendations from SNZ.

“Essential staff only”

I sincerely hope a compromise can be found at the national AGM to ensure the continuation of my summertime Saturday pilgrimage.

Speaking of speedway.

Even although the season is over, I am still continually getting requests for speedway images.

I seem to be appreciated further north you get. Northern tracks asking for images for their promotional purposes, and do not be surprised if one or two of my images are in the SNZ's official documents next season.

Next season I plan to establish an online speedway gallery where you will be able to download full resolution images (or your Facebook web sized images) to streamline the sharing process.

I have stated many times, I do not charge for speedway images, it isnt about the 'likes' or the ego, or about making money off the drivers.

It is about giving back to the speedway community, and being part of that family.

Fingers crossed that discussions will be held at a national level that ensure the viability of infield photography, and the safety of those photographers.

I do enjoy revisiting older themes I played with when I was 'just starting out'.

To do the same things and see if I have improved technically and aesthetically.

This latest series is more of a celebration of my 'main go to model' Chantelle.

Although I see the technical development of improved tonal values and color balance.

I also see a young lady maturing and exuding confidence.

That shy freckled teenager of 3 years ago has grown into a strong confident young woman.

The shyness is still there, but when it comes to game time a transformation takes place.

The ability to take instruction, look natural while doing it, and the patience to endure my technical geekyness is very much appreciated.

The effort of the Mulvihill family has made my own developement as a photographer so much easier. I dont think I say thank you enough.

Gurushots still holds sway over me.

The ability to guage my progress on an international stage is invaluable.

I am just not into the local limelight. After all I am the dude behind the camera.

It would be nice to have a few thousand likes on the facebook page.

But I dont need them.

I am booked out for weddings, and I get to do cool stuff.

I know that you know.

That is good enough for me.

The coming months will see me hone my skills in doors, the weather will be an endless challenge.

I am hoping to get 'uptown', shoot at iconic Invercargill locations, suck in the ambient light and balance it with my strobes to get a proper exposure.

It will be a challenge, but thats what I do.

I have to admit it was a slow start to spring for me.

Not many daffodils and cherry blossoms featuring in my work.

I guess that reflected my state of mind at the time.

I did manage to make time for the great stretch of fine weather we had late October.

I had been hanging out all year to get warm days, finally time to break free from the hibernation.

With the start of night shift shortly, sunsets were a priority.

Very shortly I will be limited to weekend sunsets, and speedway will suck up some of that time.

I am happy with the results. Pictures in my mind are becoming realised.

There are always tweaks to be better, but that is part of the journey.

That is part of the thrill. Getting better.

I was surprised at the feedback I was given when I asked "No flash or flash?"

No flash was a common answer. That perplexed me.

I see my way forward is doing things others cant do.

Not just to see the beauty of a moment, but to get the best of it.

To capture the light nature provides, but to facilitate the issues that exist between our eyes, and what the existing technology can capture and reproduce.

A silhouette can be captured by a cellphone camera. Anyone can do that (or can they?)

But to dismiss a silhouette as only average, is to dismiss the intangible aspects.

The part that cant be measured by 'rules' or facts, sometimes only opinions matter, and it means different things to different people.

Beautiful doesn't have be technically correct.

Sometimes I just have to suck it up and see what is good in the image, instead of what is wrong. That happy median between Asperger logic and the artistic merit.

Maternity has a place in my future. My baby girls are turning 19 this month.

It is a time of my life I will be 'Nandad' in the coming years.

Just quietly I am quite excited about the prospects.

It is a time for redemption.

All the things you could have done better as a parent, can be made amends with the new generation in your life.

In life sometimes the only way you can learn is by doing it, and grandparents get a second go.

That starts with treating the mum to be as the amazing person that she is.

I have to be honest. It is out of my comfort zone, I am a guy.

Wardrobe is hard for me, I have given up op-shopping for female clothes.

But when i see this, it makes it all worthwhile.

I am reminded why I am doing it.

That night was a 'practise' shoot.

It was to build both mine and subjects confidence.

Hell, this young lady doesnt even own a dress, she was wearing my wifes clothing.

It is a process. I have to gain your confidence. Gain your trust.

Show you what I already see in everyone.

We have rescheduled, we are going to involve her partner.

I am dearly looking forward to it, with her new found confidence.

That is what drives me.

When I see the happyness, it makes me happy.

When people feel special, I feel special.

It is about me finding my niche. To fit in.

There is fek all normal about me, but sometimes, just sometimes, I can fit in.

Shoots are social events. Shoots are memories to be made.

I encourage chaperones. It is about going out and having fun.

Even for the simple reason that if you are goofing with your mates, the smiles and laughs are natural. It doesnt have to be freaking serious.

In the past I have I have done quite a few shoots around water.

Until this point I have mostly confined myself to the bath tub.

It is warm and it isnt dependant on the weather.

The biggest constraint of a bathtub is space. This summer I am breaking out.

I am going big.

I have constructed a 4 meter by 4 meter paddling pool in the back yard.

I have access to power points, so eventually I can bring the studio lights on board.

I can run hot water from inside via a hose (But dont tell the wife lol)

The trial run has been a success.

Teething issues have been highlighted, and now can be addressed.

I would never try a maternity shoot in a tub.

It would be too restrictive, its all about the belly, and I dont do squished.

The pool will enable visions to be brought to life in a controlled manor.

No cold rivers, no shitty wind, no dirty ponds.

Milk bath. Yeah, we can do white.

Arti farti colour. If you are game, we can do paint lol

We can do floral. We can do bright and cheerful. We can do dark and morose.

We can tailor it to you. One size does not fit all.

There is always the continual experimental process.

Taking inspiration from overseas and developing ideas until I am confident in replicating them when it matters. Taking conceptual ideas and making them commercial.

Expanding my conceptual tool kit. Doing it with the camera.

I am a photographer, not a graphic artist.

Ring of fire: Purposely reflecting excessive light into the lens in a controlled manor to achieve a lens flare in pleasing effects. Its going to take allot of work.

Easily over done, it has to compliment the image, not dominant it. Free lensing: Removing the lens from the camera and tilting the lens to achieve a unnatural depth of field. It is hit and miss. Removing myself from the electronic support of the focus system of the lens, it is very much old school.

Add the complexity of a tilting focal plane, it is quite a skillful enterprise.

Double exposure: Over laying two exposures into 1 image. Probably the easiest as the camera handles the technical side. Only the composition needs thought.

I can see huge potential in all the techniques, highly situational, but when the time comes I will know.

I am excited about the summer months.

There will be dissappointments. There will be comromises. There will be successes.

And only one way to find out.

#notmanyifany #artifartime #exordiumphotography

With onset of the warmer weather I can finally get outside and do cool stuff.

The colder climes that inhabit Southland I am always wary of the subjects comfort level.

It has to be an enjoyable experience, that is all part of the memory.

Now we have some sun, lets freaking use it.

Last week was a successful week of trials.

I am trialing (and error'ing lol) different lighting permutations.

For those who are technically minded.

I am breaking away from my beloved TTL metering and guesstimating manual OCF power levels.

(Guesstimating because the light meter I ordered never arrived, and then the manufacturer stopped making them. I did get a refund eventually.)

I am also running trials of the power losage of high speed sync vs my traditional loss of light via aperture.

(Stopping down vs shutter speed to control ambient light)

High speed sync may be the way forward.

Because shutter speed only effects the ambient light, and not the strobe light, I gain 4.3 stops of light control from 1/200 to 1/4000 in attempts to tame that ambient light. .

But then I lose 'about' 1 stop because of the nature of how HSS works (light pulses).

In theory its a win, but I still havent quite my head around it in its entirety, nor the practical nature of actual experience.

So it is a work in progress, and I could be wrong lol.

(Although at this stage I only have 2 OCF which are HSS capable, which does limit creative options.)

It is my dream to eventually over power the sun.

You will often hear me say I am picking a fight with the sun. I like challenges lol.

I know it is possible, I have seen it over seas done well.

I just need to hammer it over and over to get a consistency.

To know what is going to happen before I push that button. To be in control.

And that is the key. Control.

All a camera does is record light. If I control that light, then anything is possible.

Then it doesnt matter what time of day it is, what the weather is doing, or where we are.

We can make any vision a reality. Bring those international standards to Invercargill.

(Note I do say 'we', it is always a partnership in creative vision)

It is a long term process, and it will probably mean in investing in more powerful lighting gear.

But we will be having a hell of allot of fun along the way.

I am enjoying the process.

I like to think I have mellowed a little in my 'results driven' mentality.

It isnt about getting the shot, it is about getting out and doing stuff.

An excuse to be social and spend time with people.

Where the only expectations are that of my own. And honestly "I dont give a ...... "

I do still wind myself up a little, when I see touches of brilliance.

When its almost there and one wee push in the right direction could see that image exhibited in a European or American art gallery.

(and yeah. That part isnt a dream, that shit is happening right now. It is a fact.)

But in the bigger picture, there is always tomorrow. Lets do it again.

And of course all the practical knowledge flows on to the commercial work.

I know what will work, and what doesnt.

The confidence to pull off that epic shot everyone would like for their wedding day.

To get that family sunset shot where the sunset is the backdrop, not the dominant subject.

To say "Yes I can do that", without compromise, or doubt, or bullshit.

Time is ticking with the seasonal day, err night job looming.

I am aiming to get out creatively at least twice a week, different times of the day, in different locations. Just doing stuff for the sake of doing stuff. Having fun.

If anyone wants to hang out and do cool stuff, message me on face book.

I cant do it on my own.

*click me*

#exordiumphotography #notmanyifany

It is always an honour to be requested by another photographer (or their partner) to record their memories.

It is an unspoken confirmation of I am taking the right path, a little pat on the back by your peers.

The quiet 'good on ya mate' that I appreciate.

It is one hell of an anxious experience.

Travelling out to Orepuki I knew I wouldnt have the control I usually carry with me to a shoot.

It was a birthday surprise in the middle of the day.

The weather was unpredictable. It was bright sun to rain in a matter of minutes.

The wind was just bearable.

And to makes things the worst, I knew to take into the epicness of the location, there would be no hiding in the shade, or seeking shelter from the elements.

It was to be, what it was.

I brought with me two assistants. My enduring wife, and my mother in law.

The wind meant no diffusion of light, bare flash was the only option.

To make things worse, a transceiver decided that it was having the day off.

So the mother in law got to stay warm in the car.

After all the doubt, after all the 'fek' moments.

I have taken away a certain confidence away from the session.

The brief was “We are a zoomed out family. We like being part of the surrounds”.

Ohh hell yeah. Brenziers method it was.

I have had the comment “People are too small, you cant see them”.

But that is one image in isolation, put the wide image into a series, and I give you a choice.

Close up, or part of the landscape?

Everyone has one part about themselves that they dont like.

Often those feelings arent made verbal, so as a photographer I may not be aware of that self doubt.

I personally, look in the mirror and think how old I look.

I have come to terms with my skinnyness, but seeing my dad in the mirror haunts me.

My theory is, if you make a beautiful image, the people part of that image feel beautiful too.

It isnt just about the physical appearances, it is about a mood, it is about feelings, it is intangible.

One of the great limitations of social media is the scale and resolution I am confined to.

The subjects arent small, it is the image that is small.

In its native resolution, the people are'nt small at all, because the image is huge.

They are designed to print big, I mean really big.

(Uncropped image)

(100% crop of above image)

Part of every family session, or photographic session, follows a routine.

I always try to get the formal images done 1st. The sit up and smile shots.

I call these the money shots. Its what is traditionally is expected.

Worst case scenario, if everything goes to poo from that point onwards, if the kiddies pack a tantrum, if the All Blacks are playing in 10 minutes, or there is a family emergency.

You will have something for your wall.

But the next stage is just as, or more important.

It is where you, get to be you.

I step back and say "Go nuts"

Sometimes there is re-posing involved.

If you look dorky, I will tell you.

Sometimes a little encouragement is needed.

I am a dude pointing a big ass camera at you, it is to be expected.

But worse case scenario, only you and the people you show will see them.

What do you have to lose?

I want to see who you are, not just what you look like.

It is about memories. About looking back at the day and thinking "I enjoyed that".

It is about the experience, often I call it an 'adventure'.

It is about having fun, leave the stress and technical geekery to me.

It is about you being special, because you are.

We get to record a little of your personality, the coy looks, maybe a little of that shy ackwardness that inhabits everyone.

Its not make beleive. Its all real and unscripted.

You get to be the rock star for the day.

Thank you Jo and family.

It really put me out of my comfort zone.

All too often I look at what is wrong, and not at what is right.

What the image could be, and not what it is.

Your infectious positivity has made me re-examine myself, and you have had a lasting impact on my thinking.

The fruit of your tree is not un-noticed.

Inspiration comes from many sources.

It may be song, a vision, or maybe from those have gone before me.

It can be the sum of the life experience equation.

I have been listening to a great many lyrics as of late.

With the demise of Linkin Park, and tragedy of Chester Bennington I have had a focus on his lyrics, and many the commentators interpretations of the possible meanings.

And people do interpret their own reality through their own experiences.

The same event/lyrics/image can mean different things to different people.

“No great mind has ever existed without a touch of madness.” ― Aristotle

What is high lighted to me the most is that creative minds are different. We like to show the creative face publically, but within the veil some things will always be hidden.

Chester certainly had his demons, as so do I.

We can read between the lines, seek other opinions and base our understanding on our own life experiences. But we may never understand.

"Experts" may put us into groups, apply rules to try and attempt to explain this group.

But some people will never fit into any group.

In human nature red banana's exist. Its not about apples and oranges.

But red banana's. Often I feel like a red banana.

Although a few tears have been shed this last week,

This is still a celebration of the success I had last Sunday.

Although it was a first attempt, and already I see where improvements can be made technically to achieve my goals, it was a hell of a good effort by all party's involved.

A big thanks to the models and all the supporting crew members that make this all possible.