April 10, 2011

LEGO WESTMINSTER ABBEY AND ROYAL WEDDING





I was commissioned by LEGO through their UK PR Agency to photograph an amazing LEGO model of Westminster Abbey for a press story to co-inside with the Wedding of Prince William & Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey at the end of April. I even used my two boys as models for the photos.

I was always very confident that this would make the majority of the national newspapers & magazines in the UK as well as abroad, but Unfortunately, due to the timing of of their press release there had already been a similar press story done by LEGO LAND in Windsor, and even though I feel my pictures and the models were so much better than the one they did, the papers spiked it as they obviously felt this angle had already been covered.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

I was absolutely gutted when I found out. Still, it was good enough for other papers all round the world to use it - My photos and children were published in Thailand, Canada, the USA, Australia, Thailand and Pakistan.

Links...

Daily Blipfoto

Bangkok Post

Rex Features

Telegraph

Scarborough Evening News

April 07, 2011

Elton John Concert - What a Joke!

Elton John Concert

I have been told today that our photo agency cannot get accreditation for an Elton John gig which is happening in the town where we are based and that the only photographers who are allowed in are the local paper who have had to sign a contract which probably severely limits how and where the images can be used. God knows what they are signing!

I bet the paper still turns up and gives them loads of FREE publicity – even if they are being told what they can do with their own images!

This is happening more and more nowadays with many of these music artists even getting editorial photographers to sign over their copyright.

The only way this is going to stop is by photographers and publications completely boycotting these concerts, and therefore not giving any publicity to them. There have been a few instances where photographers have refused to sign and editors have pulled them off the event.

What they are totally forgetting is that it’s partly down to the newspapers, magazines and their journalists & photographers who have made all them all who they are today.

Some interesting Links...

Rolling Stone Magazine
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/photographers-respond-to-lady-gagas-new-copyright-demands-20110307

Jeremy Nicholl - Photographer Blog
http://www.jeremynicholl.com/blog/2011/03/07/dear-photographers-lady-gaga-wants-the-copyright-on-your-work-oh-and-by-the-way-so-do-we/comment-page-1/#comment-1447

April 06, 2011

DOTTY DONKEY SAVES SHEEP

Brave Dotty the donkey is honoured for saving
Stanley the sheep from dog attack



Dotty the donkey from Scarborough has received a coveted bravery award for galloping in to save her friend Stanley, the sheep, from being savaged by a dog.

The presentation of the PDSA Certificate for Animal Bravery took place on the farm in Throxenby today (Tuesday 5 April) where Dotty and Stanley were accompanied by their owner Ann Rogers (63) who was delighted with the award.

She said: “Dotty was so brave on the day of the attack. She saw her friend Stanley in distress and charged down the field to rescue him from the dog’s jaws. I am so proud of Dotty and so pleased that her bravery has been recognised by PDSA.”

Presenting the PDSA Certificate for Animal Bravery, PDSA Trustee John Murphy said: “When Dotty was faced with her moment of truth, her ultimate test of character, this brave rescue donkey did not shy away. And even if she felt fear, she did not show it for a second.

“We are not sure how donkeys think. But we know Dotty saw her friend Stanley, the sheep, being viciously attacked by a dog and was compelled to gallop to his rescue. Dotty saved her friend with, it seemed, no thought of the obvious danger to herself. Today, it is PDSA’s turn to recognise Dotty for her bravery and her overwhelming need to protect her friend.”
Brave Dotty’s deed took place on 18 April 2009 when a dog being walked close to the animals’ paddock launched a frenzied attack on defenceless Stanley.

Seeing the sheep’s plight, the heroic donkey intervened and pinned the dog to the ground until it let go of Stanley. As a result of the attack, the terrified sheep lost two teeth and suffered facial paralysis. Nearly two years on, Stanley is now fully recovered and never far from his rescuer – even sharing the same stable at night.

Elaine Pendlebury, PDSA Senior Veterinary Surgeon, says Dotty’s behaviour was outstanding: “Donkeys are very stoical and protective animals. Often when faced with a threat they will rise up to face their enemy, in this case an aggressive dog. Dotty showed herself to be a true protector of the animals she sees as her family and her bravery saved Stanley from further harm, and possibly death.”

Ann Rogers rescued Dotty three years ago when she saw the skinny and frail donkey tethered on the side of the road. She is stable mate to Stanley (five years old) who was orphaned as a newborn lamb. They share the fields around Row Brow Farm with a menagerie of pets and rescued animals including rabbits, goats, peacocks and llamas. Since the attack on Stanley, Dotty, who is the only donkey on the farm, has remained very protective of her ‘family’ especially around dogs.

The PDSA Certificate for Animal Bravery was instituted in 2001and Dotty is the tenth recipient alongside nine dogs. Each story is a unique account of inspiring bravery.
For more details about the PDSA Awards programme including the PDSA Dickin Medal, PDSA Gold Medal and Certificate for Animal Bravery and Devotion recipients go to www.pdsa.org.uk/about-us/animal-bravery-awards