1) The chickens used to roam freely anywhere they fancied. However they are VERY lazy, and once they discovered that there was food inside our barn-flat, and nice pretty flowers outside they didn't bother going anywhere else. They spent the whole day standing on our front step, pooing, clucking, and trying to get through the door. They systematically ate all my flowers, and one day about 4 chickens managed to get inside and into the butter dish. I spent about an hour cleaning up the mess.
2) When we lived in the tent, I was halfway through preparing dinner when I went outside for some reason. When I got back, I found Hussein standing on the chopping board pecking my salmon steaks like a thing possessed. In the process of getting him out of the tent, he managed to send food flying EVERYWHERE, and he also pooed all over my meal and our furniture. I've never forgiven him.
3) Whenever my (well behaved) dogs are eating a bone, the chickens will try and peck the bone right out of their mouths. The dogs aren't allowed to bite the chickens, and both parties are aware of this. I don't like to see my poor dogs being molested by these lesser creatures. Anyway, one day Nana is sure to reach the end of her tether and just chomp right down on a chicken - I wouldn't blame her in the slightest. However the chickens are here for me to eat and not her.
Haha, yes, its only taken me 7 months, but I have finally foiled you, chickens!
Nails and Nana can be found in the image below guarding all my new plants :)
By the way, the reason our glass door is filthy is because when the dogs see me inside they rub themselves all over it. Its because they love me so much. And I would rather watch the comedy channel and eat cake than clean it. Aren't I terrible?!
And here are the cakes in question! I went a bit overboard with the icing and melted some cadbury's crunchie bars into it, so there are little crunchie bits on top. Mmmmmmmmm..... caaaakes....
Of course what with the temperatures dropping as we head into winter, energy food like this is pretty much essential. I should probably eat one now to see me through until tea time...
The lovely Sheryl and Steve got married last Saturday during a very nasty patch of weather. They had the best attitude though and didn't let it bother them in the slightest. Sheryl made it clear that she only had one wedding day and she was going to enjoy it no matter what. Woohoo! The intimate ceremony was held in the East Taieri Church and the reception at the Balmacewen Golf Club...
Mmmmmmmmm...Moet......
The boys...
Steve is a pilot (how cool is that???) and so was his dad, so we did a few aviation style shots down at the Taieri airfield.
Some very stylish dancing at the end there, I love it when couples do something a little unique for their first dance. Thanks for being such patient, fun people to work with guys, speak soon x
I used to think your photos were pretty good Sinead, but I didn't really have anything to compare them with. However, now that I've spent a week studying the websites of the top wedding photographers in the UK (you know, the ones that charge £3000 and win all those awards), I can honestly say that these are some of the best photos I've seen all week!
(06.06.09 @ 11:52 AM)I agree with Aidan! x
(06.08.09 @ 01:47 AM)Our temporary accommodation turned into a giant project and we built a 4 bay barn inclusive of our stylish(!) little flat. We have a fenced-off vegetable garden, 2 dogs, 8 chickens, water tanks, a driveway, and lots more to come. The plan is to start building the house in the spring, but this time I'm not going to put any deadlines on my blog! The designs are pretty much finalised so I'll put some images here soon.
Here are the dogs lying on the gravel we've been using to mix concrete. They do have a comfy bed to use so I can only presume the gravel heats up in the sun during the day and is nice and warm:
The view out of our front door at dusk:
And here is my neice Alice who is FOUR TODAY!!!!!!
Wow that Alice is cute, must get her looks from her parents!
(05.15.09 @ 06:23 PM)No I don't think so...
(05.15.09 @ 08:20 PM)I love your blog. Delighted to see more photos of Alice (would love to see the boys too). As Nigel's sister I am a bit biaised, but he is hopeless at sending me any photos so I am becoming an avid fan of yours! I really appreciate your work, not just the subjects, but the quality of the photos and writing style too!
(05.15.09 @ 10:38 PM)Aw, thanks Carolyn, thats lovely to hear! And very kind of you to say. I will endeavour to get more photographs of those boys up on my blog! xx
(05.16.09 @ 12:28 PM)When Rebecca first contacted me she said she wanted a very documentary approach to her wedding photographs, and that maybe they'd have a few posed images of the bridal party and themselves "in a dark alley or something". I was like, PICK ME!!! Haha. I'd been wandering around Dunedin looking at old brick alleyways longingly, but thinking no one would be up for that kind of nonsense..
When I met them both something else struck me. I'm happy to say that I'm truly, deeply in love with my husband. I feel lucky that infact a handful of my friends and family are head over heels in love with someone... but I have never seen any couple so outrageously in love as Rebecca and Sam. It was a pleasure to photograph two people who are so blissfully happy with eachother, and importantly, not afraid to show it. It was tough trying to narrow down images to put on my blog, because there's loads more I would like to showcase here!
Sorry, did I not mention the good looks????
Rebecca's sister helping her get ready:
Meanwhile Sam was enjoying some drinks with his best men in a trendy little bar in town.
I processed most of my black and whites so that they have that proper old school film look..
Married!
This is Pequeno bar in Dunedin and the following photograph the (very) cool alleyway right outside:
Thankyou to my lovely assistant Emma for standing on a bin to hold the additional lighting for this!
Sam's dad is in a fantastic band called Doris. They played proper 60s rock and roll and they were AMAZING! Also, that's Rebecca's dad on the left, featuring in the band for the night - how cool is that??
Thats it for now. I'm off to walk the dogs around the land - they are sitting outside the door looking in and crying at me (I'm a bit late for the walk today) - I don't think it occurs to them to go off walking by themselves. Oh well, I'm a complete sucker for big sad doggie eyes so I'd better be off..
xxx
Wow Sinead, I just can't stop looking at these pics! You are one very talented woman!! Thank you so much for capturing it all just as it was - exactly what we wanted, but way better than we ever expected!
(05.08.09 @ 05:06 PM)Sinead - what beautiful photos! You have done such an amazing job. Can't wait to see the rest!
(05.08.09 @ 07:34 PM)Sinead, we have a camera too, but it doesn't do what your camers seems to acheive! How do you do it? Fantastic photos and we can not wait to see what else you have in store. Congratulations.
(05.08.09 @ 08:48 PM)I sadly missed the wedding day as was in London but LOVE these photos. looks like it was magical day and I wish so much i could have been there. the photos are brilliant!
(05.09.09 @ 06:58 AM)We just loved looking at the great photos of such a joyous occasion which we are sorry we missed & look forward to seeing the rest.
(05.10.09 @ 07:11 PM)WOW Becs! These are absolutely stunning! Congratulations to you both on your amazing day. And Sinead, these are some of the most captivating, natural and emotive wedding photos I've seen - well done!
(05.13.09 @ 11:25 AM)Aw, thanks everyone! You're most kind :) And Chris, I feel very honoured receiving such lovely comments from a talent like yourself. Love your images!
(05.13.09 @ 12:25 PM)Absolutely beautiful photos and wedding. Really enjoyed the wholev occaision. Boy, if my side of the family could smile like that it would be awesome.... And hurt.all the best and don't 4get your osprey order!!!
(06.12.09 @ 08:14 PM)These pictures look like they are from a movie I would like to see. I am guessing Sinead is fleet of foot and didn't drink much during this occasion.
(06.11.10 @ 08:28 PM)
Baby Olive:
He's so gentle with her:
Baby feet...
And this is the family dog, blogged here mainly for the benefit of my dad who is a huge Schnauzer fan:
I love photographing families more than once, because the second time I visit everyone is very comfortable, maybe because they know I'm not going to force them to grin at the camera for two hours.
Coming next I have shots from a really fabulous wedding... and I should probably update my barn interior photograph because I came back from Sydney to discover Steven had built stair and mezzanine banisters. What a guy!! I'm glad to see he's not slacking whilst I'm on holiday though....
Hi Sinead, the photos are great ....... love the Schnauzer. It looks like an organised version of Max.
(05.08.09 @ 04:05 AM)Thanks Courtney!
(02.14.10 @ 09:56 PM)
I'd rather eat cake and watch the comedy channel too!
(06.06.09 @ 02:24 AM)