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Oncology and a Glorious Sporting Girl!

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So here I am sat in the Furness general Oncology Unit on a drip for 5hrs. The room is full of patients and Vicci Kaighan has come up for a chat and to see for herself the work done here in Barrow. At the moment only chemotherapy can be administered at Barrow radiotherapy requires travelling to Preston.  So lucky me.

Vicci and Amy are organising a Ladies Night in order to raise funds for  David Cole’s Educational trust for Oncology Nurses.  This supports all our local nurses in our local area and believe me, you never know when you will need them!

This event is local people supporting our own local needs. Yes the government should do it but they don’t so we have to help ourselves.

Image

Please support this event in any way you can and I hope to see you all there.

One of the upsides to sitting on a drip for hours is reading magazines you might not otherwise bother with. I picked up and read the Land and Business Mag or to be more precise the adverts in it. Some people live in a different world to us don’t they?

There was one advert for Pac-Dog.com where you could buy radio operated collars for your socially inept dog and send it it a pulse via your handheld zapper right to the collar in various levels of intensity to keep the little sod in check.

Another advert, and all you ladies are going to want your men in these, was for not just any weight but COUNTY WEIGHT corduroy trousers in colours such as Corn, Moss Green,  Toffee and Navy complete with a comfort waistband that expands up to 2 inches!  Warm Smart and Hard Wearing.  Admit it you want them don’t you,I should point out in the image on the advert the corn colour was a vivid yellow.

But the best is last. The Personal Section.

Glorious Sporting Girl.

52 year old attractive fit blonde. Is an extraordinary woman. She hunts. shoots and fishes, is big hearted full of fun and is an incredible cook. She can gut, pluck and skin. A practical and gorgeously non PC woman, a rather special, stunning, warm, lovely lady looking for a country chap who knows what’s what!

I am not a hundred percent sure who would want gutting, plucking and skinning but I sure all you ladies out there know more about what men want than I do. Mind you I do know a vet so I might ask him about the country way od doing things, are you there Simon?

Kells Images for the Record

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Our plans for 2012 were to reorganise our company and operate in a more specialised way. We were in the process of redesigning our website,products and services as well as preparing our marketing material. Then early in the new year I was admitted to Furness General. A couple of days later I was informed that I had an inoperable bowel cancer that  was at a fairly advanced stage with secondaries.  I asked the inevitable question and was informed that it was not possible to tell me how long I had to live but  I would be undergoing a procedure to  relieve some of the problems then be  passed to the Oncology unit with a view to undergoing chemotherapy.  Shit happens eh!.

Dawn and myself, though more Dawn than me, have spent the last 6 weeks sorting out our business. We had wedding bookings for the next 2 yrs all of whom we contacted and returned  their deposits  explaining we would not be able to carry out  the photography as planned due to ill-health. We completed all orders from weddings in December and all other outstanding commitments the last of which we completed this week. All that is left is to supply a few enlargements which will be finished in the next 2 weeks. Our business is officially closed down  and our studio closed. On Wednesday next week I start chemotherapy.

How ever down is not out. as you will discover over the coming weeks and months. There will still be exhibitions and events but with a different slant, as they will be geared towards fund-raising for the Oncology unit at Furness General. Thanks in advance to Bar 5 and The Nines for your support, The HatBox, www.cheekyfun.co.uk, Crofters and every one else I will rope in!

Speaking of Furness General myself and my family would like to thank them for the outstanding way we have all been treated at this difficult time . Ward 5 where I spent a week deserves praise,all the staff were fantastic, Dr Patel and her team were remarkable and Dr Biswas and the Oncology staff could not be better as have been the cancer support staff. It has been  and continues to be a reassuring experience being in the care of all these professional and dedicated people.

I would also like to thank all the people who have contacted me with their messages of support and kindness. Over the years I have worked with and met some quite remarkable people and it is a humbling experience to get so much support from so many people and while I  cannot express my gratitude in an adequate way,  hopefully I will involve you all in some exciting but strange photography projects before I shuffle off this mortal coil.

Obviously this is a difficult time for my family especially my wife who I have been with for 42 yrs, so I would like to say a special thank you to all the staff in SMITE ,your timing with the  best wishes and gift for Emily was just perfect and very much appreciated not only by Emily but by myself . Seeing her face when she opened it and her joy on discovering who had sent it made today a special day, so thanks to you all for being the friends you are. (Mind you, the example you have set has put the pressure on me now as it is Emily’s birthday this Friday)

This bowel cancer is a sneaky sort of thing . I have not been ill, had no real symptoms and no pain till I was hospitalised, it just sneaked up on me like an apache,  apparently over a couple of years or more. When I was discussing this with the quite splendid colorectal nurse specialist Suzanne Thompson RGN,Bsc(Hons) no less, it came to light that bowel cancer doesn’t get a lot of publicity (until just lately with the awareness campaign)  it is a bit of an unpleasant and embarrassing area to talk about as it involves arses and shit ect. It is difficult to put a pleasant reader friendly angle on the subject frankly, it’s just not sexy is it?

That may be true, however a lot of it is hilarious and I should know and if any one would be stupid enough to attempt to make it sexy and readable thereby increasing awareness it would be me. Over the coming weeks I will write a no holds barred account of my experience so far and how it develops, watch this space and learn.

New Offers From Kells.

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At Kells we pride ourselves on doing things different and first and now new for 2012 we now have all in packages that include  the photo-shoot, an  image mounted on a diamond polished acrylic  in the style of your choice and a disc of all the images from the shoot.  You will receive the disc the same day with all the images processed and if  you select your image for the acrylic that evening it will be delivered next day.

The important thing is the image and we don’t want to produce your average baby shot we want to create something special.

large 3 panel acrylic size on wall 39 in by 20 in approx.

You are proud of your baby so together let’s make an image that has impact. We can supply big, very big then even bigger in a variety of designs all on Acrylic mounts the most modern and contemporary way to display your image. The acrylic is optically pure displaying vibrant colours and excellent detail, it is lighter and stronger than glass and will not shatter like glass.The image is mounted on the rear of the acrylic so cannot be harmed and the face is easily cleaned

3 panel acrylic size on wall up to 50in by 20in approx

We can design and provide 2 panel, 3 panel or single panel designs or we can design a multiple panel image to your specifications. We can supply bespoke sizes  to your specifications but this may take a bit longer than next day

2 panel Acrylic each panel 20in by 30 in approx

We even offer a fitting service should you require it. Over the next few days we will show you more designs and ideas that will make your image special.

For more information and prices call us on 01229 823401 or email kellsimages@btinternet.com

24in by 36 inch single panel Acrylic.

 

Rebellion in the Pink update

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Tonight at the Nines we will be unveiling the images created to raise funds for Breast cancer research 29 women got naked for this shoot ages ranging from 18 to 60! This is the only time they will be on public display.  Thanks to every one that has bought tickets despite being so soon after Christmas and all the expense that involves.

During the course of the evening we will be having a Prize Draw so be sure to put your name and contact number on the back of your ticket. Prizes have been donated by Efflorescence,  Blooms,  The Gables, The Bay Horse, A special prize from ourselves at Kells Images, and many more with donations still coming in at the time of writing this blog.  Plus of course there will be 2 copies of the image. One is a 24 by 16 inch canvas and the 2nd is a fabulous 20 by 30 inch diamond polished acrylic, some one will be taking them home!

Also a free candy buffet will be provided by the original  Sweet Touch-Candy Buffet of Barrow, how fabulous is that?

Tickets are only £5, so come along have a few drinks enjoy the Sweet Touch Candy Buffet and you may be going home with a fabulous prize and all in aid of a worthy cause, Breast Cancer Research.

 

Getting the Slap right.

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Kells are pleased to be working with the truly exceptional and talented make up artist Kay Booth on all our future projects and commissions . Kay  has worked for Lancome for 10 years and has a diploma in media and photography makeup after studying  at the School of Make up Manchester. Exactly what we need!

Up to now Kay has done the make up for our In a League of Your Own project which required rather extreme make up. (due to the Wear A Hat Day 2012 project In a League of Your Own is being rescheduled for later in the year, probably around the time of the Euro 2012 competition would you believe!) We were in the studio creating an image for Wear a Hat Day so we thought 2 birds with one stone and used the time to also create some images for our new Beauty packages details of which will be released later this week.

Our model for the day was Alannah Louden whom we had met in the Kells Modelling Competition 2011. This was the first time Alannah had done anything like this, not that you would know from the images, well done Alannah. Normally we would also have our hairdresser Rachael Salmon with us but as we were originally just doing a hat photo and my plan was to stuff all the hair up inside the hat we let her have the day off. Will I ever learn? Fortunately for me Alannah and Kay sorted it between them. I also suggested we do a before and after photo, I could see Alannah was impressed with that idea! Kay gave me one of those, stupid idea from a stupid man looks that women can do, but neither of them actually said anything and as you can see there is no before photo.  I did score some brownie points though because I had some sweeteners for the coffee. Truth is I had run out of sugar and the only reason I had sweeteners is because Joey brought them last time she was home from Leeds, mind you my prefered option of full fat milk over semi-skimmed may have lost me a few points!  Complicated stuff this working with women.

In the images below all make-up including body make-up by Kay Booth, model Alannah Louden, coffee,sweeteners and other stuff by ME!

Make-up Kay Booth, Model Allanah Louden, Photography by Kells

Make-up Kay Booth, Model Alannah Louden, Photography by Kells.

Make-up by Kay Booth, Model Alannah Louden,Photography by Kells

Another Perfect Christmas Wedding

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Today we were at the Netherwood Hotel  at Grange over Sands for the wedding of Martin and Anna. We arrived at 11.30am for  and the weather was just fine ,cool but fine.

Inside the Christmas decoration was just fabulous and even better it was warm, the real fires make it feel even warmer in my opinion.

[slides

After the ceremony when it was time to get  some photographs the weather stayed dry but was changeable in a Cumbrian sort of a way. The great thing about  this type of weather is you don’t have to wait long for a dramatic sky.  Even better The Netherwood Hotel faces the sunset so all you need is a wedding party with a sense of humour and as we all know once women are dressed up for the occasion they do not feel the cold!. So we went from the blue sky with white fluffy clouds to what you see in the images below in a matter of minutes.

The view over Morecambe Bay from The Netherwood Hotel,

The view over Morecambe Bay from the entrance to The Netherwood Hotel

The view over Morecambe Bay from the entrance to The Netherwood Hotel

How ever it wasn’t long before the sun began to set and the sky did that awesome thing it does so well, Martin and Anna along with the whole bridal party were not going to let this pass by and we got some really memorable images a few of which can be seen below.

Martin and Anna with bridal party do a Netherwood Hotel sunset

A Christmas wedding at sunset,The Netherwood Hotel,Grange over Sands.

A Christmas wedding at sunset,The Netherwood Hotel,Grange over Sands.There is no such thing as cold air when you are a woman!

There is no such thing as cold air when you are a woman!

A Christmas wedding at sunset,The Netherwood Hotel,Grange over Sands.

Then after Father Christmas had visited the kids, there was only one way to finish the first part of the evening,a perfect end to a perfect day,congratulations to Martin and Anna,it is bound to be warmer in Cancun!

Well there's a surprise!

Flash bang wallop what a picture!

If you are looking for a wedding photographer in Cumbria you can find us at www.kellsphotos.com 

The Perfect Christmas Wedding.

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Today we were privileged to be commissioned to photograph the wedding of Gareth and Yvette. Not only are they a wonderful couple they were blessed with perfect weather a fabulous church, St Mary’s Duke St Barrow and an exquisite venue The Beech Hill above Lake Windermere  in the Cumbrian Lake District.

The Bride enters the spectacular St Mary's,Duke St, Barrow

Yvette and Gareth Just Married as they say!

After an interesting drive we made it to the Beech Hill just in time to catch the sunset over Lake Windermere. However nothing is ever that simple, the walk down to the lake was a bit of a challenge for the bride in the icy conditions, not that a little thing like that was going to stop Yvette. Then when we got to the jetty in order to get the image below we needed Gareth and Yvette on the second part of the jetty which is not on legs fixed to the lake bed but  floats and it moves! Moving jetty plus ice and heels! now that is cool. In the 20 or so years I have been doing weddings I have never lost a bride in a lake but it crossed my mind it was now a possibility. I won’t go into what it was like when all the bridesmaids arrived but it was noisy.

Despite how it may appear in the photograph it was absolutely Baltic and I’m thinking these women must be as hard as nails  cos I’m freezing my nuts off here and they’re not bothered in the least! Then Yvette said “How lucky we have been with the weather,then this lovely sunset and it’s not as cold as I thought it would be”.  Not cold! I would have slapped myself but the big stupid lens I use had drained all the heat out of my left hand rendering it useless in the slapping department so I just smiled and said “No it’s not too bad at all really”

Sunset over Windermere at tha Beech Hill

 

Portraits with a Difference Pt3

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So then we have the first snow of the year well sun or snow, wet or dry, Kells make portraits special. When you want a portrait with a difference you can Book us  HERE

Dunes in Fuerteventura

A stormy Duddon Estuary in Cumbria

Cumbrian Fells above the Duddon Estuary

 

Dunes, Fuerteventura

 

Duddon Estuary in Cumbria

 

Esk River in Cumbria

 

Bow Fell, Cumbria.

 

Cancun, Mexico

Facebook Status and Chocolate

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If you want a chocolate photo shoot you had better book it soon!

According to the news this week  chocolate is going to be a rare delicacy in the not to distant future. Apparently within eight years there will be a one million ton shortfall of cocoa the main ingredient, due to primitive harvesting techniques. This is code for we have treated the peasants as such and they have failed to invest any of the meagre payment they receive in advanced cultivation and harvesting techniques for no other reason than to buy food to stay alive. How could they do such a thing?  This on top of the previous problems, cocoa beans in West Africa being struck down by the ominously named Black Pod Disease and in Brazil the beans  being invaded by the equally malign-sounding Witches Broom Fungus.

Obviously it not just the peasant farmers and bugs, El Nino gets some of the blame for messing with the weather in Indonesia  and no doubt a tsunami somewhere will have affected the cocoa crop not to mention the Euro crisis and sub prime mortgages.

The manufacturers are delighted of course.The £1 bar of chocolate will be a thing of the past. They are already extolling the health benefits of dark chocolate (it helps lower blood pressure, honest it really does, would they lie to us?)  Happily it also has a greater profit margin would you believe.

Could this soon be the most expensive photo-shoot in the world

To reverse this threat it would need an area the size of the Ivory Coast to be cultivated with cocoa beans. Hands up every one who knows how big the Ivory Coast is. Who the fuck decided it should be as big as the Ivory Coast and why?  Well it is an area of 124,503 sq miles so why not say that. The Ivory Coast’s main produce is…..cocoa, so maybe the chocolate producers just want to let them know they better get their fingers out and work harder, I mean they’ve only got a life expectancy of just over 50 years so they haven’t got time to piss about and Mars Bars are fucking important. so c’mon. Imagine that, a life expectancy of just over 50 and having to speak French, how bad can it get?

Still over here in the land of plenty we’ve got no worries or the ones we have are trivial, read any facebook status for confirmation.

ie  Oh poor me lying in bed eating chocolate munchies,  on my smart phone connected to the www and I need cuddles, wish I could get all the bad out of my life.  response .. Aw whats up hun?    reply….Well babe don’t like to say on here chick

OH!  fuck off then or better still get out in the garden and plant some fucking cocoa beans!