Santander - what's that all about?

Didn't Rory McIlroy just get a $100million 5 year contract with Nike?  So what is he doing eating apples in adverts?  Thank goodness it hasn't affected his form!  How spooky to have Jensen Button appear as you open your front door. And the lovely Jessica Ennis as well......

I must be doing something wrong - perhaps my standard fee of a packet of Jaffa Cakes needs to be reviewed?

SHEFFIELD VARSITY GAMES 2013 - THE PHOTOGRAPHS

Well, it's all over for me (I won't be around to photograph the football on Wed 10th April), so I've put a selection of photographs from this year's Sheffield Varsity into a gallery at: http://www.peverilphoto.com/section665568_558710.html.

Photographs can be purchased from this gallery as JPGs (they will be emailed to you as 3-5Mb files).  They cost £2 each and all proceeds will be going to 'CANCER RESEARCH UK'.  The photos will be hosted in this gallery until the end of April.

Sheffield Varsity 2013

Well, it all 'ended' yesterday on a bit of a b*m note as Sheffield Wednesday decided that they didn't want two student games cutting up their pitch ahead of an important clash with Cardiff City their pitch was frozen and so a risk to health and safety.  So, football and a few other clashes still to be decided but it leaves the University of Sheffield in the position of finally being able to wrest the Varsity Trophy away from the cabinet at Hallam Univesity where it has been screwed down for the last 9 years.....

I finished off yesterday with photos of badminton, kaufball and athletics at a very dim and dingy EIS (I did offer them 10 bob for the electric meter).  It really pushed the cameras to get any sort of half-decent speed at 6400 ISO and f/2.8 - thank goodness for the ability to drag details out of the shadows in Photoshop!

Will try to put some photos on my website this weekend after a Saturday morning spent being creative (or trying to be) with two fencers, a black backdrop and some glow-sticks!

Time wasters

I have been around enough now to know that life isn't always a bed of roses, but I am still puzzled at various points by people.  "There's nowt so queer as folks", and I know that it is a palliative to be able to say to someone "thanks, we'll look to book you for some photos in the summer..." when they have no intention of doing so, but I am still amazed at how people can start off a dialogue of wanting some work done with no real intention of seeing it through.  I will chase up work as much as the next person, but there comes a point when you think: "hang on, you came to me and yet I seem to be the one doing all the running round here with nothing concrete to show for it yet...".  Weird - got better things to do with my life.

Blooming freezing!

Headed out to Damflask Reservoir early yesterday morning to photograph the Varsity 2013 rowing matches.  The 14 races started just after 8am as advertised on a very cold morning with the hills covered in a layer of snow and flurries blowing across the water at various times.

By 9:30am I could take no more - even with gloves on, I couldn't feel my fingers any more and headed back to the car.

Looking forward to the final day on Wednesday - athletics, kaufball and badminton at the EIS and then to Hillsborough for the ladies and mens football matches.

Sheffield Varsity Games 2013 - Boxing

A good card at the Octagon Centre last night to see a variety of matches which culminated in 3 bouts between the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University.

My favourite shot of the night was this one of Sam Gunter (Captain, University of Sheffield boxing) drawing blood from Rory Balfour (Durham University):

Balfour went on to win with a unanimous points decision, much to the delight of the away (Sheffield Hallam University) fans.

Photograph is copyright Andy Chubb Photography www.peverilphoto.com