pjmeade

September 11, 2014

Last weekend I photographed the last big military polo tournament of the season, the Honourable Artillery Company 105 Invitational at Ham Polo Club in London. The day included a display of skill at arms by the Light Cavalry of the HAC and featured the ceremonial members of the HACLC.

King's Dragoon Guards <a title="HAC 105 Polo Invitational 2014 by Pete Meade, on Flickr" href=" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3845/15175993442_1b206f8f5c_c.jpg" alt="HAC 105 Polo Invitational 2014" width="800" height="533" /></a>

Skill at Arms My GoPro was lucky to survive an encounter with a lance earlier in the display <a title="HAC 105 Polo Invitational 2014 by Pete Meade, on Flickr" href=" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3925/15153343406_1977edcd8c_c.jpg" alt="HAC 105 Polo Invitational 2014" width="800" height="533" /></a>

Ceremonial duties <a title="HAC 105 Polo Invitational 2014 by Pete Meade, on Flickr" href=" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5576/15175994182_aeb799cdc5_c.jpg" alt="HAC 105 Polo Invitational 2014" width="800" height="533" /></a>

September 8, 2014

My wife and I spent a few days in Rome recently, we spent most of that time walking around with my 5D2+24-105 on show. Although it was obviously very busy with lots of people surrounding us, at no point did I feel like were were in danger of being robbed. The only time we encountered someone who looked like he wanted to steal was a character walking too close and paying too much attention to what was on the tables at a restaurant we were in (in Florence). Take common sense precautions, like keeping your camera bag away out of the way when you sit down at a table, put it between your feet. If you want the lens to look less special and not stand out from the others in the crowd, take the lens hood off when you need to, such as in busy markets.

In Rome there are plenty of people who will take your money, but they'll do it by selling rubbish umbrellas if it's raining or trashy hats/shades if it's not. If you see people selling stuff off cardboard tables, it's going to be a rip-off, as soon as the police come in sight, they fold it away and bolt.

Around the big monuments are lots of characters dressed in "Roman" uniforms, if you photograph them, they're going to want your money.

We thought Rome was a fabulous place, not a dangerous one. Relax and enjoy yourself.

September 6, 2014

That was tried live on the BBC and shown not to work.

September 4, 2014

Last weekend a friend and I went to the Bournemouth Air Festival and tried photographing an air display in some pretty awful light. All these were shot using a 7D+100-400.

Royal Navy Helicopters

Avro Lancaster

The Red Arrows

August 28, 2014

On Monday I photographed the annual Adjutant General's Corps polo tournament at Tidworth, in truly awful conditions. The tournament was eventually stopped before the top teams played, because of dangerous ground conditions due to heavy rain.

All of these were taken using 7D+100-400 at iso-values up to iso-6400. The rain doesn't look like rain because the shutter speeds needed to stop the action, also stopped the rain.

August 21, 2014

On Sunday my cricket club, Maidenhead and Bray CC had an open day. England international Eoin Morgan came to do some coaching, sign some cricket bats and conduct a question and answer session with Michael Parkinson jnr. He also met the club president Sir Michael Parkinson. Not all of the children present could be photographed, so I haven't shown any.

All photos were taken with a 5D2+24-105. An EX 580 Mk2 was used for fill light in one shot.

August 14, 2014

Here are some cricket photos from a match I attended last Thursday. Middlesex played somerset in the Royal London One-Day Cup at Lord's Cricket Ground. Somerset won.

These were taken with a 7D+300/4+1.4X - I'm looking forward to trying out my 400/2.8 on some serious cricket

August 7, 2014

Here is some action from last Sunday's polo tournament, played at RMA Sandhurst.

All were shot using 7D+100-400

July 31, 2014

Last weekend Middlesex County Cricket Club held its annual Ladies Day, where ladies are encouraged to turn up in their hats (many of which were cricket themed) and to attend a champagne reception.

These were all taken with a 5D2+24-105

July 24, 2014

Dick Arnold, thank you so much - praise from the praiseworthy

July 24, 2014

Last time I showed Prince Harry playing polo and I'm sticking with the polo theme this week. I've covered three tournaments in the last few days, the Inter Regimental Trophy played at Guards Polo Club is the oldest competition in world polo, the Captains and Subalterns Trophy at Tidworth is the second oldest competition and the largest in terms of the number of teams. The third competition was the Leadership and Excellence Trophy and this was the first time all three services had played in a tournament at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, so it's the youngest competition.

The Hackett Inter Regimental Final played at Guards Polo Club

7D+100-400

The Household Cavalry - winners of the Captains and Subalterns Trophy

5D2+24-105+EX580 Mk2

Leadership and Excellence tournament

7D+100-400

July 24, 2014

I kinow that bad back problem all too well and much of my gym time revolves around back, abs and core stability work. Setting that aside, let's consider lenses.

If the 24-105 is not to your liking, you might want to look at the new 24-70/4. I've tried it out at a trade fair and was quite impressed. It's 600g, so ~350g less than the older 2.8.

Hope this helps.

July 20, 2014

If you are shooting at over 1/1000, then IS isn't that vital.

If you are going to be close to the action then the wider lens is the right option. What is your shooting method - AV, centre

point focus, evaluative metering and AI servo?

July 17, 2014

I am the photographer for Tidworth Polo Club and for the British Army Polo Team and last weekend I was fortunate enough to photograph this year's the Rundle Cup, the annual match between the Army and the Royal Navy. This year's match featured Captain Harry Wales, the younger son of the Prince of Wales playing for the victorious Army team.

Prince Harry in Action

7D+100-400

The Hackett Army Polo Team

5D2+24-105

Prince Harry and injured ex servicemen involved in the Invictus Games

5D2+24-104

July 10, 2014

Having just spent a few days in Rome, we thought we'd watch Angels and Demons again.

Here are a few of the locations.

Bernini's Fountain of the Four Rivers in Piazza Navona

5D+14/2.8

Pantheon

5D+14/2.8

Bernini's Ecstasy of Saint Teresa in Santa Maria della Vittoria

5D2+24-105 (iso-3200)

July 9, 2014

I moved to Zenfolio 18 months ago, I have nothing but praise for them.

I've got their top of the range account, but I think there are offerings at every price level.

July 3, 2014

Here are some photos from our recent trip to Rome.

St Cecelia (I think) - Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri

5D+Samyang 14/2.8

The Forum with a storm moving in

5D2+24-105

My wife This was on top of Castel Sant'Angelo, immediately after one thunderstorm and before the next. As you can see, there was a fair bit of charge in the air.

June 26, 2014

Here are some photos from our recent trip to Florence. I'll post Rome photos next week.

The Duomo from the Piazzale Michelangelo, early on a Sunday morning

Ponte Vecchio <a title="Florence by Pete Meade, on Flickr" href=" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5506/14305621849_1ea87f83d7_c.jpg" alt="Florence" width="800" height="534" /></a>

A street hawker after spotted the police <a title="Florence by Pete Meade, on Flickr" href=" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3844/14490985912_783e4685a2_c.jpg" alt="Florence" width="800" height="534" /></a>

June 19, 2014

it's hard work posting in html from an iPad, but as we're in Rome, there's no option.

<img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/129/389429989_685e2e79a4_o.jpg" width="1024" height="514" alt="A walk on the

beach"></a>

June 13, 2014

I'm a little late this week, I spent all of Thursday at Lord's Cricket Ground watching the first day of the England vs Sri Lanka test match. These are some cricket shots from a match between Oxford University and Middlesex, played at the Parks. All shot with 7D+300/4+1.4x.

June 5, 2014

I spent last Sunday at Tidworth Polo Club photographing the Best of British Polo event. The day included a match between the Royal Air force and the Royal Navy, one involving the best of the young British polo professionals and also the first ever para-polo match, which featured injured service men and women playing alongside members of the British Army polo team. My cameras for the day were 7D+100-400, 40D+400/2.8, 5D+70-200, 5D2+24-105+EX580 Mk2, but I didn't have them all round my neck at one time.

Royal Navy Polo

Para-polo

Best of British Polo

June 3, 2014

I don't have much of an opinion of that publication.

June 3, 2014

I think many people who see the photo and think about it will realise that it has been orchestrated and would realise that the photographer didn't just happen to be there.

I think the hateMail simply has a liking for belittling creative people's work and for making its self look like the orifice of all truth. It's my opinion that even if what is presented in the hateMail does contain some truth, we would be far better off looking for the truth somewhere else.

My 2p.

May 29, 2014

This week's offerings are from polo played at Tidworth Polo Club last weekend. It was a particularly vile day, with rain, low clouds and very poor light; at times I was using iso-2000. Fortunately the weather forecast for the Best of British Polo event next weekend looks very much better.

Royal Artillery vs King's Royal Hussars 40D+400/2.8, iso-800, f4, 1/2000

The Wiltshire Yeomanry 7D+100-400 at 400mm, iso-1600, f5.6, 1/1250

The Royal Artillery Red team 5D+24-105+EX580 Mkii, iso-400, 1/320, f5.6, Flash set to high speed sync

May 22, 2014

OK, I'll give you 500

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