Blackstone Media - Commercial Photography and Graphic Design in Hillsborough

Malone Lodge Photographs

BSM — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 12:08:57 +0000

A few weeks ago I travelled down to Belfast to take a few photographs for the Malone Lodge Hotel on Eglantine Avenue. I was given a warm welcome by all the staff who were very helpful in showing me around and even posing for a photo or two. It really is a lovely hotel which is situated between the Lisburn and Malone Roads and is 5 minutes walk from Queens University and 10 minutes walk from the city centre making it an ideal location when visiting Belfast. It is a compact hotel with a friendly atmosphere and their rooms are finished to a really high standard. Here are a few pics from the shoot.

Linen Green Fashion shoot

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:53:10 +0000

Hello, I was asked to photograph a fashion event held at the Linen Green in Moygashel, just outside Dungannon. It’s a great spot if you are looking for some inspiration around your home, or if you are looking for something a little different. Anita and Donna Ross run the Boudoir a trendy ladies clothes boutique and they do a great job organising and introducing the show. I love photographing fashion because it always provides me with a challenge. Every fashion show that I shoot has different lighting and it not always set up with the photographer in mind. Due to the changeable lighting and the moving models its always to try to find a sweet spot on the catwalk where the lighting is just right for the best shot. I always use my 70-200mm L lens usually with a monopod just to give a little extra stability and shoot at 1/200-1/250 at 2.8 or 3.5 to ensure that the models are sharp. I also always use spot metering rather than evaluative, normally because the models are usually well lit but around them is normally quite dark which can over expose the models and result in slower shutter speeds. Below are a few fashion pics from the show.

Women in Business Awards

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:04:26 +0000

We covered the Women in Business awards which were held at the Ramada Plaza Hotel, Shaw’s Bridge. Women in Bunsiness supports new and established women owned businesses and women in management positions, by providing information, encouragement and business connections throughout Northern Ireland. TV personality Ruby Wax was the special guest on the night and was photographed with some of the award nominees as well as some of the WIBNI management. Over £3300 was raised on the night for the charity ‘Fields of Life’ who provide fresh drinking water wells in Uganda.

Change of contact details

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:34:14 +0000

Some of our details have changed, if you would like to contact Andrew Vaughan Photography please use the mobile number provided on the right hand side of the page.

Supporting the Royal Irish Regiment

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 20:55:48 +0000

The Secretary of State, Owen Paterson held an event in Hillsborough Castle on Thursday 24th November to show support for the Royal Irish Regiment wristband appeal. This follows the epic journey that he and his wife completed a sponsored 1,000 kilometre horse ride across Mongolia.

Mr Paterson, 54, and his wife Rose, rode 14 hours each day on the charity trek across the Mongolian wilderness. The Patersons were the oldest of 23 participants who journeyed to Asia, to retrace the pony express communication trail, first set out during the reign of Mongol emperor Genghis Khan, more than 800 years ago.

Among the other politicians who will have to pay up after their epic journey will be Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson, while the Royal Irish Regiment’s Benevolent Fund will be one of the beneficiaries. Among the other good causes to benefit will be the Midlands Centre for Spinal Injuries.

Secretary of State Owen Paterson showing support for the RIR

Secretary of State Owen Paterson welcomes a member of the RIR

Secretary of State Owen Paterson with members of the RIR

Friends in Action International

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 15:20:05 +0000

Hello, this week I’ve decided to place up some design work that I have done recently. This recent work is for a charity called Friends in Action International. Friends in Action (FIA) International assists national projects in practical ways in order to demonstrate the love of God to people groups that have not had the opportunity to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ. For more information on the work that Friends in Action International do go to the Friends in Action website.

There were a few items to design, the first was an A5 flyer to help promote their newest fundraising project, which is to help raise funds for a new drilling rig. The other design work was to design two pop up stands for publicity purposes, focussing on their building work and their key work of drilling water wells in Africa.

Friends in Action International new rig flyer

Friends in Action International roll up stands

Ulster Action in Art

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 23:09:28 +0000

Hello, I was asked last week if I would go down to Ravenhill and photograph a new art exhibition which was opening by the extremely talented Emma Spence, who also happens to be from Hillsborough. Emma is the sister of Ulster Rugby player Nevin Spence. Coming up to his birthday Emma wanted to paint a portrait for her brother in action on the rugby pitch. John Dickson and Ryan Constable saw the painting and loved it and commissioned Emma to paint a wide range of Ulster players in action for the exhibition.

Ulster Rugby star Ruan Pienaar with his portrait by Emma Spence

Artist Emma Spence with John Dickson and Ulster rugby player brother Nevin Spence

Commercial outdoor clothing photoshoot

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 20:11:15 +0000

A few weeks ago we were commissioned to photograph a range of outdoor jackets for a major Northern Ireland based client. So we headed up the Trassey Track in the Mournes with a model and a number of jackets, it was a lovely day. When we arrived at the location where we were going to start the cloud was hugging the saddle at Hare’s Gap. We were all a little disappointed but I’m sure that you’ll agree that it adds a little atmosphere to the images. Equipment used: Canon 5d Mark II, EF 70-200mm 2.8L lens, monopod. The average settings were: ISO 400, shutter speed no less than 1/200 sec and aperture of 2.8-3.5. Below shows one of our images which has been used in an advertisement in a national outdoor magazine.

Targetdry Odyssey jacket

Victoria Square ladies day fashion event

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 12:48:32 +0000

Hello and welcome to another update to show what we have been up to recently. Victoria Square had a ladies day fashion event which ran alongside the Down Royal ladies day event. Here are a few photographs from the day at Victoria Square.

Health Minister opens Bardan Cottage

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 09:10:51 +0000

Health Minister, Edwin Poots MLA opens Bardan Cottage. Bardan Cottage is a new elderly day care centre based in Newcastle, Co Down. Specialising in providing a simulating environment for day care residents it has state of the art facilities as well as having beautiful views of the Mourne mountains.

A resident and member of staff welcome Health Minister, Edwin Poots at the opening of Bardan Cottage, Newcastle.