Batman tests the repaired bridge o'er the cam in Cambridge!

Batman ride the Cam bridge!!

Sheeps Meadow Cambridge - River bridge over the cam May 2014For the past couple of month the bridge at Sheep Meadows in Cambridge over the river has been closed. This is a regular shoot location.This has resulted in long walks to get from one side to the other....but no more it is now reopened. Sadly however it has for reasons best known to the Council been painted dark green, where as before it was red and brown - paintings from it earliest days shows this lighter colour - so why the change? anyways here is a couple of pictures on a warm summer like day of the new look bridge!!

Aaron is an actor in formal training but this was one of his first photo shoots.

Although in his early twenties he has a very wide performance age range and very strong vivid blue eyes which casting director's & photographers look for.

He came fitted with beard which he lost half way through the shoot.

More images will be on the website soon...

Aaron for the halfling project

                          Now you see it - now you don't - the beard that is!!

early promo shot for halfpenny halfling project with aaron.

                 and we had a bit of the Lord of the flies theme last weekend!!

Lord of the flies theme for the halfling project [Aaron]

Last Saturday and a shoot with the very talented Jamie who visited the ruined church location often used on these shoots! Jamie was impressive from the start and is a born performer. He took to it so well - so much so it took a lot of encouragement to make him stop and have a lunch break! His mother was handed the video camera to shoot the shoot as it were...but the video is ruined by the man with the camera getting in the way all the time...

Jamie can model he can perform and his version of Gollum would have impressed even Lawrence - an ace Gollum of the project!!

                            Jamie in mid shoot on  Lord of the Flies  scenario

Morris dancers @ Ickwell 2014

One of the biggest hurdles any new or young actor has to face is moving past their personal comfort zone within roles they play and events they depict.

Also understanding that different cultures have different attitudes towards life and acceptance, and that as an actor you may be required to depict that culture. Many parents of young performers [under 16] can find it hard to let them take on roles with high demands of the harsher side of life. Depicting levels of undress or activities like smoking, law breaking violence and drug abuse for example .

This is very understandable, but an actor is an actor and these roles can be very fulfilling,

Sometimes it might seem safer to stay with children's and musical theatre...but there is only so many times you can play in Grease, Aladdin or The Sound of Music!!

I have seen this happen so often, the young actor advances and the drama coach/agent quite rightly wants to push the new talent towards more demanding roles - only to find the parents object.

What is so refreshing with the recent shoots I have worked on for the halfling series is just how great the parents have been in supporting their children, and not putting obstacles in the way of performance acting advancement.

Well done all!!

Brandon is 15 and a non smoker. But as an actor he and his mother appreciate that his role may mean depicting smoking anyway!

The way I as a photographer approach an early shoot with a young actor is to set simple contexts or characters for them to work on. This is not meant to be "real life" but images with a theatre style to them. It's a sketch portrayal of the subject, situation or role. So it was here with this image with James yesterday.

I am very aware that part of the project series will demand hard hitting "real" images, but this remember is preparation leading up to those shoots in real environments with a combination of people being themselves and actors.

It is also important to understand that the depictions are with actors or models, who may be seen depicting situations or activities which are simply acting and role play. Smoking for example is included in most shoots with actors, but rarely with real cigarettes, [James is 15 & does not smoke]. An actors portrays many characters  time periods and cultures - it does not mean he/she is like that portrayal. Please remember that!!

Sunday saw the first shoot with James -  a very talented young actor, but with designs to become a film director. This was his first ever photo shoot, which makes it all the more amazing as to actually how relaxed and confident he was, and how much natural ability he has....one to watch!!

The change of project title is slowly filtering through. Some people I know question the need for this, but the decision was made for very good reasons in the long term interests of the title.

I am not loosing pompous hobbit completely - the project facebook ID will at least for now remain pompous hobbit as will twitter and other social media.

The website will remain "pompous hobbit" although new one's will reflect the change, and the final work will be with the new title.

As I warned at the start, because the project is being built "live" these changes will happen, and whilst I want to keep them to a minimum - where they make sense long term best change early...

The images here are designed to get the word out there!!

Lawrence Whitworth reflects the change of title from pompous hobbit to half penny halfing

half penny halfling - the new name for the pompous hobbit project