Boro's Dark Knight

Been busy finishing off an original DigiArt / GrimArt for a private client introduced to me by the mysterious Green Man a villain in the making. The client is a local batman fanatic who had imported a replica batman suite from America.

The brief was simple but complicated to create an original artwork with a similar feel to the new batman posters from the dark knight rises.



A behind the scenes video showing how this shot was composited during post production Click Here


Posted On Location - Digital Dennis / GrimLight / Strobistonline / Tweet @digitaldennis

Saltburn's Biggest Storm Hits Wedding Couple

Saltburn's been hit with its biggest storm to date during a wedding couples happy day. The stunned couple looked on as chaos rained around them.
A local farmer was heard saying "there goes my daisy"



This is a shot done at a wedding from 2 weeks ago I was booked by the couple Mr & Mrs Buckley to do their wedding. During the consultation they asked to have some shots done on Saltburn Pier Saltburn by the sea. Then the ideas started to flow I thought what a great opportunity to create something a little different something other local wedding photographers can't do something original that would allow me to show off a little.

The idea was born lets stick the happy couple in the middle of a natural disaster with twisters, tidal waves and all sorts of chaos. I also wanted to include as many of the local landmarks and attractions as possible yeah cool idea.



Then reality kicked in, its not that I could not pull this shot off I have done his kind of work many times before for my commercial clients. The hard part was getting my head round how to put the idea together how to get the idea from a thought to visual image.

The shot started as 2 photographs from the wedding day the Bride and Groom and the other shot being Saltburn Pier. Everything else in the shot was then drawn in by me during post production. So from concept to finished shot all work was done by me.

Well as you can see from the 90% finished work I nailed it the original Tiff file is over 720megs with over 70 plus composite lays to make up this image and just over 21hrs work.

End result what the happy couple wanted a shot that was original, a shot that's not been done before.



Cha Ching !
Posted On Location - Digital Dennis / GrimLight / Strobistonline / Tweet @digitaldennis

GrimLighting By A GrimLighter

Between 1986 - 2010 I strived to create my own style of imagery / photography. I was inspired by many over these years Dave Hill in particular.

I have always had a gift for creating images that would amaze and astound those that would see my work but I could never fully understand why. You should be a professional, make a living from my gift.

Over these years I worked, I sweated, I bled blood and tears perfecting my technique my look, my unnamed style. Over this time with experience I began to realise why people commented on my work in the way they did and still do.

GrimLighting is what I came up with I had to give my style a name but if I had a style what would a person be called that practiced this style ? This would be a GrimLighter of course so what's this all about.

There have been many lighting styles over the years many prodigy photographers that have tried to create something new and fresh. This is needed to drive new creativity with in the photography sector but also with in the advertising industry.

GrimLighting what's different about this style of work, this style of photography. Why have I put so much time, life and effort into perfecting this.

GrimLighting is a style that is unique because it's all done by one person. Everything from the lighting, concept, post production right through to the finished product. This is what a GrimLighter does this is what a GrimLighter practices the art of GrimLighting the individual complete package.

Trust me when I say this, this is not only rare but does not belong until now. Let me explain this a little more clarify if you will.

With in the imagery industry, commercial, product, photography, glamour, fashion every thing you see in magazines the very images you see with every waking day. These are all created pretty much in the same way.

A design company comes up with a concept, graphic artist tries to put this together as a working practical idea, a professional photographer is brought in to capture and light the image, the image is then passed onto a professional re-touching company a post production company or specialist.

So no one individual creates the finished image. This is my main bug bare the reason why I had to create something new something not been done something where people who practice the new style can belong and have a name to go with the style.

Going back to what is GrimLighting what a GrimLighter is what makes a GrimLighter unique and it's this.

A GrimLighter is the whole deal the complete package a GrimLighter is a complete one man artist, one man photographer, a one man post production specialist. Every single step through the above process is all down to one individual no third party doing the work for you.

Trust me when I say this is both unique and very rare to have an individual that can bring a complete package like this to both the table and the industry. This individual now has a name a badge a label they can where a be proud of you are a GrimLighter a passionate and committed creative master that practices the unique and rare art of GrimLighting.

This is a new beginning a new style that should be valued above all others as we GrimLighters practice nothing but the very best in lighting, post production, from concept to the finished article. We can truly and individually say that this is my work, this has been done by me and be proud.

I am the first I am the creator of this new style come and join me come and belong. Be a GrimLighter and practice GrimLighting and show the world what we can really do lets change, let's revolutionise.

I am Grimlight and the first GrimLighter, I am proud to be called a GrimLighter and a practising pioneer of the art of GrimLighting.


Posted On Location - Digital Dennis / GrimLight / Strobistonline / Tweet @digitaldennis

MMA Mo Lawal - Impact Wrestling

Just been putting the finishing touches on a draft shot for Impact Wrestling with MMA super star Mo Lawal.




Posted On Location - Digital Dennis / GrimLight / Strobistonline / Tweet @digitaldennis

New Website In Development & Goodies

Well it's long over due. Busy putting new designs together and designing a new website for both Digital Dennis and GrimLight.

New look and more importantly branding and business identity.

The new websites will also bring new products and services for my existing clients and potential new clients.

Also foundations are being put in place for GrimLight Consulting which will bring new lighting techniques to the market GrimLighting more on this over the coming months.

New products on the way with Digital Dennis for both wedding and portrait customers along with a few surprises for later this year.


Posted On Location - Digital Dennis / GrimLight / Strobistonline / Tweet @digitaldennis

Religion - Drop Of Fath

A personal project just finished today I wanted to do something out of the norm.  An image that hopefully stops people and make you thing about this image.  I wanted to create an image that has many under tones hence this piece if work.

Phil Oakey - The Human League

Just finished some new work done with Phil Oakey the lead singer of the massive 80's band The Human League.

  .

Posted On Location - Digital Dennis / GrimLight / Strobistonline / Tweet @digitaldennis

Supernatural 3rd

Location work search under way for the next shot in the supernatural series the shoot will be based around either a vampire or a werewolf.

So watch this place highlights will be posted as it happens.


Posted On Location - Digital Dennis / GrimLight / Strobistonline / Tweet @digitaldennis

The Viper Strikes

Just putting the finishing touches to a draft production shot for WWE wrestler Randy Orton. Randy was shot earlier this year and the background effects where all hand drawn in during post production by
GrimLight. Below is a first draft about 85% complete.




Posted On Location - Digital Dennis / GrimLight / Strobistonline / Tweet @digitaldennis

White Heaven A Self Portrait

Whilst recovering from some time off my feet with a bad back I've been busy fine tuning my post production and art skills. I just finished a self portrait the shot was taken back in March 2011 I had the idea to put an image together with me snow boarding.



The image is a portrait of me shot on a black background laid on the floor the following have all been added during post production by me by hand. The goggles, snowboard the snowboard art, additional lighting effects, background, sky, snow particles and snow all drawn in by me to bring this art piece together.

Just wanted to show you what I can offer as part of a new service called DigiArt / GrimArt. Digital Dennis and GrimLight - Where Imagination Becomes Reality !


Posted From IPad On Location - Digital Dennis / GrimLight / Strobistonline

Dave Hill Galaxy

Dave Hill's work has always been an inspiration to me and he has just made available a new 3D reel showing how some of his work is done.

I wanted to share this as it shows how much work is involved with images like this. I have posted before work that we do here at GrimLight and this video gives you an insight in to how much work we put into our images and work but also shows you just what is possible here at GrimLight.

Thanks to Dave Hill for sharing this video with us.

Adventure Series - Exposed from Dave Hill on Vimeo.



Posted From IPad On Location - Digital Dennis / GrimLight / Strobistonline

BL Fashion Shoot - Revamp

Been busy finishing off some shots from a portrait and fashion shoot for BL Hairdressing. These shots are re-vamp work and post production examples for the client just wanted to share some of the shots with you see below.

It's In The Magners !

Another shoot been done for Magners Cider as part of a concept idea I put forward using the Bee's more from the advert.  This shot and concept work are copyright of Digital Dennis and GrimLight.  The shot was put together from multiple different shots taken to bring the components of the shot idea together during post production all work done by us here at GrimLight.

Olympic Champion - Kurt Angle

Got the chance to meet Kurt Angle the Olympic Champion wreslter from Impact Wrestling.  Kurt was over here in the UK promoting an up coming event here in the UK in January 2012.  It was a pleasure to meet him a very polite and humble man was so chuffed been mad on wrestling since I was knee high.  I managed to get a couple of quick shots before he had to go.  I put together a concept shot to replicate the current Impact Wrestling brand see below.

Fellow Photographer Lighting Help!

I posted some new work on my flicker today only to be asked by one of my friends and contacts for some help regarding how this shot was done? I send a help email to help him out.

I thought I would post this email below firstly there is a link to the shot in question on my flicker which is http://www.flickr.com/photos/digitaldennis/5930618648/

My reply is below hope this helps you all?



Now then hope you well?

Ok phone shot I did of the HTC was shot on a green background so I could knock the background out quicker but to keep simple see below tips.

Reflections - have cards availble in black and also white these are excellent for controlling and blocking out reflections. If say with a phone you want to shoot the screen donthis separate I'll come back to this.

You can shoot a phone against a black background cut down on outfit spill if shot with a White background you can get a brighter image.

Phone screen shot is easy black background low light with camera over and above screen with phone laid flat take a low light shot no flash with a 2 - 3 second exposure with iso at your lowest camera setting. This is always the best way to get these kind of shots and easiest. Then during post work you can copy the screen details across onto the subject shot and combine the two.

The above gets rid of unwanted reflections on glass and subjects like your iPhone screen.

Lighting ? - ok the shot I did was done with a single sb800 you can use either a soft box or diffuser or you can shoot through a sheet of thin paper this diffuses the light so soft this will light the phone evenly or you can point the flash up to the ceiling and step power down to get similar lighting.

Another option you can try is stand the phone upright blue tack is a god send for this with a black background lighting wise you can put a flash on each side of the camera st power lw to start with so your lighting the left and right of the camera the light will soften in the middle.

Some times you can shoot the camera, then you might shoot the phone details differently then combine the best bits again during post in photoshop.

The above will help you massively shots like these will be often made up of several shots to get the combined parts when put together right.

So to recap - using phone as example

Light and shoot the body edges first, then the phone front, move camera around whilst using White / black cards to see and capture the lighting or reflections you want then you will have all the parts of the image finally the screen display in low light then combine together to create the finished shot.

Another final note you can get the above with out reflections on the screen sometimes by using a longer lens say 70 - 100 mm so your further away from the camera hence less chance of creating unwanted reflections.


Commercial shots like the magazines are never straight from the camera this is just not the case.




Posted From IPad On Location - Digital Dennis / GrimLight / Strobistonline

Lara Ooooh Lara

Being busy with some portfolio work for a local model who is a Lara Croft look alike. The shot was done with a Chroma Screen then during post production all the background and additional lighting was hand drawn in. I will posting the finished shot shortly so watch this space.

Posted From IPad On Location - Digital Dennis / GrimLight

Spooky No.2

The supernatural project continues over this next week this one will be based around the vampire.

I will be posting some of this set when I have a few more done I am looking at between 10 - 12 images to complete the set.

Posted From IPad On Location - Digital Dennis / GrimLight

Consultant Dreams

Been busy over the last couple of months putting together a skeleton to create a new business venture and another side to Digital Dennis and GrimLight.

This new venture is still some time off as I will not launch this till it's write and all the components are in place. But i will be putting together a consultancy side together that will offer specialist training based around wireless lighting techniques (strobist) across all photography disciplines.

I will also be offering marketing support and solutions based both online and offline.

I am busy putting the courses together and also getting them certified with the end goal of offering a recognised certificate upon completion. Possibly the first of it's kind here in the UK.

I will be bringing you more on this over the coming months so watch this space.


Posted From IPad On Location - Digital Dennis / GrimLight