James Allinson vs Ben Muir, originally uploaded by sportpictures.

For the fifth year running I’m photographing at the National Badminton Championships.

Looking Lovely in the Snow, originally uploaded by sportpictures.

I don’t really know why but I really like this photo from the Snow shoot with Sarah. I like the contrast of warm and cold light. The light in the picture is totally natural. The sun was falling low into the sky and the reflected light off the snow was filling in nicely.
The light is shaping the contours nicely, and tiara, gives a nice quality to the picture.

White Coat and Red Accessories in the Snow, originally uploaded by sportpictures.

A surprising most popular image from the Sarah snow shoot.

As the British National Anthem plays on the TV before the Queen Gives her Message to the British Commonwealth I have just completed unwrapping the presents I have received.

I’ll not embarrass anyone by naming names or indicating who got what I’m just going to document the items I have received as a memory of the kindness that people have show this year.

Money - £5, £10 and £20

Confectionary – Toblerone ‘Tinys’, After Eights, Six mini packets of Rowntrees Fruit Pastels.

Miscellaneous - 2010 Week to View Planner, 600 ml Can of De-Icer, Budget ball point pen.

Accessories – Two Homer Simpson Handkerchiefs ‘He’s Not Perfect’, Black Fleece Scarf (158 CM x 28 CM), Two ties, plain pastel blue and blue stripes, scarf (Blue Gray on one side and solid green on the other),

Clothing – Three pairs of 100% Cotton Mens Socks,  Three black ‘Nautica’ Briefs, One pair of novelty ‘Mr Funny’ socks,  Two short sleeve work shirts, Blue White Gingham and pale blue. Six pairs of ‘Casual Wear’ socks in black. Three pairs of Fake Calvin Klein ’slips’.

And naturally gifts to self – Braun Series 3 Model 320 Electric razor, Generation A by Douglas Coupland and a Linksys 3102 SIP Router and ATA(By the way, does anyone have the foggiest to program the thing, well actually the phone don’t appear to work when its plugged in).

So if you see this list and you recognise your gift, thank you  - and yes this is going all around the globe so I do thank you all from Birmingham to Bacau, and  from India to Iceland.

Note for next year, please try and be original and creative in your gift giving – you have seen the gifts I have this year. Lets try for something really different.

Golden Arches, originally uploaded by sportpictures.

Merry McChristmas
Keep up the good work.
Enjoy your one day off!
Thanks for the Big Mac ®

, originally uploaded by Jeff Luker.

So this is what happens when Santa upsets Mrs Claus …

I was very surprised to find as I walked down the isles of my favorite supermarket the following product. Forgive me, for the not quite so amazingly excellent picture, but a coffee called rocket fuel, thats genius.

Has anybody had this coffee and does it give the mind blowing lifting off the ground experience the advertising suggest or is it just a good strong coffee?