Fort Albert Part 1 - Light Up The Darkness

While location scouting for upcoming conceptual projects I found myself in St. George's. Again!

You can probably see the trend of this blog swaying between commercial imagery and my new found interest in Bermuda's history and what remains of these once very important forts and buildings.

'Light Up The Darkness' is my mini-title for the day at Fort Albert which portrays my intrigue for the degrading simplicity of the rooms, doors and pathways.

"Difficulty is the excuse history never accepts" - Edward R. Murrow

Brief history: Fort Albert (http://www.bermuda-online.org/forts.htm)

Named after Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert, it is is a pentagonal moated redoubt completed in early 1842. It is one of several carved from solid limestone rock at huge British Army expense into Retreat Hill. It commanded the channel along the eastern coast of St. George's Island.

In 1877, a huge fire occured. With much gunpowder stored there, all St. George's was threatened. Heroic efforts by men of the Royal Artillery and 87th Royal Irish Fusiliers stemmed the fire.

Portrait of a local legend

My portrait portfolio took on a new look last weekend by adding celebrity status!

I had the pleasure of meeting and photographing the Hon. F. John Barritt. An MP in Bermuda between 1968-89 and the Speaker of the House of Assembly between 1979 and 1989.

The photograph was taken at Riddells Bay Golf and Country Club where he was celebrating his 94th birthday with friends.

February Adventures

Some wide-angle perspectives and adventures through Tom Moore's Jungle/Blue Hole Park/Turtle Bay

Gun Powder Tavern

Similar to my visit of Cooper's Island, having good contacts on this island has led me to another fantastic opportunity to photograph Bermuda's historical buildings in true documentary fashion.

"Williams Fort was where Bermudians in 1775 with great treachery stole hundreds of barrels of gunpowder from the British in their support of the American Revolution. (Today, elsewhere in Bermuda, American visitors can see the original letter from George Washington asking Bermudians to steal the gunpowder).

British soldiers were brought in to stop Bermudian "treachery." The United States and France plotted to capture Bermuda but never followed through. The gunpowder was used by the Americans at the Battle of Bunker Hill". - http://www.bermuda-online.org/forts.htm

The fort was turned into a restaurant in the 1960's, Gun Powder Tavern.

Segments of the fort and hints of the restaurant social aspect are an interesting combination when crossed with the limestone stalagmites/stalactites which provides an eerie sense of life to the deserted rooms.

A mix of daylight, long exposures - light painting with torches and off-camera flash creates some very unusual imagery within these historical walls.

Meghan - Swimsuit Shoot II

Second Edit....

Meghan - Swimsuit Shoot

Sunset @ Stonehole Beach, South Shore

Mix of Ringflash and natural light....

Blue skies... Go Go Go!

My mini-commissions for last week included a 'business' image with Bermuda shorts as the main focus and photographs of 'beautiful spots for couples' to accompany an upcoming article 'Romantic Bermuda'.

Organisation of models proved testing and with the unpredictable weather in recent times I found myself shouting at the clouds more than usual but all smiles in the end. Happy days!