The Art of Picture Framing by Stella Scordellis

Believe it or not, there is an art to picture framing - be it cherished photographs, valued artworks, limited editions, canvases and treasured needlepoints, documents or even a priceless signed premier league football shirt.

It can be too easy to just use any old frame that’s to hand or something ready-made that doesn’t quite fit for now with the intention to change it at a later date, which never seems to come…

This is where the art of picture framing comes in and my professional and creative eye, which intuitively knows what works best to display your artworks for your home or workspace.

Part of my work as a photographer is the presentation of the images I create and by using this skill it has taken me further afield to work with you for your personal or commercial artworks for framing.

For over 20 years I have collaborated with a team of skilled craftspeople to deliver a bespoke picture framing service to suit your lifestyle. It doesn’t have to be the photographs you have commissioned me to take, it can be anything that you value and feel deserve the best presentation, from contemporary to traditional and anything in-between.

Simply call me on 01883 722282 or email stella@smscreativephotography.co.uk to arrange for me to visit you at your home or workplace for a one-off piece or more. I’ll come equipped with a variety of frame mouldings, mount card colours, Art Glass and lots of creativity to take the pressure away from you.

This link to the Picture Framing section on the website tells you a little more.

Thank you.

Stella

To read other previous blogs these can be found on the ‘Featured’ blogs below by using the arrows on the right to scroll through the past 30 blogs.

Oxted Gasholder - Courtyard Gardens Build - August 2019

Safety barriers above the sheet piling at the Courtyard Gardens Site, Oxted.

Welcome to my August blog about the progress of the St William, Courtyard Gardens development here in Oxted for 111 luxury apartments.

This should have been published over a week ago but due to my business premises relocation this has taken a back seat and now that the holiday period is over I thought it best to publish it now when you have more time to read it as well.

The photographs below tell you more about the story with the captions on each image.

Ground clearance for the underground car park. The green tanks on the right are part of the water purification process.

The tanks are part of the water purification process in the corner of the site behind the shops in Station Road East.

Sheet piling inserted and ready for the next stage.

Looking down the site towards the former Johnsdale car park.

Looking over the top of the sheet piling on the perimeter of the site. This gives you an idea of the height of the sheet piling as it protrudes above ground level. Sheets are supplied in different lengths.

Every time I return to the site I can see the progress that has been made and this month was no exception. It was clear to see all the sheet piling had been inserted and the ground had been excavated for the underground car park to take shape. There was also still evidence of the rim of the demolished gasholder, which was interesting to see.

Looking towards what will be the underground car park.

Sheet piling ready for the next process to take place, update to follow on the next blog.

This shows you how high some of the sheet piling is as engineers tower over and discuss the progress.

Safety walkways for site managers, engineers and others to access the site within carefully contained boundaries.

Water that collects at the lowest point of the site is pumped into three tanks that take care of the water purification process, this is then pumped up to the top of the site to a holding tank for disposing of.

Walk ways over looking the excavation of the underground car park.

This blog is the eighth one in the series, the first one was published in January when the demolition of the gasholder started to take place. To follow the story of the progress and to read the previous blogs please follow this link to the Blog pages on the website and select the ones you would like to read.

Walkways around the site give access to capture the progess.

A corner of the underground car park.

Any hardcore remaining on site from the demolition of the gasholder is crushed and reused where possible.

The underground car park area is prepared for the next stage of the building process, it looks vast from this angle.

Machinery used to bring in hardcore and remove any that isn’t suitable is taken away for recycling.

A carefully designed plan is in place to ensure the arrival and departure of site machinery and vehicles is kept to a minimum to reduce any potential high street disruption.

Monitors to measure vibration to ensure any noise does not go over a certain level.

Three separate blocks are being built with an underground car park - Blocks A, B, and C. To see a model of the finished development call into the offices of Robert Leech Estate Agents in Oxted and opposite my former studio in Station Road East, it’s well worth a visit, it’s an interactive model, not quite one you can walk into but it does tell you a lot about each of the flats available to purchase.

Water is intermittently sprayed with the smell of freshly ironed cotton sheets to dissipate any odours.

Several of these water pipes are positioned on the fence behind the houses in Johnsdale to emit sprays of scented water, it really does smell of freshly ironed cotton sheets.

A view from the former Johnsdale car park looking up the site towards the porta cabin offices.

The remains of the former gasholder base.

Behind the houses in Johnsdale.

I always have a sense of wonderment when I photograph on site, it’s the sheer scale of the development, although Ness Kingham the Site Manager who accompanies me during the visits, assures me this is one of the smaller developments compared to the vast ones they work on in London.

Fascinating to watch all the elements slowly come together. My visit this month took place on Tuesday 20 August 2019 as a point of reference.

The site viewed from the flats behind the shops in Station Road East, gives a different view point.

A view of the outline of the site from the same spot each month.

Check out the July blog to see the progress from last month and previous months too.

If you would like to keep in touch with my monthly blog about the progress of Courtyard Gardens feel free to click on the ‘subscribe to our newsletter’ button below for our monthly round- up newsletters.

I’ll be back later this month with the September update progress of the site.

Thanks for reading.

Stella

To read other previous blogs these can be found on the ‘Featured’ blogs below by using the arrows on the right to scroll through the past 30 blogs.

A New Chapter for SMS Creative Photography...

The Investment Boutique - Oxted

Hello and welcome to my August Newsletter about a new chapter for SMS Creative Photography...

This month has absolutely flown by with moving out of my lovely high street premises after 23 years I finally closed the doors for one last time on 13th August, it really is amazing how much stuff there is to move, even when I had been moving boxes out weeks before! I was in denial about how much you actually do accumulate over time, both emotionally and physically. Well, that's all done now and I'm settling into my home production office whilst an exciting new business makes its home at 83 Station Road East, Oxted.

The photograph above is of The Investment Boutique in Oxted, more about this to come.

My usual blog about my monthly visit to photograph the progress of the building development at the former gas holder site has had to take a back seat this month and will feature as a joint one next month. I have also photographed other exciting commissions in August that will feature via blogs in the coming months too.

Thank you very much for your good wishes during the last few weeks. I know I'm going to miss you calling into the studio but I am only just a phone call or email away for enquiries or commissions, such as family photographs of special occasions, get-togethers, landmark anniversaries and birthdays or just because you want to, all in the comfort of your home and garden or the local woodlands and vineyards.

Alternatively, we can meet at The Investment Boutique just up the road from my former premises and opposite the Little Waitrose store, where I have very kindly been given the use of one of their comfortable meeting rooms to discuss any projects you may have in mind.

Feel free to call or email me on 01883 722282 or stella@smscreativephotography.co.uk for portrait sittings, professional headshots, location photo-shoots or any other projects or artwork picture framing.

I look forward to keeping in touch and do visit the websites for more information smscreativephotography.co.uk and stellascordellis.com

Bye for now...

Stella

To read other previous blogs these can be found on the ‘Featured’ blogs below by using the arrows on the right to scroll through the past 30 blogs.

British Grand Prix 2019 - Formula 2 - 'Chasing the Dream'

This year at the British Grand Prix I had the pleasure of photographing the stills during the making of a four part documentary about the young and aspiring Formula 2 drivers called ‘Chasing the Dream’ due to air at the end of August on F1TV, it will then be available on other platforms which are to be confirmed.

The idea for the documentary is the brainchild of Martin Turner, former head of F1 Sky Sports and Sky Europe - keen to tell the story about the often forgotten Formula 2 championship and the journey the young drivers take to realise their dreams to become Formula 1 racing drivers and world champions - working with Rory Child from Golden Child TV, Martin is making this a reality.

To read more about this exciting commission click on the ‘Read More’ button below which redirects you to my automotive and lifestyle photography ‘Stella’ website where this blog is based.

Thank you!

Stella

To read other previous blogs these can be found on the ‘Featured’ blogs below by using the arrows on the right to scroll through the past 30 blogs.

Oxted Gasholder - Courtyard Gardens Build - July 2019

The sheet piling is taking place for the construction of all 3 Blocks, A, B & C, this photograph was taken on 17 July 2019,

Welcome to this months July blog about the progress at the St William, Courtyard Gardens development here in Oxted, this blog is number 7, previous ones can be found here.

For my regular readers and locals, you will be aware that the gas holder that once stood on this site for over 50 years was deconstructed earlier this year, its removal has made way for the construction of 111 luxury apartments due for completion summer 2021, my regular monthly blogs will keep you updated about the progress over the next two years.

This month I attended the site on July 17th, one of the hottest days of the year and the ground was dry and relatively easy to walk on, which compared to my visit in June when there was so much rain fall it had to be pumped away and the ground was very wet and slippery.

My past visits had all taken place on overcast and cold days, it was interesting to visit on a day when the sun was beating down as it made me realise how exposed the site is and how the people working on site need to have regular breaks and drink lots of water to prevent dehydration, I felt drained and I had only been on site for 45 minutes before 9.30am!

Machinery and operatives working on the insertion of the sheet piling, during July 2019.

The apartments are being built in 3 separate Blocks - A, B & C - Block C which sits north of the former Johnsdale car park has had the sheet piling inserted.

At this moment in time the crane and the rig are being moved to the top section of the site nearer to the railway station to allow for the sheet piling of Blocks A & B, this process will continue until mid August when my next visit is due. A new contractor will be brought in after this to do the foundation bearing piles which will continue through to the end of September.

The photographs I have taken (the sunshine makes all the difference) below show and tell you more…

A view of the top of the site, where Blocks A & B will be built , the railway station sits behind this view

Looking down the site, a hose on the right, is visible to drain out the excess water

Drilling for the sheet piling to be inserted

Block C will be built in this position where the former Johnsdale car park once stood

The edge of the base of the former gas holder is all that remains visible of where it once stood

Monitors to control noise and air pollution and CCTV information

An ‘echo barrier’ to reduce the noise levels

Where possible the concrete broken out from the base of the gasholder has now been crushed and reused on site to form the piling mat, additional crushed concrete is brought in as well.

The Echo Barrier used on site is scientifically developed by leading acoustic engineers, acoustic barriers are the most effective temporary noise control solutions on the market. They typically reduce noise energy by up to 99%, and are lightweight, weatherproof and adaptable to any setting.

Machinery in place to drill and insert the sheet piling for Blocks A & B

Mats in place for the machinery to sit on during the sheet piling process

Machinery in place for sheet piling to Blocks A & B

Crushed concrete ready for distributing to form the piling mat

Machinery maintenance to complete the piling task

A sound or ‘echo barrier’ to reduce the noise from generators and machinery

Top right of this image, the cabins where the project, technical and site managers are based

Piling is an essential part of building works to ensure strong foundations and prevent the risk of any future subsidence or ground movement.

Delivery of crushed concrete for the piling mats

Each piling sheet is lifted by crane from the delivery lorry with the guidance of the engineers to lower in place

Each piling sheet picked up by crane and lowered in a pile on site ready for insertion

A view from the former Johnsdale car park

Crushed concrete is placed at different points on site

This picture gives you an idea of the size of each piling sheet

Sheet piling lowered onto the site

Time delay camera takes an image every 20 minutes

A view of the site from the back of the flats that are above the shops in Station Road East

If you are interested to know more about purchasing an apartment, follow this link to Robert Leech, the Estate Agents for this development by St William, part of the Berkeley Group

To keep up to date with my blogs and to sign-up to my monthly round-up newsletter please scroll down to the ‘Subscribe to Our Newsletter’ button below to enter your contact email address.

I’ll be back next month with further updates, watch this space for further developments.

Thanks for reading, bye for now.

Stella

To read other previous blogs these can be found on the ‘Featured’ blogs below by using the arrows on the right to scroll through the past 30 blogs.

A view of the sheet piling delivery lorry from Station Road East

A view of the crane unloading the sheet piling from the delivery lorry on site

SMS Creative Photography - Update - Leaving 83 Station Road East, Oxted

Since I was last in touch in June I have been extra busy with commissions, which have taken me away from the studio and delayed my blog writing, this tied in with moving out of my lovely premises at 83 Station Road East, Oxted, means I have pushed back the leaving date to Saturday 10 August 2019.

Firstly, to update you, during the first weekend of July I was away selling my limited edition automotive photographs at the Parallax Art Fair from the exhibition ‘A Drive Down Memory Lane’ which was a great success! I am selling the original ‘artists proofs’ at a reduced cost for the car lover in your life, a few are currently on display in the studio window if you would like to purchase one or two - this link to my ‘Stella’ website tells you more about the collection.

Secondly, the following week, I was away photographing during the British Grand Prix at Silverstone (you may remember I was there last year photographing Formula 1), photographing stills for a fascinating four-part documentary about the Formula 2 drivers called ‘Chasing the Dream’ - due to air mid August on Sky TV, I’ll keep you posted on this one and will share my blog in the coming weeks once I have finished editing the 2,000 plus images! If this is a subject that interests you, you may well want to sign up to my blogs via my Lifestyle and Automotive website ‘Stella’ here.

Thirdly, at the studio I have been photographing portraits for headshots and family photo-shoots, if this is something you would like to do before I move on please do get in touch, this link tells you more about the headshot service offered. You may also want to call in for passport photographs before Saturday 10 August as I will no longer be offering this service after my relocation.

Last but not least, my monthly visit to the former Oxted gas holder site took place last week on a gloriously hot and sunny day, my blog about the progress will be out at the end of the month, it really is beginning to take shape!

Just to let you know the studio will be closed on Saturday 3 August as we celebrate the wedding of a much- valued former member of staff Ben Rosser, incase you are wondering, yes, I will be photographing it!

If you would like to know more about my relocation, this previous blog tells you more, but please don’t worry I’m not disappearing, just finding a new way of working more efficiently.

To keep in touch with my regular updates please follow me on the social media icons below, and to subscribe to my monthly newsletters click on the ‘Subscribe To Our Newsletter’ button also below.

Thank you for your much valued custom over the past 23 years, I could not have got this far without you, I look forward to sharing my next chapter with you…

Stella

The shop front 1997 right and 2019 left.

To read other previous blogs these can be found on the ‘Featured’ blogs below by using the arrows on the right to scroll through the past 30 blogs.