Everything You Need Is Here

As we welcome 2020 and a new decade it's the perfect time to refresh your headshot, book your family photo-shoot, sort out your picture framing, learn how to use your new camera or one that has been gathering dust for a few years and get up to date photographs of your home & garden or business premises. It only takes one phone call 01883 722282.

What could be easier?

Simply open the interactive PDF below and click on the links or photographs to learn more.

…it’s not too early to start thinking about a project for a Christmas gift or special occasion in 2020, I’m always happy to discuss new ideas.

Be lovely to hear from you, after all, everything you need is here…

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 Few of My Favourite Images From 2019

Where has 2019 gone, it seems to have flown by, does it feel the same for you?

As this is my last blog of 2019 I always like to take stock of the year gone by and choose a few of my favourite images to share with you that really don’t need any words.

This is always hard for me because I take thousands of images during any one calendar year, but here we go, a selection that have made the final cut from both my brands - SMS Creative Photography and Stella Lifestyle Photography.

Wishing you all a very happy, healthy and prosperous 2020!

I’ll be back in January with more updates.

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.

Oxted Gasholder - Courtyard Gardens Build - December 2019

Welcome to my December blog here at Courtyard Gardens in Oxted the former site of the gasholder which was demolished earlier this year.

This is blog number 12 and forms part of a series of monthly visits until completion of all 111 luxury one, two and three bedroom apartments and penthouses in Summer 2021.

As mentioned in previous blogs I have been given kind permission by St William part of the Berkeley Group to photographically document the progress. I had my business premises on Station Road East for 23 years until I relocated in August this year, 2019, to work remotely. I was at number 83 Station Road East which backs onto the site, on the far left of the picture below. When I opened my business in early 1997 there was talk about the gasholder being demolished which was on and off for years, that was until it became a reality. It was because of this that I have made it my mission to take onboard the photographing on a monthly basis for posterity. Little did I know when I started this process that I would learn so much first hand about the building process and look forward to learning more whilst photographing onsite.

The photographs from my visit this month were taken on Tuesday 10 December, whilst I was accompanied by Assistant Site Manager Ness Kingham, my thanks go to her and all the other friendly people onsite who make me feel most welcome each time I visit.

Looking down the site over the sheet piling where Block A will be built.

All of the photographs have captions on which tell you what was happening at the time of my visit. On this particular occasion they were completing the piling process and preparing the base for the delivery of a second crane. The two cranes will be used to move deliveries from different parts of the site with minimum disruption and ease.

The entrance in Station Road East to the site.

A view looking down towards Johnsdale. The underground car park foundations are in place. The road in the foreground will be one of the two entrances to Courtyards Gardens. Water is being swept away as deliveries arrive.

The delivery of diesel is a regular occurence to keep the machinery in constant working order.

This area is used to make the steel cages using rebars.

This area has been prepared for the insertion of the steel cage, in preparation for the delivery of the second crane.

Temporary safety steps are used at strategic points around the site for ease of access.

One of the two piling rigs with the first crane visible behind it.

This rig is ready to be inserted and anchored within the steel cage made for the second crane to be bolted to. This is all below ground and when covered with concrete will not be visible other than the anchor points.

All the work that has taken place this year was firstly to demolish the gasholder which stood in place for 50 years and to prepare the foundations which have taken up until now. In the new year the above ground building works will commence on Block A. As mentioned in previous blogs there will be three Blocks, A, B and C.

To read the previous 11 blogs please follow this link to the Blogs part of the website.

This cage made onsite is used specifically to go in the pit as part of the anchor station for the arrival of a second crane.

This is where the steel cages are made onsite using rebars. Rebar is added to concrete to provide tensile strength.

The cages are made to order depending on their use onsite.

CCTV is used around the site for security.

A look through the safety barriers at the piling rig and crane. The two piling rigs are responsible for the insertion of the 401 piles drilled into the ground.

The site from the top corner of the former Johnsdale car park.

This is where the steel ‘cages’ are made for the piling.

Safety wear as shown here is compulsory. If it is raining and frosty, safety glasses can be removed when necessary so the rain and condensation on the glasses are not hazardous.

To view a model of the finished development head on over to Robert Leech Estate Agents in Station Road East, Oxted. It really is fascinating to see how this once forgotten area will be transformed to enhance the town.

This area will become one of the underground carparks. The blue tubes visible through the fence in the centre foreground is where surplus water is collected from the water table and drained away via the processing plant.

The two piling rigs and the crane. The crane will be used to move deliveries efficiently from one part of the site to the other.

Information about the crane.

To get to the work platform this workman has to climb 30 metres. The ladders are divided into sections with a safety platform separating each one.

With careful guidance, the cage is lifted in preparation for insertion in the concrete laid pit.

Lots of faces at the window of the onsite office to watch the insertion of the steel cage in the pit which sits at the front of the cabins.

It takes precision and guidance to position the cage in the pit over the steel rods.

Gently does it over the four corners.

It has to be precise, the steel rods need to be in the correct place during insertion of the cage.

The people in the orange hats are slingers who are responsible for directing any lifting.

The next stage is to insert the crane anchor bolts, followed by more carefully-built rebar cages, before filling the base with concrete.

Each person working on the development has a specific role which is intrinsic to the progress, I think this really is team work at its very best, with strict time frames and coordination in place. It never ceases to amaze me how much is actually involved, My next visit will be taking place at the end of January.

Once the cage is securely in place the chains that attach it to the machinery are unclipped.

Job done with careful precision.

A row of piles, covered with protective caps, ready for the next stage.

Well that’s a wrap for this year at Courtyard Gardens, I’ll be back at the end of January with more progress photographs. In 2020 so much more will be taking place above ground with Block A completed in the autumn, can’t wait to watch it go up!

In the meantime have a fabulous Christmas.

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.

Give the Gift of Education this Christmas

A little bit of education goes a long way!

Owning a new camera or one that you have had for a long time can be a daunting prospect if you don’t know quite how to use it!

Do you just leave it on automatic and hope for the best? Do you want to experiment, or are you fearful that you’ll not be able to get back to where you started? These are all things I hear time and time again and it’s what keeps you stuck in a place that prevents you from enjoying your camera and exploring your creativity to give great results.

Over the years I found time in my busy schedule to teach small groups of enthusiasts how to understand their cameras better, but have found that not everyone has the same camera and their knowledge differs. This is why I offer one-to-one masterclasses to help you get the best out of your camera and to build your confidence too. Starting with taking control of your camera rather than the camera making all the technical decisions.

This education stands you in good stead and like anything new it has to be practised regularly. Once you feel a little more accomplished you can graduate onto learning more to build your confidence to create professional-looking images from the classes offered below. The rest, as they say, is up to you.

Your choices:

A. One two-hour class - £185 includes theory and practical tuition with printed guidance to refer to.

B. Set of four two-hour classes - £695 to reinforce theoretical knowledge and to explore a variety of photo-shoot options, such as portraits, animals and landscape using flash and different lighting techniques too, classes are tailored to your specific needs.

C. One day class, eight hours - £750 tailored to your requirements, includes downloading and post-production too.

If this sounds like something that appeals to you or as a gift for the enthusiast in your life then please do get in touch on 01883 722282 or email or visit this link to our website to find out a little more.

A little bit of education goes a very long way…

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 - November 2019

Dave and Kieran groundworks foremen are standing on a pile cap, part of the foundation of what will be one of the pillars in the underground car park, this is part of what supports the entire building!

Welcome to my November blog here at Courtyard Gardens, Oxted, the former site of the gasholder.

This is where construction is taking place to build 111 luxury apartments. Each month, since January 2019 I have been visiting to photograph the progress for posterity, with the kind permission of St William, part of the Berkeley Group.

Each and every time I arrive I learn something new. I am always fascinated by all the processes that are taking place. If like me, you know very little about the construction process, or you are one of the many buyers of the one, two, or three-bedroom apartments and penthouses; or you are just curious to know more, then these blogs are written with you in mind and others too.

These photographs were taken on Friday 15 November, they each have a description on to tell you more about what’s taking place.

Read on to discover more…

A mixing station to keep the concrete, that arrives ready mixed, live. The yellow part is the pump and the big white one is the agitator.

Either side of the safety barriers you can see hoses that take the mixed concrete to the piling rig for pumping into the freshly drilled hole.

One of the two piling rigs completing the piling process. There will be a total of 401 piles once they are all in!

The other piling rig completing the process of the auger drilling the holes for the concrete to be pumped into the hole, then the steel ‘cages’ are pushed in.

In the foreground you can see two or three steel ‘cages’ ready for insertion.

Looking down the site to where the former Johnsdale car park once sat. The three geometric shapes are the foundations for pillars in the car park.

An overview of the progress as the underground car park begins to take shape and the different levels are formed.

The trench sheets, a smaller version of the sheet piling, left of centre, which are used for retaining.

The pilings process is coming to an end and we will soon start to see progress above ground once building works start to take place in the new year.

Workmen and engineers start work from 8am until 6pm every weekday with additional time most Saturdays. Flood lighting is used from 4pm at this time of year so as not to lose any valuable working hours.

On the top corner of the portacabin office is a camera that takes a photograph every 20 minutes to record the progress.

Safety barriers around the various blue storage and green water treatment containers.

A trench sheet is positioned for further retainment of the earth behind what will become the walls of the underground car park this is done swiftly with precision as it is guided in place.

Two piling rigs taking on the task to complete the piling. The auger, the drill part of the rig bores a hole into the earth, then concrete is pumped into the hole in preparation for a steel ‘cage’ to be inserted.

The larger steel cages are supplied ready-made as the components are too heavy to man-handle for a steel fixer to make up on-site, there are only about 10 of these, the rest are made on site.

This is a relatively small site for the Berekely Group who are use to working on huge developments all over the country, with many different challenges, such as working near the River Thames and other urban areas that are in close proximity to cities and skyscrapers

The top of one of the cages once insertion has taken place.

The brush on the piling rig does a good job of cleaning the auger of the earth collected during insertion, ready for the next insertion.

In the foreground, the smaller steel cages are made individually by experts using the various components. The large ones are too big to handle and arrive ready-made.

Water continues to collect at the bottom of the site due to the heavy rainfall. This is pumped out and processed in the onsite water treatment plant.

The numerous deliveries that arrive everyday are carefully planned so as not to cause too much disruption to the high street, or the work onsite as well.

One of the pile caps which is part of the foundation of the entire building that will form a concrete pillar in the underground car park. This part of what supports the whole building.

Another view of the precision it takes to insert the trench sheet, guided into place, for further retainment of the earth behind what will become the walls of the underground car park.

Another of the pile caps that forms the foundation for one of the concrete pillars in the underground car park.

Machinery and accessories that are used onsite.

As mentioned on previous blogs the foundations are for three Blocks - A, B and C all with outside space and underground parking.

If you would like to take a look at a model of the completed development, this can be found at Robert Leech Estate Agents on Station Road East, Oxted who will be more than happy to show you the finished look.

This is a Dust Scanner to monitor the dust particles in the air. Air quality and vibration monitoring are in place around the site and will continue to take place throughout the build process, which completes in summer 2021.

That’s about it for my November visit, I’ll be back in December with a new update.

To read my previous ten blogs this link takes you to the Blog page on this website.

This link to Robert Leech Estate Agents website shows you more about the finished development.

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.

Be Thankful, Today and Everyday

Today on Thanksgiving I have taken a moment to reflect and to think what does ‘Thanksgiving’ mean to me?

Well, what does it mean to me, as I ponder on this moment?

I have never really, really stopped to think, until now that is, as I embark on my seventh decade…

It’s not just about being thankful for all the very small things we take for granted like the air we breathe and the water we drink - both of which we wouldn’t exist without - but just thankful for being alive and to know we are in control of our thoughts and where they take us…

• The freedom to take control to exist as we see fit.

• Each moment is precious and fleeting, enjoy each one because we won’t know when our last will come.

• Our emotional and physical health is our best friend.

• Strive to be the best version of yourself as you’ll never stop learning during the process.

• Love and nurture the connections you have with your family and friends as these are the essence of our emotional well-being.

• Immerse yourself in what brings you pleasure.

• Be open to new possibilities.

• Do not fear the unknown, embrace it.

• There is no time for destructive negativity.

• Be thankful for the simple pleasures that money cannot buy.

• Smile often, laughter is the best medicine.

What a difference it has made to me today to have stopped and taken a few precious minutes to still my overthinking and racing mind and to say to myself…

“you can stop now, you can’t control every single outcome and predict the future, but what you can do is… go confidentially knowing that you, and only you, are the author of your future, don’t miss the joyous present as your future is built on this very foundation”

What are your thoughts for today and every day? Take half an hour to stop and write down what ‘Thanksgiving’ means to you, you will be very glad you did… I know I am.

With love and laughter, thank you for taking the time to read this.

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.