A new email address for 2010.

stephenwakeimages@yahoo.com
This will be my official business email as of January 1st 2010.

29 years tribute to John Lennon.

It was 29 years today since the tragic murder of Beatles singer/songwriter John Lennon.
So I spent an hour at the memorial set in Strawberry Fields in Central Park NYC.
Hundreds of Beatles and John Lennon fans were gathered there, laying down flowers, and cards, and singing Beatles songs.
You could hear the rather 'in tune' chorus from across the road on Central Park West 72nd Street.
Just as I managed to squeeze my way amongst the crowd to take some shots, the sun came out, which was incrediable as the song they sung was titled 'Here comes the sun'.
John Lennon was shot dead in his apartment right next to Strawberry Fields, Central Park in the Dakota Building on Dec 8th 1980.

Collection of some of my favourite tennis images

I was recently asked for a collection of some of my favourite tennis images I've shot.
Although every shot has its reason to be a favourite, I guess these are some of them I've picked out.

Niagara Falls

If you haven't been to Niagara Falls, put it on your list of places to visit.
It wasn't as big as I had expected to be honest, but its a great day out and the boat journey is great, but be prepared to get very wet and rocked around alot! So don't go after drinking!
USA on one side and Canada/Toronto on the other side of the river, its a great day out only $16 for the rockin boat ride.
Just don't go by coach tour from New York, hire a car and drive yourself.

Time for a new website for 2010

Its true I have a website already for those whom don't know it www.wttwphotography.com
but its not been changed for years, and to be honest I'm not the greatest when it comes to the technical side of computers, although I've designed it, my previous webmaster has gone 'walkabout'.
So look out for my new 2010 website soon to be launched.
Living in New York, you never know what shall happen each day and who you may see, which is one of the many great aspects of living in this metropolis of a city.
Paying for my groceries next to Natalie Portman, sharing Guiness and Jameson Whisky in a bar with Keifer Sutherland, going to the top of the Empire State Building with Kylie Minogue, on the basketball court with Justin Timberlake, being told jokes by Mickey Rouke and shooting Kate Moss is just an example of what my life has been like in the last twelve months to name a few examples.
So now its time for me to start and lay down the basics of what shall be a website with images of mine and with alot of them captions, some of them funny.

August 2009. US Open Tennis Championships

The US Open Championships New York.
It was seven years since I stepped foot in Flushing Meadows, having decided to take a break from the Tennis circuit, a break I never planned to be so long, so my first day was very much feeling great to be back, however figuring out the little short-cuts to certain spots to shoot from,especially on Louis Armstrong Court.
Alot of new faces around the courts, however alot of familiar faces too, and it seemed everyone knew my name but for the life of me I had a number I couldn't remember their names. Shame on me!
Putting aside the crowd and overhead aircraft noise, the freezing temperature of the airconditioning in the media areas compared to the humidty outside, the US Open is great for having a great amount of freedom to shoot from almost any position, unlike some other Grand Slams.
Fabulous early evening light, long shadows and sunsets abound, the 2009 US Open was for me rolling back the seven years to when I was a regular on the circuit, and hopefully it was the start of my 'comeback'.

June 2009. Wimbledon Championships.

Wimbledon, London. June 2009.
This was my 14th Wimbledon Championships, and again the Mens Final was a spectacular sweaty-palmed affair, with Roger Federer edging out Andy Roddick to win the title.
With the Centrecourt displaying its brand new retractable roof, the only time it was really used was to cover the royal box from the sunshine which Wimbledon saw plenty of in 2009. Not one day of rain!
May 2010 be the same!!