Ann-Marie Metcalfe Photography

At long last the racing season has started again. Oulton Park hosted the Wirral 100 MC race meet on a beautiful sunny day. A variety of bikes raced from the Forgotten Era and Classic bikes through to Formula 600's.

Click on the image to see shots taken on the day.

Oh to see the days of sunshine again. To see the garden full of colour once more. This seems to have been a very long, cold and white winter this year. The worst one for 30 years apparently. But there are signs of hope on the horizon. Well, in the garden to be more precise. My snowdrops have finally decided to make an appearance. 

Click on the image to go through to the flower gallery.

The final round of the British Superbikes made it way back to Oulton Park for the second time this year.

Armed with my new camera, I actually managed to get to the practice day alone! No 4 year old swinging off my legs while I try to get the shots. It was a really bizarre feeling going on my own, but I have to say, I very much enjoyed it. My time! And check out the heat haze on the shot of Leon Camier (BSB Champion 2009). I've never had a heat haze shot before! 

Click on the image to view the rest of the BSB shots from the practice day.

A lovely friend of mine came for lunch and brought her gorgeous teenage daughter with her. This gave us both an ideal opportunity to get out camera's out with the studio lighting and take some portraits of her daughter Sian.

Click the image to see the rest of the portrait shots.

For my recent birthday, a friend of mine bought me a beautiful bouquet of flowers. She is not normally an arty type of person, but she said she'd actually chosen the bouquet that she thought had the most photogenic flowers in it. This made the flowers even more special. Once of the roses was gorgeous. I've taken photographs of it at three different stages. Just blooming, full bloom and at it's end. Please take a look in the gallery to see this beautiful flower. The shot here shows it at it's final stage, but please click the image to see it in full bloom in the gallery. All three shots are available as prints.

What a birthday present! It was my birthday last week and my hubby and son, between them, bought me some studio lighting. yay! A strobe unit, softbox and two umberellas. Of course, I had to play, and seeing as I have a really cute model, I got my 4 year old to pose. We had to make it into a fun, play about acting stupid session so that I could get her to sit still for more than two seconds, but I'm happy with the results.

Click on the image to view the shots from the mini shoot session

Saturday the 18th of July was the first day of a weekend of all things speed related. Cholmondeley Pageant of Power was held at Cholmondeley Castle near Malpas, Cheshire. A weekend of Cars, Bikes, Boats and aircraft through the ages were going to be either on display or racing around the track, air or lake. One of the highlights of the event (for me - sadly) was the dancing diggers (JCB's) who put on their synchronised display to music. A great day! The rain even held off right up until we were heading to the carpark. Now an annual event, if you like things to do with speed, make sure you go next year.

Click on the picture to go to the gallery.

Big ol' American Cars were out in force at Tatton Park for the 4th of July. Some stunning cars around and they'd been shone within an inch of their lives! Not much opportunity to shoot single cars as they were packed in like sardines, but a bit of work in Photoshop allowed me to remove crowds and flags that were spoiling some of the shots I got. Take a look through the gallery to see some gorgeous American Cars. Click on the link to go to the American Cars Gallery.

I have to say that I am so pleased. I was awarded 3rd place in Amateur Photographer Magazine's monthly competition, entitled 'man-made landscape' with this powerstation shot I took at the end of June. They sky really was this colour! It was stunning.

Saturday the 16th Of May was race day for some pre and post war vintage sports cars to get out around Oulton park and Race. A mixed day weather wise, gave for some good racing. Seeing these vintage cars race around the track was a spectacle not to be missed. Photographs from the day are available as prints. Please contact me for prices.

Click the image to go to the VSCC Race Day Gallery. More images will be added soon. Please make sure you click on 'view full size' under each image.

The Thundersprint is held in Northwich, Cheshire at the beginning of May each year. The event is getting bigger and bigger. This year's 'Star Rider' was MotoGP's James Toseland. I didn't get many photographs sadly, but Mr Toseland more than made up for that when, at the end of the Cavalcade Procession, he pulled over right in front of where I was standing and proceeded to perform a perfect donut for the crowd! Thanks James! 

Click the image to go to the Thundersprint Gallery

Oulton Park plays host to the ViSK British Superbike Championships over the Bank Holiday Weekend, with race day being Monday the 4th of May. I decided that it would be easier to be able to photograph the bikes on practice day when there were less people aound. I was right. There were so many other photographers that obviously thought the same thing. There were thousands of pounds of cameras and lenses around the circuit yesterday!

I loved the day and was happy with the resultant shots. Click the image below to go straight to my new Brisish Superbikes Gallery and take a look at a selection of shots from the day.

My most recent session was at Oulton Park Modified Live event. The Motorsports Gallery contains shots from the day, including Time Attack, Brisish Superbike and Drifting events. After a very wet start and a demo from the Artic Trucks in very wet conditions, the day dried out and gave chance for some great motorsport action.