Recent Work

Winter 024 - 025

I must admit that I don’t get out on my bike as much during the winter months, it’s not just the cold and frozen extremities, but the local cycle paths and trails can get a bit treacherous. It’s also a bit of time for maintenance and not just the bike.

So, I’ve been getting my boots on and mostly keeping it local, I’m rather blessed with lots of walks and beautiful woods nearby. It was once a very industrial area, the local visitor centre is aptly called the Land of Oak and Iron. There are still many traces of this industrial heritage, yet the area is now a haven for wildlife. Red Kites were successfully introduced here 20 years ago, it’s still a thrill to see them.

I’ve mostly been photographing 35mm with my Nikon F series cameras, but I made myself get out with my Crown Graphic too. I’m not sure what it is with large format, the whole process is just a bit outside of my comfort zone. I just need to get out with it more, at least there are some photographs taken with it here.

Autumn 024

I appear to have been more prolific than usual over the summer months, especially as I didn’t take many photos at all the shows I attended, I preferred to talk photography instead. I continued to pack my digital camera, mainly when cycling, but also on a couple of hikes too. I still like to work in colour, but film is rather expensive. I love the look of colour film though, so I know I’ll be looking for offers in the coming months.

My pinhole cameras and my Holga have been out quite often, and this has continued into the Autumn. I’m planning on some more large format and bringing out my Mamiya Super 23, it’s been rather neglected lately. At least with all my cycling I’m feeling a lot fitter for the hills.

Manchester

I’m adding a subsection here, as I recently spent a few days in Manchester. I’ve been visiting since I can remember, I even studied here too and yet it’s been a while. It’s really changed, it’s certainly taller and getting more so, I often found myself photographing in portrait. It still feels familiar, so it didn’t take long to get my bearings, I seemed to be walking old routes from memory. That’s where most of these photographs came from, memories of place, people and family. There’s lots of music in there too.

Newburn Reflections - Full Frame Digital

River Derwent and Tyne - Full Frame Digital

Summer 024

Despite the poor spring weather, I actually managed to get out more than I could have hoped. A trip to Scotland with some glorious weather certainly helped. My digital camera also got out a bit more too, I enjoyed its immediacy in contrast to spending time with film. It’s best not to try and shoot digital and film together though, I’ve found it’s either one or the other.

Moving into the summer months, I’ve continued with the mix of digital and film, the changeable weather seems to have continued too. I don’t take quite as many photos during the summer, it all gets a bit too green, but I still like to practice. So, when I’m out on my bike, I’ll often pack my digital camera with either a 35mm or 50mm prime, I prefer the older Nikon D lenses, all nice, light and unobtrusive. When I want to take a break from the saddle, I can take a few photos without wasting film, something I’ve been guilty of recently.

As the colours begin to change, I’m looking forward to all the Northumbrian shows I’ll be attending, all the dates are on my events page, it’ll be great to see you there.

I must mention an excellent morning at the Civic Centre with Andrew Brookes for the Novum Festival Secret City: Newcastle workshop, all very enjoyable. Please check out his website here and also here too.

Newcastle Civic Centre - Medium Format Holga

Newcastle Civic Centre - Full Frame Digital

River Derwent Railway Bridge - Full Frame Digital

Askew Road Footbridge - Full Frame Digital

Tyne Bridge Renovations - Full Frame Digital

River Coquet Yacht Club - Medium Format Holga

Wylam Hagg Bank Bridge - Full Frame Digital

Spring 024

Spring barely sprung this year, in all fairness, it barely spluttered. It hasn’t been all gloomy though, I’ve still enjoyed some nice sunny, but slippery woodland walks. However, the hills have had to wait. I did try once, but it was mostly light drizzle and for once, I turned round and came back.

The clouds may have been grazing the hills again on a rather damp and very quiet May bank holiday. Yet by the end of the week, I was heading out on another bike ride, this time with sun cream on. Great to see some clouds and blue sky for once, light winds too.

I’ll hopefully be out in the hills again soon, which may even include a few Scottish ones. I’ll certainly get out for some more large format, work my way through three boxes of medium format Kodak Tri-X 400 (it was on offer) and hopefully continue with some colour pinhole, the films are currently at the lab. All in all, it’s amazing how optimistic one gets after a few sunny days.

Fairy Bridge of Glen Creran - Medium Format Holga

Loch Linnhe Light Rain - Full Frame Digital

Winter 023 - 024

With the late Autumn nights drawing in and the sun barely skimming the horizon, I always look forward to the Winter Solstice. It marks a turning point, a gradual return to the light. It may only be a minute a day initially, but slowly surely, the evenings get longer, the mornings take a bit more time.

January appears to have taken December’s lead, a cold and frosty beginning leading to wet and windy storms. I’ve spent my time sheltering in local woods, some 35mm, but I mostly continue getting to know my pinhole cameras. I love using them, finding out what works and just as importantly, what doesn’t. I’m always surprised by the results.

It was because of using my pinhole cameras, that I finally decided to try large format photography. I’d been given a 4x5 field kit camera, it sat on my shelf and would often catch my eye, it all seemed a bit daunting. So, a 4x5 pinhole seemed ideal. I ordered an Ondu Rise, which has only just arrived, it’s such a beautiful camera. I also purchased film holders, a development tank, dark cloth, a box of Ilford FP4 and then a Graflex Crown Graphic too!