Blackchurch Rock, North Devon - One Year Ago

Can't believe it's a year now since I took this picture of Blackchurch Rock near Bude, North Devon, which means it's just over a year ago that I started getting out and trying landscape photography.

Needless to say I've literally fallen in love with it; out in the fresh air, exploring and as a bonus being able to capture it in my camera. As is the case with landscape / seascape, not every trip ends up with an image...but who cares?!? I just love the experience of it all and making some great, like minded friends along the way.

Not often I'm on the receiving end of the camera when out and about but when Heathcliff O’Malley suggests taking your portrait, it's a done deal. One of my faves that I can look at and instantly recall being there.

Great times and very excited about experiences the coming weeks, months and years will bring. Especially looking forward to heading back to Blackchurch Rock and seeing how I'll approach it, one year further on into my Landscape Photography Journey...

REPLAY: LIVE Broadcast and Tribute To Squadron Leader Allan Scott DFM - Spitfire Pilot

If you missed the LIVE broadcast, here it is...

Celebrating the wonderful man that was Squadron Leader Allan Scott DFM (Spitfire ACE) on what would have been his 100th Birthday.

This is a recording of last night’s LIVE Broadcast so feel free to jump past the 5 minute countdown…

COVID Restrictions made me a Better Photographer

It might sound odd to say this but I honestly believe that Covid-19 Restrictions placed upon our daily lives, have actually made me a Better Photographer.

Before March 2019, the only time I would have my camera in my hands was for taking a portrait. As a Portrait Photographer I just wasn’t interested in other genres. 

However, this all changed and I explain all in this video.

Hope you like it,
Glyn

Lone Tree in Woodland and My Bullies Story

Bullies!

Spending time in the local wood this morning to take some photographs, I was drawn to an area where this little tree was amongst the much larger pine trees towering above it. On a summers day the scene would have have felt different, but this morning with the mist, it felt kind of sinister, like the small tree was being bullied.

I hate bullies. When I was much younger in middle school there was an older, much bigger boy called Smudge who used me as his target.

Years later I was back in my home town entering a Bodybuilding Competition. The week before the competiton I stayed at my Mom’s and trained at the local gym. I’d changed quite a bit since middle school. Now I was a lot bigger from training and was just under 19st (266lbs). One afternoon I was in the gym training when in walked Smudge. Hadn’t changed much. Just looked older.  Clearly didn’t know who I was and asked me to help him on the bench press. “No problem mate”

He lay on the bench and took hold of the bar. I lifted the bar off the racks and supported it before letting go for him to press. Before letting go I couldn’t help myself…”Smudge…you don’t remember me do you? … I’m Glyn Dewis. You used to bully me at school”. At which point I let go and walked away leaving him to fend for himself.

Damn it felt good!

Oh and I went on to win the Competition. Good times!

Farewell to a Dear Friend: Squadron Leader Allan Scott DFM

Yesterday we said a final farwell to Squadron Leader Allan Scott DFM who sadly and unexpectedly passed away a short time ago; a truly wonderful man for so many reasons and someone I am truly honoured to have been able to call a friend.

Due to current restrictions numbers of those attending the South Oxfordshire Crematorium were limited to 30; without such restrictions there would have been literally hundreds in attendance such was the respect and high regard for Allan amongst his many friends in both civilian life and the Royal Air Force.

However, the limited numbers did bring a different dimension to the service making it feel incredibly intimate and personal.

Immediately prior to the service it was both incredibly emotional and spectacular to watch as a Spitfire appeared overhead for over 5 minutes performing Victory Rolls in his honour…

As the service, held at the South Oxfordshire Crematorium, commenced Allan’s casket adorned in a Union Flag was carried by RAF personnel in Number 1s along with Standard-Bearers ahead.

The service conducted by The Reverend Matthew Stevens (Padre, RAF Benson) was so incredibly fitting and with utmost respect.

The eulogy read by RAF Gulf War Veteran, Presenter and Author John Nichol was wonderfully uplifiting as he recounted Allan’s Military endeavours and personal experiences on time spent in his company; that both Anne and myself along with Andrew and Sue Perkins were mentioned as dear friends to Allan was so incredibly thoughtful of Allan’s son Murray.

Can’t begin to say how much it meant to me that the portrait I took of Allan for the 3945 Portraits Project was on the Order of Service.

The night before I stayed up until the early hours because of an overwhelming need to create another of my model Aircraft pictures but this one solely with Allan in my mind. The Spitifre used here was a gift from my Mom for my recent 49th Birthday…

The final edit I have this morning printed along with Allan’s portrait and taken to a friend of mine who owns a picture framing shop so that I can have both side by side, framed and hang on a wall in our new home.

If you missed it, here’s Allan’s last television appearance which aired on the BBC One Show on Monday 7th September 2020; the evening before he passed.

Per Ardua Ad Astra

Blue Skies Dear Friend x