musings

Hartland Quay: We all NEED a Special Place

I’ve always felt relaxed when near the sea, and now that we live in Devon I pop to the coast a few times each week, be it to take photographs, grab some video footage, or to simply sit and do nothing.

Every now and again it feels like I can’t stop my mind from racing; too many ‘things’ in there becoming a bit of mush and racing around in my head: things I want to do, things I need to do.

It almost feels like a wheel spinning round and round that I need to stop.

There’s only one answer … the sea.

Hartland Quay

A place I often turn to at times like this is Hartland Quay. It’s an incredible place. When the tide is out, the coastline with its jagged rocks is like being on another planet.

To just sit there listening to the sound of the sea, the sound of the birds and to breathe in the sea air is like medicine. Instantly I feel relaxed, my mind stops spinning and everything starts to slot into place…

“Right…I’ll do this, then I ‘ll do that. Oh now that would be good. Ah right, yeah I’ll do the video like this…”

Hartland Quay

I’d never get this if I sat in my office near my computer or even in my garden.

We all need ‘me’ time.

Life seems to race ahead and we need to find a way to put the brakes on.

Being by the sea is my handbrake.

Birmingham Living Magazine: Mark 'Billy' Billingham MBE - SAS Who Dares Wins

Recently I was contacted by Birmingham Living Magazine saying they’d recently interviewed Mark ‘Billy’ Billingham MBE (Former SAS and Star of TV’s SAS Who Dares Wins) for a featured article in an upcoming issue.

The magazine were getting in touch to see if they could get permission to use a couple of portraits that I’d taken of ‘Billy’ back in 2019 when we was on the Swindon leg of his Speaking Tour and when I was also filming content for the Tour Promo.

The original portrait that was taken on stage shortly before the start of the evening’s event…

Hanging out backstage before the main event…

Hanging out after the event for drinks and pizza with *(Left to Right)

Mark Llewhellin, Dave Clayton, Billy and Bear Grylls

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...

You could be helping someone and never know it

You could be helping someone and never know it

Thanks to this wonderful, creative industry I've met some incredible people and made some incredible, life long friends.

There's also many friends I've never met because of sharing content and social media, and today I received an email from one such person; a truly delightful man from the USA.

Reading his email it reminds me yet again why I do what I do and that no matter how I may feel at times (I'm only human) I'll continue doing what I love and sharing with others because for some, as crazy as it may sound, it might be the one thing they look forward to and helps

Photography saved me during the Covid 19 Pandemic Restrictions

Photography saved me during the Covid 19 Pandemic Restrictions

It’s fair to say that the Covid 19 Pandemic has affected each and every one of us in one way or another; be it with the loss of a loved one, a friend, or how the restrictions placed upon us have affected our everyday lives.

I can only talk about how it’s affected me, or rather how it could have affected. Now I say ‘could have’ because I know what I’m like and I know, that even with no pandemic to contend with, I’m the kind of person that gets restless and agitated if I’m not constantly working on something new.

As a Portrait Photographer, pre March 2020 it was easy. I had portraits to take and I had my 39-45 Portraits Project which in all honesty, I’m happy to say

Mark 'Billy' Billingham (SAS: Who Dares Wins)

Mark 'Billy' Billingham (SAS: Who Dares Wins)

Back in May 2019 I was at the Wyvern Theatre in Swindon, Wiltshire photographing and filming Mark Billy Billingham (former UK Special Forces and star of TV’s SAS: Who Dares Wins and Who Dares Wins Australia) whilst he was on his ‘An Audience with…’ tour.

Having met up with ‘Billy’ early in the afternoon, we set up on the stage hours before the audience streamed in to take some portrait and promo shots as it was shortly before his first book The Hard Way was released…

Remembering a Dear Friend (Squadron Leader Allan Scott DFM) and Celebrating his 100th Birthday

Remembering a Dear Friend (Squadron Leader Allan Scott DFM) and Celebrating his 100th Birthday

Sad that today is not as it should have been with us celebrating the 100th Birthday of our dear friend, Squadron Leader Allan Scott DFM.

Were Allan with us, today we would have been heading to Biggin Hill Aerodrome to see him again flying his beloved Spitfire; instead, we will spend today with Allan firmly in our thoughts