TRIP AROUND THE SUN , NO 37 , 06/02/20

February 6, 2020

Lets be clear, I do not photograph ducks ! Nothing wrong with ducks or those who choose to photograph ducks but I would rather not photograph ducks but I did today !

My identity as a photographer seems to shift from day to day on this 365 project , I roll the dice and come back with pictures that look like nothing I have ever done before , its exciting and surprising !

I’m not sure if this pic is pin sharp anywhere , I’m not sure if I would recommend using long lenses with slow shutter speeds, hand held , I’m not sure of very much photographically anymore ?

I do know that taking photographic risks pays off big, now and then , I also know that if it walks like a duck quacks like a duck, then its a ………

Muscovy Duck , I think ?

Day 37 , done, same time tomorrow.

TRIP AROUND THE SUN , NO 36 , 05/02/2020

February 5, 2020

As I write this today I am still buzzing , today’s capture is extraordinary !

It is extraordinary for a number of reasons , the first being that I’m not certain how I did it , the second being that I’m pretty sure this capture is not repeatable ? I never look at the exif data but I checked it today, it informs me of the settings but I’m still not sure how I did this !

This shot was darkened and saturated a little during the edit and nothing more, it feels like alchemy to me, a real discovery !

The picture is one of many that I made today in my local forest, I was trying a number of “wayward” techniques that has resulted in some “off the wall” images, this one has truly taken me by surprise, in a good way !

This is “ Forest No 1 ” , it is also number 36 of my trip around the sun .

Same time tomorrow !

TRIP AROUND THE SUN , NO 36 , 05/02/2020

TRIP AROUND THE SUN , NO 35 , 04/02/2020

February 4, 2020

My chip shop picture did not satisfy my 365 appetite today !

So I went in search of something else a bit more fulfilling , these recently pruned winter trees caught my eye and I managed to cobble a decent shot together, featuring this white house in the distance as the focal point .

The surprise for me was that I preferred this view without colour , to be fare there was not a lot of colour to take out of the original view on this grey day !

I’m developing a liking for these hard cut winter trees !

That’s it , Shot 35 done , day 35 done , same time tomorrow !

TRIP AROUND THE SUN , NO 35 , 04/02/2020

TRIP AROUND THE SUN , NO 34 , 03/02/2020

February 3, 2020

Lucky , lucky ,lucky ! Today’s Chip Shop theme led to to a shot happening that I imagined was possible but it had never happened for me, despite visiting the location 3 or 4 times a year for years !

This chip shop is a bit off by normal day to day route, I only went to this one as all the chip shops in my area close on a Monday lunch time, as does this one I discovered today !

Having bagged my Pukka Pie” Chip shop themed shot I then discovered this “Blue Gate” shot , I had shot this tin shed before but the baby blue gates have never been open in the past, as is necessary in order to make this shot work, today they were, happy tog !

Sometimes you have to get out there in order to be lucky !

Shot number 34 done following the chip shop theme , but that blue gate view floats my boat more, same time tomorrow !

TRIP AROUND THE SUN , NO 33 , 02/02/2020

February 2, 2020

Managed to fit a photo walk into my day today and managed a few “nearly” shots !

I shot this young man from the hip, as he kicked his ball down the road, this was a very spontaneous event and capture, these pictures sometimes benefit from the lack of formal composition and conscious thought , you have to just hit the button with fingers crossed !

I shot this star reflection pic too , nearly ?

I’ll do it all again next week , enjoy your week ,shot no 33 done !

TRIP AROUND THE SUN , NO 32 , 01/02/2020

February 1, 2020

A cheeky little still life, home shoot today, following yesterdays full day of photography and edit !

I identified the potential of these boots as a photographic subject last summer and never got around to making the shot a reality until today !

The 365 project definitely helps me clear the back log of half baked ideas and intentions.

I literally dropped the boots down on the background made a minor adjustment to the loose laces, shot, edited and shared ! All done including writing this in 45mins , it is a football & rugby day !

I added a alternative version later .

Photographing my favorite things could be a adopted theme on “busy” days !

January behind us, Shot No 32 , My White Baseball Boots , done !

TRIP AROUND THE SUN , NO 31 , 31/01/20

January 31, 2020

I had to engage with The State Of Britain project again today and photograph a few local views !

I had a location in mind for today as I thought it was important that my 365 project reflected the significance of today, I had photographed this Bus Stop Window & Poster scene before, I decided to re-shoot it today to protect the integrity of my 365 project and create a personal memory of this day .

I have shot a number of relevant pictures today that will be added to my “State Of” series, the number of images in the series is now more than 240 , I’m still editing today’s shoot as I write this !

I’ve decided not to share this post on social media, as everything feels a bit flat today !

Newcastle United appear to be having a decent transfer window, we even have another fake sheikh takeover on the horizon ?

January done , number 31 done and yes, that will be done at 11.00pm too !

Same time tomorrow .

TRIP AROUND THE SUN , NO 30 , 30/01/20

January 30, 2020

A dull misty start inspired me to photograph one of yesterdays locations again today , sadly by the time I got to the location the mist had lifted, leaving me with just a dull damp location !

I invested a bit of time into this “Wonky” location today but no one appeared , I’m not sure that this bus added enough to the shot for me to move on, this location still feels like unfinished business to me ? I will be back !

I shot the other view “Stile Cottage” here to break the monotony of waiting around for that random figure that failed to appear , it also gives readers a idea of my “Street Photography” environment !

Day 30 done before 12 noon, January almost done too, same time tomorrow !

TRIP AROUND THE SUN , NO 29 , 29/01/20

January 29, 2020

The choice between chalk and cheese would be a fare description of today’s 365 selection !

I’m beginning to think you can over shoot this 365 shenanigans, the conditions were great today and I had the time to make a decent pic or ten happen , I think I managed that ?

The problem is that the two pictures that ended up at the top of my pile belong in very different camps , I know some will not understand my image selection today, but that bit of wall is special !

I know this pic is not technically demanding but it really has made my day today , the lamp post pic is not too shabby but I’m already planning a 6 feet tall print of my latest abstract , I feel so lucky to have found it !

A great day 29 , done, same time tomorrow !

Sometimes you have to wait , wait , wait and wait some more before someone turns up !

TRIP AROUND THE SUN , NO 28 , 28/01/20

January 28, 2020

There was a time when I would never have photographed a building with a shadow across it for my builder or architect clients , how things change !

I photographed Doggie Styles Salon because I liked the way the shadow fell across this frontage, especially the wooden gate on the left , I had photographed this location before on a previous 365 shoot but it did not make the cut that day . Today it did , this pic makes me smile !

That gate and shadow looks like a opportunity missed to me, a return to this location might be necessary !

Doggie Styles , day 28 done, same time tomorrow !

TRIP AROUND THE SUN , NO 27 , 27/01/20

January 27, 2020

Strange how despite the greyness and dullest of days some photographic subects still manage to shine, if your wearing your “optimistic head” !

I had never really noticed the beauty of this tin roof before, it got my full attention today, I make no apologies for borrowing a abstract expressionist vibe for today’s abstract landscape !

I’m delighted to have managed to utilise the textures, colours and overall patina of this old tin roof into one of my pictures as these weathered decaying creations deserve to be appreciated visually !

Day 27 abstracted and done , same time tomorrow !

TRIP AROUND THE SUN , NO 26 , 26/01/20

January 26, 2020

A dull, damp dreary Sunday greeted me today ! No surprise really, this is a typical British winter , a good day to do the weekly shop and watch football, the trip to my local supermarket takes me past this cinema and for some reason I decided that this “PALACE” would be today’s featured location.

This place is held in high regard locally and it will be a sad day when it is no more, especially as it is now air conditioned , best record this place for the record I thought , a straight documentary shot should do the trick !

These historic places need photographing properly before they disappear , I take my hat off to the folk who run this place , it can’t be easy in the modern world !

The Palace Cinema , shot today !

TRIP AROUND THE SUN , NO 25 , 25/01/20

January 25, 2020

Digging deep to make something happen today, another walk on the Street Photography wild side , a good picture to share on the day that I published my Abstract Learning blog !

This is not a picture for the purists but follows my Street ethos perfectly as it is a spontaneous response to my life and environment that represents a genuine desire to represent my day to day with authenticity !

Sometimes the conditions are so bad that they become the subject and the theme of the shot , really enjoying the freedom and surprises of this 365 project !

Male Figure With Shopping Trolley , shot today , day 25 done !

Same time tomorrow !

TRIP AROUND THE SUN , NO 24 , 24/01/20

January 24, 2020

The more you shoot the same place the deeper you look !

I’m quite surprised by today’s capture as I have never engaged with this subject before, although I have photographed other stuff at this location in the past !

This project really is becoming a journey of photographic self discovery , I’m beginning to see threads that link certain pictures, a understanding of my process is revealing itself to me !

Its interesting to see how and what I shoot when no brief or series narrative exists.

Happy with this one , Plastic Greenhouse With Fence, could be my fave so far ?

Not sure, as I’ve just shot it ?

Shot 24 done . same time tomorrow .

TRIP AROUND THE SUN , NO 23 , 23/01/20

January 23, 2020

If you can’t work with the light you want , then love the light you’ve got !

That is today’s lesson , every kind of light is good for something, you just have to match subject, approach and conditions ! Embrace what you have, that is what this project is about , trying to see past the challenges and make something happen !

I love working a location I’ve worked before and finding new stuff , I think the orange garage door shot is growing on me but I’m selecting the street scene as today’s 365 pic , I enjoyed today’s mini shoot .

Shot 23 done , same time tomorrow !

TRIP AROUND THE SUN , NO 22 , 22/01/20

January 22, 2020

A misty Gloucestershire morning motivated me to rearrange my plans for today, in case the mist lifted !

It did not, today’s 365 shot is in the bag earlier than usual !

Explored negative space today, sometimes the nothing can be more interesting than the something ?

Although not sharing a abstract pic today, thought I would share this cut off composition, a Mark Cohen approach to memorial grave yard photography !

Day 22 done , same time tomorrow !

TRIP AROUND THE SUN , NO 21 , 21/01/20

January 21, 2020

Another lovely day to be out and about with a camera today, trying to get into the abstraction groove with limited success !

I dipped my toe into the urban and natural environment today in my search for today’s picture , followed the light and ended up with these , the local pond was frozen , brrrrrrr !

Day 21 done , same time tomorrow !

TRIP AROUND THE SUN , NO 20 , 20/01/20

January 20, 2020

I was faced with a strange photo dilemma today, at a T junction I had to decide between a left turn into thick mist & fog or a right turn into bright sharp winter sunshine ?

I decided to drive into the mist in search of something atmospheric , it did not appear to be a good decision at first as the fog was quite thick, although it did simplify the views, killing off any distant views of the rural landscape which allowed me the chance to try and isolate and abstract this recently hard cut hedge, I’m quite keen on following up this approach with a serious abstract investigation of my local rural landscape, watch this space !

I drove back the way I came and was confronted with a memorable view, where the sunshine met the mist ,it would have been rude not to photograph this scene, although I accept that its a bit too “Stock” !

Open to licencing offers !

Day 20 done , same time tomorrow !

TRIP AROUND THE SUN , NO 19 , 19/01/20

January 19, 2020

Returned to yesterdays location and went all in today, Lots of stuff to choose from, this caught my eye !

Shooting any other location today would have been perverse as I could not get the light at this place out of my mind !

If at first you succeed , go back and succeed again, its much better than failing somewhere else !

Day 19 done , same time tomorrow !

TRIP AROUND THE SUN , NO 18 , 18/01/20

January 18, 2020

I don’t really know what to say about this , as I feel very fortunate to have shot this today, these pictures seem to be finding me !

I was attracted by the astonishing light through the window and would have settled for a shot of the shop front, then from nowhere this scene appeared !

If this had been a advertising shoot it could not have been styled better , two frames and they were gone !

One of my earlier attempts is also included below.

The low winter sunlight certainly paid off today , day 18 done .