When the blossom appears on the trees, we know that spring is here: lengthening days, changeable weather and the promise of new life. Continue reading “The end of spring”
Shudehill

Processed in Lightroom using Ilford FP4+ emulation presets from x-equals.
Olympus OM-D E-M5 + Zuiko.M 17mm f/1.8
It was a bit damp out there
Some pictures taken during a heavy rain shower:
I was particularly pleased with two images that show the falling raindrops. This is quite rare when photographing rain: the drops often fail to register because they are either too small or moving too fast. Usually, you have to rely on splashes, umbrellas and cowering people to suggest the conditions, as you can see in the other pictures (it was raining heavily in all but the first one).
Massive props, by the way, to the Altrincham choir who performed through the downpour without missing a beat and never losing their smiles.
For those interested in these things:
Olympus OM-D; Zuiko 17mm f/1.8; Zuiko 45mm f/1.8
Yes, but what’s it about?
Ever looked at a photograph and thought that it lacked something, but you’re not sure what? In many cases, the thing that’s lacking is a point to the image. Why was it taken? What is it saying? What, when all’s said and done, is this picture about?
Contrasts
In what’s becoming something of a family tradition, we went for a walk around Salford Docks on New Year’s Eve and Tatton Park on New Year’s Day. Continue reading “Contrasts”
Denzell gardens
I recently did a publicity shoot for Skipton Building Society’s Grassroots Giving community funding programme. The group involved was the Friends of Denzell Gardens and Devisdale, who are concerned with the maintenance of the grounds of Denzell House in Atrincham and of the nearby Devisdale.
On Oxford Road
I was in Manchester helping out at an event at the Manchester weekender festival, as part of which I ended up wandering up and down Oxford Road a few times. With the weekender on and MMU’s open day, the place was pretty busy and lively.
These are some of the things I saw whilst wandering around.
I love my ‘Blad
Like (I would imagine) the majority of photographers these days, I mostly work with digital cameras — a couple of Nikon DSLRs and a Panasonic compact. They are highly technically advanced, offering accurate auto focussing and exposure, and there is the attendant convenience of working with a digital RAW file: so many things — white balance, exposure, tonality — can be adjusted in software that one can lose sight of the technicalities when actually taking the picture. On balance, this a good thing, especially when the pressure’s on: at a wedding, a sports event or when time is short. Continue reading “I love my ‘Blad”
Down among the trees
It was a pleasant day, so my wife and I decided to go for a walk in Delamere forest.
I have slightly ambivalent feelings about places like this. On the one hand, they provide a much-needed protected nature area in the midst of so much that is altered by humans but, on the other hand, they are areas that have been altered by humans. Continue reading “Down among the trees”
Manchester marathon
This time last year, I was cursing the Manchester marathon: my house was surrounded by closed roads, and I needed to get to the airport to catch a plane. Continue reading “Manchester marathon”