Solitude On Sedgemoor

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The grass that morning was damp underfoot and a light mist hung over the river. The sun began to rise on the horizon with Glastonbury Tor clearly visible in the hazy distance.

This is South Drain at Catcot a very special place for me on the Somerset levels.

It's a place I’ve photographed for more than 35 years and in an area I learned my photography.

More than all that it’s a place I brought my mum regularly in her twilight years to enjoy the view.

The image here was captured not long after her passing.

I ventured out at dawn with my drone wanting a fresh perspective of this familiar place and I certainly got that.

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The grass that morning was damp underfoot and a light mist hung over the river. The sun began to rise on the horizon with Glastonbury Tor clearly visible in the hazy distance.

I only flew for around 20 minutes but the wonderful new perspective of this familiar place was incredible

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Evening Falls Lloret De Mar

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The sea had a boisterous swell that provided a wonderful echo against the rocks full of beautiful raw power that 
released the invigorating refreshing scent of fine salt spray into the air that feels like a spring clean for your mind.

It was late October In Loret De Mar and this area of Catalonia was experiencing some of the worst weather for his time of year in decades. The week consisted of one storm hitting the coast after another. Eventually I spotted what would be a very slim window of dry weather.

I had already found some wonderful views along the the rustic coastal path and set out at sunrise to create some images. The morning went well and I felt blessed at having some good light and weather.

This particular cove accessed by a short tunnel along the coastal path location I decided would be better captured later in the day at sunset. My thought was I could include some colour from the sunset if the weather held and we got one! 

Later that day I headed back to the cove and set up my planned composition and I then sat and enjoyed the experience as the light transitioned.

The cliffs here had some wonderful warm tones that complimented beautifully with the cool tones of the sea and the fading light. 

The sunset wasn’t a spectacular display of blazing colour but instead it gracefully faded from magenta into purple and then cooler blue hues of the oncoming of night.

The sea had a boisterous swell that provided a wonderful echo against the rocks full of beautiful raw power that released the invigorating refreshing scent of fine salt spray into the air that feels like a spring clean for your mind.

I captured several images that wonderful evening in the cove before losing the last ounces of daylight.

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Aegean Tree Lindos

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The breathtaking views of the crystal blue Aegean Sea and the surrounding mountains inspired feelings of awe and wonder within me. The stillness of the early morning and the increasing warmth of the sun on my skin brought a sense of peace and tranquility.

This wasn't my first time at this spot above the village of Lindos in Rhodes, it wasn't my first time photographing this tree and the mesmerising view it had. The previous time I was still shooting film and the image was fine but I knew the light was much better on this visit and I simply could not walk past it without being drawn in.

Never had I been so envious of a tree, what stories could it tell standing here in such a historic location?What scenes had it experienced overlooking the alluring blue Aegean Sea?

The tree stood just below the ancient acropolis of Lindos. Standing here on a clear summer morning, I was overcome with a range of emotions. The breathtaking views of the crystal blue Aegean Sea and the surrounding mountains inspired feelings of awe and wonder within me. The stillness of the early morning and the increasing warmth of the sun on my skin brought a sense of peace and tranquility.

I loved the sense of history and connection to the past, imagining the daily life of the people who once lived here. The combination of natural beauty, historical significance, and serene atmosphere left me feeling both uplifted and humbled.

It was worth the steep steps up the hill some named Cardiac Hill !

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Motoscafi And The Bridge Of Sighs Venice

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The stillness of the early morning enveloped me in a peaceful, serene feeling. The golden light of the sunrise casts a dreamy glow on the iconic bridge picking out rustic textures of the building on one side of the small canal contrasted with the marbled finish of the bridge and building on the right.

Venice is a fabulous place to walk and get lost in and that is how some of the most enjoyable images are captured.

It was crisp cold sunny early morning in Venice and I was wandering with my camera and tripod enjoying the cool air and beautiful winter sun.

As I crossed a small bridge on a back canal I came across the famous Bridge Of Sighs with the sun rising behind.

The stillness of the early morning enveloped me in a peaceful, serene feeling. The golden light of the sunrise casts a dreamy glow on the iconic bridge picking out rustic textures of the building on one side of the small canal contrasted with the marbled finish of the bridge and building on the right.

As I breathed in the crisp air, feeling it sharpen my senses and heighten my appreciation for this moment I noticed this beautiful wooden Motoscafi (water taxi) approaching and knew it would provide a perfect addition to the scene.

I was struck by the romanticism of the scene, feeling as though I had stepped back in time. Capturing this sunrise at the Bridge of Sighs will always be one of my favourite moments to look back upon.

History

The Bridge of Sighs is a iconic bridge in Venice, Italy that spans the Rio di Palazzo and connects the old prison to the interrogating rooms in the Doge's Palace. It is named after the sighs or moans of prisoners who were said to have crossed the bridge on their way to their cells, catching a last glimpse of the beautiful city before their incarceration.

The Bridge was built in the early 17th century by the architect Antonio Contino and its design is a blend of Gothic and Renaissance styles. The bridge is made of white limestone and has two small windows on either side that provide a panoramic view of the city. The view of the Venetian Lagoon and the Canal Grande from the bridge is truly stunning and makes it one of the most photographed landmarks in the city.

Despite its dark history, the Bridge of Sighs has become a symbol of romantic Venice and is often depicted in paintings and photographs. It is a popular tourist destination and visitors can admire its beauty from the canal below or take a gondola ride under the bridge. Whether viewed from the water or from the bridge itself, the Bridge is a must-see for anyone visiting Venice.

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Rowing To Market Venice

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The light that morning was bright but soft thanks to a thin layer of morning clouds passing overhead.
This worked beautifully with the soft analogous colours and rustic textures of the buildings.
Transport yourself into a morning of Venetian life on the historic waterways of Venice.

This photography fine art print will give you a place to escape from your hectic day to daydream and recharge.

The majority of my commercial work is planned and often executed to a fairly tight brief. Some of my personal especially composites can also involve a fair amount of pre production and planning.This is to ensure everything comes together as perfectly as possible to ensure the vision for the image can be completed seamlessly.

All the above can be very satisfying but possibly even more fun is when I venture out with no ideas what I'm going to shoot and just go and explore.

Cities are some of the best places to do this. I'll often do my homework beforehand and have a few places I want to shoot but beyond that it's all suck it and see !

Venice is probably one of the most fun places to walk and explore. Yes you can quickly get lost here but it's an amazing adventure (unless you need a toilet or to catch a plane) to discover yet another wonderful scene waiting to be captured. It was exactly this scenario that led me to discover this scene.

As I crossed yet another quaint bridge one morning I came across this small back canal with a wonderful 15th century bell tower which I later discovered was called the Greci Bell Tower (The Bell Tower of San Giorgio dei Greci) which is part of The Church of Saint George of the Greeks.

This location was a tranquil escape from the morning hustle and bustle on the Grande Canal and apart from the soft background noise of Venetians in the cafe's getting their morning coffee it was an idliic spot to enjoy the unfolding of a Venetian morning.

The light that morning was bright but soft thanks to a thin layer of morning clouds passing overhead. This worked beautifully with the soft analogous colours and rustic textures of the buildings.I set up my camera and started to consider my composition.

Just as I thought the scene could not get any better I spotted a small rowing boat approaching in the distance. As it came closer I noticed a man stood rowing with what I presume to be his wife with what looked like some produce they were delivering.

I didn't dance with delight but I certainly came close as I started to pack my equipment away knowing I had captured a wonderful moment of Venetian life.

History

The Bell Tower of San Giorgio dei Greci is part of the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint George located in the Castello district of Venice, Italy. The church has been the center of the Greek community in Venice since 1539, with Greeks living in the city since the 13th century.

Greek Orthodox worship was forbidden in Venice, but with the increase in Greek population after the Fall of Constantinople, the community gained more power and was granted the right to settle in Castello in 1456. In 1536, the Republic of Venice allowed the Greeks to build their own church, which was completed in 1577 and designed by Sante Lombardo.

The church features a main entrance mosaic of Christ and three smaller mosaics above it, as well as a mosaic of Saint George on the side door courtyard. It also holds three Byzantine icons brought to Venice before 1453 by Anna Notaras.

The Bell Tower was built between 1587 and 1603 and was designed by Bernardo Ongarin. It leans slightly towards the canal.

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Morning Deliveries On The Grande Canal

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The warm winter sun gently rose above the horizon illuminating parts of buildings on one side of the canal contrasting with the cooler tones of those still in open shade providing a wonderful range of colours in soft pastel shades.

It was 2005 and digital cameras were now surpassing film for quality and despite the large financial investment I decided it was time to transition.As you can imaging it was an exciting time and I was itching to take a trip to start shooting. It was a week before Christmas and myself and my wife set off for Italy.

In terms of photography I had a the usual landmarks I wanted to experience and planned to leave my wife in bed and go out early to simply explore and avoid any crowds (there wasn’t too many) and make the most of some beautiful light.

You simply cant take bad pictures in Venice but capturing something new as with any well known tourist attractions or famous views is the big challenge. I try and avoid the popular spots if I can however famous viewpoints are famous for a reason because they are generally stunning viewpoints so I find its my job to add my own twist to it as much as possible.

On one of my early morning trips out I headed along the Grande Canal to explore and experience local morning life unfolding. As I stood on the bank of the Grande Canal I was surrounded by the sights, sounds, and smells of the working boats.

The crisp, fresh air filled my nostrils, mixed with the salty scent of the water.  I watched as the locals went about their morning tasks, delivering goods and supplies to various locations along the canal. 

The warm winter sun gently rose above the horizon illuminating parts of buildings on one side of the canal contrasting with the cooler tones of those still in open shade providing a wonderful range of colours in soft pastel shades.

Despite the frantic activity of the morning deliveries the scene still had a charming tranquility about it that I could have watched for hours.

Venice at Christmas is simply magical, it can only be described as one huge Santas grotto especially at night all lit up.

It's a unique city everyone should experience once is their life.

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