Headland Hotel Newquay

A week before Christmas I received a call to see if I was able to do a shoot in Cornwall.

Having lived in Cornwall for a brief time in my life and like many also spent many happy holidays here I was excited to hear more about the assignment.

The company Artistic Tiling had been recommended to call me to help capture some work they had done tiling a restaurant bar at the well known Headland Hotel in Newquay.

If you have ever watched the film The Witches or the Tv series Wycliffe you will probably recognise this beautiful Hotel positioned on the beach in Newquay.

The last time I came to Newquay was my stag weekend 20 plus years ago when my party of "Friends" painted me bright Orange (remember the Tango advert) and handcuffed me onto a lamp post in just a pair of Orange shorts in the town centre ! anyway I digress.

My brief was to capture the bar area in the restaurant and kitchen (time permitting)n which Artistic Tiling had done some incredible work tiling the bar and flooring areas.

I had a small window of time while the restaurant was closed to complete the work and this was helped by the fact that the staff were very accommodating and helpful during the shoot.

The Hotel was as beautiful as I imagined it would be and more so with it's festive decorations in place and to be honest I wasn't in a rush to leave !

Despite some tricky lighting to deal with in post production the images came together beautifully and Ive been asked to look at capturing and producing some more work in early 2024 for the client.

https://www.simonplant.co.uk/headland-hotel-newquay/

Morning Arches

Morning Arches | Hospital Of The Knights

I captured this image soon after the doors opened at the archaeological museum located in the Medieval City of Rhodes.

The museum is housed in what was the hospital of the Knights of Saint John and is a stunning place to visit.

Being early the crowds were yet to arrive which meant some fairly clear views.

This is just one of the images I captured there that morning. I was drawn to it by the graceful arches and beautiful morning light gently defining their shape.

++

“RHODES 10 PLACES TO VISIT FOR STUNNING

PHOTO LOCATIONS”

Receive My Free eBook

Download & View Details Here https://bit.ly/collectiveemail

https://bit.ly/3xq5Qny

Bridge of Argassi

The Venetian Bridge of Argassi  

This was my second dawn shoot while visiting Zakynthos.

As I mentioned in a previous post I had done a little research before my trip and found several locations I was drawn to explore. 

The remains of this 19th-century Venetian bridge located on the Argassi beach immediately got my attention and I researched the location.

I arrived at the beach in Argassi pre dawn not knowing if the tide would be favourable for what I had in mind.

I wanted to show the bridge ideally surrounded by the sea and fortunately the tide was in and the bridge fully covered.

As the morning got lighter I started to get a clearer look at the remains of this beautiful rustic stone bridge and plan my composition.

As you may have noticed in my work I love to create many of my images shooting into the sun (Contre-Jour lighting).

I find this the most beautiful of lighting even though it can sometimes be tricky to control.

As a result many of my composition choices are led by where the sun is rising in the scene.

I started shooting 20 minutes or so before sunrise and continued for an hour after the sun rose to capture the varying moods the light projected onto the scene.

It was another wonderful morning and I was joined by a large heron looking bird that perched itself on the rocks (left of bridge) and enjoyed the sunrise with me which made a change from all the cats !

https://bit.ly/3uuxEGb

Etherial Beauty At Athena Lindia

Etherial Beauty At Athena Lindia 

I entered the citadel high above the town of Lindos as soon as the gates opened.

If I had my way I’d had been set up and shooting at first light but that was not possible as the site was out of bounds to the public until 8am.

Ive visited the site a couple of times over the years but this time I wanted to shoot in the early morning light without hordes of tourists.

The light was fabulous, crystal clear and still fairly low enough in the sky to create some wonderful textures upon the historic pillars and dusty ground.

I covered many angles but I do admit I love shooting into the sun when I can.

Contre-jour light is one of the most beautiful hence why it’s been used by fashion photographers for decades.

Being here pretty much on my own was wonderful although I didn’t have much time to sit around (which was a shame) admiring the location.

I knew the coaches of tourists were no doubt on route and the site would soon get busy plus the light was also gaining in intensity and losing those wonderful textures.

This was probably my favourite image created from that morning. 

I love the tree caressing the temple wall and the pop of colour it adds to the bright tones of the location from it’s leaves.

As I often do at these incredible places I gazed at the scene wondering what things had unfolded here over the centuries.

These historic sites have fascinated me since childhood and inspire me to continue to capture them in my own particular way.

https://bit.ly/44LjrRL

Suleymaniye Mosque

Transfixed By A Morning At The Suleymaniye Mosque

I wandered the streets of the old town of Rhodes after a pre dawn shoot earlier that morning.

This is something Ive done many times and as usual the light was wonderful and streets empty apart from the posse of cats escorting me or curious  dog.

I love it, camera I hand following my nose trying to get lost in a back street to discover some gem to capture in the golden light.

It’s a change from the pre dawn shoots were they are more planned in advance, here I’m purely in discovery / opportunity mode.

This particular morning I was walking on a familiar cobbled street in the old town and came across the Suleymaniye Mosque that Ive seen many times before.

Light is everything and I’ve learn in my 40 years of shooting that there is no such thing as bad light it just depends what suits your needs or style. It has the power to alter the familiar and reveal beauty you may not have previously noticed.

The light this morning bathed the Mosque in a beautiful etherial glow and unveiled the textured cobbles on the path gently rising towards the Mosque. 

Scenes like these are impossible for me to walk past and can keep me in a state of euphoria for the remainder of the day.

Creating my art prints fuels me to return to Greece, to get a little lost and discover more moments like this, I’d say it’s my addiction.

https://bit.ly/3LyzuLP

Kalithia Steps

It was another hot August day in Rhodes when I visited Kalithia Springs.

The small cove and beach were super busy with locals and tourists. I decided to take a quick dip to cool off before exploring the rest of the area including some wonderful ancient spa structures, still standing strong.

The history of Kalithia Springs is closely tied to the island's ancient civilizations. 

Rhodes has been inhabited since the Neolithic era, and as the centuries passed, various cultures, including the Minoans, Mycenaeans, and Persians, left their mark on the island. 

The springs gained prominence during the time of the Knights of Saint John, a medieval Christian military order, who built a stunning bathing complex around the springs in the 14th century. 

This complex, known as the "Baths of Kalithea," became famous for its therapeutic waters and stunning architecture, combining elements of Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic design.

During the Italian occupation of Rhodes in the early 20th century, the Baths of Kalithea were extensively renovated in the Art Deco style, creating a unique blend of historical and modern aesthetics. 

https://bit.ly/3rpFwYh

Street of the Knights

On this trip to Rhodes I wanted to create images in and around the palace of the Grand Masters especially the street of the Knights.

One of the most popular streets in Rhodes Old town I arrived early to make the most of the warm summer sun and avoid the crowds.

Low morning sun would help me capture the textures on the cobbled street and walls of this historic old town street.

On arrival I surveyed my options and picked some angles that created the image I envisioned.

The sun provided some wonderful backlight and a little flare which I didn’t mind more importantly the light picked out the textures perfectly.

This is one of several images I was blessed with creating for my fine art print gallery.

https://bit.ly/45W2W6q

Wanderings In West Bay

Wanderings In West Bay

This week I had time to spare between an assignment in Dorset.

I decided due to the fantastic September sunshine to use the time to walk along the beach. I also had another reason for my walk and that was to test out a new iPhone I had purchased.

I'd had my iPhone 7 plus for many years and saw no reason to upgrade however the ageing phone was in need of retirement.

I also saw the benefit of the upgrade for the stabilised video capabilities for behind the scene footage while on location.

The other big draw was the capabilities to shoot 40 plus megapixel Raw images. Obviously this was not going to replaced my pro cameras but with the 3 lenses also available it was certainly going to be great to have in my pocket when out and about.

Below are a few frames I captured plus a Reel I produced on Instagram.

You can follow me on Instagram here.

https://bit.ly/3PHn1YJ

George The Greek Of Kos Castle

George The Greek Of Kos Castle

My wife and I purchased a holiday home in Turkey 8 years ago and so I have traveled to the Bodrum area of Turkey a fair bit.
On one such "Working Trip" (as I tell my wife) I with several of my friends popped across to the beautiful Greek island of Kos for the day.

It was during a tour around the Castle that I was drawn to this delightful man called George who was offering his services as a tour guide of the castle.

I knew straight away I had to photograph him so I sat out of the blistering May heat on a rustic old marble bench with him and struck up a conversation.
I mentioned I was over here from Turkey where I had a home and he shared some details of his life.

I could have sat chatting in this idyllic spot for hours but soon my friends caught me up, so I asked if I might capture his portrait and he obliged and we said our goodbyes.

I adore meeting, chatting, and photographing people like George after all they have been there seen it, and done it all and can tell some wonderful stories.

https://bit.ly/45RxYwx

Morning, Light Enters The Palace

Morning, Light Enters The Palace

It was another early start, not only to catch the best light but also to avoid crowds.

I’ve photographed here in Rhodes old town many times often before daybreak.

On this trip, I wanted to photograph in and around the palace of the Grand Masters, which is only open from 8 am. 

Bribed by promising to buy them breakfast I managed to convince my wife & children to get out of bed and come with me.

I wanted them to also experience the beautiful historic Palace in the warm morning light without the crowds and a more comfortable heat.

This is one of several images I was blessed with that morning and have created for my fine art print gallery.

https://bit.ly/46dpzTY

Morning Deliveries Lindos Village

It was just past sunrise as I entered Lindos village, and I’d already been out a couple of hours shooting well before dawn.

I decided to walk down into the village before the coaches full of tourists arrived to follow my nose and shoot whatever caught my eye.

The Village as expected, was deserted apart from a couple of shop owners, sweeping and getting their shops ready for the busy day ahead.

I walked in the cool morning, air enjoying the beautiful light and tranquillity that I was briefly being blessed with.

The streets are very narrow in Lindos, only people, donkeys, mopeds, and very small vehicles can navigate it.

As I finished walking the stunning whitewashed village my thoughts turned to seeking out an open coffee shop or taverna desperate for my well-earned morning coffee ( I do love my coffee).

It was at this point, I could faintly hear the noise of a small 2-stroke vehicle approaching so i grabbed my camera ready in case the opportunity was worth capturing.

I’m glad I did as this small 3-wheel vehicle delivering water to the local shops appeared and I quickly adjusted my position to capture it as it navigated up a side alley.

These machines can be seen all over Greece and are perfect for the white-washed alleyways of Lindos village.

Most of my work is created on a tripod but I do love to walk camera in hand in case this type of opportunity presents itself.

A wonderful end to a fabulous morning shooting.

https://bit.ly/3ZfibF2

Solitude On Sedgemoor

"

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.

https://youtu.be/Jn4ZhzqcIAQ

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

https://bit.ly/3qNEbK7