Archway Into The Old Town

Archway Into The Old Town

This was my second visit to shoot this beututiful archway in the old town of Rhodes.The first time here a year or so before produced an image that just didnt work the way I had visioned and I knew I’d never be happy unless I returned to shoot here again.

I arrived in the dark and set up my camera a little too early for a shot like this where more dawn light in the sky is ideal. 

I however used the time to expore a few angles and dial in my ideal composition and then waited.

I greeted a few people walking through the arch who looked like they had experienced a good night on the town and definately ready for bed!

As soon as the light was where I wanted it I started shooting and covering several angles.Once satisfied I had the image I wanted I packed my gear and headed to my next location to capture the sunrise.

https://bit.ly/3TET7VD

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://bit.ly/3S3TCJu

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.

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Revisiting Dawn At The Gate

I had visited St Pauls Gate in the old town of Rhodes on a previous trip to the island but wasn’t happy with the images I captured.

This visit like before was also before sunrise and that gave me time to shoot this historic location illuminated by the warm ornate lights perfectly balanced with the dawn reflected in the cool sky.

As with most trips out at this time of day I had the place pretty much to myself.

There were the odd person clearing bins and sweeping streets and a few party goers staggering back to their hotels and of course several obligatory greek cats keeping me company.

I knew precisely one of the images and the composition I wanted but that could wait until just before sunrise.In the meantime I went and explored the area for other interesting images to create.

After all these years shooting before dawn I never tire of the experience.

Seeing the dawn light transition across the horizon in tone and colour and how the sounds of the world around you all seem to slowly awaken at the same time is something magical.

It’s a struggle to rise at some ungodly hour in the summertime and venture out but rarely am I disappointed I did.

https://bit.ly/3DAcN5l

Blue Hues Agios Nikolaos Church

Yet another wonderful sunrise greeted me in Rhodes.

I was staying in Kolimbia and decided to venture the short car ride to the harbour for sunrise one morning.

The harbour was fairly modern and not quite old and rustic like I had hoped for however it was still lovely in the warm clear morning light.

As I explored further I spotted this church perched elevated above the entrance of the harbour.

It was perfectly located for my preference to shoot into the sun for what I consider the most beautiful of natural lighting.

The blues of the doorway was stood in harmony with the Greek flag flying proudly in the sea breeze against an equally complimentary clear blue morning sky.

What is it about blues hues and Greece ? whatever it is it has become one of my favourite colours over the years.

This all contrasted beautifully with the warm sunrise and iconic bright stone walls of this small Greek Othordox Church.

It was a difficult and tight angle to shoot as I was lower than the church which is often not a good viewpoint.

 I composed my image deciding to capture the scene in several parts and combine them later.

This enabled me to avoid using a wide angle lens and the distortion it would give looking up towards the church.

The church was locked but I did sit and watch the harbour start to wake and boats being readied for the day ahead.

https://bit.ly/3EVBYQB

A Summer Morning At The Palace

A Summer Morning At The Palace

I entered the Palace of the grand masters as soon as it opened.

I had successfully bribed my children with breakfast in the old town to get them out of bed early.

This would ensure great light, no crowds and avoid the august heat from sapping the enthusiasm  to explore.

We explored the inner exterior courtyard first of all then the followed by the cool beautiful interior of the palace.

As we ventured further I notice an old locked glass door that led onto this fabulous balcony overlooking the palace and courtyard below.

The morning light was warm and wonderful creating fabulous shadows across the ornate floor.

I managed to position my camera as close to the slightly distorted old glass of the door hoping I could get a clear angle and the glass wouldn’t create too much distortion to the images.

This turned out to be one of several wonderful images I managed to capture of the palace that morning and probably my favourites.

We left the palace as the crowds began to increase and found a wonderful cafe in a small square in the old town.

We sat at a table in the shade of a tree and ate well deserved pancake breakfast that my children still talk about to this day.

https://bit.ly/3Q8Cl0P

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

Rendezvous In Rhodes

It was a mild April evening on Ialysos Beach Rhodes.

I’d been here for the week with friends enjoying Easter on the island and of course, shooting a few images.

Close to our hotel was this pontoon on the beach and I decided it might make an interesting focal point within the beautiful 

coastal view across the Aegean Sea to Turkey.

https://youtu.be/b41nWWnHkzc

The evening I chose to shoot was mild and slightly cloudy but I felt we might get an interesting sunset so set out to explore the location.

I often will create work this way where I take a hunch about the potential of a location then set up and see what unfolds before me.

There were a few people at the beach no doubt having a pre-evening meal walk and enjoying the setting sun.

I decided on the best composition to capture the scene and started to set up my tripod & camera.

As I started to shoot some frames I noticed this chap waiting on the end of the pontoon gazing across the sea towards the Turkish coast and mountains.

He waited in pretty much the same spot below the light for probably 45 minutes on his own.

I presumed he was waiting to meet someone, who was it ? why hadn’t they turned up to meet him ? 

These were all the questions that popped into my head as I enjoyed the sunset and the sound of the calm waves caressing the beach.

As I captured the last ounces of the day reflecting onto the sea the gentleman eventually left shortly followed by myself.

I decided to title this image Rendezvous In Rhodes and still wonder if indeed he was there on the pontoon at sunset waiting for someone who never showed.

https://bit.ly/3rLKIpi

A Place To Pause

A Place To Pause Old Town Rhodes

The majority of my work is creating tranquil vistas of beautiful places especially in Greece.
I do however get drawn to shoot the details in these locations especially those filled with rustic texture and colour that tell a story.
Chairs are one such item I find myself drawn towards on several occasions.

While taking an early evening stroll around Rhodes old town I found myself once again on my own while my wife popped into yet another shop to browse for something. As I slowly walked onwards down a side street I came across this wonderful rustic chair outside a shop.
It was conveniently placed in a shaded area close to the shop doorway and used to rest and chat to neighbouring shop owners during the long hot busy days. I imagined many wrongs being put right from here, many coffees drank and tales told.

I love the time worn textures in this image both on the chair and the historic city walls oh what stories they could tell.

https://bit.ly/3PVUZsy

Perched On The Chapel At Dawn

Perched On The Chapel At Dawn

I sometimes return from a shoot and only complete in creating a few final images from the hundreds I often shoot.

I then like in this case come across some of them in my archive many months or a year or two later and decide to create them into a finished piece for my gallery collection.

This is one of several images I captured in Lindos early one morning before the sun broke into full glory.

I had shot this lovely street leading towards the beautiful whitewashed Chapel of Saint George Pahimahiotis and the beach below 10 minutes earlier. As I finshed shooting a street cleaner came along and washed the pathway and the wet stone looked so much better in the morning light that I reshot everything again before the sun rose.

Now I could say I suddenly spotted a bird perched upon the church roof and quickly composed my camera to capture the tranquil scene. The truth however is that I somehow didn’t notice the bird until I started to create the image in post production so it was quite a lovely surprise to discover it poised upon the roof enjoying the dawn.

I particularly love the warmth provided by the rustic street lamp and the rustic narrow path through the whitewashed village homes. Typical for Lindos and just one good reason I keep returning to capture images and enjoy this stunning location.

https://bit.ly/48w86bc

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.

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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

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