The calm of history before the world wakes.
A summer morning at Rhodes' Palace of the Grand Masters: warm light, no crowds, and a hidden balcony view framed through antique glass. Capturing serene moments like these made the early start worth it!
👉 Explore more tranquil moments and backstories in my gallery.
3 Somerset Icons Glastonbury
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“Mandraki Dawn: A Tranquil Memory Reimagined"
Inspired by a 30-year-old memory, I created this soothing vision of Mandraki Harbour, blending reality with imagination. A tranquil sunrise, iconic statues, and a touch of nostalgia brought this peaceful image to life.
👉 Explore my fine art gallery for more tranquil escapes.
Swan Feather Ham Wall Somerset
"A blind woman, two goats, and a timeless village on the edge of a volcano—an encounter I’ll never forget."
In the summer of 2003, my wife and I visited Kos, Greece, and took a boat tour to the nearby volcanic island of Nisyros. After a delayed departure, we explored the island’s wonders, including the Stefanos crater—a surreal, steaming landscape that felt like walking on the moon.
Later, we visited the nearly abandoned village of Emporeios, perched on the crater’s rim. Destroyed by a 1933 earthquake, the village was a haunting mix of crumbling streets, a few inhabited homes, and Greek cats lounging in the dusty shade. As always, I fell behind the tour group, stopping to photograph the mesmerizing scenes.
While reloading my camera, I heard our guide calling my name. He had found something special: two goats framed in the entrance of a narrow street, with a woman sitting further down in a shaft of warm afternoon light. Her wild, grey hair caught the glow perfectly. I quickly captured the moment before it vanished.
Our guide explained she lived alone at the edge of the dormant volcano, without electricity and with only her goats for company. Astonishingly, she was blind. As I finished a few closer shots, she called out, “Ahh, photographe!” and let out a hearty laugh. Her joy and resilience left a deep impression on me.
Years later, in 2023, I learned her name was Nina Vasiliou. A man named George contacted me, explaining she was his mother’s cousin. Nina had lived independently in Emporeios until her passing around 2017. Knowing her name and story added a profound layer to a memory I’ll cherish forever—of a brief, almost biblical encounter in a timeless place.
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Nina Vasiliou
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Creek Dittisham South Devon
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Night Falls Nisyros
The ancient Greeks believed the giant Polybotes lay buried beneath Nisyros, cast there by Poseidon himself. As I stood on the shores of Kos, watching day surrender to night, I couldn't help but feel the weight of such mythology in the gathering darkness.
For seven days, I witnessed the ever-changing dialogue between light and sea, as nature painted its daily masterpiece across the channel separating these two historic islands. My lens was drawn repeatedly to Nisyros, its volcanic silhouette a constant reminder of the timeless forces that shaped this corner of the Mediterranean.
While sunrise had offered its own gifts throughout the week, it was the gentle descent into evening that called to me most strongly. On my final night, I set up my equipment with purposeful precision, choosing a medium focal length to compress the scene – a technique I've refined over decades to capture the intimate essence of these tranquil moments.
The sea held its breath, barely rippling in the soft evening breeze, as modern meets ancient played out above. Aircraft, their navigation lights trailing across my long exposure, traced elegant arcs over an island that has witnessed millennia of human history. These contemporary light trails seemed to echo the ancient Greek belief that gods once traced their own paths through these same skies.
What unfolded was a meditation in blue – that ethereal time photographers call "the edge of darkness," when day's last light holds a delicate conversation with the approaching night. I remained still, allowing the camera to drink in the deepening twilight until the boundary between mountain and sky became nothing more than a whispered suggestion.
This image emerged from that peaceful vigil – a testament to the timeless serenity that still exists in these ancient waters, where every evening, Nisyros stands sentinel against the darkening horizon, just as it has done for countless generations before.
The final piece, crafted in quiet reflection back in my studio, captures not just a moment but the essence of tranquility that draws us again and again to these sacred Mediterranean shores.
**Meditations in Stone & Sea**
“In the golden stillness of ancient mornings, find a refuge for the soul—where past and present dissolve into tranquility.”
📖 *Ancient Mornings: Finding Peace in Mediterranean Light* – Download Now
🔗 Link in Bio
Wander, discover, and let serenity find you.
Wandering Rhodes' old town after dawn, I found the Suleymaniye Mosque glowing in ethereal light. Cobbled streets and golden hues revealed beauty I’d never noticed before. Moments like this fuel my passion for creating tranquil art prints.
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While away in Kos Greece recently the first person I met on arrival at our hotel in Kardamena was this lovely character called Neofitos.
Dressed in white wearing a captain's sailing hat he welcomed us with a big smile. I speak a little Greek so said hello and asked how he was and we (well he) started to chat away I quickly lost track and had to explain I only understood a little Greek with a laugh.
I find at least trying to speak some language, especially in Greece goes a very long way. As many tourists don't speak any they want to know why you have bothered to learn and I often get asked where I'm originally from thinking I must be of greek descent.
Speaking a little of the language even poorly also helps in building rapport when I wish to photograph someone and put them at ease.
We saw Neofitos several times a day as he drove the Mitsis Family Village Beach Hotel tourist train to the local beach and back. Always smiling and chatting in Greek it became a bit of a joke when I had to remind him I only understand a little! It mattered not we still managed to converse.
I couldn't leave the hotel without capturing a few frames of Neofitos and his infectious smile.
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A rustic bridge, soft tides, and ethereal light.
The Venetian Bridge at Argassi, Zakynthos—timeless beauty bathed in dawn light. Shooting into the sun, I captured the bridge surrounded by the sea. A serene Cormorant joined me, basking in the tranquil sunrise.
👉 Discover this soothing moment in my fine art gallery.
#Zakynthos #TranquilArt #FineArtPhotography
I photographed Jane at her home close to Exmoor one early morning back in May 2022. Jane was introduced to me by Cat Mills the Silversmith I photographed for the project.
Jane works as a Herbalist and was introduced to herbs by her grandmother at the age of 9 which was the catalyst for her interest in plants.
We spent an hour shooting around her property making the most of the clear early morning light. This was followed by a few images inside one of her poly tunnels accompanied at all times by her dog who's name escapes me.
We finished the shoot inside Jane consultation room where she sees her clients and also mixes her vast collection of herbs.
Just like Cat Mills studio this area was full of character. There were wonderful shelves full of interesting glass jars of herbs and other colourful objects I was like a kid in a sweet shop !
You can see Jane's story and a full selection of images at the project page Life In A Somerset Landscape
https://bit.ly/44y5lpW
I’ve been fortunate to have been featured in a fair few photographic magazines over the years and the odd podcast.
Terry Hope is a name that is well-known in the photography press as a writer, editor, and book author.
I first met Terry in the mid-2000 on a car testing track when he interviewed me about my car photography at that time.
We have spoken a few times over the years and most recently was in October this year.
He asked if I’d like to appear in a regular feature in his magazine Professional Photographer called
“Things I Wish I”d Known” and of course, I agreed.
I have to admit I probably agreed without really thinking as I ended up nearly missing the publishing deadline due to a heavy workload and a sunny holiday sidetracking me.
I ended up panicking and writing it on my phone while flying over the Aegean!
I was convinced Terry would throw it back at me with a D - for not completely sticking to the brief of the piece but he’s a perfect gent and politely said it was great (I still think he was being polite).
The article appears in the December 2022 edition of the magazine.
Download Article PDF
https://bit.ly/3TBwQsp
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/3GL2hxt
