Idyllic Moments At Agios Stefanos

Idyllic Moments At Agios Stefanos

" I returned here later that day with my family for a picnic under the ruins and a swim in the bay, idyllic is a word made for times like this".

"Dawn's Promise at Agios Stefanos"

After a year of waiting, postponed by COVID-19, I finally stood on the shores of Agios Stefanos in the peaceful hours of dawn. Before me lay a scene that had lived in my imagination - the serene island of Kastri, crowned by the chapel of Agios Nicolaos, emerging from the tranquil Aegean waters.

While the ancient Byzantine ruins of the Basilica of St. Stefan rested behind me on the beach, I found myself completely drawn to this meditative morning vista. For an hour and a half, I remained rooted in place, capturing the unfolding light as it painted the scene in ethereal hues.

Though I had initially planned to fly my drone, the simple beauty before me demanded nothing more than patience and presence.

Later that day, this peaceful spot transformed into a different kind of paradise as my family and I returned for a picnic beneath the ruins and a swim in the gentle waters of the bay. Sometimes a place holds such perfect harmony that only one word truly fits - idyllic.

This extra large canvas brings that reflective moment of dawn serenity into your space, offering a window into one of the Aegean's most soothing vistas.

https://bit.ly/40FSDTO

Inspired By 80's Advertising

I came across this Caravan pitched up in October 2019 and just had to return when the light was right to shoot it.
What inspired me so much was that It reminded me of a desert location the type used for one of those grand Marlboro cigarette billboard adverts of the late 1980s but in fact, it was next to a lovely beach on the island of Rhodes Greece.
It’s funny how certain images you remember being inspired by can still have an impact 30 years later.
 

https://bit.ly/44fPRoZ

Seated View of the Tor

I captured a serene view of Glastonbury Tor during a peaceful winter morning at Ham Wall Nature Reserve.

The sunrise lit up the Somerset Levels, creating a moment of pure tranquillity. View this canvas wall art and read the full story on my gallery:

https://bit.ly/3ZDW8bM

https://bit.ly/4gz37JM

Diving Into The Dawn At Eli Beach

Diving Into The Dawn At Eli Beach

" The diving tower, known as the Trampoline, was built by the Italians when they occupied the island and provides a 20ft diving tower for those brave enough to use it."

"Legacy in Light: The Rhodes Diving Tower"

There's something magical about those pre-dawn moments when the world still sleeps, except for a few early risers. At 5am, with the temperature already reaching 27 degrees, I packed my gear and set out with my daughter Gracie for Elli Beach's historic diving tower.

The Trampoline, a legacy of Rhodes' Italian occupation, stands as a commanding 20-foot monument against the peaceful morning sky. Built by the Italians during their time on the island, it still beckons brave souls to make the exhilarating leap into the Mediterranean waters below.

This tranquil scene captured the ethereal transformation of night into day, as we watched the gentle dawn light evolve into sunrise.

For an hour, Gracie and I shared this meditative moment, our peaceful photography session only interrupted when a young Italian swimmer unexpectedly appeared naked - creating an amusing memory that still makes us laugh.

This serene image, now available as a large canvas piece, preserves that perfect morning light as it embraces the iconic diving tower, creating a reflective scene that speaks to both Rhodes' rich heritage and the timeless beauty of Mediterranean dawns.

https://bit.ly/49Yo1Qt

Murmuration On The Moor

View this atmospheric misty scene captured at Shapwick Heath and read the full story. Available as canvas wall art for your home or office.
View this canvas and read the full story on my gallery

https://bit.ly/3VCCThy

https://bit.ly/3BoIOjz

3 Somerset Icons Capturing Michael Eavis

Michael Eavis Somerset Dairy Farmer and Festival Creator
I'm a bit of a daydreamer, especially while driving which maybe isn't an ideal time!
It's how I got the sudden urge (not sure why) that I should reach out to ask if I might photograph Michael Eavis.
You see It suddenly popped into my head that Michael and his family are the people who have put Somerset on the world map with the world-famous Glastonbury Festival.
For that reason, I felt I had to at least ask if he would spare a few minutes to be part of my Life In A Somerset Landscape Project.
Fortunately, he and his team liked the project and were very accommodating allowing me to photograph a few weeks before Glastonbury 2022 which is not their quiet time !
Michael as I expected was lovely and very charismatic in front of the lens and made my job easy. In fact the whole shoot was done in less than 30 minutes.
I titled the main image "3 Icons Of Glastonbury" showing Michael together with the Pyramid Stage and Glastonbury Tor rising above the Somerset landscape.
(Bio Supplied By Glastonbury Festival Press Office)
Michael Eavis is an English dairy farmer and is best known as the creator of the Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, which takes place on his farm in Pilton, Somerset.
It all began in the late sixties; after a casual visit to the Bath Blues festival with his girlfriend Jean, Michael decided to have a go himself in 1970. The Festival did not make a profit for several years, but when it did, Michael began to look for good causes to support both locally and internationally. Nowadays, the Festival aims to raise two million pounds each Festival year in aid of Greenpeace, Oxfam, and WaterAid, as well as hundreds of local causes.
Glastonbury Festival 
 
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3 Somerset Icons Glastonbury

https://bit.ly/45esEnJ

Clearing Clouds at Cameo Island

View this stunning scene of Cameo Island and the vibrant sky, and read the full story of the morning. Available as canvas wall art for your home or office.

View this canvas and read the full story on my gallery.

https://bit.ly/4gd0lKI

https://bit.ly/4gfawye

"Between Sea and Stars: A Nisyros Meditation”

"Between Sea and Stars: A Nisyros Meditation”

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

https://bit.ly/3ERCVMX

A Graceful Entry at Kardamena

Golden dawn light over Turkish mountains, part-submerged steps, and a curious ginger cat—this tranquil morning in Kos was unforgettable. My daughter and I shared a serene moment, joined by our fluffy tour guide.

👉 Read the full story & explore the canvas link in bio.

https://bit.ly/3BYn9yK

Interview BBC Somerset Radio

Last May I was asked if I would like to go onto BBC Somersets Trish Campbell's show to chat about my Life In A Somerset Landscape Project.
Unfortunately, I was in Cornwall at the time and the connection did not hold for long and I was cut off a few minutes in.
Last week I was approached by the BBC again but this time onto the Charlie Taylor show.

The interview did not start well as there was no sound but glad to say it wasn't an issue on my end and it was quickly sorted!
The short interview can be found below.
https://simonplant.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BBC-Somerset-interview-May-2022.mp3
Interview BBC Somerset Charlie Taylor 05/05/2022

Amy Hart Breeder Of Rare Poultry

https://bit.ly/4mafO0Q

Inspired By 80's Advertising

I came across this Caravan pitched up in October 2019 and just had to return when the light was right to shoot it.
What inspired me so much was that It reminded me of a desert location the type used for one of those grand Marlboro cigarette billboard adverts of the late 1980s but in fact, it was next to a lovely beach on the island of Rhodes Greece.
It’s funny how certain images you remember being inspired by can still have an impact 30 years later.
 

https://bit.ly/44fPRoZ

A Summer Morning at the Palace

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.

https://bit.ly/3DwoBJg