Liz

Liz came to collect two photographs she bought from me at the weekend. Good to see her, have a quick supper then she was off back to London.

This is a broader view of Barlow where the close up shot from yesterday's post was taken.

Bidding

I was bidding for some consultancy work in Manchester today with three colleagues. Train to Oxford Road then a fantastic walk along the canal to Salford Media City for a meeting at Prets with the team, then the presentation, which went well, then the walk back to Piccadilly and train home. My kind of day.

Castlefields

Surprise

This is an image that has proved more popular than I would have expected. Not complaining of course, but is shows me how hard it is to predict what people will like. It was taken at a nature reserve that is on a reclaimed industrial site south of Selby in Yorkshire.

Post YOS

I use this image as a logo. It continues to sell well, including at Open Studios this year. Here is what is on the label

Silent Running

It had been a long, wet, cold day at the athletics meeting. When the sun came out and cast these shadows and silhouettes off of the statuettes I knew the photograph would make the day worthwhile. “Are they not of real people?” gets asked a lot.

YOS Day 3

Jo and I ready for day 3 of Open Studios. Weather good, confidence high.

YOS 1

The first two days of Open Studios are over. Exhilarating, tiring, encouraging, disappointing; all emotions fly around. This year I had Charlotte, a second year Photography student from Gloucester University on placement with me to help. She was a great help, and came up with some really good ideas in terms of curation and display for the show.

Rowan Photo

Rowan took this photo of a cyclist on the Knavesmire today. I've got to say I think it's pretty good.

Bramham

Rowan is back from her rowing trip to the Netherlands and will be at Warwick for her final term at the end of this week. So it was good to get a family walk in at Easter. We went to the woods at Bramham which were as dry as ever I have seen them.

Canal Walk 7

The latest stage of our Canal Walk took us from Skipton to Silsden on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. Another great walk on this contouring engineering marvel. There were a lot more boats about than in the winter months. Because of the frequency of swing bridges on this stretch it was actually quicker walking than taking the boat.

With the Quakers

I do get roped into various photographic assignments for Quakers, which I am happy to do. This is a shot of this year's Overseers [each overseer "looks after" a number of Quakers]. Both Danielle and I have done it before now. So this was my attempt to re-imagine that early Beatles shot that was on their greatest hits albums; can barely tell the difference.

YP Mag

All publicity is good publicity, so this might be a small bit in the Yorkshire Post Magazine this Easter weekend, but it all helps ...

Milo and signs

One of the lessons I have learned in life is that if you see a sign on an snicket that says "no cycling" then it must be a useful cycling route [or else they would not have put the sign there]. Milo obviously feels the same way about dog signs.

Derwent Valley

Tuesday I went to Wheldrake and the Derwent Valley National Nature Reserve; a lovely marsh / flood lands area. I saw my first Swallows of the summer as well as Teal and Egrets, and also this ancient wind pump. It was the opposite of a well-oiled machine. Despite quite a strong wind it would only occasionally creak and crank into rusty action before stopping in exhaustion a couple of minutes later.

University

The University is a great place to walk around [particularly when the students are away]. Here is another shot from last Sunday.
I am busy getting ready for York Open Studios - and have a 2nd Year Photography Student on placement with me to help; I think it should go well.

Topiary

Sunday Danielle and I walked over to Lamel Beeches Quaker residential home where she attends meeting for worship. I walked around the University with the dog. This topiaric fantasy land is always good to attempt to photograph; the hedges are huge and make for great images.

US Trip

Ro [my sister] and Pete are visiting niece Sarah and family who are in DC for six months on account of Marcus' work. Sounds like a good trip. The photo is of Pete, Sarah and Rosalind and Felix.

Funeral

I took some portraits at Christmas for a family who I had worked with before. This time the Mother was dying of cancer, so the portrait was to be of all the family. When you are taking a photo you always form a relationship with the subject; this was a poignant session, commissioned by the Father. He cycled round last week to tell me that his wife had died, and asking if he could use the photo on the order of service for the funeral. I went to the packed church for the funeral today and found it very moving - more than I can say.

Thames

Rowan and Danielle flew back from the US on Thursday. Considering Rowan took this photo using her phone through the plane window, it is pretty good I think. That is Tower Bridge in the centre of the shot.

The Stone

This is the stone for mother and father, replacing my father's one which had faded so much as to become unreadable.

Changing Times

Putting the clock forward at the Quaker Meeting House in York is an all generations affair. A young man [me] got it down from the wall, the old folk re-set it, and the kids watched on. All done with much love.

More Churches

Robert and I had a short time for a ride on Friday, as part of the great church exploration. We got to our 54th visit so far, Burythorpe in the Wolds, one of my favourite places. The church is nothing special [standard Victorian] but the location, in the middle of a field a kilometre from the village on top of the hill, is something else.

19

Rowan and Danielle are in the US for Aunt Sheila's funeral. They are sorting out the house a bit too, and found this photo. July 1998, Mount Rushmore. A long long time ago.

Literate Dog

I didn't know that Milo could read, but here he seems to be taking in the message on the pole.

Wanstead

Last week I drove down to London with Rowan to take down the exhibition, deliver those I had sold to various people, and stay over with Victor and family in Wanstead [where this picture was taken]. It was a complex logistical exercise and happily it all worked. The next tasks are to prepare for York Open Studios in April, get the Wolds book printed and start the next book ...

Rowan's Tree

Whilst we were in Kirtlington we took the chance to visit the Quarry and, in particular, Rowan's tree. As you can see the tree has not grown quite as much as Rowan has.

2017

2003