2010 in photographs
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Last year I did a post 2009 in Photographs, and the general consensus was I should do it again. Well 12 months have now passed...
It's not easy to pick only one image from each month, and the chances are if I'd done this tomorrow or yesterday, different ones might have been chosen. But in the end I think they do create a snapshot of my year.
As always, you can click on the images for larger versions.
January - Winter Sunset Through the Trees
We had a lot of snow back in January, and accessing this place turned out to be trickier than anticipated. The 3 mile winding back road had not been ploughed, salted or gritted and I was just driving on compacted snow. The concept of winter tyres doesn't exist in Scotland, so it was a small miracle I did not end up in ditch. However, the winter sun setting through the trees with long shadows over the mostly frozen river was a stunningly beautiful sight.
February - Sea Fishing in the Mist
It was cold and misty down at Rascarrel Bay. Just into the distance I saw a couple of fishermen on the rocks. The sea was as still as I've ever seen it and it was difficult to tell where it ended, and the mist began.
March - Michelle
Most of March was spent running about taking photos of whoever would let me. I had been asked if I would like to have an exhibition of my portrait photography at the Mill on the Fleet in May. I'd said yes, then realised I didn't have enough of the kind of photos I wanted to display. This one of Michelle is still one of my favourites, and a version of it appeared on the cover of Prole Magazine back in early December.
April - Self Portrait
Realising it was highly unlikely I would sell any of the photos I would be exhibiting, it was important I use the opportunity to promote my photography business. This required a leaflet to be designed and printed to be handed out to anyone who strolled within distance. I'd been playing with magnifying glasses and reading glasses, enjoying the way they distort light, and I thought this photo made me look a bit interesting.
May - Rooftop Sunset
Remember the volcanic ash cloud that disrupted flights across Northern Europe for weeks? One of the side effects was some glorious sunsets for several weeks. This was taken from our bedroom window with my new Canon 7D - a real, grown up camera.
June - Cytisus Scoparius Andreanus (Broom)
I discovered the wonders on a 50mm f1/8 prime lens. Basically, it allows you to take photos with a shallow depth of field. And what that means is only a small bit of the image will be in focus and the rest will become increasingly blurred. Used right and the background blur becomes as much a feature of the photograph as the main subject. I had hours of fun in the garden with the flowers and shrubs.
July - Burning the Wickerman
The highlight of The Wickerman Festival is the burning of a 30 foot high willow sculpture. These are created by a friend, Trevor Leat, which meant I was able to get unprecendented access to photograph both the building and burning of the Wickerman. It's a seriously impressive construction (and destruction).
August - Flying Teenager
My son, Rogan, has been getting into Free Running, which involves lots of running, jumping and attempts at acrobatics. Fortunately for me as a parent, it doesn't require heavy investment in clothes or machinery. It also offers up the chance to have a go at action photography.
September - Maggie's New Studio
In September my wife, mixed media and textile artist Maggie Ayres, managed to get hold of a workspace in a building converted into studios and workshops aimed specifically at artists, in the nearby town of Kirkcudbright. With white walls and 2 south-facing Georgian windows, the light is wonderful. An additional bonus was it meant she no longer needed her space at home, so I now have that room for my own photography studio.
October - Limestone Pavement
During the kids' half-term we managed to get away for a much needed break to Yorkshire for a week. Up in the Yorkshire Dales there is an area where the limestone erodes in such a way as to create regular cracks and fissures, causing it to look like ancient man-made paving. Known as Limestone Pavements, they really are quite amazing.
November - The Sex Pistols Experience
As well as seeing them live, Rogan and I got backstage access to The Sex Pistols Experience at their gig in Bathgate back in November. A tribute band, their sense of theatre is superb as they swear at each other and goad the audience. It gave me a real taste for band photography, and it's something I'd like to develop over time.
December - Winter Landscapes
Up until this year, we hadn't had a great deal of snow in this part of Scotland over the past decade. Occasionally we'd get a flurry, but it would all be gone the following day. Scottish winters, for the most part, are grey, wet and miserable affairs. But topping and tailing 2010 we have had the most wonderful white winter landscapes across Galloway. I know the snow causes disruption but when the sun comes out it fills me with a childlike awe and wonder.
I quite enjoyed putting this post together. Perhaps I'll do it again next year.
.
Last year I did a post 2009 in Photographs, and the general consensus was I should do it again. Well 12 months have now passed...
It's not easy to pick only one image from each month, and the chances are if I'd done this tomorrow or yesterday, different ones might have been chosen. But in the end I think they do create a snapshot of my year.
As always, you can click on the images for larger versions.
January - Winter Sunset Through the Trees
We had a lot of snow back in January, and accessing this place turned out to be trickier than anticipated. The 3 mile winding back road had not been ploughed, salted or gritted and I was just driving on compacted snow. The concept of winter tyres doesn't exist in Scotland, so it was a small miracle I did not end up in ditch. However, the winter sun setting through the trees with long shadows over the mostly frozen river was a stunningly beautiful sight.
February - Sea Fishing in the Mist
It was cold and misty down at Rascarrel Bay. Just into the distance I saw a couple of fishermen on the rocks. The sea was as still as I've ever seen it and it was difficult to tell where it ended, and the mist began.
March - Michelle
Most of March was spent running about taking photos of whoever would let me. I had been asked if I would like to have an exhibition of my portrait photography at the Mill on the Fleet in May. I'd said yes, then realised I didn't have enough of the kind of photos I wanted to display. This one of Michelle is still one of my favourites, and a version of it appeared on the cover of Prole Magazine back in early December.
April - Self Portrait
Realising it was highly unlikely I would sell any of the photos I would be exhibiting, it was important I use the opportunity to promote my photography business. This required a leaflet to be designed and printed to be handed out to anyone who strolled within distance. I'd been playing with magnifying glasses and reading glasses, enjoying the way they distort light, and I thought this photo made me look a bit interesting.
May - Rooftop Sunset
Remember the volcanic ash cloud that disrupted flights across Northern Europe for weeks? One of the side effects was some glorious sunsets for several weeks. This was taken from our bedroom window with my new Canon 7D - a real, grown up camera.
June - Cytisus Scoparius Andreanus (Broom)
I discovered the wonders on a 50mm f1/8 prime lens. Basically, it allows you to take photos with a shallow depth of field. And what that means is only a small bit of the image will be in focus and the rest will become increasingly blurred. Used right and the background blur becomes as much a feature of the photograph as the main subject. I had hours of fun in the garden with the flowers and shrubs.
July - Burning the Wickerman
The highlight of The Wickerman Festival is the burning of a 30 foot high willow sculpture. These are created by a friend, Trevor Leat, which meant I was able to get unprecendented access to photograph both the building and burning of the Wickerman. It's a seriously impressive construction (and destruction).
August - Flying Teenager
My son, Rogan, has been getting into Free Running, which involves lots of running, jumping and attempts at acrobatics. Fortunately for me as a parent, it doesn't require heavy investment in clothes or machinery. It also offers up the chance to have a go at action photography.
September - Maggie's New Studio
In September my wife, mixed media and textile artist Maggie Ayres, managed to get hold of a workspace in a building converted into studios and workshops aimed specifically at artists, in the nearby town of Kirkcudbright. With white walls and 2 south-facing Georgian windows, the light is wonderful. An additional bonus was it meant she no longer needed her space at home, so I now have that room for my own photography studio.
October - Limestone Pavement
During the kids' half-term we managed to get away for a much needed break to Yorkshire for a week. Up in the Yorkshire Dales there is an area where the limestone erodes in such a way as to create regular cracks and fissures, causing it to look like ancient man-made paving. Known as Limestone Pavements, they really are quite amazing.
November - The Sex Pistols Experience
As well as seeing them live, Rogan and I got backstage access to The Sex Pistols Experience at their gig in Bathgate back in November. A tribute band, their sense of theatre is superb as they swear at each other and goad the audience. It gave me a real taste for band photography, and it's something I'd like to develop over time.
December - Winter Landscapes
Up until this year, we hadn't had a great deal of snow in this part of Scotland over the past decade. Occasionally we'd get a flurry, but it would all be gone the following day. Scottish winters, for the most part, are grey, wet and miserable affairs. But topping and tailing 2010 we have had the most wonderful white winter landscapes across Galloway. I know the snow causes disruption but when the sun comes out it fills me with a childlike awe and wonder.
I quite enjoyed putting this post together. Perhaps I'll do it again next year.
.
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