Kings Wood March 7th 2026

I was at a bit of a loose end this weekend so decided to go location scouting for some of my photography classes. I noticed a place called Kings wood about 30 minutes from me. So decided to pay it a visit

It was a grey overcast day with lots of mist, felt quite spooky, almost like a film set or disaster movie. The woodland goes on, it would be easy to get lost in there.

The mist made it moody, it was great wondering around.

Dungeness

Some places have a feel, a history. Dungeness feels like a movie set from a zombie movie. Bleak, but charming, interesting, something you want to visit. I went for a visit there on one grey windy day.

Even in the rain and grey, the place shines.

Knole Park 25th Jan 2026

You may have heard of Vita Sackville-West, she was a famous writer (9 March 1892 – 2 June 1962). She was nobility, upper class and loaded. She was also bisexual and had numerous affairs with men and women. Her family owned Knole park, near Sevenoaks in Kent. If she had been a male she would have inherited it. It was not to be, this was a source of much friction in her family and the male heir that eventually inherited Knole didn’t even want it.

I went for a visit despite it being a horrible grey rainy day. You can almost hear the history of the place, the scandals and the money. It is a wonderfull place, with grandure, land and a heard of deer of several species. It was difficult to get any decent shots because of the light and rain

The yearning
To want and be denied, is poetry and pain.
The history of time depletes the soul, my life goes on but not for Knole.
Genders fair and lust continues, in hush and silent witness.
A wealth agreed, a new home found, castles keep thy secrets.
The heart, she yearns, the twisted joke of birth.
My anger burns, it simmers close.

London January 24th 2026

I don’t like to go into London too often, it is too busy and to full of people. But once in a while I venture into town to take in a show or see some sites.

They guard the soldier, loyal servants to a forgotten time.

To wander amongst the stones and feel the air.

Photography Courses, Folkestone 2026

I host photography workshops around the Kent area. There are lots of places to see and things to do. Folkestone is an interesting place, I have family there and so like to visit often. Here are a few shots of the street class that was held there.

We need a very big bag of chips

Wassail Jan 2026

Wassail! The pagan cries of druids that walk among the apple trees. Wassail is an ancient ceremony to bless the orchards. It’s a kent tradition and I was lucky enough to go on one. The images are all night shots,s o you will have to forgive the quality.

The torch lit walk to the orchards way, when fires burn, the words were said.
To bless the tree and please the gods, Wassail was spoken.
The people bellow, to scare the demons run.
To drink the gold and celebrate the history of old.
The crackles heat and warmth of friends, to cheer another year.

Margate January 2026

I haven’t been to Margate for a very long time. It is right at the end of the M2 motorway and you have to want to go there. Margate is on the East side of the UK right where the North sea and Thames meet. Christmas was over but I wasn’t back to work yet and had some free time, I grabbed my camera and off we went.

The water slips into the sand as tides retreat.

It was a lovely crisp day with really nice light. It’s a lovely place for a visit.

Rainham January 2026

I host photography classes for the Maidstone Photography Club, I take people to various places around kent that are photogenic depending on the subject I am covering. For this day it was Landscapes and Seascapes. I went to the coast near Rainham, in kent. It is where the Medway rivers and Thames meet before hitting the North sea.

I went back a few weeks later just to see how the change in light effects the shots.

The 2nd visit was better because the light was better, this shows that going back to a good spot many time often reaps much better images.

Boxing day, Folkestone, Kent 2025

I stayed down my sisters over Christmas, it’s easier for all the family to meet there. One Boxing day we went out for a walk along the coast. People were mad enough to go in swimming, brrr.

Bedgebury Pinetum Dec 2025

The world makes for troubled minds. I don’t think people are designed for the modern world, it is too fast, too changeable and too troubling. We all need to slow down, become more mindful, feel nature and bathe in it. With that in mind I recommend Bedgebury National Pinetum in Kent. It’s a place where they have planted lots of different species of trees. It doesn’t sound like much but to walk among them, is a joy.

To stroll amongst the trees is to feel the Earth and know.

Sit and stare, listen to the wind. For it will tell you tales of old.

Wintersong, Tenterden Dec 2025

Well Christmas is here, carols are being sung and mince pies are being eaten. I went recently to Wintersong at the main church in Tenterden, Kent. There was a choir, some readings and lots of booze. Jan Francis from “Just Good friends” did a reading, it was a good night.

Buttercups Sanctuary for Goats Dec 2025

I like goats, and I support a local charity called Buttercups Sanctuary for Goats based near Sutton Valence in Kent. I visit often, they are lovely animals and they need our support.

It’s a great place to take the kids, feed the goats, support them.

Maidstone November 2025

Maidstone in Kent is one of the bigger towns, I often hold photographic courses for black & white and street there. Today I went for a stroll with Liam, my second born, he is a professional videographer but wanted to do some more stills, so we went out for a walk around to let him practice. Here are some shot from the day, Maidstone like all places has good and bad areas, I took a few shots to show urban decay to try to give you all an idea of what the place is like.

Norfolk October 2025

We recently went on a mini-break up to Norfolk near Cromer with the grand kids. Its a nice part of the world. We explored the coast, went to various seaside towns and eat lots of chips

Hampton Court Sept 27th 2025

I decided to go to Hampton Court, A place I hadn’t been since I was a child. I knew a bit about the place but it would be interesting to see and feel the history. For those of you that don’t know, it was Henry the eighth’s residence. He was a notorious womanizer, and generally not a nice chap. Here are a few pictures from the day and the journey to the palace in south west London. It’s quite easy to ignore the ordinary when you are out and about, so I took a few shots of the journey up to London, soaking up some of the atmosphere. Hampton court is on the Thames, we had some lunch whilst watching the boats and people. Then we went in and had a look around. It’s not that grand compared to many palaces around the world but you can feel the history, almost see old Henry still in the place. It’s a good place to go and spend a day.

The Street calls 13th September 2025

I recently hosted a Street photography class for the Maidstone photographic Group. It rained, as is the norm for this time of year, but we carried on anyway. Street photography is really just like any other form of photography, its about emotion. You walk around looking for a moment, a moment that speaks to you, makes you laugh, smile, ask quesions. Street is about capturing the moment. here are some shots from the day.

A couple strolls along the river bank with only pigeons to see them.

Annie, taking shots by the river bank

It was a good day out shooting despite the weather. I really enjoyed it. I will be hosting other events in September and October so keep an eye out.

Master you Camera, a Beginners Guide to Shooting in Manual mode - workshop 19th July 2025

I will be holding a beginners photo workshop in Rochester, in association with the Maidstone Photography group on the 19th of July 2025. Come and learn how to get the most from your camera, get out of auto mode and learn how to take better pictures. I will be covering the exposure triangle and how that effects the final image, composition, and working with natural light. It will be an informal class, and there will be a little walking as we explore a bit.

You can book the class here:

https://www.maidstonephotographygroup.co.uk

Workshop title “Master you Camera A Beginners Guide to Shooting in Manual mode

Beginners Workshop 5th July 2025

I will be holding a beginners photo workshop in association with the Maidstone Photography group on the 5th of July 2025. Come and learn how to get the most from your camera, get out of auto mode and learn how to take better pictures. It will be a small group, so places are limited. Subjects I will be covering are the exposure triangle and how that effects the final image, composition, and working with natural light. It will be an informal class, and there will be a little walking as we explore a bit.

You can book the class here:

https://www.maidstonephotographygroup.co.uk

Workshop title “Shooting in Manual Mode“

Film VS Digital

We have all heard about AI. it continues to improve almost daily. Why bother taking photos when AI can just create them as needed. This my friends is a real problem for digital photography, it basically means that digital photography days are numbered if not dead already. AI is fake, it is tallentless, easy and therefore valueless.

The only solution is to make your images authentic and unique. This can be done with film. Film is the answer to AI, a film negative cannot be made by AI, it is a real thing produced by a photographer, made from a real scene.

This also means that camera manufacturers are going to go broke unless they embrace film again. Leica already has, Pentax is experimenting. Others will have to get on board with film or go broke. Mark my words, film is returning big and only those that embrace it will survive.

So go out my friends, get a film camera, brush off those old skills that film needs and get shooting.

The Leica M6, a classic film camera that is still made today.

Madeira April 2025

For a spring break we went back to Madeira again. Here are some shots from the trip.