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My Latest Pictures

Scroll down to see a selection of images from my latest trips. A range of favourite subjects can be seen in my galleries

Gypsy Horse Fair - Stow

Stow on the Wold in Gloucestershire has long been home to gypsy horse fairs, with a tradition that goes back 500 years. Spring and Autumn Fairs are held annually and these pictures are from the May 2013 event.

May Morning Oxford

At 6am the choristers of Magdalen College sing from the top of the Great Tower to greet the arrival of Spring, whilst thousands of people gather to listen before joining the street celebrations. Sadly health and safety now prevents the student tradition of jumping into the river, fully clothed, from Magdalen Tower but the numerous Morris troops and bands play on...and of course the pubs are open, so people party like it's 1513!

Oxford

It is easy to overlook the opportunities on your doorstep, so these images come from a walk around Oxford. Oxford is one of the most visited places in the UK but I enjoy wandering off the beaten track and into the streets that surround the city centre. As always favourite subjects are people and dogs and on this day I met some chefs from Branca, a speedway fan and professional dog photographer, amongst others...and Oxford always has a fine selection of bicycles. Perhaps I should do it more often.

Scotland

Images from a trip to Scotland based at Fort William and exploring Rannoch Moor, Glencoe, The Road to the Isles, Skye and Applecross. The weather was conveniently diverse and provided interesting lighting, albeit in fleeting moments. It is hard to capture the majesty of this landscape in a photograph, so I recommend a visit to see it for real!

Crufts 2013 - Hounds & Terriers Day

Crufts remains a favourite event for photography and on this occasion I have used B&W  to portray the relationship between (wo)man and dogs.

Marwell Wildlife

Images from a recent trip to Marwell Wildlife, near Winchester, where I was privilaged to observe the introduction of two okapis. These creatures are very shy and several pictures were taken through screens. As with many zoos the enclosures cannot always be excluded from the picture so in a number of cases I have deliberately made a feature of the wire, glass or bars. The late afternoon provided interesting light in the giraffe house and I have tried to use this creatively.

Oxford Winter

Oxford is a beautiful place and the arrival of snow provides new opportunities to revisit familiar places. These images were taken during a walk along a route including Board St, Radcliffe Camera, High St, Magdalen Bridge, Botanical Gardens and Christchurch Meadow. 

Federation Poultry Championships

A few pictures from the championship event in Stafford on 15th December 2012. I enjoy taking informal and candid portraits of the birds, enthusiasts and judges who all make this such an enjoyable event...I think chickens might just be the subject for my next book.

Savernake Forest

A selection of images from Savernake Forest near Marlborough, capturing the glory of late autumn sunshine. This is the only-privately owned (Earl of Cardigan) forest in Britain. It is held in Trust and there is wide public access across its 4,500 acres. Capability Brown planted a 4 miles long 'Grand Avenue' in the late 1790's which runs through the middle of the forest and is in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest avenue in Britain.

New Forest Pony Auction (Beaulieu Road)

Pictures from the November 2012 New Forest Pony Auction - portraits and observed moments to capture the event.

National Poultry Championships

A selection of informal portraits of judges and enthusiasts...and of course some chickens...and ducks...and turkeys

Remembrance Service, Oxford 2012

Primarily a series of informal street portraits seeking to capture the pride, dignity and emotion of the veterans at the service in St Giles, Oxford. 

Gypsy Horse Fair - Stow on the Wold

Pictures from the October 2012 event.

New Forest Auction

Pictures from the October auction in the New Forest; September's auction can be seen below. More details of the auctions can be found here. Sales of stock have taken place at the Beaulieu Road site for over 60 years.

Westonbirt Arboretum

A selection of images intended to convey an impression of autumn colours, shapes and textures in a last valiant flare before winter sets in and the woodland sleeps. 

Cimetière du Montparnasse

This cemetery lies in the Montparnasse quarter of Paris; the city's 14th arrondissement. From 1786 onwards health concerns prevented further burials or the development of new cemeteries in the centre of Paris. During the early 1800's new cemeteries were located in the north, east and south precincts. Three farms were used to establish the South Cemetery in Montparnasse in 1824. Although the Père Lachaise Cemetery is more famous Montparnasse Cemetery is the resting place of many of France's intellectual and artistic elite.

Photographically I have sought to portray the various ways in which religious iconography and architecture have been used to preserve and portray both the memory and status of the deceased, alongside the modern additions and tokens. At the same time I could not resist the modern irony of a recycling bin sitting prominently alongside the graves. The choice of sepia toning is intended to contribute to that sense of times past, whilst other images have retained colour to display the evident richness or it has been suppressed to add to the melancholic mood of the image.

New Forest Pony Auctions

Pictures from the September auction in the New Forest. More details of the auctions can be found here. Sales of stock have taken place at the Beaulieu Road site for over 60 years.

Mardi Gras Cardiff

This is the largest festival of diversity in Wales and it creates visibility and support for the LGBT community; alongside a great day out for everyone. The aim of the event is to improve understanding, reduce fear and create equality.

Dungeness

The point of Dungeness sits about three miles out into the English Channel and forms the southern limits of Romney Marsh. It is an area of Special Scientific Interest, a bird sanctuary and an area protected from any future development. It is a strange and beautiful place.