February Blog Update and the clock is ticking

in

Welcome back to my little piece of the web.

I am going to be short and sweet this month as I am already way behind on stuff in and around us.

Our moving date is getting closer and we have had to throw ourselves at the mercy of the local council am sure it will be alright in the end, its just the getting there that can drag out. It is just the thought of everything we have all packed away is daunting. We have amassed such clutter over the years of being here. Most of it will have to go sadly. What a waste.

We have been doing a few shoots over the time, but once again a bit behind on publishing and updating. This shoot featured here in this months update was actually taken at the end of January and itself postponed from December as we were sick with flu.

I am going to cut it short there as I am feeling tired. So I shall leave you to enjoy the pictures from Februarys photography.

Bye

X

Still Life / Fine Art Update

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Amy purchased a bunch of red tulips a while ago and we got to use them for still life images, getting closer to the subject matter for an intense red and green. I found that trying to take a shot of them getting the whole subject was a biy too much for the eye to take in. So we kept it simple. I picked the two best to edit and did a few more (Yet to be edited) in the I.C.M. Style for next months update. I also took pictures of a tree close to my house and Accidentally solarized the picture, but it looked good after colouring them orange.

Munira & Mercybongo third Shoot Together

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As I mentioned this was the postponed shoot from December 2025, finally completed in January starring Munira Model and Mercybongo together for a third time. Sadly Shadrine could not make the shoot as she had had an accident and was resting up in Hospital.

So thank you then to our two star models, the lovely Munira and Mercybongo. Thanks to Phil at The Boardroom, in Derby for all his help and of course Amy for assisting me on the day.

February Flower Updates

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This is February's flowers in all their glory. I only managed to process one oil painting image this month in Photoshop. As the second picture just did not look right and after numerous attempts I finally gave up. So thanks then to Chris and the ladies at he Bramblesrist and Flowers to yours and Amy for her arranging and help.

Thank you for visiting the blog. Apologies for its shortness this month and please come back for more in March. That is if we are settled in where ever we go.

Thank you.

Take Care

X

January 2026 Update, moving home and welcome to the new year.

in

Welcome back to my little piece of the web. Thanks for returning.

Yes we are moving, as of yet to where I don’t know, but our Landlady has given us our matching orders after eighteen plus years. In fairness to her she did let us know this was her plan several years ago, but now it seems all real. I am sure it will turn out alright in the end, but it might mean that I may not be in a position to update this blog for a short while

We had a model shoot this month as well with Mercybongo and Munira Model at the studio, but I haven't finished editing them all yet. So there will be a delay in sending them out and posting them on the website and blog.

Talking of posting things up I still have not made myself a new Instagram page. I haven't used it in months and to tell you the truth, I have not missed it. I do not feel the need for validation of my peers. As well as been staggered by how much time I wasted on the app. Time I will never get back again wasted scrolling through shit really. I fail to see the use in it as for me it was like an orchestra playing to an empty room. Why? That said I may go on it in the end just to keep in touch.

So that's it for now. I hope you enjoy this years January blog. I hope to be in a position to be able to update at the end of February, but we shall have to wait and see. I shall miss this house and our little studio where all the flower pictures were take. I shall not miss the Baxi boiler, that I am sure was a Nazi in a previous life reincarnated.

Take care of yourselves and see you again soon

x

Fine Art / Hush Abstractism update

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I screwed up last month as I did not allow the viewers to see later versions of the thumb nails. So I have corrected that and you can see it here.

Following on from that here are some fresh stuff created using coloured tissue paper all scrumpled up, rather than the normal chiffon scarfs.

*NEW*. Project – I.C.M.

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I have started a section of new stuff for the Projects tab, with some I.C.M. Pictures I took while away for the New Year. A few of them are of rides in Wickstead Park as well as other stuff. I like the results I.C.M. (Intentional Camera Movement) gives me. You have to take maybe twenty pictures of the subject to get the definitive shot, but it is worth the effort.

Projects Update – Abstract

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I haven't done much with this project in a while, but have saved up a few images for what I have done. Scenes from the Train Station ceiling. Stacked comic books. Picture frames and a Rolleiflex camera. I hope you like them.

Projects Update – Landscapes

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Just a few landscapes this time. We were a bit tired that day, yet still managed to find a few little gems to photograph.

Random Images

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Some random images this month. One including a picture of my father sitting on a park bench over looking the sea. Taken inspiration from the front cover of a Boz Scaggs LP, only thing is that the picture was taken in Wickstead Park and nowhere near the coast. The magic of Photoshop.

The Garden – Dads Winter Garden

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Whilst away for the New Year we were blessed with tranquil weather and so I took the opportunity to snap away at my parents winter garden. Here are the results. Not so much beauty, as more texture and form. Not everything has to be postcard pretty to make it interesting.

January Flower Updates

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Another year starts in great shape with a fresh batch of flowers from my favourite florist. This month we have a spray painted flower whose name I cannot remember, but it looks good.

Thanks as always to Chris and the ladies at he Bramblesrist and Flowers to yours and Amy for her arranging and help.

That is it for this month.

Be sure to come back next month.

Bye x

December updates and farewell my old friend

in

Geetings to you all for this time of the year, but apologies if I no longer feel the Christmas cheer this year.

On Wednesday December the 10th my friend Colin Greatorex slipped away from us due to complications with sepsis. His daughter Sonia called me that evening in a flood of tears to inform me of his passing. It is a strange thing that as you grow slowly into old age, you a doomed to see more of your friends and colleagues slip away from you like a thief in the night. It is both humbling, as well as saddening.

I have found myself thinking of Colin and how he always turned up for our meet ups in the bus station wearing his duffle coat, wool hat and brandishing a pile of papers under his arm in a plastic bag. Quietly spoken, we would visit the Capo Lounge and grab a bite and a cup. Chewing the fat, putting the world to right and once again saving the universe as we know it in the hours we spent chatting. They were fun times, good times and to be treasured. When I first heard of Collins illness I tried to contact him via the phone. But never got a response. Thankfully he called me on the third day and we agreed to meet up early in January. I would grab a taxi and go to see him. I guess that was not to be. It will join my growing list of regrets that I did not get to see him one last time and say a proper goodbye. So it is the smallest of things I have done to add his name on the landing page of this website in the dedications. Grief can be a selfish thing, as we think of what 'we' will miss rather than what others are going through. So for all my regrets I am aware that Colin leaves behind his daughter Sonia and granddaughter Queenie as well as a wider family unit. Their loss is the greater.

We will meet again one day, so until then … sleep well my friend.

On a lighter note there was supposed to have been a fashion shoot this month with Munira Model and Mercybongo, but it was moved to January. Reason for this is that Amy came home with a dose of the flu and gifted it to me as her generosity knows no bounds! So we were both feeling bad and I thought it better to postpone. Infact I still have the remnants of the flu with a rasping cough. This thing is holding on to me for dear life like its a home sick turd.

This years craft was not achieved by itself. It was a team effort. So I wish to thank all involved: Shadrine from Kavour Beauty. Phil Lynam at The Boardroom Studio. James at ACE ABC Taxis. And the following models Fern Thompson Munira Model, Mercybongo, Maryna Sedin, Ivory Flame, Lyra Rose, Sonia Greatorex and Emily Bajic

And finaly a shout out to my long sufering wife Amy. Love you xx

It is Christmas so I am mindful that this blog is not to gloomy. So here is wishing everyone who is reading this a merry Christmas and a great New Year.

Please enjoy this months scaled down update.

X

Fine Art / Hush Abstractism update

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Carrying on from last months offerings of these I.C.M. (Intentional Camera Movement)

here are a few more Amy and I knocked out this month. They are not hard to create, but you have to do more than a few of them to pick the best ones. We are going to try doing some with coloured tissue paper and coloured bin liners as well soon. So watch out for them.

Random Image

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My friend John pointed out a bridge over a train track that might be of interest to photograph earlier in the year. Well I finally got to visit it with John’s help. It was a foot bridge and a big one at that. I took a series of pictures but the one that stood out was the ones I took using the I.C.M. Method. With just a little tweaking in colour from Photoshop, here is the end result. I hope you like it. Thanks John.

December Flower Updates

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Here we are with the years end flower updates for December 2025 with thanks to Chris and the ladies at the Bramblesflowers and Flowers to yours . They have very generously provided me with flower subjects for me to capture all through the year and many years before that. I am gracious for their help as I could not do it without them. Thanks as always to Amy for her help in flower arrangements.

That is a wrap for 2025 .... So see you all again for 2026 and we shall see what that year holds for us all?

Bye

X

November updates and heal Colin, heal !

in

Welcome back to my little corner of the World wide web.

Sorry for it being a small one this month, I have been working on a book I am putting together for my other site. I should have and planned to, do it back in February. Still one thing and another came along including cancer scares and general tiredness got in the way. But I digress …. can I first pay mention to my friend Colin Greatorex, the father of one oo the most beautiful women I have ever snapped Sonia Greatorex. She recently informed me that Colin had been hospitalised and was starting the slow process of getting back into good (or reasonable health) in a care institute. I telephoned Colin a few times and could not get an answer, but left messages and on the third day he called me. Colin has got a rare condition where the body attacks its self, like red blood cells attack the white ones as it thinks they are alien to the body. The condition has a name, but I cant remember it I apologies for saying. Top and bottom of it is that my friend is having to learn how to use his arms and legs again, with walking being an issue. I have said I will go to see him early in January, after all the Christmas rush is over and until then wish him all the best. I also reminded him that he must get better as Sonia needs her Dad and Queenie (Sonias two year old daughter) needs her grandad.

The best to you Colin.

On a more trivial matter … I went again through my local McDonalds drive through and was so disappointed. This time they gave me a complete order. The sausage and egg McMuffin had both ingredient in it, therefore denying my the excuse to kick at them again ???. Still the head office in London sent me a nice letter and five pound voucher to buy my silence. Like someone said, I am a person of high moral standards, all of which waver at the five quid mark and completely vanish at ten pounds. I am sure I do not know what he means?

This months model shoot , all at least the ones shown here feature the amazing Fern Thompson. The pictures were actually taken at the end of October, as I had this month off. So I hope you enjoy the belated post. This December will be the years last featuring beauties Mercybongo and Munira Model. So do come back for that sometime close to Christmas.

Enjoy the show

x

*NEW* Still Life – Hush Abstractism

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Last months viewers may remember me posting a few images I took of some ladies chiffon scarves and slamming them into the Still Life / Fine Art folder. Well since then I have done some more and decided to give them therei wn folder called Hush Abstractism. And yes that is a real word, Google it !

I do like the results from the slow shutter photographer with a process I now know is termed I.C.M. which stands for Intentional Camera Movement. So why is it called 'Hush?'

Well I like the sound of it as well as it is the title of a very good Batman graphic novel I read recently. Nothing more than that.