Portugal, North Wales, California ..........

Even though Andrew scoffs my choice of music, I still believe that singing 'The Boxer' while cruising around California in an open topped Ford Mustang is just one of those sublime life experiences !

Anyway, music apart, so far this year I've been fortunate to travel yet again on a couple of short trips to  favourite haunts of western Algarve and North Wales......both with great beaches.

However the big trip has been to California where the epic 3,500 mile road trip meant some fantastic landscapes, amazing food (wild king salmon fresh from the Klamath river) and brilliant wildlife.

And as the above images from California show, it was a great trip.......and you can imagine it was hard to come home.

Roll on Hong Kong in a few weeks time - it helps having a global family !

Royal Photographic Society

Forgot to mention that we are now fully signed up members of the Royal Photographic Society and with a bit of luck (and skill!) will be working towards our Licentiateship in the coming twelve months. Will keep you posted on our progress.

* A recent visit to a local field.....really needs to be viewed in large format. An example of slow shutter speed emphasising the movement in the Barley.

About time for a catch up!

Well 2011 has been somewhat busy! So apologies for not updating the blog as frequent as we would have liked. 

Good news is that our new Photography for Beginners workshops are underway and places are booking up fast... see details on the main site.

As for us well visits to the Lake District, North Norfolk, Powys and Waddington Airshow have yielded a number of new images - not to mention international photographer Mr Child and his visit to Portugal and most recently a tour of the Eastern American seaboard, but I will let him update you with tales of open top Mustangs, amazing vistas and dodgy choice of music!  

Photograph for Beginners - Now available.

At last and long-time in the planning, f22 are pleased to announce the new Photograph for Beginners workshops! Covering most aspects of  basic image making and taking and based around several stunning locations in the Peak Districts the four hour workshops are small, practical and friendly. If you want to know more just drop us an e-mail or give us a ring. There are some places left on the workshop on the 14th October - but hurry they are going fast! 

Happy New Year!

A Happy New Year to everyone from f22! Hope you all had a great festive break and managed to find sometime to get out with the camera?

Just managed a couple of family related trips out (camera discretely hidden). Only worthwhile shot taken at Carsington Water , a local reservoir. Still more to come and it's a promising start.

Recent wintery scenes in the Peak District National Park

Snow lay feet deep with cars abandoned, farmers battling to get to their livestock and people having to walk everywhere.  Finding colour in a white landscape was a significant challenge, but an old hawthorn tree full of berries provided the following perfect shot..............

and finally..........a Merry Christmas to all our readers where ever you are - we'd love to hear from you - honest !

Merry Christmas

A pottery Snowman, some real snow and photoshop!

Have a great Christmas from Andy and Andrew.

Deep and crisp and even!

Well it snowed and then some more! Still some opportunities to get some more shots in the camera, although only within walking distance. Supposed to be taking some night shots in Sheffield tomorrow - unlikely according to the forecast, but you never know. Watch this space.

Summer over and at last time to sort out images from recent trips to Croatia (fantastic place) with certain roads very hair-raising, spectacular scenary, amazing Venetian architecture - as well as very good food and wine. 

Then more recently to the Algarve for the last bit of sun before the winter cold.  This time exploring the hinterland up to the border with the Alentajo region - old area indeed.  Try Mertola with a very old church attached to its castle - but don't go on a Monday when things are shut (harsh lesson to do research beforehand !). 

Anyway. spent many a happy hour on the beach at Benagil, hence this image of my view from under the umbrella !