In 1980 John Lennon released his first single for five years after a long period of self imposed exile, ‘(Just Like) Starting Over’. Those who are close to me know the influence Lennon has had on my life and the respect and admiration in which I hold him. In reality our lives cannot (of course) be compared, though in this instance I couldn’t help but notice a small similarity. After all, I too have finally returned to my vocation in life and entered the darkroom again after a long, eight year absence.
Yes, eight whole years during which time my photography took a back seat in my life for reasons both professional and personal. Family, moving house and a career as a television cameraman all came together to make sure I had no access to a darkroom, causing me to put my photography on hold.
That’s not to say it disappeared entirely from my life. I continued to take some photographs (though not nearly as many as before), travelling to Scandinavia, Spain, Greece and Kenya. The nucleus and idea for my book, ‘West of the Sun’ was born and grew steadily until it suddenly exploded into life about a year ago. So yes, it all stayed with me, ticking over in my mind. But it was not the same, all consuming passion that it was eight years ago.
Now finally, through another set of circumstances – some fortuitous, some tragic and some of my own doing – my photography has come back to the fore with a vengeance. This website, as I write, is coming together beautifully thanks to Jim, a long suffering friend. I have built a darkroom, which I am revelling in and I am, once again, taking lots of photographs. I have just finished my first batch of prints and it feels fantastic. The aim, direction and passion has returned. My photographs have come to life once again – back to fill the many holes that have somehow appeared within me.
April 8, 2018
March 19, 2018
April 27, 2017
February 27, 2017
December 1, 2016
November 11, 2016
November 7, 2016
November 5, 2016
September 25, 2016
August 11, 2016
July 1, 2016
April 9, 2016
March 20, 2016
February 15, 2016
November 11, 2015
November 10, 2015
October 20, 2015
November 16, 2014
September 13, 2014
September 12, 2014
September 2, 2014
August 16, 2014
August 15, 2014
July 1, 2014
June 2, 2014
April 25, 2014
April 20, 2014
April 19, 2014
April 15, 2014
April 8, 2014
December 4, 2013
November 28, 2013
November 17, 2013
November 16, 2013
November 15, 2013
March 17, 2013
February 22, 2013
February 5, 2013
December 1, 2012
June 22, 2012
June 9, 2012
June 8, 2012
June 6, 2012
June 5, 2012
June 4, 2012
June 3, 2012
June 2, 2012
June 1, 2012
February 15, 2012
February 13, 2012
January 25, 2012
January 20, 2012
January 19, 2012
January 17, 2012
January 2, 2012
October 7, 2011
September 3, 2011
August 19, 2011
October 16, 2010
October 15, 2010
September 15, 2010
August 22, 2010
August 3, 2010
June 29, 2010
March 28, 2010
December 8, 2009