Ron Davies Photography

A Night with the Stars

2011-12-05T14:10:00.000Z

Last Friday we sold calendars at the Crosby Plaza Community Cinema, helping to raise funds for the cinema's new digital equipment. The event was attended by actor/director David Morrissey, pictured here with Ron and actress Helen Elizabeth who starred in David's film "Don't Worry About Me" which features several scenes on Crosby beach amongst the iron men.

In Camera ... November Calm

2011-11-08T10:54:00.000Z

A beautiful calm November day at the beach last Sunday. The sky a magnificent dome of cerulean blue, tinged pink and gold around the edges as the sun set.

It is interesting to note that it was six years ago to the weekend when I took the images below - AG62 and AG63, another clear calm November day at Another Place. The iron man in the new pictures this weekend has put on weight, his outline is irregular as it has been covered with barnacles, making him broader than some of the other figures.

Here are two more images from this weekend echoing the above.

The New Another Place Calendar for 2012

2011-10-05T15:58:00.002+01:00

The new calendar of the iron men on Crosby beach is at the printers and should be in the shops from Saturday 8th October. It is also available online from my website.

All the images can be viewed in this short video.

In Camera ... Clear September Air

2011-09-20T10:00:00.000+01:00

The changeable weather and strong winds together with early afternoon tides over the weekend led to some good picture opportunities at Crosby beach. The wet beach sparkled in the sunlight whilst dramatic clouds laden with rain showers sailed by overhead. As the tide receded the beach resembled a giant mirror, reflecting the iron men and the storm tossed sky above.

In Camera ... Sunshine for the Queen Mary 2

2011-09-16T10:36:00.000+01:00

It was a beautiful mild sunny morning, and, most unusual for the beach, very little wind as the Queen Mary 2 sailed slowly past on her way into Liverpool at 11.35 just before high tide. A majestic sight, bigger than her sister ship, the Queen Elizabeth that visited last week. There were quite a few people gathered on the beach to watch her especially at the Hall Road end and near Waterloo. The iron men supplied their usual guard of honour for this magnificent vessel.

In Camera ... The Queen Elizabeth in Liverpool

2011-09-09T18:22:00.000+01:00

The weather slowly improved yesterday, Liverpool actually enjoyed a brief spell of sunlight yesterday afternoon and, for those watching the ship prepare to depart in the evening, it was a warm, balmy evening.

In Camera ... Queen Elizabeth arrives in Liverpool

2011-09-09T16:14:00.000+01:00

At 06.50 yesterday morning the newest Cunard cruise ship, Queen Elizabeth, sailed past the iron men of Crosby beach on her first visit to Liverpool. It was a damp and overcast morning and the ship was still ablaze with lights as she made her swiftly past the figures and into the Mersey.

In Camera ... September Storms

2011-09-07T12:50:00.001+01:00

Early September storms have pushed the tide high across the beach, leaving glistening sands reflecting the golden glow of the setting sun as its light breaks through the storm tossed clouds.

Yesterday's strong winds, rain, unusual for this time of year, brought about rapidly changing light at Crosby beach as the wind torn clouds raced overhead pushed by a gale force north west wind. High tide was just before sunset and combined with the stormy conditions to bring about these wonderful images of the sea pushing up the beach and catching the warm glow of light reflected of high clouds.

These images will soon be available from the main website as limited edition prints.

In Camera ... Wirral Coastline

2011-09-05T12:01:00.000+01:00

High tide on the River Dee, viewed from the Wirral Country Park at Thurstaton. The last rays of sunlight glisten off the waters of the Dee as a weather front rolls in from the west, bringing to an end a day of warm summer sunshine.

In Camera ... Mann Island, Liverpool

2011-08-31T11:53:00.001+01:00

The new Mann Island development near the new Museum of Liverpool may not be to everyone's taste, being a very modern block of black glass amongst the heritage buildings but the glass frontage does produce some interesting reflections and light patterns.

In Camera ... Approaching Bad Weather

2011-08-10T13:44:00.002+01:00

A lone iron man stands surrounded by the sea at high tide, weak sunlight glimmers off the rough waters as a band of dark cloud gathers on the horizon; a warning of a frontal system with heavy rain on the way.

Down at Crosby beach last night, it was high tide just before sunset; but the sun never made the horizon, dark clouds from an approaching frontal system were piling in from the west.

In Camera ... Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral

2011-08-10T10:32:00.000+01:00

Out walking around Liverpool last week researching a new photo walk these stained glass panels around the Metropolitan Cathedral caught my eye. The saturated colours were backlit by a weak sun shining through a gap in the clouds and the rest of the image was visually almost monochrome.

Compliment from the Iron Men of Crosby

2011-08-04T09:33:00.001+01:00

A tweet last night from @Iron MenCrosby:
Heard of the fifth Beatle? @RonDaviesPhoto is the 101st Iron Man. Great video & great photos. Thanks Ron.
This refers to my video collection of photographs on YouTube

Nice to know my work is appreciated!

In Camera ... Liverpool Waterfront illuminated

2011-07-27T12:09:00.000+01:00

The Liverpool waterfront photographed from Birkenhead during the celebrations last weekend commemorating 100 years of the Royal Liver Buildings when all the buildings were illuminated.
The ship in the foreground is the "Mersey Seaways" Belfast-Birkenhead ferry.

In Camera ... New Museum of Liverpool

2011-07-25T14:55:00.000+01:00

The new Museum of Liverpool which opened this week. This modern building seems perched over the Liverpool waterfront, reflecting here the Liver Buildings and the setting sun.

In Camera ... Clouds gather at Crosby beach

2011-07-05T16:51:00.000+01:00

The sunlight still sparkles on the beach and highlights the iron men, even as the clouds are forming, filling the sky with their darkness, threatening an end to the lazy humid days of summer.

This picture was captured yesterday afternoon just after high tide, the air was hot and heavy, little wind and it just seemed as though the clouds were gathering.

In Camera ... Painted sky at Crosby Beach

2011-07-04T12:50:00.000+01:00

After a brilliant sunset last night the sky looked as though an artist had painted brush strokes of vermillion, crimson and orange across the horizon.
Earlier the sun had set as a flaming orange ball into a very clear horizon.

In Camera ... Park Portrait Session

2011-06-28T11:07:00.000+01:00

The wild flower field in our local park is a superb location at the moment for outdoor portraits, these pictures were taken a few days ago.

In Camera ... City Portraits

2011-06-28T10:57:00.000+01:00

Recently did some portrait sessions in and around the city making a change from the usual studio and home locations.

In Camera ... Monet's field, Crosby, Evening Session

2011-06-16T09:33:00.000+01:00

I was so enraptured by the field of wild flowers in our local Victoria Park that I paid another visit in the soft evening light to capture this more impressionist image.

In Camera ... Monet's field, Crosby

2011-06-14T16:05:00.000+01:00

A field of wild flowers has bloomed in Victoria Park, Crosby, creating a wonderful display reminiscent of Monet's Poppies at Argenteuil.

In Camera ... May Storm

2011-05-31T12:43:00.001+01:00

This May has not been a good month weatherwise, last week we had very strong winds as low pressure circled over Scotland, down on the beach the waves rolled in to dramatic effect leaving hundreds of golden jellyfish glistening in the sun, looking almost like sunflowers in the sand.

In Camera ... Golden Light

2011-04-12T16:30:00.000+01:00

The mild sunny weather of the last few days has meant a beach crowded with visitors during the day but at sunset the beach is quiet again, only the iron men stand as sentinels, silhouettes against the golden light that pervades the slight sea mist on this calm evening.

In Camera ... Spring Day at Another Place

2011-04-06T16:48:00.000+01:00

The recent mild weather has lead to some wonderful clear days at Crosby beach, last Saturday was a beautiful mild afternoon with no wind. I don't usually include people in my shots of Another Place but I liked the composition of this shot, with two couples in the distance blending in to the artwork.

In Camera ... A New Baby

2011-04-05T15:48:00.000+01:00

A recent visit to Dublin provided me with the opportunity to photograph Fiona and Cathal's daughter, Grace, a new baby in the family and only ten days old when these pictures were taken.

In Camera ... High tide and strong winds

2011-03-17T10:21:00.000Z

We had a couple of consecutive good days for photography down at the beach, these images being taken the next day. They show the power of the sea, something we have all learned to our horror after seeing pictures of the recent tsunami in Japan after the terrible earthquake. I am sure all our thoughts go out to all those who have suffered in the disaster.

In Camera ... High tide and Sparkling Seas

2011-03-16T16:57:00.000Z

On a clear sparkling day last week the high tide at Crosby was around 1.30 pm, with a strong north west wind blowing this meant it would be a good day for photography. The crystal clear air combined with swiftly moving clouds and water meant that the scene was constantly changing, revealing more and more figures as the tide receded.

The wet sands seemed to hold the water, giving perfect reflections of the sky.

Closer to the southern end of the beach the wind whipped foam from the rough seas looks like a scattering of snow on the beach.

In Camera ... Dramatic Storm over the beach at Sunset

2011-03-16T16:43:00.001Z

A couple of weeks ago I had gone down to the beach just before sunset as I thought there may be an interesting sky. A bank of cloud had built up in the north west and, as I watched, this storm cloud seemed to gather in strength and sweep in swiftly, sails of rain floating down from sky to earth blotting out the brightness of the sky.

In Camera ... HMS Liverpool

2011-02-24T15:39:00.000Z

At 08.30 this morning HMS Liverpool, a Type 42 Destroyer, sailed past the iron men on her way into Liverpool for a four day visit to the city, her first for three years. It was a quiet, calm morning at the beach, tide on the way out and not much wind. The crew were lined up on the deck of the ship, I can imagine them standing to attention just as the iron men appear to be doing in the image above.

The sun was just catching the distant Welsh Hills, the lower slopes wreathed in cloud rising from the Conway valley as HMS Liverpool moved swiftly on up the Mersey towards her mooring at the cruise liner terminal.

In Camera ... February Storm at Crosby Beach

2011-02-08T12:59:00.001Z

An early afternoon high tide together with gale force winds combined to bring the sea right up to promenade level at Crosby yesterday. I have been down at the beach on many stormy days but this is the first time I have seen the sea so high in the area close to the Leisure Centre. The spray was whipping across the promenade making it impossible to take more than one photograph without the lens being coated with salt water and misting up very quickly. The wind had swung round to the north west and was bitterly cold, whipping straight down the promenade; this together with the blinding spray made it difficult to hold the camera steady and frame shots but I present these few images which give a flavour of the day. I am constantly amazed that the iron men on the beach stay so upright given the pounding they receive from the waves.

In Camera ... January Travels in Ireland

2011-02-08T12:41:00.002Z

Have recently been back to Ireland to make arrangements re the recent wedding photography and whilst in Dublin, driving along the coast road through Clontarf I made a detour over the old wooden bridge at Dollymount and down the Bull Road to capture this panoramic image of Dublin Bay and the old Poolbeg Power Station.

In Camera ... A Winter Wedding in Ireland

2011-01-21T13:23:00.000Z

My last job of 2010 was another wedding in Ireland, this one was the marriage of Corinna and Ian at the Lyrath Estate Hotel, Kilkenny on 28th December. Fortunately the snow and freezing temperatures had cleared a couple of days earlier and the couple enjoyed a fairly mild winter day with some weak sunshine and we were blessed with a rainbow which appeared over the couple just as we were taking these pictures on the way back to the hotel from the the Church.
We were able to take some more outside pictures before entering the warmth and splendour of the older part of the magnificent hotel complex to complete the picture taking. The day was amazing and I am sure truly memorable to all who attended. Although I was working for over twelve hours, capturing all the details of the day I thoroughly enjoyed the event and my thanks to Corinna and Ian for allowing me the privilege of photographing their big day.

More pictures from this wedding can be viewed in the Wedding Gallery of my main website.

In Camera ... Winter Light

2010-12-23T12:16:00.000Z

Heavy snow has fallen on Crosby beach and, combined with temperatures as low as -17ºC, the beach has the appearance of the arctic, with ice floes forming from deep frozen snow. Low afternoon sunlight in this picture has added to the illusion of the Arctic.

In Camera ... Multihued Palette of Light

2010-11-28T20:14:00.000Z

The sunset at the beach on this very cold day was a much more subdued scene compared to yesterday's vibrant colours. A calm sea, dotted with numerous sea birds reflects the colours of the sky like an artist's oil palette with warm and cold hues blending softly together.

Standing at the edge of light, the water's edge becomes the start of a multihued artist's palette reflecting the colours of a winter sunset.

In Camera ... Tropical sunset on a cold winter day

2010-11-28T14:41:00.005Z

The sun appears to slide behind snow covered Welsh hills as the earth rotates eastward into darkness, the western sky ablaze, almost tropical in intensity on this bitterly cold evening. The gap between earth and sky aflame with the afterglow, the underside of the clouds tinted deepest amber by the light from our nearest star.

Driving through Little Crosby on a very cold and frosty Saturday afternoon, the winter sky was a clear deep blue with the sun, now low in the west hidden by a band of magenta, pink and mauve cloud edged with gold that lay in a strip above the snow covered Welsh hills. I reckoned that the sunset in ten minutes time at 16.00 would be one worth capturing and drove down to the Hall Road car park. As luck would have it the tide was just receding, leaving the sand sparkling and moist, reflecting the reddish gold light from the sun which had now emerged below the band of cloud and was intensifying in colour every minute.

For some reason the seabirds were disturbed and agitated, flying around an area of water close to the beach, their raucous calls sharp and clear in the freezing air, feathered outlines silhouetted against the strong low light. The sun appeared to slide behind the white Welsh hills as the earth rotated eastward into darkness, the western sky ablaze, almost tropical in intensity on this bitterly cold evening. The gap between earth and sky aflame with the afterglow, the underside of the clouds tinted deepest amber by the light of the now hidden star.

In Camera ... Sophie Maddocks Fashions

2010-11-16T15:35:00.004Z

A client of mine, Sophie Maddocks, has just opened a new shop in Southport, selling her handmade fashions and designs. These are some pictures we took last week with model Chloe to illustrate some of her work.

Click here to view Sophie's Website

Talk at Botanic Gardens Museum, Churchtown on 11th November

2010-11-06T16:37:00.000Z

I will be giving a talk about my photography of Antony Gormley's Another Place at the Botanic Gardens Museum, Churchtown near Southport on Thursday 11th November at 2.00pm.
The talk entitled "Another Place in Words and Pictures" is part of the Sefton Celebrates Writing Event. The talks are free but places are limited to a maximum of 50 so please book by calling 01704 227547 to reserve your place.
I will be discussing my photography and the way in which I link words to the pictures in an hour long talk. There will be an opportunity to ask questions and I will be signing calendars and cards at the end of the session.

In Camera ... Beach Workshop

2010-11-01T17:35:00.000Z

A recent beach workshop session last week produced this striking monochrome image taken long after the sun had disappeared below a bank of clouds , the exposure was 5 seconds long and has resulted in the ripples in the foreground pool being smoothed out. The original was in colour (below) but I think I prefer the black and white version.

In Camera ... Fiery sunset

2010-10-26T16:53:00.000+01:00

The lovely autumn weather we have been enjoying this last weekend made for good photography and on Sunday there was this amazing sky after sunset. The sun had gone completely below the horizon without a great deal of colour when the air started to glow with this orange light catching the underside of the clouds. I love the way the sky had filled with clouds all seemingly suspended in the very clear air resulting in this very moody image.

In Camera ... Another Good Evening at Another Place

2010-10-14T17:37:00.005+01:00

The clear skies of Monday 11th October saw me down on the beach again before sunset. This time I went to the Hall Road end around 18.15, the sun was already a huge red orb close to the horizon and sinking into the sea behind the wind farm. Many people around, lots of photographers on the beach but I selected a spot which included good reflections from the band of wet mud that seems to have invaded the beach. The sun went down perfectly into the cloudless horizon, just a slight haze to give it colour then the sky was pale and uniform, just a slight patch of orange fading to pink then green and blue out to the west. Returning to the car I noticed the moon, a waxing crescent low over the Wirral peninsula and I walked back onto the beach past the mile marker to take photographs looking south west along the beach, capturing the moon’s reflection in still water.

The air was filled with the cries of geese, huge formations flying westward out to sea. Now the sky out west over the horizon was deepening in colour, the grey haziness taking on intense rainbow hues reflecting their warm pinkish glow on the beach, the air still and quiet, the distant throbbing of a passing ship’s engines carrying across the water. The moon was slowly sinking into the purple haze, taking on a warm golden colour as I finally turned away, exposures now too long to capture the moon sharply.

In Camera ... Sunset at Crosby Beach

2010-10-13T17:52:00.000+01:00

Sunday 10th October. We have been enjoying several days of unbroken sunshine today is a lovely sunny autumn day, mild, up to 20C in the afternoon. Not a cloud in the sky all day, just a faint haze on the horizon. Down to the beach at 18.15, the sun a large orange disc low on the western horizon beyond the wind farm. The air was still, the cries of birds echo across the flat sands, the tide was out, a strip of wet mud reflected the blue light of the sky. As I thought might happen the sun took on a deep red shade as it sank into the haze on the horizon, becoming pink almost just as it sank below the surface of the sea, distorted into an oval shape by the earth’s atmosphere. There was very little colour in the sky afterwards, a pale pink wash against a the grey haze, the clear sky an eggshell blue above. The beach seems to become silent at sunset, the air stills, even the bird calls cease. I strolled back to the car, the air suddenly becoming chill as dusk fell.

In Camera ... Sunrise over Liverpool

2010-10-13T10:17:00.003+01:00

The sleeping city awakes

The sleeping city awakes; this is the first picture I took as I set up on the promenade near Seacombe ferry terminal. I have been wanting to update my Liverpool sunrise pictures for some time and the recent spell of good weather gave me the ideal combination of clear skies and the right time of year to capture the sun rising over Liverpool's Royal Liver Building. Other times I have made many trips to try to capture this event only to be thwarted by cloud, mist or cranes on the skyline but this week everything was just right with no cranes in site.

Monday 11th October - this mornings photographs were not even planned. It had been a lovely clear sky last night, see my pictures from yesterday above, and I woke at 06.45 and wondered if it was still clear. Looking out the sky was a pale blue green, a gimmer of yellow on the eastern horizon. I quickly dressed, a slurp of hot tea to refresh and out at seven. The traffic was light and I arrived at Seacombe ferry terminal car park around 07.25, the Liverpool waterfront a strong silhouette against a lightening sky. I took some pictures before sunrise, the sky a pale orange behind the Liver buildings which shield the first rays of the rising sun from me. Around 07.40 the sun showed its first glimmer of light as it rose over the top of the Liver Buildings, bright burning yellow light streaking across the river, I worked quickly to capture the first rays of light over the city, soon the sun was clear of the buildings and too bright to look directly into. Another day had begun, the sky an unbroken blue but for the trails of aircraft reflecting the light of the sun.

These images will soon be available to purchase in the Liverpool Gallery of my main website. Just click on the title of this blog to go directly there.

Ireland's VIP Magazine Wedding Publication

2010-10-05T12:17:00.000+01:00

A surprise in the post arrived yesterday, one of my client's forwarded a copy of the latest edition of Ireland's VIP magazine which features a double page spread of my pictures. Thanks to Fiona and Cathal for being such a marvellous couple to photograph and for sending the magazine.

2011 Calendar now in stock-Click here to view

2010-09-28T13:14:00.001+01:00

Just to let you know that I have received the first batch of calendars from the printers and it is now available from the web site and shortly from all the outlets listed on the main website. To view the calendar click on the link above.

In Camera ... Sun dogs over Another Place

2010-09-09T12:45:00.000+01:00

Driving back to Crosby a few days ago I noticed a bright sun dog ( the rainbow coloured effect in the sky) to the right of the setting sun. This lasted some time as high level cirrus clouds slowly worked their way east over the Irish Sea. By the time I arrived at the beach there was another one visible to the left of the sun.
These rainbow effects are caused by the sunlight refracting off ice particles high in the atmosphere and I added this shot to my collection of unusual skies over the beach.

News on the 2011 Calendar

2010-09-03T11:22:00.000+01:00

I have just finished checking the proofs for the new calendar for 2011 and it is now in the hands of the printers and hopefully will be available by the middle of the month. I will let you know when it is actually in the shops and available from the web site.

In Camera ... Afro Reggae

2010-08-15T11:38:00.001+01:00

August has been a busy month for me, I have been photographing members of AfroReggae who are over here from Brazil on a month visit to Liverpool promoting art and culture and working with 15 - 19 year olds. Their visit was organised by the Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse and Liverpool PCT.

Members of AfroReggae

Above is the finale to their first performance of dance and drumming in Williamson Square.

Duda demonstrates circus art at the Eldonian village.

An LFC coach joins in a practice drumming session.

In Camera ... Dairy produce calendar

2010-08-15T11:27:00.000+01:00

One of the interesting assignments I have at this time of the year is food photography for a dairy produce calendar. This year was more themed than usual with a standard check cloth background to fit into the layout but we still managed to produce some tasty looking pictures. The food tasted good too - a perk of the job is that we have to sample the food to make sure the recipe works!
I usually photograph food using available light and reflectors but on this occasion the weather was so bad and the light so poor during the two days booked for the shoot that we ended up using soft flash lighting with a mixture of tungsten and weak available light.

Potato and courgette frittata.

Apple and raisin filled pancakes.

Cauliflower and cheese sauce.

Various cheese based dips

In Camera ... Queen Victoria joins the Iron Men

2010-07-26T14:44:00.001+01:00

The Cunard Liner Queen Victoria sailed into the Mersey this morning to a guard of honour from the iron men of Crosby beach. It was the vessel's first visit to Liverpool and unfortunately the weather did not do justice to the landscape of the Liverpool waterfront. It was a grey overcast morning at the beach, it had been raining earlier and the tops of the wind farm masts were disappearing into the thick low clouds. Further down river towards Liverpool the buildings appeared misty and grey through a driving mist.

This picture matches earlier images of the Queen Elizabeth 2 and the Queen Mary 2, having been taken from as closes as possible to the earlier pictures with the same figure in the left foreground.

In Camera ... Postcard AG366

2010-07-07T11:29:00.000+01:00

This image was captured on the September day that I accompanied a party of school children from Kelsall near Chester along the beach. I had been invited to give a talk about photography of the figures on the beach and demonstrate how to get the best views.
It was an ideal day for photography, a late morning high tide was on the turn on a blustery day which had started off showery but the clouds were now breaking up and beams of sunlight were breaking through.
This was one of the first pictures I demonstrated, comparing the iron figures with the industrial iron work in the background, using a longer lens brings several of the sculptures into the image and adjusts the perspective so that they appear closer together. As we walked back along the beach towards Hall Road the sky cleared further casing the wet sands to glisten in the sunlight with the still rough seas in the background. A bracing day that produced some good images for everyone. The children were inspired by their visit and produced good pictures and poetry as a record of their trip. The school used this image on the cover of a book they produced about their day on the beach.

In Camera ... Postcard AG350

2010-07-07T11:17:00.000+01:00

A winter sunset after a day of snow flurries and hail, the Welsh hills were covered in snow and a cold north east wind was blowing down the beach. This gap in the clouds appeared not long before sunset and filled the cold winter day with warm golden light for a short time, uplifting the spirits on such a miserable day.

In Camera ... Postcard AG337

2010-07-06T17:12:00.008+01:00

A vibrant, stormy October Saturday afternoon high tide at 3.30pm, a day of rapidly changing weather conditions, sunshine, showers, blue sky, rolling clouds. Just before high tide I went down to Hall Road, the waves were just rolling against the promenade wall. The sky had clouded over somewhat but I could see brighter sky on the horizon and decided to wait. Tantalizing glimpses of sunlight, faint glimmers on the rough water and lots of crepuscular rays on the horizon. One figure was holding my attention, I could see the possibilities if the light changed, if a gap in the clouds just happened to appear in the right place...!

After half an hour the sun burst through for about a minute, full strength and the shots were in the bag. I lingered a while longer but knew I had captured the image I required.

Working on the images afterwards I was reminded of an earlier image, AG 154, which I called "Creation" and which sold out on the limited edition print of 100. On sales to date it looks as though this picture AG337 might prove to be just as popular with collectors of my work.

In Camera ... Postcard AG330

2010-07-06T17:03:00.001+01:00

A September evening during which an ordinary sunset turned into something extraordinary without any warning. I had actually gone down to the beach to shoot a publicity shot for the 2010 calendar, myself holding a copy of the new publication in front of an orange sky. We took the publicity shots just before sunset, but then, just after sunset, this large cloud with a rippled undersurface began to catch the light from the by now invisible sun and glowed with a crimson light. It was a lovely spectacular sky in which the colours intensified as the sun sank even further below the horizon, I had started packing up the equipment but then kept turning back to see even better colours than before. This was nature putting on a spectacular show for the few watchers on the beach at this time of night. Nearly an hour after sunset I moved from my position near the Leisure Centre to near the car park at Hall Road. Now the slow moving cloud was glowing a deep, intense crimson with hints of fiery orange filling the gap between sea and cloud.

I was doing my best to record these spectacular changes of light with time exposures now of up to ten seconds, there was only the glow of reflected light from the clouds now to provide any light now almost an hour and a half after sunset. My wife, helping earlier with the publicity shot, had sat in the car at Hall Road listening to music whilst watching the last half hour slowly fade into darkness. She said it was an amazing experience, listening to gentle background music whilst viewing this incredible light show, one of the best I have ever scene from the beach. Dinner that night was much later than anticipated but we sat talking long into the night, enthused by what we had witnessed.

In Camera ... Postcard AG324

2010-07-06T16:38:00.000+01:00

An April afternoon when a north westerly gale was sweeping across the Irish Sea, unusually the sky was clear but the combination of strong winds and high lunch time tide resulted in this stormy looking scene. The tide was actually on the way out but the pressure of the wind was keeping the water higher than usual as I took this shot crouched low to staedy myself and camera against the wind from the steps of the promenade wall.

In Camera ... Postcard AG320

2010-06-28T16:31:00.002+01:00

This picture photographed on a hot August day that threatened a storm. It had been a beautifully hot sunny morning, too hot really, and an early afternoon walk along the beach seeking some cooler air was decided upon. Heading down to the beach it was obvious that storm clouds were building on the horizon and going to obscure the brilliant sunlight very soon. The last rays of the sun glinted on the shallow water which was reflecting the dark grey clouds resulting in an unnatural greenish glow. Just as the last light of the sun glanced across the beach I captured this mix of bright sand and water silhouetting the figures against the background of a threatening sky. Ten minutes later the rain was lashing down, obscuring the view completely.

Workshops now available

2010-06-28T16:17:00.000+01:00

I am now running workshops, currently of an evening starting at 6.00pm and lasting 3 - 4 hours depending on sunset time and tides. The workshops take up to four photographers - please bring your own camera and tripod (although tripods can be borrowed for the evening if necessary). The sessions are either on the shore at Crosby or up along the Formby coastline and will give tuition as to general photography, how to see a scene as the camera sees it, creative angles, exposure and how to improve your pictures after capture. Other sessions and times are available on request. Full details are on the website at http://admin2.clikpic.com/rdphoto/section414516_144002.html

In Camera ... Postcard AG309

2010-06-28T16:04:00.003+01:00

This image captures the beautiful calm of a wonderful January evening and was taken long after the sun had set. Here is my diary entry written shortly after returning from the beach:

Beach at Sunset. Down to Hall Road at 3.40 to catch the sunset and high tide. The water was lapping around the ankles of the figures closest to the promenade. The sky clear, just a few wisps of cloud over the Welsh Hills. The air sharp and vibrant, the skeletal frames of the wind farm making a strong contrast against the sky and the curved silhouettes of the Welsh Hills standing out clearly against the glowing orange sky as the sun sank into the mountains near Moel Siabod.

There was no wind and the calm sea reflected ripples of light, orange, yellow, blue and green from the sky. The sun was setting swiftly now, the glowing ball of light becoming a semicircle and then a crescent as it dropped below the silhouetted mountains. Rays of light seemed to burst forth from behind the mountains for a short time after the sun had gone, then for a few minutes the colours seemed to fade from the sky. I was about to pack up and return to the warmth of the car but something kept me on the beach. The colours of the western sky intensified, a deeper shade of orange turning to a deeper red climbing to lighter yellows, green and finally the deep blue of the overhead dome . The gently swaying water reflected all the colours from the sky, appearing to glow as it took on all the different hues. I stood there mesmerised by the beauty of the evening, the glowing sky and the calm sea a dappled palate worthy of Monet or Van Gogh. The temperature was 0ºC but, for nearly an hour after sunset I could not tear myself away from the wonderful display that the movement of our earth around the sun had created, a light show that could not be excelled. Venus had appeared in the SW sky, a brilliant diamond against the cerulean blue, and as I finally packed up. a quarter moon was starting to throw its brilliance on the scene. I made my way back up the beach to the car, feeling the cold for the first time as I did so.

In Camera ... Postcard AG299

2010-06-28T13:45:00.000+01:00

Early January, at this time of year the sun sets behind the Welsh Hills, usually a bank of cloud appears to obscure the sun before it sets behind the hills but on this evening, and several others to follow, the sun appeared to disappear directly behind the mountains. The air was calm and little disturbed the scene apart from the odd seabird. I had set the camera up on a tripod and was recording the scene as the sun went down. This bird flew across just as I pressed the shutter, captured in a silhouette which reminds me of Picasso's dove of freedom.

In Camera ... Postcard AG271

2010-06-28T12:52:00.000+01:00

A squally day of ragged showers and bursts of sunshine, what I call a good, bad day. A day when the light can do unexpected things. You can go down to the beach and be faced with a grey wall of cloud or beautiful light casting a warm glow across the wind torn sands. On this day the light was ever changing as were the clouds. It required quick work and concentration to keep up with rapidly changing conditions but some beautiful images resulted, I love the way the long shadow stretches across the beach in this picture.

In Camera ... Summer Days In Ireland

2010-06-24T11:10:00.001+01:00

I have just returned from a trip to Dublin and managed to take advantage of the good weather at the weekend that the whole country seems to have enjoyed. It was better weather than many European destinations and I don't think I have ever seen the Irish Sea look so blue as it did during those warm sunny days. I thought I would share some of my personal photographs with you. The picture above was taken at Skerries, a small coastal town just north of Dublin.

Glendalough is a popular tourist destination in the heart of the Wicklow Mountains just over an hours drive south of Dublin, two lakes of brilliant crystal clear water reflecting the blue of the clear skies and surrounded by verdant green forest. A good spot for walking and getting away from it all - but not on one of the hottest days of the year as the popular low level walks were teeming with visitors and from early afternoon there was a queue for the car parks. Fortunately we had arrived early and enjoyed the best of the day before the area became flooded with tourists.

Back in Dublin the Bull Bridge at Dollymount is a good spot for an evening walk and we enjoyed the late warm evening sunshine of the year's longest days and clear views across the bay to the Wicklow Mountains. I loved the way the late evening sun brought out the texture of the wood on this ancient bridge.

In Camera ... Postcard AG262

2010-06-14T11:08:00.000+01:00

A very cold October day, a strong north west wind was blowing sand along the beach as I waited for the QE2 to make her final approach up the Mersey. This picture was the result of a long cold wait, something one has to be prepared to do when you preplan a picture such as this.
I had first arrived on the beach when the QE2 was a bright spot on a sunlit horizon and picked my spot where I thought she would be framed by the iron men as she sailed past. It was almost an hour before she sailed into this position, an hour in which the weather changed as cloud began to build up and I hoped that, as more and more people appeared on the beach, no one would walk in front of my position. There was one moment when a late arriving photographer ran down onto the beach as the vessel sailed in front of the wind turbines and he stopped for a moment right in the centre of my shot before moving on to the left as the QE2 sailed into my picture and a ray of sunlight came through the clouds lighting her structure beautifully. That burst of light was good fortune and not something I could arrange, lifting the vessel out of the cloudy background.
The large print of this image has proved to be a very popular picture, a record of a historic moment on Crosby beach.

In Camera ... Postcard AG222

2010-06-14T10:45:00.000+01:00

This is one of the original postcards that proved very popular, the dark shades of blue and the strong silhouette seem to work for many people. I love the way the light from the sky is reflected in the water flowing between the ripples of sand on the beach.
The picture was captured on a January evening about 45 minutes after sunset, The tide was just on the turn and it was one of those days when a big bank of cloud builds up on the western horizon at sunset, the highlights on the beach are from small gaps in the higher clouds, the last blue light of the day before it was extinguished completely by an approaching storm. The picture looks deceptively calm but in fact the clouds were moving swiftly in from the west, other pictures taken at this time show them as blurred fast moving shapes in the sky.
The exposure for this image was around 15 seconds and it is this long exposure that has calmed the rough waters and created the smooth reflections around the iron man.

In Camera ... Postcard AG202

2010-06-13T18:05:00.000+01:00

Early afternoon late February, it had been a morning of heavy rain and strong winds. Around lunch time there was a glimmer of light in the sky, clouds torn asunder by the strong winds. I knew the tide was on its way out and would leave the beach shiny and wet should the sun break through.

As I arrived at the beach a patch of blue sky appeared amidst the black clouds and the sun beamed down resulting in this almost monochromatic image as the light reflected off the wet sands. The passing bird was pure good fortune, but I liked the way the sculptures appeared almost spotlit on nature's stage.

In Camera ... Postcard AG198

2010-06-13T17:57:00.000+01:00

It had been a dreary November day of greyness and heavy rain but, late afternoon, the sky cleared from the west and I went down to a very wet beach as the last light of the sun cast a warm purplish glow over the beach. I like the way that the light from sky accents the rusty surface of the sculpture whilst the lights of the industrial docks shine brightly in the distance.

Exposed using a tripod the exposure was around 4 seconds, any slight ripples on the water have smoothed over in the longer exposure.

In Camera ... Postcard AG183

2010-06-13T17:10:00.000+01:00

Taken in late October, the sun is now setting more to the south west and the Welsh Hills rather than behind the new wind farm at Burbo Bank. A cold day, an icy chill seemed to strike across the beach as the sun went down and the air was suddenly filled with birds, a definite taste of winter on the way.

In Camera ... Postcard AG182

2010-06-04T12:18:00.000+01:00

2007 was the year the horizon became filled with more metal sculptures, this time the purely mechanical shapes of the wind turbines but, one has to admit, they can add a certain art form to the landscape. Mid September and the sun sets directly behind the centre of the wind farm throwing their shapes into strong relief against the glowing sky. I liked the contrast between the art form and the mechanical sculptures, the figure from Another Place once strong against the sky is now dwarfed by the new giants on the horizon.

In Camera ... Postcard AG158

2010-06-04T11:38:00.008+01:00

This picture was captured late in the afternoon at the end of a November day full of sunshine and showers, one of those mixed weather days when anything can happen. I knew there was going to be a high tide just after sunset and instinctively felt that it would be a good evening for photography. I was down just before sunset as the tide approached and the sky was quite photogenic. As often happens, the longer I waited and the darker it became the better the photographs I obtained. It is a strange paradox, photography depends upon light to make images, but often the best images are made with very little light, long exposures bringing out the best of what little light remains. The time just after sunset, the twilight hour, is, I find, a magical time for photography, especially beside moving water, the air becomes still and the soft light hides many imperfections in the scene.

On this day the dramatic dark shapes of the clouds contrasted well with what little light remained in the sky and I love the way the colours of the sky are captured in the reflections on the water. This was a visit to the beach that was well worth while, not only for the pictures I obtained (have a look at the range AG158 - AG170), but also the experience of just being there, standing alone with the statues, sharing a moment of tranquility and beauty is something that cannot easily be put into words.

This picture was one of the earliest captured that night when the shutter speed was still fast enough to show the individual waves, longer exposures soften moving water.

In Camera ... Postcard AG146

2010-06-02T17:07:00.000+01:00

This picture was captured late on an October afternoon. It had been a day of mixed weather, quite windy and some heavy showers. I had been working in the office all afternoon and wondered about getting out and down to the beach for an hour. Around 15.30 it suddenly went very dark, there was a rumble of thunder and the rains came down really heavy. I thought that was the end of my visit to the beach but, just after four, I saw a glimmer of brightness out to the west, it was still raining hard but I thought to myself "There might be a rainbow if the sun breaks through".
I quickly grabbed the camera bag and drove down to the beach by the Leisure Centre; as I arrived the light of the sun burst through a gap in the clouds low on the western horizon. I ran onto the beach setting up the tripod as I did so. Looking inland, to the east, behind me the dark thundery sky created a wonderful backdrop for a perfect arc of a rainbow. It was now only about five minutes before sunset and the light coming through that gap in the clouds would not last very long. It strengthened as I mounted the camera on the tripod and created a brilliant double rainbow. I managed to obtain three decent images before the sun disappeared into cloud again low on the horizon and the rainbow faded away. I was fortunate with my positioning being directly in line with the sun and the figures as you can see from the long low shadows in the picture. The arc of the rainbow covered quite a distance and this image is composed from two overlapping pictures, the only way I could capture both ends in one shot.

In Camera ... Postcard AG63

2010-06-01T17:42:00.001+01:00

A late November afternoon, a crystal clear day but not a breath of wind to ripple a pool of water left by the outgoing tide. A stroll on the beach became a wait by this mirror like pool as the sun went down, the passing Irish ferry adding a touch of movement in the stillness.

This shot was actually hand held with the camera a couple of inches off the surface of the sand as I lay flat out on the wet beach to capture the perfect reflection of the iron man. The previous day had been cold and stormy but today was magical. The stillness of the day, the silence of the air apart from the distant throb of the ship's engines carrying across the water and the black silhouettes resulted in a haunting beauty to the end of the day. The sculptures have added their own magic to the Sefton coastline, making pictures possible where none existed before.

In Camera ... Postcard AG45

2010-06-01T17:24:00.001+01:00

This was a very windy clear day in October, days like this are not usually good for sunsets as there are not enough dust particles in the air to refract the light but I decided to go down to the beach just in case. The strong, chilly north westerly was keeping the air clear and the beach deserted - just me and the iron men. The clarity of the air and the clean wide open space resulted in my capturing this image which I feel captures the essence of the sculpture, portraying the insignificance of man against the wide open spaces of nature.
The shot is actually a panorama of two images joined together which helps give a wider almost three dimensional feel to the landscape, the camera on a tripod, essential in low light and windy conditions.

In Camera ... Postcard AG30

2010-06-01T16:55:00.002+01:00

The new postcards are proving to be very popular and I thought I would go through the circumstances in which each image was captured.
This picture was taken just before sunrise in August 2005, not long after the sculptures were placed. I had been waiting for a full moon which, at this time of the year, sets in the north west. The weather conditions had been very settled and I knew that I would have to get up early the following morning for this picture with the setting moon and the pink glow of dawn. The tide was also low which helped show the vast expanse of beach containing several of the figures.
My planning paid off with this mystical image in which the sky is suffused with the glow of the rising sun behind me, the full moon just at the edge of the earth's penumbra and the beach still in the shadow of the earth as the iron men gaze forever westward.
The camera was on a tripod for this shot which was exposed for around half a second in the pre dawn light.

In Camera ... Kirkdale Community Centre

2010-05-27T15:59:00.000+01:00

Had to take some photographs for a production by the Liverpool Everyman Community Theatre the other day at Kirkdale Community Centre. Struck by the emptiness of the big theatre room on the first floor and how the sunlight poured through the windows. Very evocative of a bygone era.

In Camera ... Days in Tuscany

2010-05-21T16:54:00.000+01:00

Early May I spent a few days in Tuscany staying just outside San Gimignano in the heart of the Chianti wine growing area. Spring has been a bit delayed in Italy this year and we were lucky to have a few days of sunshine between the rain.

The panoramic shot above was taken about 06.15am just after sunrise and shows the wonderful way the mist seems to rise slowly from the valleys at this time of day after a clear dewy night.

The towers of San Gimignano rising out of the early morning mist.

The whole area is just magical for the early rising photographer.

Everything is very green and lush in the aftermath of a wet spring and the vines are growing well.

Another wonderful dawn not to be missed.

I found that the hour after sunrise was the most productive time for photography.

Later in the day the fields are vivid hues of fresh spring green filled with wild flowers.

Siena, the cathedral steps skimmed by warm sunlight.

Artwork on Display at Waterloo

2010-04-23T17:34:00.001+01:00

Merseytravel have placed my award winning image of Another Place at Waterloo Station above the exit staircase. This picture is available on one of the new postcards which are in the shops now, a little earlier than expected.

On the Beach....Volcanic Sunset

2010-04-23T12:00:00.002+01:00

April will be remembered for the days of volcanic dust in the atmosphere. This picture was taken on Crosby beach just before sunset on Thursday 15th April, the day all flights were cancelled. The layers of dust high in the atmosphere resulted in a couple of days of red suns sinking into the sea.

The following day the sunset was very similar with the sun sinking into a dusty hazy horizon but the best light came after sunset with the wonderful afterglow filling the sky as seen below. If you look carefully a sliver of new moon near top left and the twinkling of Venus below have just made their presence felt in the sky.

At the Albert Dock

2010-04-13T17:19:00.000+01:00

I have just put a selection of my pictures of Another Place up at Unit 7, The Colonnades, Albert Dock, Liverpool, (near The Tate) and hope to be there on Saturday 17th April between two and four pm to chat about my work and sign cards and prints.

Coming Soon ... New Postcards

2010-04-13T17:09:00.000+01:00

Currently at the printers is a new set of Another Place postcards. There are twelve new images in the set of twenty, making it possible for those of you who have previously bought a set of twelve to buy a new set of twelve cards with all new images. The cards will be available by the end of April.

In Camera ... Liverpool Waterfront

2010-03-11T14:27:00.000Z

Have just finished working on some new panoramic images of the Liverpool Waterfront taken earlier this week during the good settled weather we have been having. The images are required to be at a very large file size so I have joined up to six vertical images together to make these long panoramas.

In Camera ... Sophie and Chris

2010-03-11T12:22:00.003Z

Returning from Barcelona, one of the first jobs I had was to photograph Sophie and Chris for their engagement (Congratulations!), a pleasant Sunday afternoon spent with a lovely couple.

In Camera ... Barcelona

2010-03-11T12:18:00.000Z

Here are a few more pictures from the Barcelona visit.

In Camera ... Art in Barcelona

2010-03-06T17:14:00.000Z

The amazing Hospital Santa Creu and Sant Pau, Barcelona

A request from an artist friend, Ashwan, now living in Barcelona, to photograph some of his latest work meant a quick flying visit to that Spanish City renowned for its architecture. Not far from Ashwan is the amazing complex of Hospital buildings seen above, amazing coloured tiling and gothic styling.

Some of Ashwan's latest work

After working hard to capture all of Ashwan's latest works on camera we were able to spend the next

day sightseeing some of the famous buildings in Barcelona. The weather was kind to us and it was a pleasant break after the rush of the last few days.

In Camera ... A foggy, frosty day in Ireland

2010-03-06T16:57:00.000Z

The day after the wedding provided a remarkable setting for the drive back to Dublin. A clear frosty start had given way to a freezing fog which coated the trees in a layer of white crystals, as we drove along the frost crystals fell from the trees like glitter from a Christmas tree.

In Camera ... A wedding in Ireland

2010-03-06T16:50:00.000Z

Mid February I photographed a wedding at Cabra Castle, County Cavan in Ireland and it brought back my love for this type of photography. Many years ago I used to photograph weddings regularly but then decided to ease off and concentrate on commercial work. It was a beautiful cold and frosty day and we worked both outdoors and inside the magnificent castle with its beautifully furnished rooms to capture a day that was truly memorable for everyone.

My thanks to Fiona and Cathal, the bride and groom, for providing the opportunity to photograph such a splendid and memorable wedding in a fantastic location.

In Camera ... Grace

2010-03-06T16:30:00.000Z

Welcome back, sorry there has been such a long interval without blogs but it seems to have been an extremely hectic few weeks.

Way back at the end of January I was asked by a friend to supply some photographs of his daughter for publicity purposes. We had finished the main session when the sun emerged and shone strongly through the window. I noticed the pattern of shadows created by the strong sunlight and shot a few extra pictures.
I love the strong shadows and shapes created by this natural light.

In Camera ... Winter Days in Little Crosby

2010-01-18T11:42:00.000Z

I know the snow has gone now, a distant memory already, but the pictures have mounted up, the first time I have been able to capture a decent snow fall for years and snow pictures are always something I am being asked for, usually around September - October as people start thinking about Christmas. These images were taken around the village of Little Crosby, just a ten minute walk from the main area of Crosby where I live and show how easy it is to find good pictures in your locality without having to travel too far.

This is the Courtyard Restaurant, a very popular destination for locals during the day looking pristine under a covering of snow. On warmer days you can sit outside enjoying the sun and good food. (They also sell my postcards and calendars.)

Back Lane, the road that leads back to Crosby.

In Camera ... Winter Days in Liverpool

2010-01-15T16:15:00.000Z

The snow fell thick and heavy in Liverpool last week and the city came to a standstill for a few days, the good point was that it was the perfect opportunity to get out and take pictures during the few cold, crisp winter days we had when the temperature did not rise above freezing.

This picture shows the now nearly completed Museum of Liverpool and the name of the boat in the foreground - Snowbird!

The grey patch on the water at the centre of Canning Dock is ice, a few days later and it was thicker still.

Liverpool's new look Pier Head with a frozen Leeds - Liverpool Canal.

On the Beach....Winter Days

2010-01-11T15:40:00.000Z

Just after Christmas there was snow on the Welsh Hills and dramatic snow laden clouds filling the sky.

Then we had snow, a few hours heavy snowfall brought the Liverpool area to a halt.

The iron men became a study in black and white.

The sand dunes became snow dunes.

The promenade at Waterloo

A monochromatic beach scene

A couple of very cold days later and the beach started to freeze over, I love the way the wave pattern on the beach looks like mountains with snow filled valleys.

The edge of the sea started to freeze as chunks of ice floated around at the water's edge.

Happy New Year

2010-01-11T15:19:00.001Z

Happy New Year to all.

What a busy period it has been. The cold weather and recent snow fall has meant some wonderful picture opportunities and I have been out and about shooting quite a bit and have had little time to catch up with this blog. I shall try to catch up with all the new images during the next few days.

On The Beach....A School Visit

2009-12-21T20:54:00.004Z

Way back in September I was asked if I would talk to a group of children from Kelsall School at Tarporley near Chester about my photography of Another Place when they paid a visit to the beach to view Antony Gormley's Artwork. I met the group down on the beach on a wild, windy but fairly sunny afternoon and we chatted and I took some photographs of the group interacting with the figures and allowed the school to use the pictures alongside their own for their project. The result has been a stunning book of pictures and poetry by Willow Class lead by Mr David Wearing, the teacher who contacted me in the first place. I was delighted to receive a copy of the book at the weekend and have been truly impressed by the efforts and enthusiasm of Willow Class with regards to the artwork and poetry. I just felt that I had to mention it here as their work truly deserves praise. Thanks to all the children who signed the Christmas card that came with the book.

Christmas Card

2009-12-18T14:49:00.003Z

Heaven and earth are filled with glory, a renaissance palette of indescribable beauty has coloured the sky with vermillion, carmine and ultramarine flicked with brush strokes of crimson, a work of art reflected in the still waters below. A tangerine glow divides sea and sky as we stand alongside an iron man, silent and still; in awe and wonder at the creator of such a masterpiece.

Publishing this image AG331 as a Christmas Card to all readers of this page, hope you all have a wonderful Christmas.

On the Waterfront ... Dublin

2009-12-16T10:34:00.001Z

I have just been in Dublin for a few days and driving along the coast road near Clontarf and the Bull Bridge this scene unfolded before me. A quiet winter morning with the tide on the ebb and a wonderful golden light on the horizon, perfect. It is not often that a picture presents itself so easily.

Taken a short distance from the first picture and softened slightly during processing results in this glowing winter image.

On the Beach....A November Evening

2009-11-26T09:49:00.001Z

Yesterday there was a glimpse of sunshine, a respite from the leaden grey skies we have had for the last few days. Sunset was just after four o'clock and high tide at 16.50 so I decided to grab some fresh air after working all day at the computer. The sun had already disappeared behind a bank of heavy grey cloud out to the west and a fierce wind was whipping spray straight in off a turbulent sea making it difficult to keep the camera lens clear and the tripod from vibrating in the wind. I always like to give some long exposures in these conditions to soften the movement of the water so the tripod is essential.
These two images are the result of my short visit - everything was getting soaked with the salty spray - and I really like the way the white foaming water and flying spray have caught the glow of light from the sky in the picture below, well worth the time spent cleaning the camera and lenses later.

In Camera ... Frankenstein at the Liverpool Everyman

2009-11-13T17:08:00.003Z

Spent yesterday evening at the Liverpool Everyman Theatre photographing the youth theatre production of Frankenstein which opens tonight.

The show is an unusual but riveting rendering of the Frankenstein story and well worth a view with some fine acting by the young cast.

Calendar Competition

2009-11-07T18:01:00.000Z

This weeks local paper, the Crosby Herald, published 5/11/09, has a good piece about the calendar and is running a competition to win one of 15 signed copies. Why don't you have a go.

On the Beach....New exciting images

2009-11-06T12:09:00.004Z

Saturday afternoon at the beach, two weeks ago, a vibrant stormy day, high tide at 15.35 and strong west winds pushing the tide forward. The clouds were moving swiftly across the sky, dark drama pierced by rays of brilliant sunlight highlighting the foaming waters and silhouetting the iron men against the angry sea.

Captured these images, some of which will soon be available in print form.

Merseytravel Art on the Network 2009 Award

2009-10-26T16:52:00.004Z

Attended the prize giving for their Art on the Network 2009 Competition at Merseytravel HQ in Liverpool this morning . One of my images of Another Place - AG309 - has won the award for the Sefton area which means that the picture will be used at a Merseytravel location, probably Waterloo station, as a sample of art in the area.

Calendar signing sessions

2009-10-06T12:55:00.003+01:00

Saturday 10th October is going to be a busy day. I will be signing calendars between 11.00 am and 1.00pm at Crosby Fine Art, 158 College Road, Crosby then travelling down to the Albert Dock in Liverpool.
I will be at Unit 7, The Colonnades (near Liverpool Pictures and the same side as The Tate) for another signing session between 2.00pm and 4.00pm.
Maybe I will see you at one of these sessions!
Feel free to just come along and chat about the pictures if you so wish, there is a temporary exhibition of all the images from the calendar at Unit 7 which will be viewable on Saturday afternoon.

Busy Period

2009-10-06T12:40:00.006+01:00

It has been a busy period over the last few weeks with calendar distribution and publicity taking up a fair amount of time. I have also had some time consuming commercial jobs to catch up with and a break on Italy, more of which in a later blog when I have had a chance to sort out some of the images. We went down to the beach a couple of weeks ago to take a new publicity shot for press use of me with the calendar. The idea was to capture an image with the sunset in the background. Well this worked well and you can see for the result here. The added bonus was that the sky remained glowing with saturated colours long after sunset and this resulted in some wonderful new images of the beach which will shortly be available in the print series. This is one of the new prints that will be available as AG328

Calandar now completed

2009-08-13T18:21:00.004+01:00

Finally I have completed the layout and picture choice for the new Crosby's Man for all Seasons Calendar for 2010 and it has now gone to the printers. It has been extremely difficult this year to make the final selection of images as the collection that I have is growing steadily. Anyway it is out of my hands now until I check the proofs and hopefully it will be available in all the usual outlets from early September.

New display at Albert Dock

2009-07-14T16:05:00.002+01:00

Everything seems to happen at once and just this weekend I was asked to put on a small display of work at the Albert Dock in Liverpool, at a small unit (no. 7) just a few doors away from the Liverpool Pictures Gallery that sells my art prints. There is a mixture of Liverpool scenes and some new images of the iron men so it may be worth a look if you are passing.