OPTICAL: ALLUSIONS

While visiting Marrakech in March 2022, I suffered a detached retina in my right eye. I underwent emergency surgery in Casablanca, fortunately carried out by an esteemed surgeon. I had to stay for an extended period before I was allowed to fly, and during this recuperation I started using my phone to create abstract images that represented what I was seeing (and not seeing) and feeling.

Since returning to the UK I have had various issues with that eye, and latterly with my left eye. I have continued to make images in the Optical Allusions series. Whilst there has been considerable disturbance to my life, I am hoping that the issues are behind me.

This work is dedicated to Akram who cared for me as his Brother while in Morocco, and Mr Aman Chandra, my brilliant UK consultant

Festival Time

Back to Blogs after a very challenging year with eye problems.

In August 2022, I was privileged to be given stage and pit access to photograph Rosalie Cunningham’s set at The Cropredy Festival , in front of an audience of some 15,000, by far the biggest I have been able to photograph. What a brilliant set Rosalie and her new band played, and what a great experience for me.

Thank you Rosie & Rosco

WARMTH OF THE SOUL

UPDATE February 18th 2022.

Having sold out the first 100 I’m pleased to say I have had some more copies of Warmth of the Soul printed. And once again, every penny will go to the two charities.

You can buy a copy from Secret Projects Here

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UPDATE December 30, 2021

The edition of 100 has now SOLD OUT. I’m delighted to have raised £1460 for the two charities. Huge thanks to everyone who has supported me.

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I am proud to have produced my first Photography Publication, Warmth Of The Soul, a small collection of 34 abstracts and portraits inspired by the people and places of India, beautifully printed by Kozu Books, and with a foreword by Valda Bailey. An edition of 100.

Every penny of the proceeds will go directly to help the beautiful people of that amazing country.

Half to Sunder Rang, the centre in the village of Chandelao near Jodhpur that trains and employs women of the village to make craft goods . It was here I encountered the most amazing hospitality and trust; this profoundly impacted me and directly inspired this book.

The other half will go to social enterprise, Secret Projects for their 'Sponsor Secret Face Masks for India' appeal.  Through the appeal, face masks will be produced by women from Secret Projects Maker Community, providing them with an income and distributed free of charge to communities in India.

Secret Projects are kindly selling Warmth Of The Soul directly, for £12 plus postage.

Buy Here

Thank you so much for your support


On The Road With The Waterboys

Autumn 2021 saw the first bands venture out onto the live music touring circuit. I was able to attend 7 Waterboys gigs in October, and Mike Scott was kind enough to arrange some AAA photo passes. I felt so privileged to be onstage with my cameras while the guys were making their Magic.

Still...Discovering Mindfulness

Over 18 months of lockdown I had the great pleasure of taking an online course in Mindful Photography with Paul Sanders (www.discoverstill.com). We were encouraged to appreciate the simple beauty in things, to slow down, and receive rather than take photographs. By the end of the course I had also made 6 fine friends.

This Is The Sea- Cultivating Creativity

Early in the lockdown I had the great pleasure of taking an online course with Valda Bailey & Doug Chinnery { www.baileychinnery.com) , “Cultivating Creativity” which amongst other things encouraged the creation of photography projects. I made a series based around lyrics from my favourite ever album, This Is The Sea, by The Waterboys, which I set to the music of the title track.

Marillion at The Royal Albert Hall

Chris and I were lucky enough to attend both nights for Marillion at the Royal Albert Hall. Wonderful shows. I wasn’t able to get a photo pass but these were taken ( v discretely ) with my little Sony compact