Mike's Photography, Travel, and anything else I can think of, Blog

Archaeologists have unearthed what they suspect is the last resting place of the legendary seven dwarfs of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs fame. Seven small skeletons were found close to one another in a site just outside the city walls. Although they have not been able to find any evidence of a settlement, which according to legend consisted of one below average size cottage in the enchanted forest, and near to a diamond mine, archaeologists are in little doubt that these are indeed the remains of the Seven Dwarfs. An assemblage of metal tools and implements found nearby, and thought to be connected with the dwarfs, suggests that they were mineworkers. The Seven Dwarfs are known to have lived in the period of Fairy Tale, between the periods of Once upon a time and They all lived happily ever after. Oxygen isotope analysis carried out on the bones and teeth of the skeletons confirms that all are of central European origin. Marks on their bones indicate that they all came to a grim end....

Welcome to my latest blog, which this week is about something I am passionate about, that is smartphone photography, as opposed to lugging a 'proper camera' about with me everywhere I go. Think about this statement for a moment: a photo can only work on a phone because the phone disappears. Why might this be true? Let's take a look at the evidence. First off, a smartphone is smaller than, for want of a better term, a conventional camera. When you take a photo with your smartphone the process is generally quiet, no clicking sounds as the shutter is activated. Generally, because smartphones are everywhere these days, people don't feel threatened by them, whereas pointing a conventional camera at someone, say in the street, can sometimes provoke a hostile reaction. Lifting a conventional camera up to your face is like announcing ‘I am going to take a photograph!’. Discreetly raising your smartphone means people don’t stiffen, scenes don’t break, moments stay honest and can...

Welcome to my latest blog, which this week takes a close look at the Snapseed and Lightroom Mobile photo editing apps. I have been a fan and a user of Snapseed for many years; I was also aware of Adobe's Lightroom Mobile app, in fact of the whole Adobe photography ecosystem, and had dabbled with their mobile version over the years, but had always returned to Snapseed. I decided to take a deeper dive into these two apps and see what each of them has to offer and what makes me stick with Snapseed. In the age of smartphone photography, snapping a stunning shot is sometimes only half the story, the real magic often happens in the edit. Whether you’re polishing up your travel photos for Instagram or fine-tuning portraits for a professional portfolio, having the right mobile editing app can make all the difference. Among the crowd of editing tools, Snapseed and Lightroom Mobile stand out as two of the most powerful and popular options. But which one truly deserves a spot on your home scr...

Welcome to my latest blog, which this week is looking at a photograph rather than photography.  Travel photography often captures more than just a destination—it captures a moment in time. In this photograph, a narrow whitewashed street opens toward a lively square, while blurred figures move quickly through the foreground. The motion of the people contrasts with the stillness of the buildings, plants, and cobblestone path, creating a powerful visual story about travel itself. It invites the viewer to reflect on how journeys are experienced: places remain constant and timeless, while travellers pass through in fleeting moments, leaving behind only memories and impressions. I am going to go through how I would tackle interpreting this image. Please note that this is my own workflow, you might approach this differently. The image shows a narrow stone street with whitewashed buildings, typical of many Mediterranean towns. The architecture, stone paving, cactus plant, and b...

Welcome to my latest blog, which is going to delve into the '5 Cs' of photography, namely: Composition  Camera angles Continuity/Consistency  Close ups  Cutting/Editing. 🎨 Composition, which is basically how elements are arranged in your frame. I suggest you use the Rule of Thirds, leading lines, framing, and negative space to enhance your compositions and stop them looking flat and uninteresting. Don't forget that rules are there to be broken, so don't be afraid to deviate from them occasionally if you feel it improves your composition. Another compositional device is to place you subject off-centre with perhaps a blurred background to add depth. 🎥 Camera angles, by which I mean the viewpoint or height of the camera. Most of us take photos with the camera at our natural eye level, which means that our photos are going to look much the same as everyone else's when, for example, we are photographing a famous landmark. So why not try kneeling or crouching down to gr...

Welcome to this week's blog, which I am hoping is going to be the first of a mini-series that highlights interesting photography walks around a number of towns and cities with which I am familiar. I thought I would start with my own hometown. Set dramatically above the River Nidd, Knaresborough is one of those rare towns where every turn feels composed for the camera. Medieval stonework, steep winding streets, and the striking silhouette of Knaresborough's iconic Victorian viaduct create endlessly layered scenes, while the atmospheric ruins of Knaresborough Castle deliver sweeping views and rich historical texture.  The riverside (named Waterside) offers reflections, wildlife, and human moments, balancing grand landscapes with intimate details. This combination of history and nature makes the town exceptionally rewarding for photographers of any style. Whether you favour architecture, street photography, or natural scenery, Knaresborough provides an unusual density of visua...