Posts

It's never too late to start seeing the world differently

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Welcome to my blog, where photography is about more than cameras and travel is about more than ticking places off a list. This is a place for anyone who wants to see more, think more deeply, and tell better visual stories—whether you're exploring another country or simply walking around your own neighbourhood. In a world where nearly everyone carries a camera in their pocket, photography has become one of the most accessible and rewarding hobbies available. Yet photography is much more than simply pointing a camera and pressing a button. It is an art form, a creative outlet, a way to preserve memories, and even a tool for personal growth. One of the most remarkable aspects of photography is that it can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Whether you're a teenager discovering creative expression, a busy adult looking for a fulfilling hobby, or a retiree seeking a new passion, photography offers countless benefits that extend far beyond the images themselves...
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Power cut? How to make your smartphone battery last longer

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Why knowing how to conserve your phone's battery could be just as important as owning a power bank. The UK Government has recently launched its "Be Ready campaign" (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/households-encouraged-to-take-small-simple-steps-to-stay-prepared-in-an-emergency), encouraging households to think about how prepared they would be if essential services were disrupted. Among its recommendations is a sensible one: keep a charged power bank available in case the electricity supply fails. But something struck me when I read that advice. What about making the battery charge we already have last longer? After all, there's little point in having a fully charged power bank if we're unnecessarily draining our phone's battery in the first place. Most of us charge our smartphones almost without thinking. We plug them in overnight, top them up during the day and rarely worry about running out of power. But what happens when plugging them in is no longer an...
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Don't fear the settings: master your smartphone camera in minutes

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Welcome to my blog, where photography is about more than cameras and travel is about more than ticking places off a list. This is a place for anyone who wants to see more, think more deeply, and tell better visual stories—whether you're exploring another country or simply walking around your own neighbourhood. Most people carry an incredibly powerful camera in their pocket every day, yet many never venture beyond the default settings. The result? Missed opportunities to capture truly stunning photos. The truth is, smartphone camera settings aren't as intimidating as they seem. Features like Portrait Mode, Night Mode, exposure controls, and HDR are designed to help you get better results with just a few taps. You don't need to be a professional photographer to use them—you simply need the confidence to experiment. Want sharper sunset photos? Adjust the exposure. Taking pictures in low light? Try Night Mode. Looking to make a subject stand out? Portrait Mode can c...
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Street photography: do we need a code of conduct?

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I have written twice recently about street photography. First, I considered what attracts us to photographing everyday life in public places — and some of the difficulties that come with doing so. More recently, I returned to the subject following the debate surrounding government guidance on photographing people in public. But perhaps we've been concentrating on the wrong question. We spend a great deal of time discussing what street photographers are allowed to do. Perhaps we should spend a little more time considering what we ought to do. Does street photography need its own voluntary code of conduct? The law is only the starting point The position in Britain is reasonably clear in principle. There is no general requirement to obtain somebody's permission simply because they appear in a photograph taken in a public place. There are qualifications, of course. Privacy can still arise in particular circumstances. Harassment and certain forms of intrusive photography can...
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Just Because You Can Take the Photograph, Should You?

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The law may give photographers considerable freedom in public places. Knowing when to exercise that freedom — and when not to — is another matter. You're walking down a street with your camera or smartphone when you see a photograph.  Perhaps it's the way someone is standing in a shaft of sunlight.  Perhaps it's an expression, an interaction between two people, or simply one of those fleeting combinations of people, place and light that will disappear in seconds. You raise the camera. Then someone says: ‘You can't take my photograph without my permission.’ Are they right? Usually, no. But perhaps that's not the most interesting question. When official advice muddies the water This issue recently became rather more topical when the Home Office published guidance about photography and filming in public places. The material, intended as advice for asylum seekers about behaviour in the UK, included the rather unequivocal instruction: ‘Do not photograph or fi...
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Turn moments into masterpieces

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Welcome to my blog, where photography is about more than cameras and travel is about more than ticking places off a list. This is a place for anyone who wants to see more, think more deeply, and tell better visual stories—whether you're exploring another country or simply walking around your own neighbourhood. Making your photos visually compelling is about combining composition, lighting, storytelling, and emotion. Here’s a practical breakdown you can follow, whether you’re using a smartphone or a DSLR. Start with a strong subject Decide what the photo is about. A single clear subject (person, object, or scene) is more powerful than clutter. Avoid distractions. Simplify the background or use shallow depth of field (portrait mode or wide aperture) to make your subject stand out. Use compositional techniques  You want to guide the viewer’s eye and create balance by using the  rule of thirds or the golden ratio, leading lines such as roads, fences, or shadows that al...
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Some thoughts about street photography

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Welcome to my blog, where photography is about more than cameras and travel is about more than ticking places off a list. This is a place for anyone who wants to see more, think more deeply, and tell better visual stories—whether you're exploring another country or simply walking around your own neighbourhood. Welcome to my latest blog, which this week is about street photography. I am not exclusively a street photographer, although I do occasionally dabble. After a number of years as a photographer, and without any particular genre in which to pigeon hole my work, I am seriously looking at focusing on street photography as my sole interest. Street photography fascinates me because it sits at the intersection of observation, timing, and human unpredictability. Unlike studio work, nothing waits for you. It's unpredictable; it's forever changing.,The world simply unfolds, indifferent to whether you’re ready or not. That’s precisely what makes it so compelling. Thi...
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