2012 marks the beginning of new adventure for me, basing myself in Leeds enables me to continue work with existing clients and an opportunity to form new friendships networks and clients t’North. I’m continually excited about the amazing rural surroundings, so much so I’ve started a new blog: walkingphotographer.co.uk . My first post High Force Hangover is already up and I’m really looking forward to adding many more walks and photos as the year develops, while continuing updates of non walking nature here!

“So it’s pretty serious then?” appeared to be the common response from the remainder of people I had left to tell. An awkward and self conscious grunt of confirmation seemed suffice. Appeasing anyone unclear on the sincerity of the evidently ambiguous action of moving 195 miles north of the city I have loved, loathed and breathed for as long as I can remember (that’s London by the way).

I’ve only been living with Caroline, in the centre of Leeds for a couple of weeks now, but I really love it. It feels as busy and active as London but with a more friendly, less aggressive twist. It’s a city that seems free from the tuts and toots fired ferociously and indiscriminately from pedestrians, commuters and drivers alike.

While I remain excited at living in this new, cultured, urban environment so close to some of the most amazing rural landscapes available in England; as I sit at the desk of my new ‘home office’ I wonder how my perspective and relationship with London will change as I adapt to life with Caroline in Leeds and continue my brief but frequent trips to London.

There is no doubt that the rich cultural offerings that the numerous London boroughs provide will be something that I will greatly miss. First Thursdays, film and documentary screenings, private views and talks put on by organisations like the Photographers Gallery, Jerwood, Whitechapel and the Tate (to name a handful) are all things that I have enjoyed on a regular basis.

Over the last few years I have been lucky enough to be based near Tate Modern. This has enabled me to frequently seek sanctuary and solace in the vast building, hoarding great artistic treasures, so vast and eclectic, that I defy anyone to visit and not find one piece by which they are captivated. Browsing around the exhibitions has replenished enthusiasm for my own work uncountable times; but a lot of ideas and inspiration actually come from watching people who move around and interact with the Tate Modern space and it is these moments of people watching that will be the biggest void for me to fill in Leeds.

Here’s some photo’s from a Lido Crawl that my girlfriend Caroline Burt organised and swam in to raise money for the Stoke Association last month. Lidos swam include Tooting, Parliament Hill, London Fields, Hampstead Heath and Serpentine…

I’ve finally got round to selecting my photo’s for Wanderlust Photography Contest and I’m torn between two sets. The problem is, as a professional photographer you can only submit to one category. I have a set for the Landscape photography and the Wildlife photography categories.

So I am calling on anyone and everyone to help me make the decision. Look at the photo series below and let me know which photographic series to choose by submitting your vote on the form..

(Form is now expired)

Photo Series A: Landscape Photography Category

Photo Series B: Wildlife Photography Category

It’s been frustrating not being able update my blog for a while. I’ve been crazily busy with some new work, mostly web work for an electric bike company and a very well known perfume brand, which is exciting to be involved in. Anyway here is a post I saved a while back and have just had a chance to finish…

There are many reason’s I enjoy visiting Caroline’s (my grilfriend) folk’s place and one of them is seeing their wonderful garden, which provides and produces many ingredients to meals consumed at their table. Whether it’s the potatoes, veg and herbs served with a succulent roasted joint or the sweet  homemade jams on the toast in the morning, there’s something really cool about knowing what you’re eating has been freshly grown and harvested metres away from the table.

The other weekend Caroline and I cooked a meal for the family. The sun was shining and it was the perfect opportunity to wander round the vibrant and copious garden while filling the basket with the ingredients for our meal, which included: potatoes, broadbeans, parsely and thyme. It was all very Nigel Slater and I loved it!

This year I’ve been working with electric bike manufacturer Volt and their 2012 electric bike range. This is an exciting project for me as I originally designed the branding and logo for Volt and will be photographing and building a new website for the 2012 electric bike range.

I was excited to receive some photos this week from Volt giving a sneak preview of the bikes in the warehouse…

This week I’ve been working on (as well as 101 other things) a proposal for a series on the New Zealand Fur Seal pups. Here’s a sneak preview, with a few excerpts from the article…

…The sentence began “So have you seen?…” and as the words “seal pups” and “waterfall” were heard everything said before, during and after became blurred noise…

…As we moved on over the bridge and continued along the footpath we just couldn’t believe the amount of pups we encountered. Some slept in the roots of trees, others squabbled on the banks, while more played carelessly in the fast flowing water, they were everywhere!…

..We reluctantly and tentatively made a move back down the stream towards the car park, incessantly aware that we were moving away from something spectacular, something we may never experience again…

Some couples go for romantic weekends, some go caving, while others prefer dogging, swinging and various other things ending in ‘ing’. In an attempt to be part of the ‘ing’ crowd, last weekend we decided to go planking and owling in Newcastle!

Staying in the Copthorne hotel we had a great time revisiting some of our favourite spots, coffee shops and watering holes, which, (naturally) included the Baltic and the Great North Museum

Currently on at the Baltic is Photographer Mariah Robertson who’s large scale abstract and sculpted photographs are both intriguing and original as well as beautiful.

Another highlight at the Baltic was seeing Robert Breer’s work, in particular the work on 2nd floor of the exhibition. This floor is full of fun pieces that after careful and considered observation are infact constantly moving. This really was a very captivating exhibition space and created an entirely different atmosphere from that containing his works on the floor below and any other room in the Baltic for that matter. Well worth a visit!

In between the moments of culture we still found some time to do some good ‘ole fashioned planking, while trying out the new school version: ‘owling’…  though it didn’t quite feel as good as the classic plank!

Here’s some photographs from our planking weekend in Newcastle….