We all experience times when our photography experience becomes flat and uninspiring, and our creative spark has all but died out. We might not be getting out with our camera as often as we would like due to adverse weather conditions, family, work or life commitments, or simply because we have lost the motivation to go out regularly with our camera. We may feel that we have reached a plateau in our photography, that we are not improving and that our photographs are ‘no good’. We may simply have lost the motivation to take photographs and are finding it hard to find that motivation again. If this applies to you, if you feel that the creative spark is missing in your life, here are 4 tips you might like to try that may help to re-ignite your creative spark, re-invigorate your photography and help you to move forward again. These are all tips that I have tried for myself and found to be successful. #1 Play If the reason for your lack of motivation is that you don’t believe you are improving at photography, then maybe you need to take the focus off the results and take the pressure off yourself to achieve good results. Play, practice, have fun. Don’t worry about the result. Play with camera settings, focal length, composition. Try different apertures and shutter speeds. Look for something new, an unexplored area or subject. I took my camera with me on a winter walk in the countryside. I took a photo of anything that attracted my interest. Doing so has given me many memories of an enjoyable day out. Experiment, make discoveries. The word play is not usually associated with photography yet play can be an important part of your photography journey, and a good way to let your creative-self run free. When we take our camera out to play, we are letting go of expectations; we are experimenting, experiencing the fun of each moment and enjoying our pastime with no pressure to achieve or succeed. Play is freeing, allowing us to make mistakes, to learn by doing, to discover new things and to follow our own interests and desires. When you allow yourself to play with your camera the process becomes more important than the result and the discoveries you make beat anything you’ll read in your camera manual or on any photography tutorial. You’ll learn through experience and have fun while doing so and that is what photography should be about. I often experiment by taking photos of the everyday landscape I see around me. They might not be photos worth sharing but I do enjoy trying new things in photography. #2 Fall in love with your own location We might feel that we need to travel to do good photography, but nothing could be further from the truth. While travelling to a new location will give us a fresh perspective and invigorate our photography, for most of us constant travel is not a possibility. Our own locality can provide all we need in terms of photography opportunities if we change our mind set and begin to explore our surroundings more deeply to discover what is there to be found. This can be especially true if we have a local place where we can be close to nature. My closest photography location is a local park and woodland. I have often gone there when I was lacking in motivation and come away feeling renewed and excited by new photographic opportunities I found there. #3 Shake it up Try a new style, new genre, new location… If you primarily shoot in a wide landscape, try some woodland photography. If you are a rural photographer, try an urban landscape or do some street photography. If you tend to do your photography inland, take a trip to the coast, if that is possible. Hop on a bus, train or take a car trip to another town or village and see what you find there. Or keep it simple and just stay close to home and photograph something that you wouldn’t normally consider photographing. #4 Be cruel to be kind Don’t dwell on the failures, let them go or treat them as valuable learning opportunities. Dwelling on your failures can lead to feelings of inferiority and a sense that you are not improving. When you begin to accept that you will have good photography days and bad photography days, and that not all photographs will be ‘keepers’, you will realise that the ‘failures’ are merely showing you how you need to improve, and it's ok to learn from them and let them go. I took this with my phone camera as I walked past. Something about the gate drew my attention. This is hardly a keeper but I don't regret trying out the composition even though it was a failure. I could return to the location, stand further back and wait for a red car or van to come along. That might provide some balance in the photograph. Or I could scrap it! If you are feeling flat and unmotivated by your photography I hope that at least one of these ideas will help you re-ignite your creative spark. Why not give them a try.

Old style telephone booth in Co. Leitrim When I started photography, I tended to look for big landscapes – mountains, lakes, epic forests, dramatic coastlines or well-known landmarks. I believed that these were the only kind of subjects worth photographing or sharing with others. Two things have changed since then. I now try to take photographs of subjects that I am interested in, and I am not overly concerned about making images that others will like, as I know that there will always be those who like an image and those who don’t. I no longer focus my photographic attention on iconic subjects or honeypot locations. Instead, I often wander down country lanes, stroll through rural villages or spend time in what might be considered unremarkable landscapes, and I make images to document what I see during my time there. The question is, can you create captivating images in unremarkable landscapes? I would venture to say ‘yes’ to this question, for a few reasons.   1.    Unremarkable landscapes give you time to make images that are uniquely yours. They will be images that appeal to you, that you are invested in, that you have an emotional connection to. They will be specially chosen images, not images taken because they happen to be in honeypot locations that everyone photographs, and therefore they will be captivating in their own way.   2.    Unremarkable landscapes force you to stretch your photographic muscles. They are not obviously beautiful or photogenic so you must work harder to find a suitable subject and supporting subject and to create a pleasing composition. But when you find something that resonates with you, there is a great sense of satisfaction in having created something of your own.   A red van might have provided a better pop of colour and provided more interest in a drab environment, but I settled for the only one that came along! 3.    Unremarkable landscapes help you to become more observant as you try to find potential compositions where none are immediately obvious. They give you an opportunity to think about photography, to observe light and weather conditions and to experiment with different compositions.   4.    Unremarkable landscapes enable you to discover, capture and show the beauty of the world in your own unique way, especially when that beauty is hidden in plain sight and un-noticed by most people. I like to create images that show the connection between the human and the natural environment, and there are abundant opportunities to find subjects in what are generally described as mundane landscapes. 5.    In unremarkable landscapes you often come across something interesting and unexpected, such as an abandoned building, a ruin, a subject of historical or geological interest, or an interesting part of the natural landscape such as an ancient tree or uncommon plant. Even old churches and cemeteries can offer interest. These subjects may not attract a lot of photographers but they can provide good photographic potential.   6.    Unremarkable landscapes provide many opportunities to discover new topics, to lean into what appeals to you, and to tell stories that no-one else is telling.   Why not explore some unremarkable landscapes for yourself?

A photograph from my local woodland - one of my favourite places to go with my camera. When I started doing photography and charting my progress in a blog, just over 6 years ago now, both were new departures for me. Yes, I had done photography before. In fact, I have had an interest in photography at different times for most of my life. But this was going to be different. This time I was going to learn photography properly and be consistent with my practice, and I felt that charting my progress while doing so would give me the incentive I needed to keep going. My mission in starting my blog was simple – I wanted to share my journey with others who might be interested; those who were starting photography for the first time, those who were returning to photography after an absence, those who wanted to improve their photography and move on from the basics, or anyone who might be interested in following along on my journey. When I started blogging on my own website, I had no experience of attracting an audience. My only previous experience of blog writing was for a work-related website, and that had an already-established, fairly niche, audience. Although attracting an audience wasn’t my main aim, I did want to reach out beyond my own family and friends. I wanted to appeal to those who were already on, or about to embark on, a similar journey, but I didn’t want to be another ‘Beginner Photography Tips’ type of blog as I didn’t consider myself to be experienced enough or knowledgeable enough to appear as ‘expert’ in any sense. I did want the blog to appeal to those who might find it interesting, or even useful, so I needed my content to reflect that aspiration. With a good idea of my purpose, I set out to introduce my content, based on my own personal experience, to the wider world. As I reflect on my blogging journey and look back over the content I have shared, I realise that my blogs fall into a few broad categories: Sharing Learning Sharing Experience Sharing Inspiration Sharing the Benefits Sharing Enjoyment   SHARING LEARNING One of the main aspects and purposes of my blog is to share my learning with others who are travelling on the same photography journey. They may be a little ahead of me or a little behind, they may be quick learners or need lots of reminders, they may be complete beginners at photography or they may have been doing photography on and off for some time, but whatever their stage these people will be enthusiasts, people with a passion for photography and for what this great hobby can bring to their lives. I would like to think that when these people read about some of the things I have learned along the way, a lightbulb moment may occur, the penny will drop, and they will think, as I often have, ‘Ah, so that’s what I’ve been missing all along!’ Sometimes the right suggestion at the right time can be a turning point on our learning path and I hope that I may have provided some such moments that my readers can benefit from. Some examples of this type of post are: Improve Your Woodland Photography With These 3 Tips What I Learned from My First Attempt at Photographing Fungi Discovering Hidden Gems: The Art of Finding Photographs Everywhere SHARING EXPERIENCE At all times I endeavour to share   my own experience rather than give ‘expert’ advice, as I am not an expert. Any advice I do impart comes from experience in the field, trial and error, learning from mistakes, and from advice I was given which I tried out and found to be valuable. As an example, a post on macro photography was based on my experience of trying out macro and close-up photography in a range of contexts, reporting on the difficulties involved, suggesting some possible solutions and providing some sample images that illustrate the genre. Up Close and Not So Personal...Humble Beginnings at Macro Photography.   (This was my first post on starting macro photography, written in 2019. I had a lot to learn!) Since writing this post I have spent more time doing macro photography, gained more experience and some improvement, and I intend to add further posts as I gain more experience in this genre. These posts will not be expert guides to macro photography and should not be taken as such. They will simply be attempts by a passionate learner to enjoy being out with a camera and macro lens and hopefully, with patience and practice, to improve at what I believe to be a fascinating genre. I love to 'play' with close up photography and share my experience and discoveries. SHARING INSPIRATION One of the best ways to learn is from others whose work inspires you. When you are drawn to the images of another photographer, whether this is from a YouTube video, a book, an exhibition, or from meeting them in person at a class or camera club, it says something about your own taste and style. I have found inspiration from many photographers, and I have shared links to their work on my blog posts as their photography may appeal to my readers also. I think this is a useful way of passing on knowledge and inspiration that I cannot provide but which I know exists and is found in other contexts. I have been inspired by all types of landscape photographers. I have been inspired by street photographers, macro photographers and documentary photographers, and by many others who have a varied and eclectic style of photography. I have been inspired by those who travel for photography and by those who photograph close to home. Often, I am drawn to photographers who stress the importance of the process of photography over the product and who can relate to those who are passionate enthusiasts rather than seeing everyone in terms of their level of competence. Among those who have inspired me are: Kim Grant - Kim has helped me to appreciate taking a mindful approach to photography and using photography to be more observant and more present in each moment. Courtney Victoria - Courtney has a love for woodland photography and particularly for macro photography in the woodland, and I have learned a lot from her entertaining videos. Henry Turner - Henry photographs primarily in rural parts of the north of England, in the Lake District and in Scotland. His approach is very laid-back and his content is relatable to beginners and improvers alike. Henry has a great appreciation for the natural world, for his good fortune at being able to do what he loves full-time, and for his audience who make this possible. Simon Booth - Simon is an accomplished landscape photographer who often focuses on intimate landscapes. He has the great skill of being able to find a composition and create a stunning image where none seems possible. Chris Harvey - Chris is what I tend to call an eclectic photographer. He is equally at home photographing old buildings, machinery or farmhouses, as he is photographing local landscapes. Each of his videos follows a theme which is relevant to most emerging photographers and I love to follow his photography discussions as I find them to be interesting and thought-provoking. Distant Media - Greg produces videos which are relatable to all photographers no matter what their skill level. He offers useful tips, techniques and demonstrates skills that most photographers, particularly beginner photographers, will appreciate and he has a very down-to-earth approach which make his videos enjoyable to watch as well as informative. The Photographic Eye - This channel is hosted by Alex and is largely a chat about an aspect of photography that is of interest to those who prefer the photography process to what camera or lens they might use. Alex Armitage - Alex is a photographer who travels around the US, Canada and Europe, living in his car. He has visited some fascinating locations, created amazing images, and he holds the viewer's interest with his travel tales. Mark Denney - Mark is a US based photographer who provides great information, support and advice for those who are passionate about photography. He goes at a steady pace that is easy to follow, which makes him a great teacher. Some of Mark's videos give editing tips that are among the best I have come across. James Popsys - James is a very popular photographer based in Wales. He has a very unique style and is known for his preference to photograph the relationship between human-made and natural subjects and for exploring human influence on the natural environment. James also constantly emphasises his belief that a photograph should be about something rather than of something. The following names are more well known in the photography world but they always provide useful content that appeals to all levels of photographer: Thomas Heaton Nigel Danson Adam Gibb Mike Chudley (street photographer) Darren J. Spoonley is an Irish photographer who provides inspiration for capturing stunning images in the Irish landscape, as well as producing photography guides for the best photographic locations. Each year Darren generously highlights some of the upcoming or lesser known photographers whose work has impressed him during the previous year. This is an invaluable source for anyone who is looking for new inspiration for their photography. All of these photographers present their content either through video, social media, website, regular newsletter or other print media, in-person workshops, photography groups, or a combination of these. They all offer genuine support and advice to others and they endeavour to provide photography related opinions and discussions that are authentic, useful and informative and that will enhance the photography development of their viewers. They can all be found through a YouTube search. SHARING THE BENEFITS One of the most positive outcomes of my photography journey has been the additional benefits that it has brought to my life in terms of general wellbeing. I was excited about sharing several posts on this topic as these benefits are available to everyone, even if we don’t improve very much at photography and only use a basic camera or phone to take pictures. The main thing is to get outdoors, to do something we feel passionate about, and to allow our passion to increase our mindfulness and our awareness of the world around us. Spending time with our camera can enable us to become fully absorbed in an enjoyable activity and to get a welcome break from the cares of daily life. As an outdoor photographer, going out with my camera is my number one way to relieve stress, to re-charge my batteries and to relax in the moment. I hope that photography can provide some of these benefits for my readers too. Some of my posts on this topic include: Why Photography is Good For Your Wellbeing How Can Being Curious Support our Wellbeing? 10 Benefits of Taking a Mindful Approach to Photography Benefits of photography Doing Photography in Nature Has Benefits for Mind and Body What Makes Photography So Rewarding? How Photography Can Help You To Become More Mindful Many more posts on these topics can be found using a website keyword search. SHARING ENJOYMENT This is probably my favourite aspect of sharing my photography journey – sharing my passion for and enjoyment of this wonderful pastime. As I have discovered and have been told often by others whose work I admire, photography is not just about the image - it is also about the journey of discovery, the stories we tell through our images, the connections we make between ourselves and the subjects we choose to photograph. It is about the experience, the emotions that are evoked, the sheer enjoyment of holding a camera in our hand, looking through a lens, and making an image of something that draws our eye and captures our attention. I hope that I have been able to convey this enjoyment through my blog posts and that I will continue to do so as I travel forward on my photography journey.

“The trees encountered on a country stroll Reveal a lot about that country’s soul... A culture is no better than its woods.” ― W.H.Auden When I look back over my image catalogue I notice that the most common subject I have photographed is trees. This doesn't surprise me as I love trees and I think they make great photography subjects. Trees make great subjects because: (a) They wait patiently for you to come along with your camera to take their picture (b) They are constantly changing, offering a great diversity of image possibilities (c) They give the photographer a combination of different components, perspectives, angles, shapes and textures leading to countless interesting compositions (d) They provide interesting 'tree characters' to photograph. That is not to say that trees are easy to photograph. In fact the opposite is often true and no matter how majestic a tree may appear it can be difficult to isolate and use to create a pleasing image. Despite the difficulties involved in creating good tree images it is worth persevering with these wonderful subjects and by experimenting, careful composition and using a range of perspectives and angles we can often come home with images to be proud of. I have picked some of my recent tree images that I think are worth sharing. Do you agree? I am very fortunate to live close to a mature woodland that provides me with many photographic opportunities. I hope that some day I will really do them justice. Meanwhile I will reap the benefits of walking among these ancient characters. “Ancient trees are precious. There is little else on Earth that plays host to such a rich community of life within a single living organism.” — Sir David Attenborough

Lough Rynn Castle I recently visited Lough Rynn Castle hotel and estate in Co. Leitrim, Ireland. Although the weather was dull and damp I did manage to get out to do some photography in this picturesque location. A brief history of Lough Rynn Castle In 1795, an Englishman, Robert Clements, became the first Earl of Leitrim.  Nathaniel Clements, who owned lands in neighbouring Co. Cavan, acquired the Lough Rynn estate in 1750 and became the second Earl of Leitrim, although he continued living on his lands in Cavan. In 1833 Nathaniel Clements' son, Robert Bermingham , built a house in county Leitrim, on the shores of Lough Rynn. This house became the residence of the Clements family and the basis for what became Lough Rynn castle. William Clements became the third 3rd Earl of Leitrim in 1854, inheriting a massive 90,000 acre estate. His attitude to his tenants was very different to the first two earls and by the 1870s he had become the most infamous landlord in Ireland. In 1878 he was ambushed and killed in Co. Donegal. Lough Rynn castle remained in the ownership of the Clements family and was extended and refurbished. Members of the Clements family remained in residence until 1970 although by then much of the land had been sold off to former tenants. In 2001, Lough Rynn estate was purchased by the current owners, the Hanly family. They invested substantially in the house and adjoining estate. In September 2006 Lough Rynn Castle opened as a hotel. The hotel sits on a three-hundred-acre estate, which includes a walled garden, nature trails, a boathouse, and numerous ancient trees including a four-hundred-year-old oak tree. The walled garden was originally constructed between 1855 and 1860 and was re-opened in 2008, by which time Lough Rynn Castle's walled garden had become the largest privately owned walled garden in Ireland. Inside the hotel, the dry stores room of the original castle has become home to the John McGahern library. McGahern was a well known Irish writer, and one of county Leitrim's most famous sons. Although his literary output was small, McGahern won many awards for his work. After his death, his obituary published in The Guardian hailed him as "arguably the most important Irish novelist since Samuel Beckett". The library in Lough Rynn holds the highly esteemed novels of John McGahern, including a collection of first editions displayed in a glass cabinet. Some images of the castle and grounds My time at Lough Rynn was limited and the weather was not conducive to photography so I hope to return at another time to explore the grounds further. Here are some of the images I made during this brief visit, all taken with my Google Pixel 7 pro. Walking trail around the estate Views of the Castle The vast grounds of Lough Rynn castle invite you to make many return visits to explore them in all seasons. I enjoyed my short visit to Lough Rynn Castle hotel and estate, strolling through the grounds on a winter morning, experiencing the sense of history to be found there, savouring the excellent food on offer and relaxing after my walk in front of a real log fire. For a more complete history of the castle and some suggestions of the many things to do in the area, you can visit History of Lough Rynn | Hotels In Leitrim | Lough Rynn Castle .

A celebration of little things! For my first photography assignment of the year I decided to try my hand at close up photography, mainly so that I’ll be ready to capture those little bugs when they appear with the change of season. I don’t own a macro lens and at the moment don’t intend to spend the 300 or so euros needed to buy one, so I took the cheaper option and bought some macro filters. These came in a four pack of x1, x2, x4 and x10 magnification lens filters. I made a start in my own back garden and met with varying degrees of success, ranging from a close up but blurry image, to a sharp image that wasn’t quite ‘close up’. I was soon to realise some of the issues that arise with macro photography. For a start there is the focusing issue, which will take time and practice to master, but an even greater problem is that of camera shake. The closer I came to my subject the more camera shake I experienced, resulting in an image like the one below. I will have to consider investing in a tripod for future macro work! The photographs below were taken in my garden on a calm January day after a rain shower. Raindrops keep falling… What I particularly like about close-up photography is that it doesn’t involve travelling to find a beautiful landscape or an interesting view. In close up photography the interest is in the tiny detail and creative images can be produced in ordinary places. Even a close up of raindrops on a leaf can make for a stunning image if captured properly! Macro photography, where the subject is reproduced at its actual size, can produce even more detail and more interesting images. There is something magical about seeing a tiny part of a subject and playing around with different options instead of focusing on the whole subject. It is akin to being let loose in a small world, and that’s the fun part. It also involves lots of movement, getting in close, moving out, finding the best focus, and often finding something unexpected or finding something in an unexpected place. This garden ornament in a friend’s garden provided another opportunity to get up close. I will use close up photography as a way to learn more about photography in general - about timing, focusing, avoiding camera shake and working with a scene to get some dynamic images. With some luck I'll have learned some of the skills necessary to start shooting bugs and insects later in the year. In the first of these images the flower was in focus, while in the second the leaf was the main focus. I realise how much of the small stuff we miss as we hurry around every day; raindrops on leaves after a shower, little flowers surviving through the winter, the beautiful patterns of decaying plants. Even dead plants have their beauty! Why not give close-up or macro photography a try? You might enjoy it.

Recently I watched a video presented by UK based photographer and filmmaker, Rick Bebbington (link below). In this video Rick suggested that there is only one rule that photographers should pay attention to, and that if we don’t pay attention to this rule, we are unlikely to take a good photograph. Before naming this rule, Rick discussed common photography rules and gave examples of how they can be used in various scenarios to give the best results. However, he goes on to claim that there really is only one ‘rule’ that needs to be applied throughout photography and that is to ask yourself, every time you are taking a photo, ‘Is it interesting?’ This question resonates with me as I believe that if I take a photo that I don’t find interesting I won’t want to share it or even keep it, so it is important for me to feel drawn to a scene or subject before making an image. If my own attention is drawn to a subject I believe that I am more likely to attract the attention of others also. One way I try to apply this principle is to go a step further and as well as asking myself, ‘Is it interesting?’   I ask myself, ‘What is it that makes this scene or subject interesting to me? What is drawing my attention?’   If I can name exactly what I am drawn to I believe it helps me to make a more appealing image. So, what is it that draws my attention in photography?   It could be: A balanced composition   A compelling subject Good light Something unusual A different angle or perspective A splash of colour   In each of the following images I try to explain what it is that makes it interesting to me. I think that three objects make for a good composition. As well as the autumn colour in this image it is the placement of the three trees, and the sense of balance that creates, that makes the image interesting to me. I am always attracted to good light, especially when there is contrast in the image between light and shadow. I am often drawn to something unusual. In this image the tree resembles an animal-like character and I think it adds interest to the image. Taking a different perspective, such as photographing the intimate landscape, can provide interest in a photograph. Finding a splash of colour in a dark background can often help create an interesting image. * There are many ways to enhance your photography by creating an interesting image. How do you answer the question, Is it interesting? in relation to your photography? For inspiration from a professional photographer, check out Rick Bebbington's video below The Only Rule Photographers Should Pay Attention To Rick Bebbington

Following the abundance of photographic opportunities offered by autumn this year, photographers could be forgiven for thinking that winter might be a lean period for capturing any decent photographs. As a season, it lacks the vivid colour of autumn and it is a quieter, more restful season that can appear to offer very few photographic opportunities. This is why a change of mindset is necessary in winter. Opportunities are there, we just need to be open to them. We should explore the possibilities that winter offers, uncover the new opportunities it presents and embrace the challenge of braving the cold and dreary conditions to see what we can create in a season that has its own unique magic. Here are some suggestions and ideas for winter photography: Seize the Light Whenever Possible Maximise Winter Weather Opportunities Highlight Winter Trees Capture Winter Festivals in Photos Take Advantage of a Recent Rain Shower Search for Winter Colour Winter is not a season we tend to associate with colour. After the lush vibrant colours of summer and the abundance of rustic autumn hues, winter can seem dull and dreary, devoid of any colour and lacking in light. Many believe that colour and light can influence mood. That is, being in the presence of warmer colours can help us to feel better than when we are surrounded by dull, grey colours. Winter is traditionally a dull, grey season so it makes sense to seek out some warm, bright colours to brighten our mood. And there are always colours to be found, even in winter, if we look for them. WInter is often the best time to see the sky light up in colour. I love being there to see it. Opportunities will present themselves in every season. All you need to do is be observant, keep an open mind and be ready to create when opportunities arrive. Why not get out with your camera today and enjoy some winter photography.

Each year I like to look through my photos of the past year to choose my favourite images. This exercise helps me to critique my images and discover what I like and dislike about them, what I would do differently and how I might improve in the future. I have categorised my choice to include samples from different seasons, several locations, multiple genres and a range of styles. The images are representative of my work throughout the year rather than samples of my best images, which would be a very subjective choice. I hope you like 15 Favourite Photos I took these two images in Vila Real, Portugal. I loved to leave the main thoroughfare, with it's shops, bars and tourists, and find some images off the beaten track. These two images represent this preference. During the past year I have been drawn to images in the intimate landscape, rather than wider landscape photography. This area yields countless photographic opportunities and has given me many enjoyable hours of photography. We had a particularly mild autumn this year in Ireland so the season provided an abundance of colour. I was drawn to this abundance and made many autumn images, including many involving leading lines through the forest! This was the year I decided not to tie myself to any particular niche or genre and to take pictures of things that interested me. I followed my curiosity and made images of things I was drawn to, regardless of whether they were images that others would take. I think this has given me a great sense of freedom in my photography and has enhanced my enjoyment as I am doing photography for myself, enjoying the process and not worrying about the final product or whether others will like my images. I experimented a lot with macro and close-up photography this year. I know I have a long way to go to succeed at this genre but it's been a fun journey of learning and discovery. I even made a first attempt at photographing fungi! Although I love spending time by the sea, I find coastal photography to be difficult. I include this image because it evokes a feeling and it captures the character of the sea on this particular day. It won't win any awards, but it doesn't have to. I like it. During the year I tried to make more pictures that tell a story. Here, I had walked to the end of the beach in Monto Gordo, Portugal, when I came across a team of fisherman landing their catch. I watched them bring their boats ashore and I think this photograph sums up the experience.

For many photographers, particularly those for whom photography is a way of making a living, it is the final image that is the most important consideration. Their reward comes in the form of compelling images that can be added to their portfolio. For others, however, the final image is not the most rewarding part of photography. Even those who may make some money from photography will often prioritise the process over the final product, and will even claim that enjoyment of and engagement in the process of photography will enhance their chances of getting a better image. Although I am purely an amateur photographer, and I do like to come home with a few decent images after spending time out with my camera, I believe that I will always prioritise process over product. Even though I may at times be disappointed at my failure to create a good image I will still enjoy my photography outings because of the intrinsic artistic and emotional rewards that come from engaging in the process of photography. So, what makes the photography process so rewarding? For those who don't do photography this question may be hard to answer. After all, photography just involves pointing your camera at a subject and pressing the shutter! Even for a photographer, it can be difficult to explain why the process of photography is so rewarding. I mentioned artistic and emotional rewards and I think these are gained from engaging in the creative process of photography rather than from the final creation. To illustrate how this works for me let me take you on a typical photography shoot... It is 8am on a typical October morning. The light is flat and dull as I arrive at my familiar photography location - my local park and woodland. I have my camera with me and although I don't expect to come home with any amazing images, I will try to make a few images if something draws my attention. The first thing I notice is the abundance of colour as a result of a relatively mild and settled autumn. The woodland canopy is a wonderful mixture of orange, red, yellow and green while the floor is a mass of colourful, crunchy leaves. As I walk along I listen to the sounds of nature, watch the squirrels as they scamper around gathering nuts and acorns, and feel the chilly autumn breeze on my face. All of my senses are awakened in this location and whether I get a photograph or not I will still enjoy a walk on this beautiful autumn day. As I progress further into the woodland I begin to look around for potential compositions. The trees look so majestic that I think I can make an image that reflects their beauty. I am drawn to one particular scene - to the path leading through the trees, the beautiful autumnal colours and the way that the trees act as a frame leading the eye further and adding to a sense of mystery in the scene. I experiment with different angles and perspectives and adjust my position to get the best vantage point. I spend time taking some test images until I feel satisfied that I have the best I can get. On each of my photography outings I follow a similar pattern. I look for subjects that catch my eye, seek potential compositions in different locations and under different conditions, I experiment with focal length and distance, and in doing this I become emotionally invested in the act of creation. On one occasion I may be drawn to leading lines... on another I am drawn to groups of trees... while on yet another occasion it may be a single tree or how a tree is in relation to the trees around it. My final images may not be always be worth keeping but I do often manage to create images that I like, that have potential and that are worth taking home to view on a large screen. FINAL WORDS... What makes photography so rewarding? For me it is, without doubt, the experience of creating an image, the process and all that it involves, that brings the real reward in photography. What is it that makes photography rewarding for you?

For most of us interested in photography it is natural, as with most types of art, to want to share our work with others. We might want to receive validation for our efforts or invite creative feedback from others. Sometimes, showing our work is simply part of completing the creative process. There are many ways in which we can show our photography. Some of us may be fortunate enough to be invited to display our work in a local exhibition. Where I live there are many opportunities to take part in local art and photography contests where winning entries will be displayed for a limited time. However, this is not for everyone and sharing work on one of many online platforms or on social media is a more common way to get our work noticed. Social media has its advantages and disadvantages. With strategic use of hashtags on Instagram we can get our work to new audiences and be seen beyond the world of family and friends. On the other hand, social media audiences are very fleeting, and people quickly move on to the next thing while our photography quickly disappears from view. There is one way in which we can display our work in a more permanent capacity and that is to create our own website. By having our own website, we can take control over the display of our work, our photographs will be available at all times to be viewed by anyone who visits our website, and we can put our work into context by accompanying our images with captions or including them in blog posts. Below I elaborate on why I am a believer in the value of having a photography website. I identify 3 main reasons:   1. A website encourages you to do photography your way – not to label yourself or box yourself into any genre. Social media often encourages us to label our photography. It can be the case that we will get more views and more followers if we specialise in one genre and share work in that genre. If views and followers are what we are looking for, that’s fine. But if we want to do photography for ourselves, if we want to follow our curiosity and share our ‘experiments’ rather than a finished product, a website will allow us to do this. It will give us the freedom to do photography our way, without judgement.   2. A website encourages you to be more intentional about your work. A website can be a place to display work on themes, projects, and topics of personal preference. It can place more structure on our workflow. It can allow us to build the story of our photography journey over time rather than share random photos that will be instantly forgotten. A website will help us to share work in a more meaningful way, to engage more fully with our audience and with our own photography process, to be more intentional about what we are doing and to understand why we are drawn to particular subjects and themes in our photography. Through developing a range of subjects on our website, we get time to explore topics and genres in depth, time to discover what interests us and what we want to pursue further. 3. You can create a more long-term gain for your work. When we display our work on our own website we don’t have to shoot and share straight away therefore our work will have a greater longevity. We can save our work until we wish to share it. Often, sharing images in the context of wider themes and projects gives them more meaning and purpose.   I like to experiment and photograph seemingly random subjects which would not appeal to social media audiences. With my own website I can create a platform to display these images and explain why I was drawn to photograph them. FINAL THOUGHTS As an enthusiast photographer I have had difficulty in attracting followers on social media platforms and in getting my photography noticed. I know that those who succeed on social media tend to have a strong ‘brand’, post consistently and frequently engage with others, so a lot more effort was needed on my part if I was to succeed on this platform.   With my own website I can work at my own pace, my work is there for anyone who stumbles across it, and my viewership builds with time. These are the three main reasons why I think it is good to have my own photography website and why I favour a photography website over sharing on social media platforms such as Instagram. You might think of some more.

I am fortunate to live close to a large suburban parkland consisting of a mature woodland which is fed by a local river. The woodland is home to many large, mature native trees as well as smaller groves. It has many of the landscape features common to an 18th century park, including a large boundary wall, a well-maintained walled garden, ornate entrance gates and pillars, bridges, ponds, and waterfalls. The many features mean it provides a haven and a home to many species of plants and wildlife, both on land and on water. The parkland provides numerous opportunities for landscape and nature photography as well as for doing abstract photography and even candid photography at its busy weekend market. I am a frequent visitor to this park and woodland and I never fail to find new photographic opportunities. While I am aware that there are many websites and YouTube videos giving great tips for woodland photography, in this post I want to offer my top 3 tips for improving your woodland photography borne out of my own experience, having spent many hours here, doing all types of photography. I hope you find them helpful. # 1. Visit often Woodlands are busy places with an abundance of opportunities to offer the photographer. If you want to get some worthwhile images you will need to visit often and get to know the woodland well. Look at it from every angle - high up, low down and everything in between.   Get to know the tree characters. Examine the woodland floor for an ‘intimate landscape’ experience. Go there at different times of day for changing light and a different perspective. Become familiar with the seasonal changes and where they are most evident. Try to notice something different each time you visit. #2 . Have your settings on ‘speed dial’ in your mind. Woodlands have huge potential for photography due to the number of features they contain. It is possible to discover something different around every corner. This often necessitates a quick change of camera settings to ensure a well exposed, sharp photo. In one area you will need a medium aperture, such as f/9 – f/11, to capture an image that is as sharp as possible throughout, while at another time you will want a wide aperture to add some bokeh. You might then encounter a waterfall where you need a slow shutter speed to get a milky effect, or to smooth out the water on a pond or gurgling stream. It's vital to be able to choose your shutter speed and aperture at a moment’s notice or you risk missing the shot. Whether you work in manual mode, aperture priority or shutter priority, a good working knowledge of how your camera works and the ability to choose settings quickly will make your woodland photography more successful and enjoyable. #3 . Use a wrist strap Most of us carry our camera on a strap around our neck. It seems to be more natural, safer, and easier to carry that way. However, for woodland photography I would suggest that you ditch the neck strap and carry your camera on a wrist strap. This gives you more flexibility and freedom and it becomes much easier to take pictures from different perspectives, such as getting down low, rather than always shooting from standing height. As a result, you get more interesting, unique images as well as increasing the number of potential images you find. Since I found this advice on a photography blog I have tried it out many times. It really works and has now become my favourite way to carry my camera. I hope these tips will add to what you already know about woodland photography and help you improve the images you make in these amazing locations. Below are some of my woodland images from different seasons.