Before we firmly head into autumn, I want to look back over this extraordinary summer. Here in Devon, after a dry Spring, we had no rain for 45 consecutive days in July and August, which is a UK record. We are still officially in drought. Ironically, this is after the wettest winter on record, with rain every day until early March. It has also been hot on 91 days, with an all-time high of 35.8 C recorded In June, and we had the driest July in Devon sonce records began in 190

We were incredibly lucky to be given tickets for a trip on the Waverley this summer — and what began as a lovely day out turned into one of the highlights of our year. There is something rather magical about stepping aboard a ship that has been carrying passengers for 80 years. The sound of the steam, the enormous paddle wheels, the polished wood and brass, and the gentle rhythm of the engines all make you feel as though you have stepped back into another era. Waverley is a C

One of the joys of the summer in Devon is visiting the gardens that are open to the public through the National Garden Scheme. Over the years, we have explored many hidden treasures that are being lovingly cared for by their owners. This year, we made it to Heathercombe, located in a secluded valley near Hound Tor on Dartmoor. Continuing my 'sense of place' project, I noted down the key words about the garden from the website before our visit, with the aim of generating image

A walk along Meadfoot beach in Torbay on a stormy day, early in the Summer. Tempted out by the sun, then buffeted by the wind, disappointed that it was too rough to swim. I decided to challenge myself to capture Meadfoot's Sense of Place in ten to fifteen photos, with four simple guidelines: context, human scale, macro (details/texture) and light/shadow. I started with setting the scene with some wide shots: Walking along the seawall, to the left is a large, white modernist b

A few weeks later, I returned to Emsworthy, this time with a friend who was visiting Devon for a few days. Born and raised on a farm on the moor, she has a deep-rooted connection to Dartmoor, gathering up its moments to sustain her until the next time she can return. We wandered along the paths and beside the old stone walls, listening to the cuckoos calling across the open moor. I was so pleased that there were still some bluebells for my friend to enjoy, although they were

One of my photography projects this year is to explore the concept of 'a sense of place'. I have signed up to this challenge with fellow members of the RPS South West Group with the aim of producing a panel of 10 images that convey the character of a place. Sounds doable, right? I am a keen photographer, I go to lots of places to take photos. And yet, I am already discovering that it is going to be quite a challenge! A little research suggests that, to portray a 'sense of pla

What are the issues that concern you most? For me, it is the climate and nature crisis. I am increasingly frustrated that this is not at the forefront of political debate in the UK, even now that the National Emergency Briefing on climate and nature has made it clear that climate breakdown is no longer a distant or future problem, but is causing an immediate threat to UK national security, public health and economic stability. Although it is reassuring that I am not alone in

I am feeling nervous. I am standing in the town centre of Newton Abbot with fellow community activists from a group called Common Ground. We're all powerfully concerned with democracy and with how it is working (or not working) in our local communities. As a group we have no allegiance to any of the political parties that vie for our votes. Indeed, we believe passionately that democracy begins, not in Westminster, nor in candidates canvassing on doorsteps, but in ordinary con

Inspired by a video from Kim Grant - and in need of some creative rest - I spent half an hour sitting quietly in my garden. Kim, herself inspired by Dutch macro and woodland photographer Jannette Van Der Boon, presents a simple but rich challenge: stay in one spot for 30 minutes and photograph whatever catches your eye within one metre. Her advice is "sit still and let nature come to you". I followed her lead, settling into a comfortable spot at the end of the garden beside

The task for this month is to walk 100 steps from my front door and take some photos. Simple. Look ahead and behind, right and left, up and down. I set out with just my phone camera, curious as to what would emerge. What will catch my eye? The first surprise was how far 100 paces took me - just to the end of the road, where I make the daily decision as to whether to go left or right: The 'For Sale' sign is for our house. I suddenly realised that I was documenting a significan

River Bovey at National Trust Parke Estate Today, April 22nd, is World Earth Day and this year's theme is 'Our Power, Our Planet', a call for collective action and community-led change. Since its founding in 1970, Earth Day has aimed to raise awareness of environmental issues such as climate change and the protection of natural resources. Over the past 52 years global campaigns have tackled plastic pollution, promoted climate literacy and ecosystem restoration. But given the

This week I finally took the plunge and replaced my elderly Honda with a used BEV - a Battery Electric Vehicle. I have taken many years to reach this point. For a long time, I was persuaded by a familiar environmental argument: that it is often more sustainable to hold on to an existing, if elderly, car. The logic is simple - follow the usual environmental advice of 'repair and keep'. Extending the life of a vehicle spreads the 'embodied carbon' from its manufacture over more

My task this month is to photograph 'silence'. I looked the word up in the dictionary as a starting point: 'A near or complete absence of sound'. Photographs are silent, they do not make a noise. So, that is my first challenge. How to represent silence through the image? Maybe I need to photograph something that does not make a noise, or a scene of stillness. I go in search of a place of peace and tranquility, and naturally head to Dartmoor. But initially, instead of silence,

I have lived in the same part of the world, Devon in the south west of England, for all of my life. I am rooted into this place and its familiarity is comforting and shelters me in these tumultuous times. This little corner of Devon has always felt like a safe haven. And yet I am feeling increasingly 'unmoored'. Reading ' Nation of Strangers ' by Ece Temelkuran is helping me to make sense of this disequilibrium. A profound and thought-provoking book, written as a series of l

In my part of Devon, it rained every day for the first fifty days of 2026. From torrential, horizontal stinging rain that rattles the windows, to a soft drizzle that gently hangs in the air, and every mood in between. Everywhere is sodden: woodland paths like sticky streams, seafronts awash with stormy seas. The sky is continously grey. I hadn't realised how much I depend on the blue of the sky. We have had only the briefest of glimpses which raised a cheer, and then just as

This is the time of year when we can feel like we are in limbo as we consider what was in the past year and what is yet to be in the year ahead. It can leave us stuck between inertia and momentum, confusion and clarity. That is very much how I have started 2026. I find myself dealing with a backlog of photography projects, frustrated with myself for not being more efficient. I am eager to start something new, yet resentful that I cannot do so because of the weight of the unf

Travel can be a delight. Encountering the unexpected, the new, leads you to rethink the old and come away with shifts in perspective. A place like Cape Town with its very diverse cultural and historical past, provides a multitude of opportunities. And there were some unexpected reminders of family - a sign to say that Singapore was 9661km away and then an impressive lifeboat too! The tourist bucket list for Cape Town starts with a trip up the iconic Table Mountain . And it d

Living in Devon, I often feel far removed from what might be called 'proper culture'. My home town has a small local history museum but there no art gallery, and the nearest city, Exeter, also offers a museum with modest exhibitions that change just twice a year. Whenever I can, I therefore make my way to London in search of new delights. This December I was spoilt for choice! We started with a visit to Tate Britain, which I have not been to for many years, and our first enco

In the UK, December marks the turn of the season. The winter days are short, and this year they have been exceptionally grey, wet and mild. More evidence, as if we need it, of the climate crisis that continues to build. So I have been looking out for splashes of light, to brighten me up. Here, I caught the early morning light on the water as I took the train to London, lifting the grey to silver: And played with abstract lines of light in the Design Museum : I woke the next

During my trip to South Africa, I went to vsist the district of Bo-Kaap, tempted by the prospect of some great photos of its iconic colourful houses. It is one of Cape Town’s most photographed and culturally rich neighbourhoods, famous for its brightly painted houses and deep Cape Malay heritage. But beyond the colours lies a history shaped by colonialism, slavery, Apartheid, and a community determined to preserve its identity. Visiting Bo-Kaap can be both fascinating and..