Get up early for the best light!

There is a phrase amongst photographers known as 'The Golden Hour'. It refers to the times one hour after sunrise and one hour before sunset. During these periods sunlight is softer and colours more vibrant. Once the light intensifies the magic can be lost and colours will be washed out and bland in harsh sunlight. But get up early for the sunrise and it can be a magical time to capture mother nature putting on her most vibrant displays. I got up early and headed to the sea front to capture this little fishing boat heading out for the early catch. The picture was taken about 20 minutes after sunrise, within minutes of capturing the frame, the light had changed and the moment was gone forever...

Tips on dressing for your photo shoot! What should you wear for a great looking portrait?

Well for starters there are no absolute rules, no right or wrongs. That said, if you want great looking pictures try to wear solid colours rather than distracting busy patterns or sports tops with busy logos, typically these will almost certainly distract people from what the picture is really about, you.

The solid colours here, along with the light on his face, help to keep your attention on Tijan, rather than your eye wondering off all over the image and not knowing where to settle. Your eye will be drawn to the red, but it will return to Tijans eyes which are really the main focus for this kind of portrait. Also, the neutral background doesn't distract, this also helps to keep your eyes on the subject. I took this shot out on location, lighting Tijan from one side with off camera flash to create the mood.

Stressed out? Take a walk on the wild side....

We live in a stressful modern world with busy jobs, demanding home lives and during tough economical times. Walking is obviously great exercise in itself but for me it's also a fantastic way of chilling out at the weekend, the freedom of wide open spaces, fresh air and the whole 'back to nature' thing always appeals.

This picture was probably the first creative photo I took around nine years ago. I was going through very tough times both at work and at home, things were starting to crumble, something had to change. Long story short, I took nearly six months off work under the guidance of my Doctor and was treated for stress. She advised me to engage in low key activities and when I explained about my budding interest in photography, Doctor Marsh (who I thank to this day) encouraged me to combine walking and photography and this was the slow road to recovery as well the start of my passion for taking creative pictures. Here are some of those early photos:

Clumber Park 'Solitude'

Clumber Park 'Tranquility'

Looking back, I can see how the look, mood and titles of these photos reflected my feelings and needs at the time. Photography started to become the creative outlet and of self expression I desperately needed, the passion continued to grow.

So next time you are feeling a little stressed, grab your camera and head out! Take the kids with you, the dog, your partner, go to the woods, the park, the city, wherever. Just get out there and start capturing memories you just may treasure for the rest of your life. Good look and have fun!

We live in a visually rich world full of magical moments...

I learned from a young age to admire and take interest in my natural surroundings, as a young boy my father would take me walking with the family dog and we would point out things of interest along the way. Clouds which where shaped like animals, dead trees which looked like giant serpents or dragons, the breathtaking colours of a sunset on the way home, the vivid blues of Bluebells in the woods or the glisten of dew on a cobweb caught in the morning sunshine, or the infinite patterns in the ice of a frozen puddle. We live in a visual world made up of magical moments which can be captured forever through photography. The joy in the eyes of a newly wed bride, the love in a childs eyes, Horse Chestnut Trees at their most vibrant in autumn... Mother nature is still magical to me, and to this day at the age of 41 I still stop and gaze in awe at her splendour whenever I see a sunset or sunrise. Even more magical are the opportunities to share all these moments with my now eight year old son as we walk together, and of course with you through pictures...