December newsletter: ups and downs and the arrival of my new zine

December had its ups and downs

Right now it is unseasonably warm, but we had freezing temperatures and snows that lay unmoving for days. The cost of living has gone up, sales for photographers and artists have gone down. I completed my challenge of walking and running 1,000 miles this year but was laid low by man-flu twice.

What I’ve been up to this month

1Point4 Miles – Heat and Intensity was finally delivered by the printers. I am pleased with the way it looks. If you are looking for some sunshine to cheer up your January, then this could be just the solution. I still have a few free fold out posters that I will send free with copies until they run out. Purchase your copy here.

I have also become entranced with the local puddles, both frozen and thawed. I have received some strange glances when others see me with my camera pointing firmly at what looks like an uninteresting piece of ground! It just goes to show that it is possible to make interesting images out of anything!

I have also spent time editing (and re-editing!) existing images as well as taking time to write more about my images.

What I learned this month

I learned that it is OK not to do things if the time isn’t right. For the first month since I launched my website, I did not write a monthly piece about photography. It was a mix of unusual busyness, feeling uninspired and being ill. I certainly plan to write more in January: it is just a one-month lapse.

I am also learning the value of letting go. I am (very) slowly decluttering my workspace. It has involved getting rid of things that I have clung on to for too long or had even forgotten existed. I think this may be the same with some photography projects as well.

What are my plans for next month?

Work progresses on my next black and white local walk project. Look out for updates before too long.

In addition, I want to spend a longer time with some of the images that I am making. I plan to put small prints in a notebook and look at the images and write about them. This is part of working on finding more about my photographic voice: I plan to write more about this in the coming weeks.

What have I been listening to this month?

It has been an eclectic month of listening. Firstly, I have been catching up on some episodes from the excellent Biblioscapes podcast. You can listen to the Biblioscapes interview with me here. I have also been listening to Lebanese noise-scapes, Welsh punk and Japanese rap. But my favourite listening this month was to an old favourite: James. I found their album Live In Extraordinary Times to be an uplifting piece of anthemic indie rock. If you are intrigued by the other things I have been listening to, hit reply and I’ll send you details.

What have I seen this month

We went on a family trip to London for three days this month. By the end of it, I was almost suffering from sensory overload! I was allowed to escape shopping with my wife and daughter and I got to go to some photography exhibitions instead. The one that sticks in my mind is the retrospective of Chris Killip, which is on at the Photographer’s Gallery until mid-February. This is a highly moving exhibition that shows the power of documentary photography. It is a searing comment on divisions in society which is, sadly, still all too relevant today.

Make sure you keep in touch!

You can follow me on Twitter, Instagram and Vero. But please also e-mail directly: I really enjoy the conversations I have with those of you who have contacted me. And I love to see image and projects that you are proud of. And do send me recommendations for reading, listening, exhibitions, blog articles and more!