2014 A year in pictures

So much for my resolution to become an avid and successful blogger (maybe next year).

2014 has been an adventure and a good part of it has involved me reconnecting with photography. In the process I've learnt some new techniques, discovered more about myself, travelled away from The Island a few times, met some lovely and interesting people, began new projects, gained a little confidence and enjoyed my photography.

The following image is a selection of 52 images picked from the last 12 months (well 14 months really, but there's been a slight decline in output since a house move in Autumn). I wanted to have a picture representing each of the weeks gone by. I don't consider myself a prolific photographer, but I'm happy with that figure and I'm pleased with the results.

My year in pictures, 2014...

Ghosts within the asylum

The ghosts are there.

Everywhere.
Whispering and wittering.
Chattering, chittering.
Hollering and howling.

LISTEN TO ME!

LISTEN to me!

listen to me!

My precioussss....
sss...
ss..
s.

Listen to my madness.
Listen to my thoughts.
My ghosts.
Trapped within the asylum.
With only you to listen.
 
You think you are alone in this deafening clamour until you look around and watch -and here I mean watch closely - the faces of those about and you realise that each and every one is dealing with the same internal personal discussions to a greater or lesser extent and bearing up with ease or weakness. Try, wherever possible, to open the heavy wooden doors that keep these creatures festering in the dark and let the light come in, strong and bright, as it is hard to notice a ghost within the brightness of daylight.

Watching the moon in the rear view mirror

So there I was, driving along the downs - one of the highest points on The Island - and I'm heading straight toward the most fantastic moon. The biggest, brightest I've seen in a long time. I swear you could have reached out and touched it, it was that big. I had no camera, nowhere to stop and traffic up me jacksy. When I got to the next junction I had no choice, but to turn and drive away. I watched it in my rear view as long as possible. 

Sketches, Thumbnails and Doodles

A sketch, thumbnail or doodle is often the starting point. Sometimes the idea stays on the paper as a little rectangle of lines and personal symbols, a passing thought and nothing more. Sometimes it will end up almost exactly as it began and sometimes it will change and develop as circumstances dictate. If it changes don't consider that a bad thing or a sign that it was a bad idea, it's simply a way for the creative universe to offer you a deal, a two for the price of one so to speak.

Daydream believer

I've been practising my composite skills a lot recently, trying to use the camera as a device to take me to all sorts of fantastical places where princesses sneak away from the celebrations to sleep beyond the castle walls or rush through the ruined temples of some foreign land. Where Red Riding Hood begins her journey into the ominous woodland where grandma lives or the Fairy Queen makes her nightly journey to consult with her loyal subjects...