Superb morning at @3dstrength in Darlington, being put through my paces. I was offered the opportunity while filming a few weeks ago to return to 'train' with the strong men and women at the gym. It was a very different type of training to what I've done in a while. This shot is of Ben Williams @ben_strongman one of the regulars at 3D Strength.
#strongmantraining
#strongman
#strongmanmotivation
#athlete
#sportsphotographer
#sportsphotography
#sport
#strengthsports
#gymphotography
#Darlington
#northeastengland
Brilliant catching up with artist Kathryn Thompson after several years. Kathryn is a community artist working in a variety of media including felt which can be seen in the image.
Part of a project on artists for the final year of my degree at the University of Sunderland.
@sunderlandcreative
@nephotonetwork
@northerncentreofphotography
@kathryn0509
#artist
#art
#communityartist
#environmentalportrait
#northeastengland
#northeastartist
#creativeminds
#portraitphotography
Just a few of the people who have contributed to my 2019. Thank you to all of you and the positive impact you have had. I look forward to seeing you all again in 2020
A few images from my 'Watling Wood' project last year to wish a peaceful and stress free Christmas to all my family, friends, colleagues and collaborators. Looking forward to an adventurous year ahead.
#christmas
#winter
#snow
#watlingwood
#countydurham
#gloriousbritain
#britishlandscape
#winterwonderland
#landscapephotography
#englandsbigpicture
#england
#capturingbritain
#ukpotd
#ukscenery
Willow Burn Hospice, December 2018.
A year ago today my wife Suzanna gave up her final breath. It marked the end of a lifetime of remarkable memories, marred by the pain of her final twenty days. In those final days I witnessed the true nature of humanity, people making decisions that affected someone else’s life, choosing not to do their best, not to do what was right, being uncaring in ways that I couldn’t believe people could be. In the following months I was subjected to lies, death threats and people who claimed to be there for me no matter what, turning their backs on me.
All this happened after I had struggled through eight years of severe mental health problems, I couldn’t imagine being without Suzanna, who had supported me through that time. I dedicated my life to her, she was my reason for living. In March I hit an all time low. There were no good days. Every morning was filled with the dread of what was going to happen next. Every day something even worse happened than the previous day.
I prepared to put an end to it all. Completely alone in the house, kids away for the weekend, the plan in motion, when unexpectedly my daughter walked into the house. It stopped me in my tracks, made me rethink the decision, if she had been minutes later, she would have had to deal with the fallout. It woke me up, shook me momentarily from my grief and made me determined to change direction.
In the last six months things have changed significantly. I have become driven again in the way I was years ago, I have become extremely passionate about the work that I do and have started achieving in the ways I used to. Most importantly I am surrounding myself with like minded people, people who are passionate and thoughtful and who give a damn that I am here.
I won’t name them. Those people know who they are, if you are in doubt, if I have spent more than a few hours chatting with you or working with you in the last year, then you are part of the reason I am still here. You are making life worth living for me.
#cancer
#cancerresearch
#grief
#griefawareness
#lifepartner
#life
#hospice
#willowburnhospice
#documentaryphotography
#cancersucks
A few shots from yesterday's training session with the @3dstrength team. Nothing better than working with passionate people.
#strongmantraining
#strongman
#sportsphotographer
#sportsphotography
#Darlington
#northeastengland
#powerlifting
#fitness
#fitnessmotivation
#sport
#athlete
#strengthsports
@xploape
@monkeynutrition
@savagesupplementsreborn
@spartan_performance_
Great morning at @spartan_performance_ filming Dale McPherson and the team from @3dstrength. The start of training for 2020.
#strongmantraining
#strongman
#sportsphotography
#sportsphotographer
#Darlington
#northeastengland
#powerlifting
#fitness
#sport
#athlete
#squats
#strengthsports
#strongmanmotivation
@xploape
@monkeynutrition
@savagesupplementsreborn
Brilliant afternoon working and talking art with the wonderful Beth J. Ross.
Part of a project on Artists for the final year of my Photography Degree at Sunderland University.
@bethjross
@sunderlandcreative
@nephotonetwork
@northerncentreofphotography
#contemporaryart
#artist
#artistsoninstagram
#northeastengland
#northshields
#northeastartist
#contemporarypainting
#britishart
#britishartists
#britishpainter
#femaleartist
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. No snow yet, but cold frosty mornings, my favourite time of year, the crispness of everything, blueness of the light, beautiful but intimidating, the cycle of life at an end ready for a new beginning in a month or two. This time of year has some harrowing memories for me. The forest is the place I let go, one of the few places I can find peace, it plays a huge role in my life.
#slaleyforest
#forest
#woodland
#Northumberland
#northeastengland
#northumberland_uk
#photography
#britain
#genuinebritain
#bestofbritish
#beautifulbritannia
#northeastcaptures
#treestagram
#tree_magic
#tree_captures
Today would have been Suzanna’s birthday. It is a year today since I last saw her away from hospital and in the ‘real world’ before she died. She made a huge effort to escape the hospital for a short time.
We travelled by car the short distance from North Durham Hospital to Wharton Park and we wandered the park for a while. The weather was very similar to what it is today, still, quiet, a bite of frost in the air. We talked about the things we intended to do more of once she was ‘out of hospital’. We held hands, sat on a bench overlooking Durham Cathedral and cuddled in to each other in the cold.
She was tiny, not only had she lost a significant amount of weight but also presence. She was exhausted. We had a cup of tea and a really badly toasted teacake in the cafe, she barely touched either.
I think she knew. It was her birthday, but I think it was all for me, perhaps to give me something to hold onto. I am overflowing with guilt about what I could have done, should have done better, that my life has become so much more than it was since she died; that as things got worse for her, they improved for me.
I struggle to hold onto the memory of her. Some days I can't remember the sound of her voice, the smell of her, the feel of her, those things I used to take for granted.
#cancer
#loss
#grief
#macmillancancersupport
#cancerresearch
#lifepartner
#memories
#durhamcity
#whartonpark
#northeastengland
#cancersucks
#cancerawareness
#stomachcancer
Inspirational frosted forest, crisp underfoot in biting blue air. An opportunity to take a break from work. The first time in so long that I've been able to shoot exclusively still images. It has reset my mind.
Making up for missing out on a trip to the woods yesterday with @alexdavidsonoutdoors
#slaleyforest
#northeastengland
#Northumberland
#tree_magic
#tree_captures
#treehunter
#tree_brilliance
#fiftyshadesofnature
#treestagram
#nature_lovers
#treelove
#treescape
#forest
Great working with Dale McPherson at @3dstrength again today, squats this time. My best work is always achieved while working with passionate, motivated people and Dale is right up there showing what can be achieved through hard work.
#strongmantraining
#strongman
#sportsphotographer
#sportsphotography
#Darlington
#northeastengland
#fitness
#powerlifting
#sport
#athlete
#squats
#strengthsports
#strongmanmotivation
@xploape
@monkeynutrition
@savagesupplementsreborn
Wonderful filming artist Andy Parkin @andyparkinartist this morning. Inspirational. Andy is an MA student at Sunderland University. He is pictured here with his sculpture 'I get by with a little help from my friends', made from recycled Carling beer cans, which will be on display outside the Priestman Building, University of Sunderland, Friday evening (21 Nov 2019). @sunderlandcreative
@northerncentreofphotography
@nephotonetwork
@sunderlandecho
@carlinguk
#artistsoninstagram
#art
#artist
#contemporaryart
#universityofsunderland
#northeastengland
#sunderland
#sunderlandartist
#tyneandwear
#carlingblacklabel
Slow shutter Seaham on an icy November night. I have a lot of respect for the determination of the three people fishing from the lighthouse, it was zero degrees and dropping by the time we left. With @parkphotography77
#seaham
#visitengland
#countydurham
#visitdurham
#explore_britain
#photosofbritain
#tourism
#nikonuk
#ukhiddengems
#thisprettyengland
#genuinebritain
#englishlandscape
#englandsbigpicture
#yourcountryside
Filming again at @3dstrength with Dale McPherson. This time 425kg 'Silver Dollar' deadlift a personal PB for Dale.
@xploape
#strongmantraining
#strongman
#deadlift
#coach
#northeastengland
#Darlington
#sportsphotography
#strengthsports
#trainer
#powerlifting
#fitness
#sportsphotographer
Shot a few months back in the former mining town of Blaenau Ffestiniog in Wales. The scale of the mounds of slate compared to the perilously close buildings is stunning. One of those 'Stop the car!' moments with @walt0ne.
#blaenauffestiniog
#wales
#mining
#miningtown
#industry
#landscape
#bestofbritish
#lovewales
#genuinebritain
#lovebritain
#photosofbritain
#walesrugby
#wales❤️ #landscapephotography
One the most well known parts of Hadrian's wall at Steel Rigg in Northumberland.
#hadrianswall
#northeastengland
#Northumberland
#landscapephotography
#englandsbigpicture
#englishlandscape
#genuinebritain
#visitnorthumberland
#northumberland_uk
#northumberland_pics
#visithadrianswall
#explore_northumberland
Wonderful to finally film and photograph @alison._.diamond , I've only been trying to get the opportunity for about five years!
A passionate community artist, printmaker and tutor, who has been an absolutely vital part of my recent journey. Her work is absolutely outstanding.
Part of a project on artists for the final year of my photography degree at Sunderland University.
@sunderlanduni
@northerncentreofphotography
@nephotonetwork
@sunderlandcreative
@connyartfest
@allendaleforgestudios
#ifisayitsart
#art
#universityofsunderland
#artistsoninstagram
#creative
#printmaking
#communityartist
#creative
#northeastengland
#sunderlanduni
#sunderlandartist
A pivotal place in my photography career at Steel Rigg on Hadrian's Wall.
The first image was shot in 1999 on Ilford FP4 with a Hasselblad 500cm. It was the moment when everything fell into place for me with my photography. While everyone else was in the Naafi getting drunk, I was learning the zone system, exposure, printing under the mentorship of @gilespenfound or up on a hill somewhere putting it all into practice. I have never forgotten how far he went out of his way to push me and support me.
The second image was shot digitally at the same place in 2012 after abandoning my camera for three years. Kim Walton @walt0ne persuaded me to take up the camera again and dragged me out to Hadrian's wall where I fell back in love with photography.
Both people have had a profound impact on my life and still do and I think about that every day. As I approach the end of a three year degree course those images remind me of how far I have come. Thank you both.
#photography
#hadrianswall
#Northumberland
#northumberland_uk
#bestofbritish
#photosofbritain
#filmphotography
#landscapephotography
#steelrigg
#picturesofengland
Escher inspired.
View from the Tyne Bridge.
Who watches the watchers?
#newcastle
#tyneandwear
#urbanlandscape
#newcastleupontyne
#northeastengland
#Northumberland
#bestofbritish
#britishcities
#photosofbritain
#northumberland_uk
#travelphotography
#surveillance
#genuinebritain
#englandsbigpicture