World Photography Day is here and to celebrate I’ve been sharing a small history of my images since starting back in 2013 over on Twitter (@SlyonsPhotos). I’m going to give a little bit more information and background here. These aren’t necessarily what I would consider some of my best images. That’s what I’ve got my Top Ten for after all. But it’s fun to look back at some images that remind me of those times. After all, isn’t that what photography is about?
2013
When I got my first DLSR (my trusty Nikon D3100) I would love finding new places to take it. Not to far away from where I was based at the time there was Thorp Perrow Arboretum. Just starting out I knew that leading lines were a good thing, but didn’t quite know how to compose an image. Some might argue I still don’t have a clue, and I’m fine with that. But for me this image captures what I loved about this place. Tall trees, beautiful greenery and a moment when I could just be still with nature around me.
2014
I always worry that I alienate some of the people who like my photos. It’s a bit of a mixed bag. On one hand I love nature, landscapes, wildlife. But on the other hand I love a good air show. So all I can do is apologise if this isn’t your thing. This was one of my first air shows. RAF Waddington. I’m not a huge plane buff, I couldn’t tell you what engines go inside what planes, but seeing the displays and the aerobatics of these things always brings a smile to my face. It’s difficult to choose air show pictures because there’s just so much choice. This one stands out for me though, because I had heard of the Red Arrows before but never seen them fly and for me at the time to capture an image like this, I was over the moon. If you’re curious I was using the Nikkor 55-200mm f4.0-5.6.
2015
2015 was a little bit of a lull in photography for me. I wasn’t happy at work and I was considering a big move to Derbyshire and a job change at the same time. It was exhausting, but it’s still one of the best decisions I ever made. That leaves us with the image you see above. It’s not quite a wildlife shot, given that this little house sparrow came and jumped around the table looking for scraps while I was eating. I’ve spoken about this photograph before and I think this is the first image that made me really realise what a camera can produce when you get a photograph right. I still come back to this photograph some times and zoom in to see the crisp details in the feathers, and I’m always amazed. For the curious this was still with the D3100 and Nikkor 55-200mm. It’s a good reminder some times that the camera doesn’t matter.
2016
So I have to own up to a little mistake here. I actually took this photograph of Foss Bridge in York back in 2013, but I didn’t get around to editing it until 2016 (I think…I’m old and it’s my birthday next week so my memory isn’t getting any better). To be honest I think moving house I was feeling nostalgic. I’ve never lived in York but it’s always been a big part of my life ever since school visits to the Jorvik Viking Centre. The photograph to many won’t be anything special, but to me it’s a reminder of a place I love.
2017
So I’m going to tell you a small story. It’s late in the year, I haven’t taken many images for a while bar going to RAF Scampton air show (so I’m little rusty) and my wife tells me there’s some hot air balloons near Chatsworth House flying on this day. Now, due to a series of events we didn’t get over there until late in the evening. The sun is going down, the hot air balloons are going down and we’re stood in the middle of a field with Chatsworth in the distance and me panicking trying to work out what settings to use to get a decent photograph at this distance and in this light. When I returned home I didn’t have much to work with, so I played. That’s what I often do if I like the composition of a photograph, but something doesn’t appeal in the photograph. So that’s how I ended up with this. There’s a couple of different versions around as I wasn’t really using a decent lightroom workflow back then, but this is one that stands out.
2018
This was a great year for me photography wise. Finally settling in to Derbyshire and getting outside a lot more with my camera again. Taken early in the year I think this is the first time I visited Curbar Edge and since then it’s become a stable place to visit, for a walk or just to think. There’s a couple of photos I got this day but when searching for an image to share today this one stood out. Sure the suns over blown and the image could be a lot cleaner. But just look at that view.
2019
As I said on Twitter this year was awesome. I had a new camera (Nikon D7200 for those asking). I had a new lease of life. I was loving everything again and looking back I really think my images show it. The three you see above are are just some memorable shots to me but I think this is also the year I really refined my images and learned to not just take a great photograph, but to make a great photograph. It’s also the first time I caught a photograph of a kingfisher. No one told me the things were so tiny!
2020
And then the dreaded year came. Coronavirus was a thing. Going outdoors was limited, events were stopped. But none of that stopped me. I was lucky enough to keep my job but at a slight cost of going down to a 4 day week while furlough was a thing. Do you know what this meant? The fifth day was photography day! I love a bit of baking and thought what better way to couple my two passions. I can happily say those iced buns (It’s called a bun alright!) above tasted delicious. Like everyone else I also found some joy in macro photography, but getting decent pictures of insects still eludes me. Later down the line there was still a chance to get outside a bit.
2021
So here we are today. I’ll be honest, the first half of this year I fell back into a bit of a lull again and have only recently picked up photography again. Twitter has been great for inspiration, just sharing photography for the sake of sharing and letting others enjoy my photographs. I’m still very much a mixed bag as you can see above and I have this website. Some days I honestly don’t know what to put on it, or if anyone really enjoys coming here. But that’s fine, if my time doing photography has taught me anything it’s that it’s very personal. Not everyone may like what I produce, but I’m proud that I can look back and be happy with what I’ve created and how my photography has grown.
0 Comments