BBC Children in Need 2012 Countryfile Calendar Winner
In 2011 my photo of the horse-drawn barge at Tiverton Canal was chosen as one of the 12 finalists in the BBC Countryfile Calendar competition sold in aid of Children in Need. It featured on the page for August 2012, entitled "Pulling Power", having won the category of Working Animals. This was a massive achievement considering over 55,000 entries were received and it went on to win the overall public vote and grace the cover of the calendar.
BBC Children in Need Rickshaw Challenge
In November 2011 I was invited to take part in the Countryfile programme which featured Matt Baker during his Rickshaw Challenge for BBC Children in Need, riding from Edinburgh to London in 8 days. We met in the Scottish Borders where he presented me with a signed framed copy of my winning image and I got to ride in the Rickshaw!
BBC Children in Need 2013 Countryfile Calendar Longlisting Judge
In August 2012 I was invited to take part in the longlisting judging of the competition for the 2013 Countryfile Calendar. This was a great experience and good fun and it was nice to meet fellow finalists/winners and see what goes on behind the scenes.
Somerset Hedge Group Calendar 2013/14
In November 2012 one of my photos was chosen to feature in the Somerset Hedge Group's 2013/14 2-year calendar.
The shot was taken in Park Lane, Carhampton in August 2011.
Summer 2018 - 2021
My photo of Minehead Harbour & Bay at night was being displayed on the new gabion gallery situated on the seafront in Minehead opposite the railway station until it blew away in a storm in 2021!
2021 Landscape Photographer of the Year Competition: commended in the 'Your View' category
INTIMATE LANDSCAPES - SAND PATTERNS
My photo of patterns in the sand taken on Minehead Beach was commended in the "Your View" category and won a place in the 2021 coffee table book. It was also included in the travelling exhibition starting in London Bridge station from 15 November 2021 to 9 January 2022 before touring across the UK.
A lot of people think of landscape photography as images of wide open spaces and stunning vistas, which of course is true, but we often don't see what is right under our noses. After high tide the beach can deliver some intriguing patterns in the sand as the water drains away. I would take my lockdown walks along the vast expanse of Minehead Beach, being less than a mile from my front door and large enough to be able to keep a good distance away from other walkers with my camera in hand and nose to the ground. The beach would throw up some amazing patterns which were constantly changing, some of which incorporated the black coal dust from the coal boats of early years, at other times there would be nothing but smooth wet sand lending itself to some wonderful reflections. Having scoured the beach over many weekends, having to time it when the tides and light were right, I eventually came up with this image.
It was taken at 9.30 on a rather bracing Saturday morning in January 2021 using my Canon EOS 7D Mark II set with a 2 second delay and a wide angle lens, so that I could bend over to get the camera level with the beach and to hold it firm without my shadow getting in the way. What transpired was a 2-D image which looked 3-D, I liken it to a prehistoric forest with its dendritic pattern.
If there is one good thing to come out of lockdowns, perhaps we have become more aware of what is just outside our front doors, we don't need to travel a great distance to get a great image and enjoy the wonders and diversity of landscape photography in the UK.
Summer 2022
The gabion gallery situated on the seafront in Minehead opposite the railway station was being updated and Minehead & Coast Development Trust ran a competition for photographs of the area. I am delighted to say that my picture of the Pink Moon over Minehead Bay won a place in the gallery and is now being displayed.
British Wildlife Photography Awards 2025
I am delighted to announce that one of my photos of the wildflowers along the England Coast Path was shortlisted in the Botanical Britain category and selected for inclusion in the Collection 13 BWPA competition book. This put me in the top 2% of over 13,000 images entered! The image was taken on the stretch of the coast path between the Golf Links in Minehead and Dunster Beach in June 2018 and features Viper's Bugloss, Evening Primrose and Bunny Tail Grass illuminated by the evening sun during the golden hour before sunset over Minehead Bay.
