Cuban Music

Every bar you go in, whatever time of day, there is always a live band playing and regardless of whether the music they play is was your thing or not, it's awesome to listen to. So, for £1 for a Mojito half full of rum, the live music was basically free! This was my favourite band on our trip, they played in our hotel and were lovely people. They didn't speak much English and we didn't speak much Spanish but we managed. And there's nothing better than mixing with locals and real people when you go away somewhere, especially somewhere like Cuba. We bought their CD so we can transport ourselves back there any time!

Humid Havana Nights

Havana by night is just as amazing as during the day. The locals go out and socialise, holiday makers are out sampling the local delights (rum, rum and more rum!) and there are people salsa dancing where ever you look. But before a night out, I always liked to soak up the last rays of the sun, well, I let my camera soak them up. Amazing how different sunsets are depending on where you are in the world!

This was taken on our balcony. Not a bad vista eh?!

This image hasn't been editing, how amazing is this?!

Love how the clouds look like a mountain range in these two sunset photos!

And would be rude for me not to include a few long exposures!

Greetings Cards to sell!

Hi Everyone!

All of my work is available to buy in a variety of ways, be it a lovely canvas to spruce up a tired looking wall, or a card to send to a loved one. As Valentines Day will be fast approaching, I wanted to let you know that I will be selling the below designs as Valentines Day cards.

If you would like to buy any, please use the 'Contact' tab at the side of the page and let me know how many you would like (!) and of which designs; names of each design below. Pop your address in there too so I know where to send the cards too and I will send you an invoice.

I will be placing an order shortly and would like to get some numbers together first so I can make sure no one is left waiting! Don't delay, send me your order today! (sorry, pure cheese but it works!)

The cost: £2.75 each or buy 4 (you don't just have to buy Valentines Day cards, I might add!) for £10.

Top left: Single heart Top Right: Reece's

Bottom Left: Love Top Right: Multiple Hearts

I look forward to hearing from all you Lothario's and Cupid's! (And obviously if you have any queries, whatsoever, please do not hesitate to ask me!) X

Cuba - Esta es la vida

Whilst moving around Havana and exploring the city, I loved capturing the locals going about their daily lives. Here are a few images I took of them!

Ah, loved it so much here! It was like being in a time warp!

 

I love the series of 3 photos of the man catching fish for the day. You just don;t get that sort of thing in England! Well, at least if you do, it sort of happens much earlier in the day and isn't nearly as picturesque as this huh?! I think I might actually make this in to a triptych to really do them photos some justice. What do you think?

Cuban Street Photography

As some of you may know (!) I recently went on holiday to Cuba; a place my boyfriend and I have always wanted to go to for a whole myriad of reasons, not least for the cars they drive around which make for amazing photo ops (said photos will be on a later post)! I also really love street photography and there is no shortage of that over there either. So guess what this blogpost is about (if the blog title didn't give it away that is)??

LOVE this one!

  

What I love about these two bits of street art is that they are 'tributes' to the people that led them, the revolution and to Fidel and Raul who still lead them to this day, at least for the time being. Can you imagine anyone doing it in England to pay tribute to David Cameron?! I think not!

Viva Cuba! Couldn't have put it better myself AND it's got one of those classic cars in it!

I think this image depicts the feeling of many around the whole world at the moment. Cuba is a country steeped in history and it's so so interesting. Very different to anywhere I have been before for many different reasons and I am so, so pleased I managed to get there before Fidel dies, as does the revolution with him. :( 

Some of my favourite images from 2013!

As I start any new year I like to think about the things I have achieved in the previous 12 months. Reflection is really important. Sometimes time passes by so quickly that it's easy to forget all that you've achieved, even if it's only something little. You did it! And you should pat yourself on the back for it.  2013 really was a bumper year for me, I had work featured in online magazines, my first photo shoots, a new course started with The Photography Institute to name but a few and I have learnt a lot along the way. It's very easy to carry on and feel like you are not improving or getting anywhere. 

So this is my own little pat on the back and I hope you enjoy sharing it with me! 

Would love to hear what your favourite images of 2013 have been, post links and comments in the box below, here's to 2014! :)

I'm still here!

Hi everyone!

Just wanted to pop a wee post on here to say hello and let you know I haven't vanished off the face of the earth! It's been an absolutely manic few months personally and as such although I have lots of photos to share, time is pressing and I haven't had chance to put a post up.

That said, here's a little taster from Cuba, just to keep you going! Over 800 photos to go through )about a quarter of the way through!!!!) so you will have to bear with me in the build up to Xmas too but I will be back with posts galore before you know it!

Stay tuned for my post on my favourite images I've taken this year and what's to come next year. Until then, I hope you all have a really special Christmas with loved ones and friends, an amazing New Year and a happy and healthy 2014!

My Skydive!

As I'm sure ALL of you will know (!) I decided in March this year to do a skydive for charity. It's something I have always wanted to do but never had the guts to do it without the moral support of someone I know doing it too. Then at my day job one day, an email went round to see who might be interested in doing it for the two charities we are raising money for this year; Breast Cancer Campaign and Prostate Cancer UK. I literally jumped at the chance!

So, the date was set for 17th August and I'm not lying, I was super excited! As the day approached, I couldn't wait to do it. Then, the day before, work got a call cancelling all 50 of the jumps we had booked for the following day due to weather. I was devastated! I'd psyched myself up so much to do it and felt really deflated. BUT, I suddenly realised I didn't need the 50 other people at work to do it with me. I was more than happy to go it alone (well, with my boyfriend, mum and dad in tow!). 

So, I rebooked, 5th October was the day. So the day rolled round and I didn't flinch. Much to my surprise I was a cool as a cucumber, even in the plane up! It didn't feel real, I really didn't feel like 'wow, I'm about to jump out of a plane'. And then I did! It was amazing, exhilirating, like nothing I have ever done before! Someone told me it was like floating?! Nothing like it unless floating feels like travelling completely unprotected by anything at 200mph!

Well enough of my jabbering! Here are a few, ok, quite a lot, of photos from the day, obviously not taken by myself! Massive thanks to my mum, dad and boyfriend for supporting me on the day and HUGE THANK YOU 

to everyone who sponsored me! I raised a massive £760 all by myself thanks to you generous bunch! In addition to that, my work will double the money I raised, how amazing is that? One of the proudest achievements in my life.. And I might just have found my vocation in life.... Photographing other skydivers?! Imagine doing that 10 times a day? Watch this space! ;-)

And the link to the video I got some of these stills from is here.

Ok at this point I was like 'Whoa, I'm about to fall out of a plane and hurtle to the ground!'

Think my stomach got stuck up by the plane at this point!