I am sure I am not the only one thinking it, but where did 2011 go?! I can't believe we are into 2012 already! Sitting here today I thought I'd take some time to reflect back on the year and make some photography resolutions for 2012.

It really has been quite an amazing year photography wise, starting with a trip back up to Arctic Norway for 3 weeks.  I had been there 2 years ago in search of the Northern Lights, and like many people came back a bit disappointed as I didn't see it once in the whole 3 weeks I was there.  Things were a lot different this time, I was lucky for it to appear on 6 nights of my trip, it really is hard to explain the feeling of when you see it, something that I will never ever forget.  Here is a photo of the first time I saw it.

In May I decided it was time to concentrate on getting my work out there.  My main job was keeping me rather too occupied so I decided to get a social media company to help me out and what a great idea that was. Holly and Jan (http://hollyandjan.co.uk/), specialists in social media for creatives, have been brilliant in getting me started - I now have a facebook page for my photography, a blog, am on twitter and have become a member of various photography groups on LinkedIn. 

I also joined The Postal Photographic Club (http://www.postalphotoclub.org.uk/) which consists of groups of members who circulate darkroom prints, digital prints (maximum size 7”x5”), or projected images by post in the the UK for everyone else within the group to comment on. I belong to C1 group and I love it.  In August I found out I had come first in their Projected Image Annual competition with this photo, I even won a Salver!

In September I participated in the New Artist Fair's (www.newartistfair.com) first fair in East London, it was great to get my work out there for the public to see and I even won the public vote for 'Best Artist' which gave me a chance to exhibit in the Finalist's Fair in November, such a great experience. 

October was a busy month, I exhibited some work from my Trees Collection at Colorida Art Gallery in Lisbon (www.colorida.pt) and I went to Morocco for the first time.  I had wanted to visit Morocco for years but was a little concerned about going on my own.  I decided to just get on with it and am so glad I did, I was only there for 12 days but oh how I loved it, what an amazing country and what fabulous people.  Here is one of my favourites from Fez.

In November I took part in the 'Something Blue' exhibition at Cultivate Gallery (http://www.cultivatevynerstreet.com/) in East London.  Here is one of the pieces I had in the exhibition.

The year ended with two very exciting things. Firstly the Society of Authors used this photo for the front and back cover of their quarterly members magazine, it was so great to see my work published!

and I got shortlisted in the National Geographic Traveller Photo Competition 2012.  Who knows what will happen with that but what a great way to end an amazing year!

So what to do in 2012?  Well Morocco is definitely on the cards for April/May time, I want to go back to Chefchaouen and Fez but also venture further afield to Marrakech, Essaouira and then into the desert.  I need to concentrate more on the social media and marketing side so need to get more organised on that front.  I have two exhibitions already booked in, one at The Palmerston Bar & Dining Room (www.thepalmerston.net/) in February/March and a four month exhibition from May to September in Mayfair, so already it's a great start to the year!

Finances permitting I'd like to do a LOT more travelling and visit some of my 'Wish List' places, but more importantly I want to 'man up' a bit and get over my fear of flying.  Travelling everywhere from London by train (even to Morocco, Turkey and the Arctic!) is a fantastic experience but if only I could get on a plane then the world really could be my oyster ............

_Before my last trip to Lofoten I was lucky enough to be given a Lee Big Stopper as a present.  I had always wanted to do some long exposures so was very excited about owning such a piece of kit. This was my first attempt, maybe it was beginner’s luck, but I am extremely pleased with the result and have done nothing in post on this except for taking out a small post in the bottom corner.

To take this photograph I had to stand on the side of the fjord with a howling Arctic wind - I did use a tripod and my body as a windshield but am actually amazed that it didn’t come out as one big blur!

_In February I was lucky enough to go back up to Arctic Norway back to the Lofoten Islands and also a little further north near Tromso.  My aim was to see the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) as I had missed them on my last trip.  Of course, being a natural phenomenon, there is never a guarantee that you will get lucky, but I did.  Six times!

Here’s the science bit: The auroras, both surrounding the north magnetic pole (aurora borealis) and south magnetic pole (aurora australis) occur when highly charged electrons from the solar wind interact with elements in the earth’s atmosphere. Solar winds stream away from the sun at speeds of about 1 million miles per hour. When they reach the earth, some 40 hours after leaving the sun, they follow the lines of magnetic force generated by the earth’s core and flow through the magnetosphere, a teardrop-shaped area of highly charged electrical and magnetic fields. As the electrons enter the earth’s upper atmosphere, they will encounter atoms of oxygen and nitrogen at altitudes from 20 to 200 miles above the earth’s surface. The color of the aurora depends on which atom is struck, and the altitude of the meeting.
Green - oxygen, up to 150 miles in altitude, Red - oxygen, above 150 miles in altitude, Blue - nitrogen, up to 60 miles in altitude, Purple/violet - nitrogen, above 60 miles in altitude

The first time I saw the Lights I was a bit disappointed, they just looked like a milky cloud that you couldn’t really detect with the eye although the camera did pick it up a bit.  I guess that was just warming me up for the main event!  It’s difficult to explain the feeling you get when you view such a spectacular display.  The above photo was taken on Valentine’s Night by a fjord about an hour from Tromso.  The whole event lasted about 2 hours and it seemed to creep all over the open sky, everywhere you looked there was something amazing to see!

Once you’ve seen them you get a little addicted.  I spent 4 nights sitting in a car for about 6 or 7 hours each night just waiting and hoping that they would come out again after seeing the above but, sadly, not even a sniff.  Knowing, though, that we are heading towards solar maximum, I can almost guarantee I shall be there again next winter sitting in a car in the middle of the night and just praying.

_I have just returned from my fantastic trip into the Arctic region. 

My journey by train took me through Copenhagen, Stockholm, the mining town of Kiruna in North Sweden (near the famous Ice Hotel) and finally into Norway and the stunning Lofoten Islands.

I really enjoyed my time on the Islands, the scenery is breathtakingly stunning and around every corner was a new photograph opportunity. I wish I could have stayed longer but hope to return again, maybe next time for the Midnight Sun.

_I am very excited about my first solo exhibition showing a selection of photographs from my trip to the Lofoten Islands in April.

The exhibition is on between Wednesday 9th December 2009 and Sunday 3rd January 2010 at The Greyhound Public House,
49 Becklow Road, London  W12 9ER (open evenings only from 5pm). www.thegreyhoundw12.co.uk

Do pop in if you are in the area.

I have also published a book to accompany the exhibition entitled “Lofoten - A Photographic Journey through the Islands”.

_Between 11th December 2009 and 10th January 2010, I am one of twelve photographers who has been invited to display at the opening exhibition of a new gallery in Ticehurst, East Sussex called ArtLoco.

www.artloco.co.uk

_ I have just finished my book “Lofoten A Photographic Journey through the Islands”.  It’s a taster of some of the stunning scenery and places I encountered on my trip around the Lofoten Islands in Arctic Norway in April.

You can preview/order it through this link - http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/916265