As a photographer, I often get asked "What's the best photo you've ever taken?"
Whilst I can't narrow it down to just one shot, I can look back over the pictures I've taken, and more often than not, there's a story behind each one. For me, it's the story behind the images that make me rank them all so highly, and when I pull those photo's up on my phone to show them off, it's difficult to shut me up and stop me from launching into a full-on campfire story about the events that lead up to me pressing the shutter.
So this week, I thought I'd take a few minutes to reflect back on some of the images I've taken. It seems particularly relevant as restrictions are set to ease up a little, and I'll finally be allowed to go on adventures a little further afield.
Strap yourself in, this could be a long read!
1) Baby Lambs!
So, this one was actually a picture I took only a couple of days ago. Since the beginning of spring, I've had a real bee in my bonnet about going to a farm and taking pictures of lambs, calves, and chicks. Basically, any newly born farm animals that really show off springtime and things bursting into life as we get that little bit of promise of some warm weather, and the prospect of being able to get my pasty legs out and don some shorts for the first time.
Well, for obvious reasons, going to a farm has been off the cards, so If I was going to get those kinds of shots, it would mean driving around looking for fields with livestock that would allow me the possibility of being able to snap a few shots from the roadside. All this teamed up with me being slightly terrifying to baby animals meant I'd written off getting this shot completely.
Photo opportunities are rarely planned, and this shot was no different. As it happens, myself and Rachel had been a drive over to Foxton locks to get some photos, and purely by chance, we decided to take the scenic route home. With only a morsel of battery left on my camera, we passed a field with exactly what I was looking for. Baby lambs!
We turned the car around, parked up and I managed to get just the shot I was looking for!
2) Majestic Swan!
The Instagram followers amongst you may or may not remember that I scattered a few pegs across walks around Leicestershire, and on one of my jaunts out to hide some pegs, (of which a handful are still out there by the way!) I managed to capture this swan mid.... Flap?
I think this is one of those once-in-a-lifetime shots, where you're in the right place at the right time, and you time the picture with absolute perfection.
This is genuinely one of my favourite shots, and it was only taken a stones throw away from home!
If you've not followed me already, definitely pop me a follow on Instagram. I try to post something at least once a day!
3) John Lewis Building
The first thing about this photo you should know is that me and Rachel love a late-night drive. More often than not, we jump into the Mini at an ungodly hour, without any direction or purpose whatsoever and we just drive until we find somewhere that catches our eye to get some late-night photos. We've ended up miles away from home before.
It's always eerily quiet, with barely a soul around, and the best thing is that you get the opportunity to grab a picture that would usually be full of people and other distractions.
This was one of those late night drives. This shot was taken in early January, and I can still remember how absolutely bloody freezing it was! We ended up in Leicester City centre outside the John Lewis building, which was bathed in this amazing red light. I managed to capture this awesome angle of the building (It's just as impressive in the daytime too!) and I just love the way it turned out!
4) Mini at the Airport
Those that know me, will know I'm a bit of a petrol head. Anything with an engine and a loud exhaust is guaranteed to grab my attention.
Well in the middle of last year, I decided it was time to get something a little pokey and fun for the summer and to take to car shows, which is when I bought my little Mini Cooper S.
Now, I get no end of abuse on Facebook for owning a mini. Most of my mates think it's a hairdressers car, and despite the endless micky taking, I honestly love this car so much. It's far from subtle, with its union jack roof, racing stripes and loud exhaust, but it's all mine, and a lot of fun when you get a quiet country road.
This particular shot was taken at the end of August last year at East Midlands Airport, just when the sun was setting.
I'd managed to find a tucked-away little car park right next to the freight terminal, with a couple of planes parked up in the background.
The light was perfect, the sky was incredible and I think I framed this shot perfectly!
5) London
I love London, and I must be one of the only people around that genuinely enjoys using the Tube. There's something about the Underground, which just has this incredible buzz around it. It's steeped in history, and I find it amazing that you can go underground, get on a train, then emerge on a completely different side of London.
Give me the tube over an Uber any day of the week.
Rachel was nice enough to treat me to a surprise weekend away in London for my birthday last year (3rd of October - Add it to your diary 😉) and as ever it was inevitable the camera would be in attendance too.
One of my requirements for the trip was some underground photos. I really wanted to get some pictures on the platform.
We ended up letting a train arrive, waiting for everyone to get on, then trying to capture an empty platform. Now, the thing is with London, is that it's inherently very busy, so I only had a couple of minutes between the tube leaving, getting the shot and then other passengers arriving to board the next train.
As it happens, my favourite shot had one solitary traveller sat on a bench, which to be honest, I think makes the photo. Add a bit of black and white into the mix, and this shot definitely ranks highly on the list of my favourites.
I got some incredible shots that weekend, but that one shot where I was lying down on the floor at Covent Garden Tube Station is a highlight of the weekend. Maybe because I am just a little bit obsessed with the tube.
This has been a bit of a long one this week. If you've made it this far, well done! I seem to be collecting a group of committed readers every week, and I hugely appreciate every single person who takes time out of their day to read about my little adventures.
I'm always looking for suggestions on places I can visit next, so if you've got an idea, pop a like on the blog and let me know in the comments, and I'll do my very best to venture out and grab some shots!
Peace, Love and Photos,
Jono x
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