2025: In Review

2025 was the year that we first ventured abroad after the enforced pause that was covid. We decided to venture out to Sicily with an organised photography tour to celebrate Sharon’s birthday. We also visited a couple of locations in the UK, and managed to qualify through to next year’s PAGB Interclub PDI competition in Warwick.

January

January started off snowy, we were glad we didn’t have to go into an office! I had a play around with smoke in various guises this month, using the Smoke Ninja machine. The image above is multiple layers of smoke all coloured differently in photoshop. It have an interesting effect.

February

We took a visit to Bradford this month, as they had been awarded City of Culture status for this year, and we had a camera club competition set around that theme. February also saw more messing around with the same old French letters that were used last year, as the image above shows. They gave an interesting feel to images like this.

March

I was in spooky mode in March, creating some images like this one using skulls from last year’s visit to the crypt. We decided to get a season pass to Harewood House for my birthday, which gave us the opportunity to visit in various seasons.

April

In April we took our first holiday of the year, having some time away at Spurn Point and visiting the coast. Our cottage was at the top of the peninsula, and we spent a lovely day walking down from the cottage to the bottom of the point and back.

May

In May we had various events to attend. For the early May bank holiday we were asked if we’d go photograph the Ilkley Carnival for the day. We agreed and had a great time. It’s amazing the power of a hi viz vest! We had a marathon running through the village again on the following Sunday, and that again gave us some interesting people images. The image above comes from a sequence of images created from a curved wood mobile that was hanging in the same venue that our camera club exhibition took place in. This one looked like a cat!

June

We had a week away in Norfolk in June, taking in Thoresby Park on the way down and visiting the seaside at Sheringham. This image is from Wells-Next-The-Sea. I don’t think this umbrella was particularly next to the sea…

July

In July we had the pleasure of a Triathlon taking place in Leeds, where the cycling route was near our house. We had a good walk out and practiced our panning. We were also visited by a deer in the garden (never seen before!) and having a bathroom refit. We also had a lovely day out in Saltburn with a select group from the Yorkshire RPS chapter.

August

August we had a double visit to Harewood – the first week was for a Rolls Royce meetup, and the following week for a Volkswager meetup. The latter was far busier and had far more variety. Sharon bought a Cricut machine and had fun producing these butterflies which were then used in some other art for our new bathroom.

September

September saw us flying out of Stanstead to Sicily to take in an architecture tour with James Kerwin. We had a good time, and got some great images including this one of a decayed red room. We came away from the holiday with a need to find a higher class of door image!

October

We were invited to have a visit to Gamma Photoforum in October, and the first talk was from Les Forrester. We liked the format and the high quality of the speakers and members and decided to join. We also had our usual visit to the Leeds Scare Trails to photograph the scare actors. Much (fake) blood was found.

November

November was a busy photographic month – the YPU reps meeting and a second visit to Gamma. We also went to a brass band reunion and met up with lots of players that used to play with me in the band. They’re all a bit older, but still the same.

December

December came around sooner that we expected. Even though we’re not doing as many band jobs as we used to, it’s still a busy time. We had Christmas day out with my family in a pub near Harrogate, and then travelled down south for a week with Sharon’s parents for the new year. This elf had a bit of an accident I think.

We were wondering whether we’d manage to get a DPAGB entry done in 2026, but after having talked to some people we’re not quite producing the right stuff yet. Our plan is to use 2025 to build up a set of images that might work, and then look to apply in 2027 when it comes to Yorkshire. Hopefully we’ll manage it, but we don’t really want to change our work to fit into the mould defined by others. Sharon managed BPE 1 in 2025 – I’m very close, so hoping I can pick up enough acceptances in 2026.