2024 was a good year for photography, I concentrated a lot on the Valley of Stones, using both film and digital. I even developed my own film in September and will do again when I have another batch.
In January I was lucky enough to win the Bridport Camera Club landscape competition with my “Good Morning” image, this was judged by Malcolm Macnaughtan. The image also came 3rd in the Club’s knockout competition in 2023. I took the image in August 2023 on my first outing with my X-Pro3, during an early morning walk along Weymouth Beach.
I started a few photo projects, Valley of Stones, A37, My Life and Boundaries. The A37 (photos along its route) and My Life (significant locations in my life) both have stalled, but the ideas are there ready to resume at any time.
My volunteering role at the Nothe Fort is going well and I photographed all of the events this year, along with the “Then & Now” images. The “Then” photos were taken in the 70’s & 80’s by Stuart Morris, when the fort was derelict. My brief was to take the “Now” from the same spots that Stuart took his. This turned out to be a lot harder than I first thought and not finished until the summer. Some have been displayed around the parade ground and have generated a lot of interest from the visitors.
We went east this year on our annual tour, visiting Royal Tunbridge Wells and then onto Brighton. I visited the spot where Bill Brandt once stood to take a simple but beautiful image of the Cuckemere River. I’m proud to say that my version of that image made it’s way onto the front cover of the Fly Culture Magazine and is my top image of the year.
Top Ten images
