Sundown at Mawgan Porth, Cornwall

Spent a couple of days at Mawgan Porth, at The Scarlet hotel - a fabulous hotel for 'Grown-Ups'.  I rediscovered the simple pleasure of swimming alone in an infinity pool and chasing your own 'bow wave' as you swim...

A sip of Jameson's on ice and watching the sunset - not a bad way to end the day:

Sunset at Mawgan Porth, Cornwall

Cityscapes, More London and the Fabulous Borough Market

Spent a few hours in London yesterday fiddling with my a new camera whilst hunting down some good abstracts and cityscapes.  Hot and sticky in the city.

I love this office building at London Bridge:

More specifically, looking up from underneath:

Then of course, there is "More London" further down the river.  We found a great healthy eatery (Leon) with another cool up-view:

And another shot to noodle your noggin:

And finally, Borough Market; a favourite place of mine.  I wander through trying to persuade myself that I'm not hungry whilst looking up at the roof, arches and paraphernalia of London's underside.  It makes me think of Nick Harkaway's brilliant book "Angelmaker" and Joe Spork's domain.

Grenofen - A Walk in the Woods by the River Walkham on Summer's Day

It's been a bit too hot for hearty treks up tors of late, so a shady glade was called for and Grenofen, Devon always fits the bill.

One of my favourite places; old mixed deciduous woodland littered with old mine-workings, leats, kilns and little chimneys, all by the majestic River Walkham.

Perfect on a hot sunny day for a black lab who needs to stretch his legs and then cool down in the river.

Did you know that it is so much cooler under trees than under man-made shade as the trees are transpiring (losing water from their leaves during photosynthesis) so that the air is cooled as it evaporates?  I know you did, I was just checking.  Also, the leaves reflect nearly all the thermal infra-red of sunlight so perhaps they don't absorb so much heat.

Anyway, it's all enough to make you want to say 'Thank You'.

After-Party Clear-up

Well, I really thought I had found the last lager bottle of the big party some 5 days afterwards, nestled in my book shelf.

But No.  I found another one.  Where?  In the rain gutter outside of course.  Where else?  A whole week after the party...  It was rather good though...

So, who was it then?  Not enough hands or something?

Clouds Over Dartmoor - Cold Front passing Brentor

On our way to a social gathering we saw some spectacular clouds putting on a display over the western edge of Dartmoor.  It has been stormy and humid recently and the clouds have been fabulous.  "Fabulo Nimbus"  is my collective term.

Storm Clouds over Dartmoor

New Website for Cider House at Buckland Abbey, Devon

I have been working with the Hancocks at Cider House to photograph and design a website for their new venture of Luxury Bed and Breakfast at the National Trust's Buckland Abbey Estate near Yelverton, Devon.

Having photographed it previously some years ago, seeing what they have done with the house is incredible - it is stunning and exquisitely refurbished.

So, a new website needed to reflect the style of the Cider House, and its decor.  I used colours from their wallpapers, garden and furnishings to create a bespoke Cider House palette.  My favourite is the "Cider House Lettuce green" defined by the colour of their lettuces!

And so, after some months, the website is up and running as is the gorgeous guest house that is Cider House:

Devon in the Month of May - Bluebells, Lambs and Leaves

Ahh, May, when Spring has sprung.  Green, profuse, reassuring.

I love Devon in May; bluebells flood the woodland floors like waves suspended in time.  New beech leaves droop from their buds like butterflys' new wings, drying in the sun, and the hedgerows explode with outrageous colour like a herbaceous border on speed.

It brings out verbosity in me, and almost makes the months of grey drizzle bearable.

Bluebells in Devon Woodland

Bluebells at the feet of Hardwoods in Devon Wood

Lambs, enjoying new grass and warm in the sun:

Sheep in Devon Landscape