The Comforts of Photography
How photography in the natural world offers comfort after comfort. Especially in those times when your heart is sore.
Blog
On Photography
The Joy and Frustration of Taking Flower Photographs
Reflections on the joys, frustrations and pure delight of taking flower photographs. Perfectionism, creative practice, acceptance, plus the gorgeousness of the flowers.
On Looking for a Second Time
Watching the flowers emerging in the spring time hedgerows, and the delight that flows from noticing the second time round. On the water avens, and the delights of the second year.
Why I Take Photographs
How taking photographs allows you to notice and appreciate the tiny, beautiful details of the world.
Land and Landscape
Barefoot and Breathing in the Rain
How does it feel to step out into the garden, out onto the earth, and breathe, barefoot in the rain? Journal entries on earth connectedness.
A Postcard from Scotland
A series of photographs from a walk and picnic on the Solway coast, Scotland in all its spring glory. Plus a plan of action for the blog…
Holy Isle: A Visual Meditation
A series of photographs capturing the mood and imagery of Lindisfarne, the Holy Isle.
The Flirtatious Landscape
How landscapes can curve, seduce and entice us. Is it possible that the earth is flirting with us, just a little?
Galloway Hedgerows
Hedgerow Memories
Reflecting on the evocative power of the names of the hedgerow flowers, and the way they remind of something. Something we might not know.
On Looking for a Second Time
Watching the flowers emerging in the spring time hedgerows, and the delight that flows from noticing the second time round. On the water avens, and the delights of the second year.
You Are Not Barren
In praise of the barren strawberry, quietly and subversively bearing fruit.
A Bouquet Offering
Sometimes the earth is like a bride, offering the sweetest bouquet. A photo celebration of the cuckooflowers.
Faith and Doubt
The Time of the Singing of Birds
Stained glass window blending words, images and some sweet poetry.
What You Seek
What you seek is seeking you. Lessons from the blackthorn blossom.
Blossom, With an Echo of Doubt
How we create, make, work and live through the corrosive impact of doubt. Doubt full, and faith full.
Midwinter Skies
The irresistible invitation to write the beauty of the skies of midwinter. A short poem, and photograph of impossible skies.
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The Wheel of the Year
The 1st May
Be like a flower, and turn your face to the sun ~ Kahlil Gibran. Some apple blossom to celebrate the 1st of May.
All Softness, All Light
Birthday wishes for clarity, softness and light.
A Burst of Sunshine
A burst of yellow sunshine in the middle of March: flowers pushing their way up through the sand, and demanding you relax.
Midwinter Skies
The irresistible invitation to write the beauty of the skies of midwinter. A short poem, and photograph of impossible skies.
The Journey
Blowing in the Wind
Taking some time out to notice, reflect, breathe, take photographs and see just what’s blowin’ in the wind.
Thoughts on Being an Artist
Thoughts on what it means to be an artist: laying claim to the term, the artist identity, different definitions of what it means to make art.
I Want to Write About
An exercise in exploring what you really want to be writing about. Here’s my current list – what does yours look like?
An Absence of Offerings
A quiet reflection on offerings, and what it means to offer, if you are not selling.
Kitchen Garden Abundance
Heather, and The Look of Enough
Reflections on the beauty of heather in the evening light, and the memories and feelings it evokes.
A Breath of Colour
A tiny blue and pink reminder from the flowers to keep on breathing in: air, colour, wonder.
Walled Garden Warmth, and the Autobiography of Place
Exploring what we mean by the autobiography of place, and a poem inspired by the (symbolic) significance of the walled garden.
Drink It Up
Drinking up the coolness of the rain. More lessons from the garden flowers.
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On Contemplation
At the Level of the Tiny
Poem in celebration of the tiny: a butterfly, still, in perfect poise, revealing beauty at the centre of the world.
Beyond Poetry, The Blackbird
Taking respite from narration, meaning-making, poem crafting, story telling by just watching, and listening to, the antics of the blackbird.
Puddle Mystic
A poetic celebration of the distorted eye, looking at the world turned upside down, like the vision of a mystic. Or just a nonsense poet ;-)
Universal Patience
How things might change by shifting time perspective – realising there was plenty of time, universal time, patiently unfolding.
On Poetry
History Lessons and the Poetry of Remembrance
A poem on the power of poetry to teach and better remember the horrors of war.
Poetry for the Journey
Some thoughts on the value and power of poetry for National Poetry Day, plus a verse from Sorley MacLean’s poem Shores, and a photo from the black sand shores at Talisker, on Skye.
There Are Poems Everywhere, Waiting to Be Found
Capturing a moment of finding a poem; how poetry can emerge from texts if you’re open to the possibility of finding it.
What Is Poetry?
A journalled response to the question: what is poetry?
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Flower Love
Upturned to the Sun
Finding our way through the rough and stony parts of life… and keeping our hearts turned upwards to the sun.
In Praise of the Detour
Prose poem in praise of the detour. Getting lost, and found, in the middle of the darkest wood. Found by a flower.
Snowdrops, and Angels With One Wing
The symbolism of the snowdrops: the reminder of spring coming and hope returning; the story of grace and beauty in decay and decline.
Snowdrop Promise
A simple photo-poem tribute to the promise offered by the snowdrops.
Featured
Hedgerow Memories
Reflecting on the evocative power of the names of the hedgerow flowers, and the way they remind of something. Something we might not know.
The Joy and Frustration of Taking Flower Photographs
Reflections on the joys, frustrations and pure delight of taking flower photographs. Perfectionism, creative practice, acceptance, plus the gorgeousness of the flowers.
On Looking for a Second Time
Watching the flowers emerging in the spring time hedgerows, and the delight that flows from noticing the second time round. On the water avens, and the delights of the second year.
Blossom, With an Echo of Doubt
How we create, make, work and live through the corrosive impact of doubt. Doubt full, and faith full.
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