I’ve still got my camera by my side capturing the moment as best as I can. It feels like I've taken fewer photos in 2021 than in previous years, but it also feels like I've learned more. I can feel my photographic style slowly changing, my process and my approach.
I’ve always sprayed and prayed with my photo’s, returning from an adventure with 1000’s shots, hoping a few would be ‘keepers’. Whereas in 2021 I’ve made the choice to not take the shot almost as much as I've made the choice to. A feeling of intentionality has crept into my practice. As I’ve begun to learn what will work and what won’t, trusting in my instinct.
With that being said I’m still very much getting to grips with this craft, Choosing not to take a photo feels like it goes against my work ethic, I’ve relied on quantity over quality for so long, and it's key to the beginner's mindset and my learning process. Sometimes I walk away from a crag or mountain day feeling like I’ve nailed it, SD card with only 30 photo’s on it, But other times I walk away feeling like I’ve let myself down, ‘The numbers are too low Pete, you had an epic day and only have 30 photos!’.
With that being said this is my year of photography. I hope you like it.
January
Our Lockdown Dojo
This is a very special place. Hours have been spent learning to crimp these bricks. As Lockdown descended we would spend hours sitting underneath this wall creating lines and challenging ourselves and one another. The above photo was taken on a crispy cold morning just as we were setting up. The light was incredible, the shadow of the wall casting a sharp line across the scene. The wall standing confidently upright. It almost conjures a religious feeling, Like the light casting through a stained glass window. Time to go to church.
February
The Lord of the Swings
The epic saga that filled my brain during February, the rekindling of a childhood love, the humble rope swing. For a month we became obsessed with flight, And it all started here, fixing the Great Otterspool Swing. A month of daring and planning, searching for new spots, making the swings bigger and better. It can be difficult to tell a story with a single image, context is so often needed. As for this image, it encapsulates the psyche, teamwork and effort that went into this mini-project. The saga is by no means over, so stayed tuned, but for now, read this blog and if you’re in the Liverpool area, try out the swing.
March
Red Lite Radio
This is a moment captured before Calum was about to perform. Red Lite Radio is a project I worked on during lockdown. A collection of performance videos featuring some of Liverpool's talented contemporary folk artists. A beautiful project, with amazing people. Watch here.
April
A night on the Wrekin
April felt like it arrived quickly in 2021, A month that reminds you that summer isn't too far away. The idea of sleeping under the stars came from a close friend. ‘I’ve never done that, I can’t believe I've never done that.’ My brother and I hiked up the hill collecting firewood, found our spot, made our little fire, and sat for hours talking about life and philosophy. Hindsight says selecting an unsheltered, open section of ground atop a hill will be a cold, restless nights sleep, but my hind-psyche says it was worth it. This photo was taken first thing in the morning. The low-lying fog blurs the horizon as the sun rose, casting the sky alight with warm early morning tones. There’s a battle happening in the sky above us. The day is battering the last remains of Night, and we were lucky enough to be positioned on a plinth right underneath, Successfully tasting adventure.
May
The small things
My Sigma 35mm is crazy sharp and can produce an amazing amount of Bokeh (blurry back/foreground). It’s been a huge tool for getting some quiet soulful moments alone with nature. Something about it draws me into a spell, focused fully on all the small parts of nature that we ignore daily. Twists of vines, Veins in a leaf, The sprouting of a fresh bud or the way a speck of water hangs off a blade of grass. These micro mindful moments are my most treasured photography experiences. It sorts me right out.
June
The dragons back
The summer heat brought summer psych, we hit the mountains repeatedly, this shot was taken on an afternoon where Danko and I danced our way up the old trusty Tryfan with the bristly ridge link up. We weren't trying to beat any records but we wanted to give it a good speedy go, a few more side adventures were discovered blurring the lines between scrambling and low-grade Trad. An energetic day with spirits as light and free as the weather.
July
Coldwater quests
This photo was taken in Wastwater, with moody weather looming above it only makes the wading in more ominous. But after a minute, once you’re in, up to your head. The cold shock settles and that quiet energy kicks in. It feels like the complete opposite of sitting watching tv, it blows the cobwebs away. It makes me feel existential. Just a small part of a massive world, full of cold water.
August
Misty mountains
Taken on an epic mountain day in Snowdonia, I’ve written all about the day here. As for the photo, this stands out for a few reasons. The ridgeline in the photo (Parson’s Nose) was one of the most fun scrambles I’ve done. It was a beautiful moment during our descent when the clouds parted to briefly reveal the rock we had just scaled. The sun was cresting through the edge of a thin cloud, this skewed up the exposure whilst shooting. meaning in the moment, I had to choose between underexposed earth or an overexposed sky. The dark earth gives a great sense of height, with the ridgeline cutting through the wispy clouds. I like that the position of the shot is at a similar height to the ridge, it neither feels like the image is looking up nor down at it.
September
Our sunset in Skye
A beautiful evening with treasured friends. I love this photo, it takes me back to that sunset. I remember a great sense of connection. Sitting on a castle ruin, literally grounded to the history of the area. Feeling grateful for everything in the present, looking off into the future, eagerly listening for that call to adventure. One day that ridgeline (Cuillin Ridge) will be an epic day out.
October
Playing in the Wind
A cute photo of Tommy and Danko leaning into the wind on a little hike around the Snowdonia foothills. The photo captures the playful spirit of our adventures.
November
Great Connies
This adventure was a long time coming, I took my oldest buddy Tommy out for an epic. A spicey day out on the Crib Goch ridge. about 5 years prior, we had climbed up Snowdon via the Pyg track, on that day we looked up at Crib Goch questioningly but decided to leave it. It was so satisfying returning in harsher conditions and smashing it out. The ice was no joke, a layer of rime coated almost every angle of every rock, especially the ridge section. Slow, precise movement & keeping a cool head was key. Recent farther Tommy smashed it, and I know that added extra spice for him.
December
Merry Christmas
Christmas in a bothy? Yes please, A Christmas adventure right to the heart of Galloway national park. Surrounded by the wild we hiked for 2 hours to get there and had a beautiful evening of chess, wine, music and chicken noodle soup. We awoke on boxing day to a thin layer of snow coating everything around us. Magical. This photo was taken looking back at our temporary home as we hiked our way back to the van. A perfect way to round off a year of adventure, looking ahead to 2022, I want more moments in wild expanses.
Looking Forward
As 2022 creeps in, I’m looking to refine my work, putting out more stuff, but with a more curated and thoughtful approach. What’s the story I’m trying to tell? what concepts link these images? can I use photography to strengthen or aid an overarching theme or idea?
So with that, I hope you liked my 2021 round-up, if you made it this far press the little heart button, If you have any thoughts or ideas please drop a comment and let me know.
Take care, let’s smash 2022