On the brink...

As we hurtle towards the new year which seems to arrive sooner each time (although I am reliably informed its a 'good twelve months since the last one'). My mind is split between looking back to what has gone and forward to the new year.

I'm obviously not alone. For every civilisation, there is a day which marks the last and another which marks the first, the numbers may be different but the sentiment is the same.

So I look back on a year which included too many things to list here but more importantly I look forward to a year of opportunity and promise. It's this optimism which I want to end on for 2007. I want to encourage all my readers to begin 2008 with renewed hope and vigour. New beginnings offer us all a fresh start and if we take a leaf from the book of the Roman god Janus, we can look both into the past to learn from our mistakes but also into the future to make 2008 the best year of our lives! Its easy to remember too as we name the first month of the year after this two headed god.

So, may I offer everyone my warmest wishes for a healthy and prosperous new year! Have a good 'un!

Paul

My journalism project for '08

I've been using my holiday time to think about work (hmmmm) and I've decided how I can combine my main hobby with my job.

You won't be surprised to hear it means the launch of yet another web based platform but I'm pretty sure that as the content gets added, it will be worth a visit on more than one occasion.

I have decided to dedicate some time to recording and presenting a series of photographs based around the concept of social documentaries. This means that I will be recording photosets centred around people, places and events.

The website is already online and I'd be very grateful if you would consider adding it to your bookmarks and checking it out every now and again.

Thanks a lot and enjoy the rest of the holidays!

From Flickr to Japan

The wonderful thing about flickr is that it shows your work to a much wider audience than those who may flick through your photo album on your coffee table. I had first hand experience of this after one of my photographs was published by a Japanese fashion/art magazine.

Ing Magazine featured my photograph of Antony Gormley's 'Angel of the North' across a double page spread and they also sent me a copy so I could see the results for myself.

This new web 2.0 age in which we live opens up a much wider marketplace for people such as myself, however if you'd of told me as I set up my camera in Tyneside that my photograph would feature in Japan, I still would of had a hard time believing you.

Photographing in Shropshire

A week ago I was able to spend some time in Shropshire.

I was visiting Emma's Auntie and Uncle who live half way up a hill in some of the most beautiful countryside I have seen in the UK.

I have posted one of my photos which I took and even as I look at it again now, I am remembering what a fantastic time I had and what a wonderful place it is to visit.

I'd just like to thank Sue and Richard for their hospitality and hopefully I'll see you both again sometime. To anyone else reading this, if you get the chance to spend some time in this wonderful county, don't pass the chance up!