My 10 Favourite Shots of 2024

As 2024 draws to a close, I have looked back on the trips I went on and the photographic opportunities the year provided.

As milestones go, this year I shot my first engagement photographs, spent the summer shooting on film with my first medium format camera, was a guest on a street photography podcast, got featured on YouTube and Instagram a few times by my favourite street photography community “Framelines”, finally attended and loved the classic car festival “Goodwood Revival”, captured the northern lights and hit my goal of keeping this blog updated with bi-monthly posts (on average).

These are my ten favourite photographs of the year and a bit of story behind them.

In no particular order:

1 - Revival Swing Party

One of my highlights of the year was visiting Goodwood Revival. Being a big fan of classic cars and classic fashion, the whole day provided so much to see and many photo opportunities. This scene occurred at revival village during a DJ set of swing music. I was happy that I was able to capture the moment while maintaining a sharp and well composed frame.

2 - USEUM

After only being in Vienna for an hour, I noticed this nice patch of light against a fancy building. I nearly didn’t stop as we were rushing to the Leica store before closing. Took a couple of frames and moved on. Number 22 on the memory card and possibly my favourite of the whole trip. It rained torrentially for hours shortly after this.

The moral of the story - never walk away from the photo.

3 - Newmarket Chairs

I spent a couple of hours at Newmarket racecourse one afternoon in the summer. No races were on that day which meant I could peruse around the grounds and capture some still life shots. This was one I took of the afternoon light hitting the green chairs in the stands.

4 - Roy

My favourite purchase this year was a 1966 Yashica-Mat TLR that I picked up for very little money in an antique store. I was unsure whether everything would work properly so loaded some Kodak XP2 black and white film and took it down the river one weekend. While stopping for a chat with a local painter friend Roy, I took this quick portrait of him and it is still one of my favourite shots I have created with this wonderful camera. I later had this photo printed and framed and gifted it to Roy. He seemed to like it.

5 - Engagement

Two of my closest friends, Craig and Regan, got engaged last Christmas so I took them out for one afternoon in January for a laid back engagement shoot. It was a lot of fun, something I would like to do more of in the new year. I’m glad I could be part of their special moment and it feels great to see some of these photographs hanging up in their home.

6 - Maleficent

I took a trip into the city on Halloween night with hopes to capture the scenes of Londoners dressed up on October 31st. Though I was initially disappointed by the lack of celebration, I eventually found a group of people in costume in Trafalgar Square. This young lady caught my eye and graciously posed for a few street portraits lit only by the Trafalgar street lamps.

7 - Missing the Ferry

I have shot a few music gigs over the years but none with such dynamic lighting as this Luton’s Hat Factory. I was pleased to be able to capture these photos for Irish folk band Missing the Ferry. A great bunch of guys and even better musicians.

8 - Aurora borealis

I was lucky enough to see and capture the Northern Lights this year and only had to travel as far as the field behind my flat, to do it. I spent couple of hours out there with my girlfriend trying different angles and techniques while the colours changed. It was very cold and extremely dark but we came away with some great shots and memories that will last.

9 - UFO

We took a day trip to Bratislava during our Vienna trip in the spring. It was a lovely city to walk around for a few hours. Just before our return bus was due to arrive, I spotted this shot so crouched and waited for a while for the crowd to clear. I was lucky to capture this moment of a passer by pointing at the alien overlords about to exterminate us.

10 - Flaneur

I captured this last image at “Chap” magazine’s Grand Flaneur Walk in the spring. A wonderful event where people dress in their Sunday best and drink till they’re tired. It is probably my favourite photo of the year as I feel everything in the frame fits perfectly together.

Next year I would like to concentrate more on street portraits and how to take a good one, give mastering zone focusing for street another go, finally get a few of my projects printed off in a low-cost zine form and complete and publish one of the two current street photography projects I am currently working on.

Happy New Year and I hope 2025 is kind to you.

Luke

My 10 Favourite Shots of 2023

2023 was another enjoyable year for my photography journey.

I shot my first music gig, attended the first “Framelines” street photography community meetups, wrote a couple of well received blog posts, completed a six month “1 camera 1 lens” challenge, expanded/rebranded this website to feature more of my work, attended a workshop from one of the masters of the genre Mark Fearnly and also met one of my biggest inspirations Alan Schaller.

These are my ten favourite photographs of the year and a bit of story behind them.

In no particular order:

1 - Keeping an Eye Out

Taken on my spring trip to Venice, I love the dapper look of this Italian waiter and the shifty look in his eye. I tried to incorporate the foreground to frame the image and create a voyeur-like effect.

2 - Upstream Colour

After unboxing my 50mm lens, I went for a brief scenic walk and captured this scene of two rowers down the river. I like the way the waves make the water look like a blue piece of creased paper.

3 - Road Runner

I had a few images in mind before departing on my trip to New York this winter and I was glad to be able to capture this one of a pedestrian running across the smoke covered and headlight-lit road. Not an easy one to capture but an image that you can only get in NYC.

4 - Entrapment

Taken at a temporary art exhibition this spring. A very busy room with a real lack of available light, I was happy to get this shot when a gentleman crouched down in the perfect spot.

5 - Walking Through Hoops

After being inspired on a photography workshop, I was playing around with framing in boring looking locations when I came across this elaborate gate and waited for the perfect subject to walk into the gap. My thigh muscles paid the price, but the final result was worth it.

6 - Brave New World

Taken at the London Science Museum, I loved the design of this room and imagined being on a futuristic space hotel looking down on the earth below.

7 - Venetian Pigeon

I was composing a high contrast shot of the top of St Mark's Basilica in Venice when this pigeon entered the frame and I was able to catch him at the perfect moment about to take flight.

8 - Coronation Boy

King Charle’s III’s coronation was a busy affair with many lining the streets brandishing their Union Jack flags. I spent the morning walking up and down The Mall capturing history and noticed this smart chap in the middle of the bustle. Thankfully, this was taken before the heavy rainfall came and turned the place into a sea of dark umbrellas.

9 - Steps and Boxes

I noticed the minimal and beautiful design of this staircase and seating area in an Apple store in the city. I usually would not like the mess of the bottom section but feel the pleasing colours and original design of these seats, adds to the overall image.

10 - Finishing Touches

For a limited time earlier this year, there was a gigantic statue of the Japanese contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama outside Harrods. I went there with the idea of getting an interesting shot of her peering into the store windows at the shoppers but ended up preferring this photo of her painting the shop front.

In 2024 I plan to intentionally shoot a bit more regularly, continue taking street portraits. limit myself to B+W only for a a period, experiment with film again, organise a few portrait shoots, create and print a new low-cost zine and get a photo or project of mine featured on a prominent photography blog.

I guess we’ll see how much of that I can pull off this time next year.

Happy New Year everyone!

My 10 Favourite Shots of 2022

2022 was a good year for my photography, I completed my first photo project, launched this website, purchased my dream camera after six years of saving and held my first solo photography exhibition.

These are my ten favourite photographs of the year and a bit of story behind them.

In no particular order:

1 - Elizabeth Line

The London Underground Elizabeth line finally opened up this summer. I was surprised it was quiet enough during the first week’s service to allow me to get this shot.

2 - Betty Boop

Taken at a classic car show in the summer. I was lining up a photo of Betty when the owner of the car opened the bonnet and gave me a beautifully clean background to compliment the black dashboard.

3 - Fleeing sheep

Taken out of a slow-moving vehicle in rural Ireland. I feel like the door hinges help to frame the running sheep nicely.

4 - Panama Jack

Taken at one of the cool new arcade-bars opening up around central London. I saw this stylishly dressed chap engrossed in the Pac-Man machine and couldn’t resist capturing the moment.

5 - Through the Spire

My favourite photograph of my “Alone at the Seaside” project, taken at Southend-on-Sea in March this year. I was testing out a cheap 24mm lens and laid down on the street for fifteen minutes waiting for the perfect person to walk through this structure. The wait and all the funny looks I got were worth it.

6 - Super Mario

The first weekend of trying out my new-manual-focus only Leica M camera produced this photo of my Nephew. When it was time to leave, he wouldn’t let me walk away and held onto my ankles. Without bringing the camera to me eye, I guessed the distance and pointed the camera down, managing to get him tack sharp and nicely framed between two legs. I also love his bright Mario shirt that I originally bought for his sister many years ago.

7 - Spiral

The Vatican Museum in Rome has some of the worlds most famous Art as well as some stunning architecture. I spent more time than I should have looking for the best angle of this grand staircase. This shot was one of the last ones I took from the very top when this mans son called for him and made him look up. Sometimes you need that little bit extra to push an image to something special.

8 - Elevated View

Taken at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee this summer. I like how the flags and the trees frame this boy in the middle of the busy crowd. The fancy hat he was wearing was the cherry on top that made it my favourite of the day.

9 - Nun the Wiser

I was sitting outside the Vatican when this nun walked right by me and turned around for a brief moment. I love how the blues of her habit and bag and the whites of her face mask the pillars all compliment each other. I was very lucky that I managed to compose and nail focus in a split second.

10 - Boarding the Death Star

I’d seen this Canary Wharf tunnel pictured a few times online and knew I had to visit it at some point. I think the colourful windows are a recent addition and think the vivid colours and ultra-wide perspective add to this image to give it a futuristic feel.

Now I look forward to hopefully more great photos captured in 2023!