Exploring Doha’s Katara Cultural Village
Katara Cultural Village was constructed on reclaimed land along Doha's coastline as a centre for culture and the arts. It takes its name from the original one for this region, Catara, the first record of which appears in Ptolemy’s Geography, written c. 150…
Gallery: journeys that shaped me
Setting out on a journey you may think you know where you are going and therefore what to expect. But there are always surprises in even the most well-prepared trip, and it is often the surprises that prove the most memorable experiences. It’s a healthy reminder to…
Gallery: a museum shaped like a rose
The ‘petals’ of a desert rose are formed from crystals which create a circular array of flat plates, in a shape reminiscent of a rose blossom. The design of the National Museum of Qatar. was inspired by these crystals.
Gallery: seeing Doha in black and white
There is a temptation while travelling to take only those ‘souvenir’ photos, and it’s one I often fall into. It’s all too easy simply to point the camera at them and press the shutter while considering only the basics of composition. At the same time I do…
A day in Doha
What do you do if you love to visit far-flung locations but are fed up with long haul flights and nights spent trying to sleep on a plane? You could splurge on business class to make your night more comfortable. But no amount of splurging will help with jet-lag, and however…
Gallery: a February selection (2026)
I often feel the need to seek adventures abroad, especially in the tail-end of winter. So for most of February I have been in Sri Lanka, enjoying a mix of wildlife, culture and a bit of relaxation. This therefore will be a rather different monthly round-up from…
Gallery: using juxtaposition for effect
Juxtaposition is often referred to as a literary device, placing two concepts close together to highlight their differences. But it is just as effective in visual arts, including photography. And these contrasting elements hopefully work together to elicit a…
A postcard from Sri Lanka: Land Monitor Lizards
I’ve spotted the impressive Land Monitor Lizards, the largest of Sri Lanka’s lizards, all over the country. In the national parks, in the gardens around Sigirya's Lion Rock and even in the busy streets of Galle Fort.
A postcard from Sri Lanka: Jaffna’s clock tower and statues of Tamil kings
Jaffna's clock tower was built to commemorate the visit of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales to Ceylon in 1875. In 2013 three golden statues of Tamil kings were added to enhance the surrounding area.
A postcard from Sri Lanka: an Oriental Garden Lizard
The Oriental Garden Lizard is common throughout much of Sri Lanka. This is a male in his bright breeding colours.
A postcard from Sri Lanka: Unity in Diversity
Sakkotai Cape, located near the town of Point Pedro in the Jaffna District, is recognised as the northernmost point of Sri Lanka. A short jetty marks the exact spot with a sign bearing the national flag.
Gallery: a January selection (2026)
The days in January may be short, and the sun in short supply. In England we’ve had more than our fair share of rain this month, or so it seemed. But there were also some brighter, if colder, days. And at the start of the month even some snow (relatively rare…
A postcard from Doha: the National Museum of Qatar
The National Museum of Qatar was designed by the architect Jean Nouvel. He took his inspiration from the naturally occurring crystal formations known as the desert rose. The sprawling structure's interlocking disks suggest a cluster of such…
Gallery: floral triptychs in monochrome
In a Northern Hemisphere winter, seeing flowers can always lift the spirits. Whether it’s a rare winter-blooming plant in a garden, a vase in the home or photos from past summer or journeys, the sight is always a welcome one.
Beside the Rhine in Cologne
Our main reason for visiting Cologne last December was football, to watch Newcastle United play Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League. And of course there were Christmas markets to enjoy. But we also wanted to see something of the city. The morning after the match…
Gallery: rescuing the rejects
How often have you looked at a photo and immediately rejected it? Too bland, too flat, out of focus, poor composition… It may have looked good at the time you took it, but for one reason or another it didn't turn out as you'd hoped and planned.
Gallery: ten from ten (years ago)
In numerology the number ten represents cycles ending and new ones starting. Pythagoras called ten the ‘perfect number’ because it totals the first four numbers (1+2+3+4=10), symbolizing cosmic order and completeness. We naturally count in tens, because we have…
Gallery: seeing Cologne in black and white
After any trip I like to explore how the photos I took might look in black and white. I never shoot in that medium, even on those occasions when I already feel it would be the best option, because it’s easy to transform from colour to monochrome but…
A visit to Cologne Cathedral
Cologne's cathedral has a long drawn-out history of construction, starting in 1248 and only finishing in 1880. At that point it was the highest building in the world at 157 metres tall! Today it is the world’s third largest Gothic-style cathedral and a UNESCO World…
Gallery: a balance between full and empty
There’s a tendency when we photograph something to want to fill the frame. Empty space around our subject can feel like a waste, while omitting anything may feel as if we’re not telling the whole story. But good composition is all about balance, and…
Gallery: the icy blue shades of Svalbard
I think we tend to think of ice as clear, or maybe white like snow; the images in this gallery will show that it is anything but! There is a scientific reason for this. Dense, pure ice appears blue to our eyes because it absorbs longer wavelengths of light…
Gallery: to market, to market …
I love to seek out a local market when I travel; you discover so much about a place there. What people like to eat, how they dress, how they interact with each other (and you!) And markets are wonderful for photography. Whether like me you enjoy candid street…
Gallery: around the block
I often find myself drawn to photograph the little details I see around me, whether close to home or on my travels. So much so that I often come home to find I have lots of photos of the details of a building and none of the building as a whole to provide context.
Gallery: full or empty?
All photographers recognise that juxtaposing opposites in an image, or in a pair of images, creates an interesting tension for the viewer. Life is made up of opposites: big and small, old and young, light and dark, and yes, full and empty.
A walk on the last day of the year
As we start a new year of Monday Walks I want to look back to one taken right at the end of last year, on New Years Eve. We were staying in Newcastle over the new year holidays with bright if chilly weather, perfect for a walk by the sea. So we took the Metro to…
Picking favourites from 2025
Looking back at favourite photos can have a positive effect. They remind you of good times in the past and offer the promise of more good times in the future. Even when the memories they hold are sometimes painful, they are often also precious. But any keen…
Gallery: a December selection (2025)
Long or short, every year ends with December, which for many of us means the build-up to the Christmas celebrations. And for those who like me live in the Northern Hemisphere, it also means short days, long dark nights and cold weather.
Looking back at a year of travels (2025)
While travelling is always a wonderful treat, part of the pleasure lies in having the memories of the sights seen and experiences lived to look back on later. And the photos of course; always photos! At the end of the past few years, I’ve enjoyed compiling…
Gallery: the Twelve Days of Christmas (in black and white)
Even if you think you know the 'Twelve days of Christmas' song, I bet like me you forget some of the later gifts. Are there twelve drummers drumming, or eleven? Should there be ten pipers piping, or is that lords a-leaping? And so on.
