bikes and things

So we finally got around to booking our first proper holiday together. No more Cornwall camping or couple of nights in a nice hotel here and there with a walk along a beach after. We’re doing it properly this time – we’re going to NEW YORK BABY! So we’ve booked two flights to New York JFK for June. We’re going to stay in an apartment in Williamsburg which is better than a hotel in my eyes and enjoy every bloody minute of it.

We’ve both made an enormous list of things to do already. Food, bikes, buildings, galleries, museums, views, drinks, more food… We’ve got seven nights there so should hopefully have plenty of time to enjoy it all and get a good experience of the city without feeling rushed. Best get reading through this and work out how many memory cards I’ll need for a weeks worth of photos.

Can’t wait! I think Emma might explode with excitement before we go.

A few weekends back we had a weekend away to visit Bexhill, walk around, eat chips, admire dogs on the beach etc and then went to Eastbourne to stay in a supposedly “Boutique” hotel for the night. I’ve only just got round to start processing my shots from the X100. I seem to be taking more photos than I have time to edit right now but here’s a few of my favourites so far.

A while back now but only just getting round to editing some of the shots I took including this cracking view from the B&B we stayed in. A touch of a grad filter added in Lightroom to bring out the detail in the sky but otherwise pretty much as shot.

Having just got back from a visit to Northern Ireland it seems like a good time to start planning the next. Usually we fly into Belfast or Derry and then go to either Portstewart or Donegal. However I think on the next trip we might hang around a little before going to see family. There seems to be a sudden flurry of excellent new projects reaching completion over there which we’d both love to see.

Top of the list has to be the new MAC in Belfast by Hall McKnight.

Images © Christian Richters

Then whilst still in Belfast it’s almost certainly worth seeing the Sterling Shortlisted Lyric Theatre by O’Donnell & Tuomey. I’ve been a fan of their work for years since meeting them on a field trip to Dublin in 2000 during my degree.

Images © Dennis Gilbert

Then West to Derry to see An Gaelaras, again by O’Donnell & Tuomey.

Image © Dennis Gilbert

After that and catching up with Emma’s dad then I think it’ll be time to drive North to Portstewart and then on to the Giant’s Causeway visitor centre by Heneghan and Peng. The last time we were there it the white shed was no where near as good as this! Then I think that’ll be enough architecture and it’ll be time for a Guinness and a glass of Bushmills.

Images © Hufton & Crow

Updated: My friend Matthew emailed me with a map of all the projects worth visiting which is well worth looking at if you’re planning a trip.

Finally found a few spare moments to process a the rest of the holiday snaps from our trip to Portstewart a few weeks back. Nothing too earth shattering photography wise but some nice snaps for this months prints.

Just back from a superb long weekend in Northern Ireland with Emma and Jane. A great day in Belfast with Jane’s sister and daughter, and then two days in Portstewart. Lovely weather bizarrely whilst London was freezing we were walking along the beach in relatively warm sunshine. Couldn’t resist running a few shots through Lightroom before bed.

Off on an early flight tomorrow morning to spend a weekend back in Northern Ireland with Emma and Jane. Last time we went it was fairly crazy weather so I’m expecting more of the same. Sunny, wet, wet, wet, sunny etc. Lots of photo opportunities and hopefully plenty of Guinness and Bushmills to be had also. Can’t believe it was 2009 when we were last there.

Also, I’m so glad I don’t add those stupid borders to my photos anymore!

Another year, another trip to France. What an amazing spot! Did lots of swimming, drinking and burning in the sun. Even more suncream needed next time. Took my proper camera this year too as I need to use it for more than just paying jobs. A few select photos as uploaded to Flickr.

Finally finished editing down my shots from Copenhagen… Here’s a few of my favourites. The rest are here.

Just back from a few days in Copenhagen this weekend. Couldn’t resist opening up Lightroom when I got in and processing a few shots. A few of my favourites below from the 4Gig I shot. Ooops.

A great place to spend time. Felt very Dutch in many ways. More text and images to follow.