I returned on Wednesday from my 3 day trip to Wales to visit the famous Mach Loop training ground for the RAF. Unfortunately the weather was very poor and due to the conditions the RAF were not flying while we were there, except for a lone pair of RAF Hawks from RAF Valley. Despite the conditions and lack of aircraft it was a fun trip spent with a number of friends and I certainly wish to return later in the year to try again when the weather is better.

Here's a few shots I managed to get of the Hawks flying past

I will be away for a few days from tomorrow on a trip to the Mach Loop in Wales for some lowfly photography. Depending on the weather I will be back on Thursday or Friday.

Since this weekend granted us the best weather of the year to date I was eager to get out and do some photography. At around 3:30pm on Saturday the weather was still looking very nice and I decided it would be nice to shoot the sunset over the Cuckmere River near the Seven Sisters Country Park.

With an hour and half until sunset I packed up the camera and a couple of lenses and set off. All was going well until I reached the A259 coastal road which was one huge traffic jam. Instead of a few minutes it took me over half and hour to reach the Seven Sister Country Park carpark. I pulled in with 10 minutes spare before the sun actually set, it’s golden glow already spilling over the hills and lighting up the river. It was only then I noticed that the carpark shuts at 5pm, just before the sun actually sets and certainly not leaving me enough time to pack up and return to the car. So rather grumpily I drove back out in search of somewhere to leave the car. Again the traffic caught me and I couldn’t get to anywhere safe and legal in time to photograph the sunset. It was at this point I decided to admit failure and return home, without the camera ever leaving the boot of the car.

A real shame as it was a really fantastic sunset. I will try again when the next opportunity presents itself, but I need to find somewhere that I can park since the carparks in the area will be open long enough. I suspect I will have to time in a long walk from one of the nearby villages.

My partner Rhiannon and her sister Candice will be taking part in Race for Life in Brighton in June. They've set themselves a target of at least £150 sponsorship for the event and would gladly except any donations that people can spare. Below you can see a running total for their sponsorship to date. If you would like to contribute you can do so by clicking on the donate button.

Better late than never I've got a few photographs to share from Peacehaven cliffs, the site of a charity abseil arranged by The Anthony Nolan Trust. These photographs feature my partner Rhiannon and good friend Chris doing their bit for charity and taking part in the abseil.

The Anthony Nolan Trust is the UK's most successful bone marrow donor register for patients with Leukaemia. They organise many fundraising events around the country ranging from walks and runs to diving with sharks and white water rafting. Visit their website at http://www.anthonynolan.org.uk to find out more about them and find events in your area you can take part in.

On the morning of the 9th of September we set off under clear skies towards Peacehaven on the A27. The weather was a pleasant surprise after the previous few days of rain which had made me wonder whether the event would be able to go ahead.

On arrival Rhiannon and Chris signed the required disclaimers and handed over their money while I took my chance to see what angles I would be able to photograph from. Reaching the cliff edge and looking down, the 80 foot drop looked a lot further. A couple of people were already heading over the edge and I used them to determine whether my Sigma 100-300 would give me enough range for my shots. I also noted that the sun was completely in the wrong place, right behind the cliff, backlighting the scene.






The wait wasn't long and soon Rhiannon and Chris were being harnessed up and given their hard hats. I took a few photographs and attracted a little attraction wielding my Sigma lens. Next came a short safety briefing and instruction on how to abseil and then it was time for the event itself.




I moved into my first location and took a few shots as Rhiannon lowered herself over the edge. Chris followed shortly after and soon they were side by side as they descended. I moved onto my next location on some well placed stairs down to the bottom of the cliff. They were just right for taking photographs using the reach of the Sigma and as they moved down the cliff I followed using the stairs until they reached the bottom.










While they were un-harnessed I took a few shots to illustrate the height of the cliffs from the bottom and waited a few more minutes while the next pair started their turn down the cliff to get a couple of shots with them as a good demonstration of scale.

With Rhiannon and Chris, happy and exhilarated we had to make a move for home.


Rhiannon would like to thank everyone who sponsored her for the event. Your contributions were very much appreciated.

My sister has suffered with M.E. for a number of years now. It’s thanks to the support of the Association of Young People with M.E (AYME) and the great people who work there that she, my parents and myself have been helped in coping with the condition.

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M.E. is a painful, debilitating and isolating illness, affecting 25,000 children and young people and over 200,000 adults. The illness affects many body systems and their functions, particularly the nervous and immune systems. In 2002, the British Government gave formal recognition to the illness. It is also recognised by the World Health Organisation as a neurological condition.

M.E. (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Encephalopathy) is also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and sometimes diagnosed as Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome (PVFS).

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