As we get closer to the Greystones Winter market, I’d like to pause & talk seriously about photography.

And the fact that, even though I AM taking photos and selling them, I don’t actually call myself a Photographer. 😂

Let me explain…

It was never something I particularly wanted to do. I wanted to create, to make games, write books & illustrate.

But taking photos? That just… happened?

We moved to the Sea. And I fell in love with it. Or maybe… rediscovered an old love? Those morning walks on the shore. The light. The ever changing moods and skies.

They captured me. Captured my imagination. And in turn, I started trying to capture them.

Poorly at first.

I used the images initially as a vehicle for writing. I gave poor old Hobbes (RIP) a wise, ironic voice, I waxed lyrical about the world and living and shared positivity during COVID…and I accidentally got better at taking the photos. The light. The ACTION! A stunning sunrise has me grabbing my camera feverishly, yes. But it was never my intention to do it ‘properly’. Seriously.

Someone said to me once, “I’d love to see what you can do with a ‘real’ camera,” and though there was a veiled insult intended, I wasn’t offended.

Not too much, anyway. 😉

There are talented people out there who obsess about cameras, lenses, focus, timing & editing. They go out in pursuit of perfection. Have studios. You can book them. I admire their work. Respect them. I follow several here.

But I’m not interested in competing with them or taking this aspect of my daily routine TOO seriously.

It’s simply not what I do. I make games for kids. I create Apps for a living & I love it. It’s my passion.

I stay in my lane when it comes to the photos. It’s part of my morning’reset’. I enjoy myself. I capture light and water and skies and Pippin. I have an EXCELLENT camera phone, but my prime concern is that I can snap those magical moments clearly, quickly and with waterproof armour. Do one thing & do it well.

And share them.

Yes, it’s become a ‘thing’ in terms of the market & making calendars. (4 years now!) And I’m enjoying that too. It’s lovely to see them printed – so rare now in this digital age. But it makes little or no money tbh. I enjoy social media, I talk with the friends and people that visit us, get to know the local community here too and ooh and aaah over skies or splashes that turned out beautifully…but…

I’m not really a photographer.

It would be wrong of me to say I don’t love it, and that if I see something wonderful (and I am always watching) then I want to try and capture it. And I try my best to get better at it. 

But I think that’s just part of the visual storytelling my entire career has honed and trained me to do. I’m someone who’s always looking. I do have an eye for it.

It is a ‘thing’ I do. But it’s not THE thing I do.

Anyway. ‘Confession’ over & thank you all for turning up and enjoying my daily photos. I appreciate the compliments and that people like them.

Despite the fact I’m not really a photographer. 😉