This has been a weird year for me. Photographically speaking. It’s nearly the middle of June, and yet, I’ve taken far fewer photographs than I normally do. Months of relentless weather and the mental fog that comes with living through an anxious, uncertain world have all taken their toll. In this post, I look at how distractions, self-doubt, and even a frustrating gear issue gradually chipped away at the simple urge to go out and shoot. Along the way, I get distracted by broader cultural issues, including the uneasy role AI is playing for many of us, but I do bring it back to photography and why it matters now more than ever. It’s quite philosophical, honest. Oh, and there are some photos too!

Every year we like to get up early on New Year’s day and head to the beach to watch the first sunrise of the new year. It’s a little ritual to start the year, but unfortunately, it hasn’t always gone exactly according to plan. Last year, we couldn’t actually get to the beach, because of a strict covid lockdown, as it was outside the permissible distance. This year we did get there, but instead of a glorious sunrise, we were treated to stormy seas and winds. Not exactly what we were hoping for, but it led to some cool photos anyway.