Friday 31 January 2020

A Photo a Day 2020 #31 + January Round Up

Arbre Grey

Somehow I've not yet missed a day of posting photos- although I've somewhat bended my own rules of only using my proper camera. This one was taken last year and previously posted on  Instagram, but nevertheless a worthy photo, I think. 

To round up this month's theme with my thoughts, it's been a fun challenge to find things to photograph all in the same colour palette. Due to illness, I've been quite restricted over this last week in terms of scope as I've been housebound. Therefore some photos were taken in the same shoot and the variation of themes has not been as wide as I would have liked. 

What have I come to learn about the colour grey? It can be beautiful and emotive despite its lacklustre reputation. Being January (in England) it is everywhere, yet while we're moaning about the dismal grey we never really look at it properly and appreciate its dramatic power. As an example, the grand and intimidating council offices really do impose themselves over Fareham in a majestic and brutal way. Likewise, the murky skies create a fascinating gothic backdrop to our day to day; it's like we're on our own brooding movie sets as we go about our miserable day to day. 


So there it is, January, done.


Tuesday 28 January 2020

A Photo a day 2020 #28

Forgotten Grey

A photo taken last Autumn on my phone. I thought it would make a good writing prompt; now I realise it was to serve an additional purpose.


Monday 27 January 2020

Sunday 26 January 2020

A Photo a Day 2020 #26

Sickly Grey

Skincare Sunday #3: Protected Skin

Non-skincare enthusiasts are quite surprised that I wear SPF50 nearly every day. With screen exposure being a mainstay of everyday life and being a person of the pale and freckly variety, SPF is my best friend.

But it wasn't always so. In my teens and early 20s, I was less clued up and more carefree when it came to exposing my skin to the sun. I guess we all are, but there is so much information out there now, that young people really do have less excuses than us who were teens in the before the 2000s (and the internet hit).

My SPF of choice right now is Eucerin Sensitive Protect Face Sun Cream SPF50+ 

Why is it so good?

I love the fact that it is non-sticky, moisturising and soothing. It is a fairly thick cream (not runny like a lotion), but it doesn't feel greasy. It also barely ever pills up into little balls when foundation is applied over it. I say, barely ever, because on the few occasions it has it has been down to the serum worn under it. To avoid this, I avoid watery serums and leave products to sink in and dry before layering.

Thursday 23 January 2020

A Photo a Day 2020 #23

Corfe Grey

Another photo found from some time ago on a visit to Corfe Castle. This is taken in miniature mode and it looks like I shot it in vivid colour mode too. This is a slight bending of my rules as I said I wouldn't tamper with original colours, but I couldn't pass this one up. 

Wednesday 22 January 2020

A Photo a Day 2020 #22

Cygnet Grey

This was taken last year, but I never posted it. Looking through my camera's memory card, one of these cute photos had to feature. This one's composition shows the protective nature of the mother. There were a few clearer and close zoom-ins on the cygnets, but this one was a little more interesting as an image. Still working on my nature photography camera skills.

Tuesday 21 January 2020

A Photo a Day 2020 #21

Intruder Grey
The third of the photos that made the cut from Sunday's impromptu photo-taking session, this is a view of the light reflecting onto the wall of the kitchen. The amazing rainbows that are created in the afternoon when bright sunlight comes through the window is quite magical. I didn't capture the rainbow colours, but chose to focus on the contrast between the warm and cool shades of the dimly lit room in the background and the slate grey of the foreground.

Monday 20 January 2020

A Photo a Day 2020 #20

Garden Grey

The reverse viewpoint of yesterday's photo: a focus on the smudged window pane with light spilling through from the garden. Rather a beautiful sight.


Sunday 19 January 2020

A Photo a Day 2020 #19

Redemption Grey
Taken with my macro lens to get the close focus on the hair-- which looks pleasingly grey in this light. The image is one of many I took today in the light by a window and rather a creepy image, but some interesting light and shadow nevertheless. 

Skincare Sunday #2: Toned skin

Firm, toned, skin is something most of us covet--particularly those of us who are no longer in our early (or even late) 20s! Daily life takes its toll on the skin and for me, I'm often aware that stress and less sleep than I'd like makes a big impact on what I see in the mirror. 

Today's mention is Drunk Elephant's C-Firma Day Serum.

Drunk Elephant are a pricey US brand who claim to not use any 'nasties' in their products. I'm most concerned with efficacy, and this is one of a few products from their range I really enjoyed after I tried mini versions of their range. In order to purchase high end skincare, it needs to pack a punch. This daytime serum makes my skin glow. I'm wearing it today and no make-up and my skin looks dewy, smooth and happy.

Vitamin C is known to be great for the skin. It works on reducing pigmentation and brightening. This serum contains vitamin C (absorbic acid) in an interesting oil/ serum hybrid texture. It is the opposite to most vitamin C serums which tend to be gritty and sometimes on the drier side. It is clearly not a high intensity vitamin C product despite being marketed as a 'Vitamin C serum', but I like to use it in conjunction with the vitamin C serums that I apply at night. 

Saturday 18 January 2020

A Photo a Day 2020 #18

Brutalist Grey

I debated whether to include this one as its another photo of the Fareham Borough Council offices, but I love photographing it! This building is huge in comparison to the rest of the town's architecture. Many may label it an eyesore, but I think these windows look like ladders leading into the clouds.

Thursday 16 January 2020

A Photo a Day 2020 #16

Turbine Grey

Taken out of the car window on a trip to Essex. It would have been even better to have taken some time to capture the turbines, but they sky looked great.

Wednesday 15 January 2020

A Photo a Day 2020 #15

Historic Grey
This was taken in the wonderful 'Robin's Nest Emporium' in Fareham: a great shop to browse if you ever visit. There are various stalls set out with vintage and retro wares from vinyl records to books and ornaments. 

Being a child of the 90s, it was a regular Sunday activity to go to a boot fair with my parents. Many albums were purchased on cassette tape, second hand over the years. 'Robin's Nest' is like a trip down memory lane; you are sure to find items that you recognise from the past and plenty of desirable curiosities to snap up.

Tuesday 14 January 2020

A Photo a Day 2020 #14

Regulation Grey
The Fareham Borough Council building is a Brutalist masterpiece! Completed in 1975, it reminds me a lot of the office building in Gremlins 2. Fareham is a small town with a community vibe, far removed from the hustle and bustle of city life. This building can be seen from all across the town, and despite its gargantuan, imposing grey form, it is a landmark I love to capture in photography.


Monday 13 January 2020

A Photo a Day 2020 #13

Clocktower Grey

This is the clock tower of St. Peter and St Paul's Church in Fareham, Hampshire. I've always admired it, walking through the graveyard towards town, but today I had my telephoto lens to get a closer look. 

Apparently, the clock tower dates from 1742, one of the oldest elements of the remaining structure.

Sunday 12 January 2020

A Photo a Day 2020 #12

Mirror Grey
Quite a self-indulgent little mirror selfie here, but captures the January/ grey mood perfectly! You can see the blur and distortion in the mirror, but I deliberately didn't get the wall it was attached to in the frame.

Skincare Sunday #1: Bright Skin

A new year, a new series. Sunday seems the perfect day (for alliterative and time availability purposes) to post about one of my interests: skincare. This week's focus is going to be on a product I have used for many years which gives me brighter skin. It will be no stranger to those that enjoy their skincare products, but it is a product that is tried and tested. 

Liquid Gold by Alpha H is a glycolic acid toner which works to exfoliate and revitalise my skin while I sleep. It reduces pigmentation marks from sun and acne scarring and generally makes me look brighter and fresher.

It is a well-known, moderately priced product which is said to work on reducing the appearance of fine lines. The glycolic acid is a 5% strength, which is going to give noticeable results without causing reactions in most people. Although it does contain alcohol, I have not found it to be harsh or drying.

A little about my skin (as I've not blogged for a while about beauty and skincare):

Saturday 11 January 2020

A Photo a Day 2020 #11

Seagull Grey
A sassy seagull taken with my telephoto lens. I love trying to photograph birds with it as you can get in fairly close. It isn't a heavy or high spec lens, but it manages to capture some nice detail nevertheless. It's really fun to use!

Tuesday 7 January 2020

Monday 6 January 2020

A Photo a Day 2020 #6

Warehouse Grey
What is really interesting when you take on a photography project is you find out a lot about your style and what you are drawn to. I seem to gravitate towards these sorts of images and compositions- see below. It also makes me strive for a bit more originality because clearly this is quite a pattern in my photos which I'm sure has been influenced by other common photography tropes/ styles.

All taken in 2017 as part of the Photo a Day challenge

Sunday 5 January 2020

A Photo a Day 2020 #5

Homesick Grey
This cat used to live next door. She now lives a little way away- close enough to keep returning to her old stomping ground. Here she is pining for her previous home...

Friday 3 January 2020

A Photo a Day 2020 #3

Haggard Grey
The purplish-grey of my under eye circles are something I try to cover up. But sadly, you cannot cover up the aging process completely (and why should we anyway?)

I was always fascinated by eyes as a young person and art student, always studying and drawing eyes. Even now, they are one of the first things I notice when meeting people. 

Wednesday 1 January 2020

A Photo a Day 2020 #1

New Year's Grey
The theme for January is: Shades of Grey. Every photo posted this month will primarily focus on documenting variants of grey. Incidentally, grey is one of my favourite shades. It is cool, modest, classy and subdued. Whilst some may associate it with age, stagnation, bleakness, I think it is rather beautiful.

The grey sky overhead with a little light, taken at about midday. 

A Photo a Day 2020: The challenge begins!

Back in 2017, I set myself the challenge to post a photo on my blog every day. It took discipline, but it was really good fun.  I am back, three years later and I am going to attempt to do the challenge again...


Here are the 2020 rules:


  • I will post one photo every day on this blog (some photos to be posted on Instagram too, but this will be the main place I log my work)
  • There will be a theme each month- January's theme is 'Shades of Grey' 
  • I can edit photos (brightness/ contrast etc.), but not edit colours (when the theme is colour-based)
  • I can't shoot in black and white in order to achieve grey tones for this month
  • All photos will be named
  • All photos will be taken by me using my Sony A5000 Compact system camera

I welcome any feedback or ideas!