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The right side of life

It's been a while. I've not felt at all creative for the last six weeks. There's not been much going on - apart from my lovely sister visiting – I think that it's been more to do with coming to terms with what I'm living through. The operation…
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Self Isolation Again

Self-isolation again. I first started in early March 2020 before it even had the ‘shielding’ name, and before the government had got their shabby act together. At that time Dinah had Covid - all the symptoms, but no testing available at…
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Delayed Operation

Yes, the Bowel resection, planned for Monday, has been delayed until 25th April. How do I feel about that? Frustrated, but also relieved. Mainly relieved right now. I dare say that the inconveniences caused by waiting another 3+ weeks will…
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Good Bad News

I am not a lover of the adjectives good and bad. They often seem inadequate and lazy. However, when coupled with the word news they become universally understood. Over the last week many of you have sent positive thoughts for good news from…
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Climatic

The theme for this year's Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy is Climate. This will be the fourth year I have submitted - one successful acceptance to date - so I thought I would share some of my thoughts about the process and the joy of…
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The Story of a Photo 6

It seems somehow apposite to complete this difficult year that we have lived through with a metaphorical photo. The original is below. This image feels like this is not only where we are at now, but where we have been all year: shrouded…
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The story of a photo 5

This is the story of a photo in portrait format. Not the version you see above, but the original that is at the end of this post. Most of the time I am drawn to shoot in landscape format. I even chose to do that for my recent portrait project,…
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Meaningness

Look at the things around you, the immediate world around you. If you are alive, it will mean something to you, and if you care enough about photography, and if you know how to use it, you will want to photograph that meaningness.Paul Strand I…
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Your Unruly Mind

With mindfulness, as you practice - be it meditation, mindful photography or simply being present with the one thing that you are doing - your present awareness develops. As this happens, your understanding and appreciation of the moment has…

The story of a photo 4

My current overarching photographic intention is to create expressive photos. I am responding to Aristotle's belief that, "the aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance." In terms of the…
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Arts on Prescription

Swansea has just started an Arts on Prescription service. Read on to find out what that is and how the arts can support your well-being. HARBWR is the name of Swansea's Arts on Prescription Service. It runs creative and engaging arts activities…
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Simplify your camera setup

I have written in the past about how imposing limitations can fire up your creative juices, but simplifying your camera set up can also allow a greater connection with the visual feast in front of you. Let me explain. I believe that the greatest…
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Street Photography Lenses

There is plenty of debate and loud opinion about the ideal focal length for a Street Photography lens. I thought I would put two to the test during a recent walkabout in the city of Swansea in Wales. I'll be considering the merits of a 27mm…
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Creating art for exhibitions

Let's reflect upon the process of creating art for exhibitions. The first few months of each year seem to be, what I have now named, 'Call' Season. Many national and international exhibitions and competitions call for new work to be submitted.…
Shielding photosLee Aspland
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One Year of Shielding (Part 2)

Carrying on from Part 1 of this One Year of Shielding there have been changes. All parts of the UK are slowly emerging from the 3rd lockdown and there is personal news on the effectiveness of vaccines. Here in Wales, we are emerging from…
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One Year of Shielding (Part 1)

Just over one year ago I started shielding. We used the phrase self isolating at first, but I guess that had negative connotations, so shielding it became. I started when my partner Dinah developed Covid. It wasn't a difficult decision,…
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Multiple Exposure – Additive Mode

During my initial forays into Multiple Exposure (ME) I could not see any use for Additive Mode. If you have never heard of this then I congratulate you at not being as immersed with ME as I am. I bought a Fuji X-T4 just so I could have access…
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Your Photography Goals 2021

Over the last 10 months I have had plenty of time to practice and develop my photography skills. I can't think why! A key aspect of that development was having a purpose. To be honest any creative outlet can help, but as I am a photographer…
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Acceptance

Mindfulness encourages you to see things as they actually are in the present moment. As the present moment plays out, you practice noticing your feelings, your physical sensations and the thoughts that flit across your mind. It may well be…
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I’m in the Amateur Photographer!

Last week I was fortunate enough to be featured in the UK's oldest national photography magazine, The Amateur Photographer. In an interesting article about Mindful Photography I am one of three photographers who get to explain their take on…
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Practice makes perfect

Or does it? There is some disagreement. It generally goes like this: if you practice the wrong skills everyday you will ingrain bad habits, not perfection. I prefer Michael Jordan's take on this. "You can practice shooting eight hours a…