Looking Back - 2014

Wow - and what a year!

I will open by indulging with, what in my view, was the high point - in more than one way, and although this is a picture taken of me rather than by me there was a serious message to this daredevil stunt I did back in June Yup, I jumped out of a perfectly good aeroplane in aid of the RNLI, raising £580 in the process. I loved every minute of it and I will be back to do more skydiving just as soon as I can, with the aim of doing a solo freefall - yee-haaaa!

Well, that was June, what of the rest?
It has been a year full of great highs and unfortunate lows, both personally and work-wise.
It has been a year of decisions and changes.
It has been a year which has challenged my determination, my strength and my emotions.
It has been a year which opened up new experiences and ideas.
It has been a year where I have had some success and recognition.
I guess this is what you might expect through any year but the main thing is I'm still here, even if I have been a bit quiet of late, and I'm looking forward to great new challenges in 2015. (More of those in the next post) However, before we leave 2014 behind let me pick up on some of the favourite images and highlights from the year.

January

2014 arrived with gusto, when we felt the full Atlantic force down in West Cork.

A first visit to the wonderful city of Glasgow for Burns weekend. So much to see, including the fabulous Transport Museum. A return visit is a must.

February

Big changes! The decision was made to stop hiding and transform as Celia Bartlett Photography - a new look and a new website 

Still finding time for going out to enjoy a favourite place with a favourite walking companion

March

Back out to another favourite place - West Cork, with lots of plans to mull over

Visiting an interesting location on a shoot for a well known, quality supermarket - now one of my regular clients.

April

Another new work association with a great name - and one we already have a personal interest in to boot!

Who can't resist a bluebell wood?!

May
 

Private view for my Open Studio - with special guest.
Two weekends in April / May

Back to the stunning scenery in West Cork, with plans now starting to take shape.

June

A selfie with a difference! Admiring one of the many motorbikes at the annual Meldreth charity motorbike show.

Reaching the middle of the year with an early start for the Summer solstice sunrise at Lowestoft

July

Theatrical photography, now a regular feature throughout my working year, whether it be outdoors or indoor



 

Covering big events is also part of the working year - and the biggie of the year was the Tour de France but look who stole the show?!

Delighted to have had a sell-out souvenir book off this once in a lifetime event.

August
 

Photographing politicians - one of two I had the brief to fulfil this year:- The Rt. Hon. Sir Alan Haselhurst MP

A visit early on in the process of the Tower Poppies - just amazing!

September 

Another ride out to the Ace Cafe London for the buzzing Annual Reunion

An extra special early-morning photo shoot at the stunning Glendalough upper lake, Co Wicklow, Ireland.

Magical!

October

Surfed back in to Ireland ahead of the West Cork Photography Weekends I had been planning for months.

A reflective evening just before my first guests finally arrived for the Photography Weekends.

And so successful they were, I am rolling them out again in Spring 2015!

November

The first of the regular annual events that take place in November - the big noise of the fireworks ...

...contrasted with capturing the serenity of the Remembrance Sunday Parade.

December 

Rounding off the year covering an event that would bring joy to many families - the Homecoming Parade - the troops had returned home from Afghanistan in time for Christmas

I would like to thank you for your support over these past twelve months and may I now take this opportunity to -

Wish you all a Very Happy New Year.
May it be full of joy and happiness!

I look forward to sharing 2015 with you.

Open Studio - Weekend 2

The second weekend of the Saffron Walden Open Studios is almost upon us so I am dusting off the tables, adjusting the flowers and stocking up on greeting cards in the rack. I'm pleased to say there has been a lot of interest in the print of the image above and it is still for sale, as well as the now well recognised print of the Golden Hour over Saffron Walden but who is to say they won't be snapped up in the opening hours.

Please don't be afraid to drop in on Saturday or Sunday, when my door will be open again from 11am to 6pm. All the location details are available via this link

Look forward to seeing you all.

Open Studio 2014

Open Studios is upon us again. Well actually, to be precise, Saffron Walden Open Studios.

As some of you regular followers know, I have 'Open-Studioed' in the past but due to a number of factors, I have opted for this earlier and smaller affair of the Saffron Walden event this year, rather than the big Summer event linked with Cambridge.

However, the important information for now is that I open my doors in the morning...

Saturday 26th April
from
11 am to 6pm

and again on

Sunday 27th April

Hope I might see some of you over the weekend, and if that isn't enough, I do the whole thing again next weekend too!

I don't wish to directly publish the addresses of all of the Open Studio participants (including my studio) here but all the information you need to find us is contained in this link.

During the week, I will update you with how things are going and exactly why I am doing an Open Studio but first, here is a glimpse back at a couple of pictures (thanks to himself) from last night, when a class crowd came to support me on my Private View night. Thanks all!

Saffron Walden in Uttlesford

Little did we know, back in January 1985 when we moved into the town of Saffron Walden in Essex, that almost thirty years later the area in which it is located would be named as Britain's most desirable rural area to live. Call it good judgement on our part but we have enjoyed living in this beautiful part of a county which, normally conjures up images far from a rural idyll. This is not TOWIE country, this is North Essex, with gently undulating English countryside. It could be argued that being this far north in the county, the area is also influenced by the near neighbours of Cambridgeshire and Suffolk, each only a few miles away. In fact the area is so unique, that it is almost its own little county - let's call it the county of Uttlesford. Actually that isn't too far from the truth as Uttlesford is the administrative region for, amongst others, the towns of Saffron Walden, Stansted, Thaxted and Great Dunmow.

Those of you who follow my blog will know that I often post about the delights of this area, and I frequently feel so fortunate to live in such a lovely place. So much so, that both himself and myself have moved our mothers to the town in recent years. They have also grown to love their adoptive home-town, just as we have over the years. I agree that the town doesn't perhaps have quite so much to offer those at the other end of the age scale but it hasn't hindered us in raising our family here.

In celebration of the title, I am airing an image I took early one September morning back in 2011. It was such a glorious golden hour, and with the birds beginning to rise from the trees it was ripe for capture from this aspect, which is seldom covered. Already the image has been steadily circulating on Twitter since the news broke, and so it is inevitable that I should choose to share it again, here on my blog, as the ideal representation of the area I call home.


Now for the business bit!
The image is available to order as a print or greeting cards by putting your request into the contact form at the side of this blog. (Sorry the e-shop isn't quite ready but will be open very soon) Alternatively you can come and see the image for real when it will be in exhibition during the Saffron Walden Open Studios 26th/27th April & 3rd/4th May. Watch out for further details.