November - how did that happen???

I’m confused, perplexed, flummoxed - how on earth has it got to the last day of October already? I’ve been having this conversation with a lot of people recently and it seems that I’m not alone in having seen this year fly by, with no real understanding of where those days/weeks/months went…

…but looking forward first, here’s where I’m going to be when November undoubtedly whizzes by in the wink of an eye/click of a shutter/jump of a dog…

As you no doubt know by now, the Shambles, Devizes is my regular place, Bay 20 - find me there in November on:

  • Thursday 6 Friday 7 Saturday 8

  • Thursday 13 Friday 14 Saturday 15

  • Thursday 20 Saturday 22

  • Thursday 27

Elsewhere in November I’m looking forward to being at a few new events -

  • Christmas Begins Friday 21 at Salisbury Market Place & Guildhall Square 13h00 - 20h00 (1pm til 8!)

  • The Christmas Switch On Friday 28 on Marlborough High Street (SN8 1AA) 12h00 - 19h30 (midday - 7.30!)

  • Christmas Market Saturday 29 at The Hawk Conservancy Trust, (Andover) 15h30 - 19h30 (3.30pm - 7.30!)

I really am looking forward to these new events and would love to see you at one (or more!) of them - a little heads up that early December I’ll also be at Bowood House for a rather lovely Christmas event on Tuesday 2 December, 9h - 14h00 and I’m looking forward to returning to the fabulous, history-rich Shaw House, Newbury for their Christmas Market on Sunday December 6 - notes for your diary now, with more information from me later in November.

OK, now, what have I been doing to lose all sense of time…

There have been more fabulous dogs and their amazing owners; there have also been some fabulous trees, mushrooms, leaves that I’ve been lucky enough to wander among (not the mushrooms, I’m a stickler for not disturbing them and that’s not always easy when there’s as many as there have been this year)

West Woods near Marlborough

I did some brilliant shoots when the bluebells were out in West Woods; this is the first time I’ve been there in autumn and wowser, it’s a stunning place. Quiet and mysterious, little footpaths asking to be followed into the depths - just pay attention to your bearings it’s easy to lose them here!

I went up to Birmingham to catch up with some amazing friends I’ve known for decades and decades…it wasn’t about photography though I did manage a few of Mouse and Branston as well as a particularly attractive tree (if you’re wondering about the overhead perspective - it was soaking wet and I wasn’t wearing my usual ‘lay down and get muddy’ pet photography clothes!)

Pets that I did photograph in my ‘lay down and get muddy’ clothes were fabulous. Here are a few favourites from recent shoots - I can’t share some as they’re a Christmas surprise for an unsuspecting other half - how exciting!

and now…some very exciting things are happening in November, including this weekend by the sea with my cameras and some great photography friends, so it’s time for me to go and see what’s happening out there before it’s too dark to see anything!

All the best to you all and I hope to catch up with you somewhere soon,

Phil x

Wiltshire Photography in the Autumn - Pets, Craft Markets and More!

Can someone please tell me where summer went? Did it fly by for you too? Despite being a sun-loving, hot weather person, I’m quite entranced by these glorious golden mornings right now, and lighting the log burner more for the atmosphere than for the temperature (the narrowboat is instantly hot, out come the shorts and tshirts again!) is a lovely, cosy thing to be doing as the nights start drawing in.

Before I look back at that glorious summer, here’s what I’m going to be doing, and where I’m going to be doing it, over the next 6 weeks or so…

I’m still very much a regular in the Shambles, Devizes Market Place every Thursday, Friday and Saturday in Bay 20 - unless commitments elsewhere take me away. Find me there in October on:

  • Thursday 2 Friday 3 Saturday 4

  • Thursday 9 Friday 10 Saturday 11

  • Thursday 16

  • Thursday 23 Friday 24

  • Thursday 30

if you don’t see what you’re looking for, please ask!

Philippa Huber Photography in the Shambles, Devizes

I’ve a few other ‘happenings’ in October. First up, and I’m thrilled about this, is my exhibition at the Woodborough Club, Pewsey SN9 5PL - the Open Day is on Saturday 4 from 10 til 12 (with coffee and cake too, if that’s an incentive!) and runs through the month with Open Evenings every Wednesday as well. (I’ll be back in the Shambles for the afternoon, for those of you paying attention to dates…)

I’m also going to be at a new craft market at Honeystreet Mill (Pewsey SN9 5PS) on Saturday and Sunday 25-26 October 10 til 4 both days; you can find me in the shed called Fred (I love that!) Expect a great variety of traders and the chilled out, friendly vibe that goes with Honeystreet - don’t forget the cafe there too, it’s seriously good (and gets busy, maybe book ahead).


OK, that’s the forward looking bits, now let’s have a look back…

Birthday Sunrise, Le Crotoy - Nikon Z8 with z14-24mm f2.8

In August I was the incredibly lucky winner of 2 weeks’ free hire of the lens of my choice, from Lenses for Hire . I chose a fast 14-24mm to go with my Nikon Z8 and took it away to France. Oh la la, c’etait magnifique! Not my usual ‘embrace the blur’ bokeh-tastic style of shooting, I absolutely loved going wide and crisp. There were even moments where it didn’t seem wide enough - but that was just me getting carried away with those big beaches and enormous skies of the Normandy coast. Getting and sending back the lens was an absolute doddle and I’m definitely going to be renting more lenses from Lenses for Hire in the future.

 

In other personal photography news, I had a really great photowalk around Devizes with a few members of SheClicks, my favourite photography group ever…we went along the canal and through the market place, popped our noses (and cameras) into St John’s Alley and St John’s church grounds then called in to Brew and Vine to revive ourselves. Quoting directly from the website, “SheClicks is a friendly, supportive online community for women photographers of all levels. We offer meet-ups, a podcast, webinars, workshops, product reviews of photographic gear and more, creating opportunities to learn, connect and be inspired” If you’d like to know more, have a look on the website, on the FB page, or drop me a message.

 

I was also asked to be a guest judge for the SheClicks August challenge - the theme was Pets and I was obviously delighted to be invited. The problem of judging became clear very quickly - it’s so difficult to choose just 25 when at least a hundred seem worthy. After a lot of thought, I made and submitted my final choices and you can see them in the Gallery.

For my own personal/professional Pet Photography, I’ve been busy and having a fabulous time here there and everywhere! I did a beautiful shoot in the grounds of the Elvetham Hotel in Hampshire; I was up on Redhorn Hill, Wiltshire in the most wonderful late afternoon sunshine; I was crawling along woodland paths in Wickham Heath, Berkshire - I did similar in the Savernake forest close to Marlborough. I went to a lake close to Swindon; to a secure dog field at Granby House Bradford on Avon. Each shoot is different, each shoot (famous last words!) has been absolutely brilliant - here are a few images to give you an idea of just how much fun we have…

Well, that’s all for now, folks…I’ve had a great morning going over the recent past; it’s certainly been a fun-filled few months and if I didn’t have so much other work to be getting on with (website shop, for example) I’d be here all day.

If you’ve any comments, questions, requests - drop me a message whichever way works best for you (links below), and I’ll get back to you.

Thanks for reading, and I hope to see you somewhere soon…

Phil x

Wiltshire Photography in the Spring - pets, bluebells and more! April/May 2025

For a 30 day month, I seemed to cram a lot into April – and May is going to be equally busy with Pet Portrait Sessions and markets galore (go to the bottom of this newsletter to see where I’m going to be and when in May)

The whole of April seems to have been a Good Weather month; my very first event away from the Shambles took place under a beautiful blue sky at Ramsbury Brewery - their artisan makers market was bustling and fun, especially for me in my ‘teepee’ by the music stage - followed by another gorgeous day at the historic Shaw House in Newbury, Berkshire. It was my second event there and I loved it - friendly volunteers, great organisation and a stunning location all make a great day out for me and the many visitors.

April was also the month of blossom and bluebells - I remember clearly being told about West Woods when I was still quite new to the area. I asked for directions, and then for more precise directions because I was worried I wouldn’t find the bluebells. They gave me a smile tinged with something bordering on pity, I felt, and wondered about their reaction…the first time you go to West Woods, nothing can prepare you. I now understand their reaction - in fact, earlier this week I was asked, in the West Woods carpark, which way a couple should walk to find the bluebells…I smiled broadly, gave a general wave all around me. It’s marvellous, it’s amazing, the smell’s extraordinary and the flowers go on forever and ever. If you can, visit. In late April, early May. I’ve had the most wonderful Pet Portrait Sessions there this year and in my next newsletter I can’t wait to share some of the photos. In the meantime, here are a few of the Woods to whet the appetite.

Apart from West Woods, I’ve been out and about with my Pet Photography - Erlestoke for more bluebells in a gorgeous woodland setting; a lovely stroll by the river in Calne, a new location that I really enjoyed; a few of my fabulous circular walks around Drew’s Pond Woods and a great late afternoon shoot on the edge of Salisbury Plain. This month I photographed 15 dogs in total, all gorgeous, all different and all making me so very happy to do my job.

I gave myself an hour to explore the area around the Salisbury Plain location - I always get to a new location early to have a look-around, see what angles and interesting shots there are, get a general feel for a place. On this day, I lost 55 minutes of that precious hour going up a clearly impassable chalk track (is it just me who loses all power of independent thought when that google maps voice tells me where to go?) getting stuck, abandoning my car, going back to my car, slip-sliding backwards in the car to a place I could turn around….it was mildly terrifying…but look at this amazing field I paused to enjoy when I was safe. Without that terror, I’d never have seen this. I’m a positive kind of person, you know. (photos from that shoot next month, also)

I didn’t roll the car and I did see an amazing field of yellow

My brother and his family visited us in Devizes for the first time - I took a day out from the Shambles and did the tourist thing with them. We had a ride on a narrowboat (cleverly moving our home from the countryside into the centre of town for a few days); they stayed at the the Bear hotel and weren’t disturbed by a ghost (that was very good news for Catherine, my sister-in-law) and on Thursday we visited the Church, the museum (definitely worth a visit), the market (gin tasting at 10h30 is a great thing to try) and I strolled through the Shambles thinking, isn’t this a fabulous market in a fabulous town, I should come here more often! And then we went to the Fun Fair - where my youngest nephew found, to his absolute delight, that he’s finally tall enough to go on fairground rides. We took him on the Waltzers - surely everybody’s favourite, nostalgia-driven ride - and he couldn’t get enough. Though to me it seemed to go on longer, and faster, and whizzier than when I was 15…anyway, onwards and upwards for my little nephew - right up to the Wall of Death where the safety cord over his face (he’s little, after all!) did finally make him feel slightly afraid! And then, they were gone, and so were all those paddlers heading from Devizes to Westminster - I got a snap of one as I walked to the Shambles on Good Friday - where a lovely Easter Bunny was handing out chocolates…

I had a new card order arrive - over 300 this time, and the ‘kingfisher among the berries’ have almost sold out already - I’m putting in a new order very soon. Get in touch if you’ve any card requests and I’ll see what I can do.

Kingfisher among the berries - popular as a card as well as a framed and unframed print (and mug, bag, keyring)

And here is one photo from one fun Pet Portrait Session at Drew’s Pond Woods - this is one drenched spaniel!

May is here and I’m still busy with exciting Photoshoots, and Craft Fairs and Markets in new places and old…here’s where you can find me:

The Shambles, Devizes, bay 20 - Thursday 8 May, Thursday 15 May

Folk and Bespoke Craft Fair, Phoenix Centre, Exeter - Saturday 17 May, 10 til 3, Gandy Street

The Bath Independent Spring Market - Sunday 18 May, 10 til 3, Green Park Station

The Shambles, Devizes bay 20 - Thursday 22, Friday 23, Saturday 24 May

Avebury Garden Celebration Weekend Sunday 25, Monday 26 May, Manor House Garden - I’ll be there with my gazebo, can’t wait!

The Shambles, Devizes bay 20 - Thursday 29 May, Friday 30 May

The Old Potato Yard, Lydeway - Saturday 30 May - I’ll be outdoors with my gazebo on the last Saturday of the month

And in between all of the above, I’ll be photographing lots of pets, and showing lots of pet owners beautiful, unique photos of their amazing animals - it’s going to be a great month.

Right, it’s time for me to share this, look through some great photos from tonight’s photoshoot at Foxley Paddock there was running, jumping, splashing, backlit beauty…it’s such a great place for a safe Pet Portrait Session…then I’ll wander back along the towpath to my lovely floating home and relax before a busy day in the Shambles tomorrow.

Happy May folks, may it be full and busy and fun for us all

Phil x



 



Looking back at March and forward to April

Well that was another month that flew by, keeping me happily busy and also enjoying those longer days that - hurray, at last - got even longer when the clocks changed.

So, a quick look back at March…Pet Portrait Sessions, talks, prints for cafes, a bit of travel, a craft fair here and there - it was excellent!

I had 2 shoots at the start of the month and the weather was stunning - sometimes the sun can be too much but we managed beautifully with the amazing conditions. The first shoot was at Foxley Paddock a secure dog field near Devizes. I’ve done a few Pet Portrait Sessions there, and there’s a great mix of open spaces for running, tunnels and hillocks for surprise encounters, and a pond that this time made for great reflection shots - and the Wiltshire countryside provides a great backdrop too.

Then, I was off to the Photography Show that was held at ExCel, London for the first time. I had a night in Canary Wharf (and ate next to ExCel) and a night next to ExCel (and ate in Canary Wharf - really!!) The Show was fabulous, as it always is - a great mix of talks, gear (not that I was on the lookout for anything really) and lots of friends to meet or make alongside finally putting faces to names of some lovely people in the Industry.

And one evening, I took my bright yellow jacket out, in case it was chilly after dinner…and then a whole load of increasingly silly photos happened. I do love my SheClicks friends! (thank you Tina, Angela, Rebecca, Linda, Carmen, Liz and everyone)

Canary Yellow in Canary Wharf

Giggles and architecture aside, I was so proud to be on the Fundamentals stage, taking part in the ‘Turning Pro’ discussion - a few years ago I spent a weekend at the Photography Show going to lots of talks, sessions, workshops on just this subject, not really sure where they would take me, and it was very fulfilling to share my experience with people who are possibly feeling just like I did then.

I also presented Nikon with the SheClicks award for best Enthusiast Camera of the Year for their amazing Z6iii, as voted for by the SheClicks judging panel - I’m part of the panel and it’s the 3rd year I’ve presented Nikon with an award; long may it continue is all I, as a total Nikon fan, can say!

(when I get some photos of both these events, I’ll update this post)

Back in Devizes and barely recovered from the Photography Show, I was very warmly welcomed at Devizes U3A photography group when I gave a talk loosely based around the theme of ‘Composition’. I was basically given free reign to show a selection of my work that I had grouped into sections, such as ‘the rule of thirds’, ‘leading lines’ and so on. It was great fun; the members were interested and engaged, and flatteringly complimentary about the photos I had chosen to present!

Below are a few of the images, if you click on them, you’ll see them as they were on the screen (ie larger!)

I’ve had more fabulous Pet Portrait Sessions since the start of the month; not all the owners have had their ‘Reveal’ and until they do, I don’t share their photos elsewhere, but here are some captured at Drew’s Pond Woods on the edge of Devizes - an old girl and a youngster, the best of friends having the time of their lives!

I had a quick trip to the West Sussex sea-side, lovely as ever and I got onto the beach and onto Pagham nature reserve for a great walk - if you ever can, go and visit!

And then, via the New Forest and revisiting some old haunts in Poole (a blast to my Sunseeker superyacht past), I’ve been mostly in the Shambles, Devizes as well as a great little craft fair in Lacock Village Hall and the first of what will be a regular, last Saturday of every month, presence at the Old Potato Yard- I’ve invested in a Teepee (to me, a gazebo to almost everyone else) and some mega weights to keep it land-based!

Right, April is here and I’m about to go up a gear in business - Craft and Artisan Fairs begin in earnest; those bluebells and spring flowers are going to be here in no time and with them come some gorgeous Pets for gorgeous Pet Portrait Sessions. I really am looking forward to them.

First up, I’m at Ramsbury's Spring Market on April 5 (Saturday), in the garden (in my teepee) and the weather is looking perfect for it; me and around 60 other creatives, food-sellers, easter egg-hunters…it’s going to be great.

Then, I’m back at the beautiful Shaw House, Newbury on April 13 (Sunday) for their Love Local event - I’m super-excited to have been invited again and am expecting a busy day.

I’m back in the Old Potato Yard on April 26 (Saturday) - the cafe is great, there’s lots of outdoor seating if the weather’s good and a really interesting selection of independent shops worth coming over for - as well as to visit me, of course!

And apart from all that, and all my lovely Pet Portrait Sessions I’m gearing up for, you can see me in the Shambles every Thursday and Saturday (my work is still there on a Friday, but I’m finding it extremely productive to spend Fridays either in my workshop or out with my camera).

And that, for now, is it - if you’d like to get these monthly newsletters, please subscribe below. I’ll be back at the end of April - in the meantime, happy Spring to you all!

Latest News from Philippa Huber Photography

Well, that’s another month flown by - here’s my February recap!

I’ve enjoyed being back in the Shambles, seeing faces old and new and catching up on the local news…I was supposed to be slimming down my table and wall display but somehow I’ve got over-excited again about printing and have more small squares out there than ever before (they’re really cute, don’t take up a lot of space and can be displayed in different ways, that’s my reasoning anyway!) not forgetting my mugs, bags and keyrings that I print myself…

Spontaneous decisions tend to be the best, and M and I decided to go to Wales - it was extremely spur of the moment, we found a great little place just on the edge of the Brecon Beacons and, happily oblivious to weather warnings raging through the region, we set off for 3 nights.

Isn’t it wonderful how just a couple of days away can feel like so much longer? Exploring the woodland paths was fabulous and made me remember that I want to do more tree/woodland photography this year - with my favourite Wiltshire tree knolls so close, as well as the ancient forests, I just need to get planning for some shoots there.

Don’t forget that you can click on all the photos here to see them bigger and better (recommended!)

The 4 Waterfalls walk had a couple of non-waterfall surprises - the first robin was singing its little heart out (I am SO happy to be hearing all the birdsong again); the frogs were guarding their frogspawn and also seemed to be enjoying the sunlight reaching through the trees; and that final robin seemed to be telling me to get a move on, it was not my patch!

and the waterfalls themselves, well, they were in full flow after the previous day’s storm, and I felt slightly nervous approaching the edge of the paths or river bank. And then some canoeists appeared and were happy riding the waves off the top of the fall…I mean, what???

The next day, we went off looking at reservoirs, gasping at the landscape and amazing views, and then got back to ‘our place’. M went off to the pub (oh what a choice there was!) while I got set up for PermaJet’s online panel discussion to Celebrate Women in Print - it was a really lovely free-flowing chat about photography, about print (I was particularly eloquent on this subject!) and about opportunities and support (or not) for women within the industry. I recommend it, and not just because I’m in it!

 

So that’s kind of brought me up to the present, and here’s what I’m doing in the near future:

The Photography Show starts this weekend and hopefully next month’s blog will be full of photos from the 3 days I’ll be there.

Excitingly, I’m going to be on the Fundamentals Stage on Saturday at 12h00, part of the Turning Pro panel. I’m so pleased to be able to share my knowledge and experiences of the past few years - what’s worked well, what less so:

Turning pro: What you need to know - The Photography Show 2025

If you’re going to be at the Show, do get in touch, or come and say hello at the SheClicks stand where I’ll also be, listening to inspiring photographers share their insights and journeys. I’m also going to be hanging out at PermaJet’s stand with lots of questions about printing, and I’m going to be playing in the Creator Playground (last year it was amazing fun, I’m hoping for more of the same).

You may be wondering what I’m doing for the rtest of the month…well, here’s the plan:

I’m getting really busy again with my Pet Portraits; I had a brilliant shoot at Foxleys Paddock last weekend (sorry, no photos to share until those who were there have seen them) - the sun was shining, the dogs were running, the humans were smiling…it really was excellent and I recommend it as a location close to Devizes for those of you unsure about having a photoshoot in a public space or with a nervous dog.

So, more Pet Portrait Sessions next week in some of my favourite places…I will be packing my wellies!

Next Thursday (13th) I’m doing a talk for the Photography for Fun group, part of Devizes U3A - I’m really enjoying putting some of my favourite photos together and forming a hopefully interesting and cohesive talk!

The Craft Fair season doesn’t start early and I’m excited to be at Lacock (in the village hall) for the first event of the year there, on February 22 & 23, nicely planned for the weekend before Mother’s Day - if you can make it, I and many other quality, talented makers would love to see you there.

Other new and exciting news is that I’m going to be a regular at Plank's Farm Shop - I’m going to be setting up there on the final Saturday of each month, starting on March 29. I would really love people to come over and say hello (please thankyou!)

And looking further ahead, I’m going to be at The Bath Independent (@thebathindependent) • that’s very exciting even if it isn’t until May!

I think you’re all up to date, and now I need to get ready for tomorrow in the Shambles, Devizes - do come and say hello if you’re local and if you’re not and would like to comment on anything from this month’s blog, please do!

 

Thanks for reading, wishing everyone a happy and productive March,

Phil x

Hello 2025!

Hello and Happy New Year – I’ve been back in my favourite spot in the Shambles, Devizes this week saying the very same words to so many people who called in to welcome me back and have a look at my work…I’m willing the change of season along with some cute spring chicks, but then, since there was a rather half-hearted effort at snow on Friday, I also put out a quite surreal aerial photo of Silbury Hill under a white blanket.

Silbury Hill in the Snow

 

But before I head forward, let’s look back for a moment at why I have been absent for January….

After a great but hectic 2024 that left me feeling in need of a proper break, I headed off to Cornwall and Devon for some refreshing sea air, big hills and coastal walks and a rather enjoyable selection of pubs!

Staying right on the beach in Downderry was amazing – and late sunrises meant I was able to enjoy an early morning of solitary photography, just me and some oystercatchers and gulls along with the swishing of the waves as the sun rose behind them.

Oystercatchers at sunrise, Downderry beach

A Gull riding the waves…

After a quick trip back to Devizes for a change of clothes, I was off on a train to catch a plane to get on a ship in Norway, heading for the Arctic Circle – an adventure indeed!

We saw the northern lights, heard the crunch of ice as the ship made its way ever northwards and eastwards, walked out in -19 and I, personally, marvelled at the expanses of snow, ice and rock. What a place! I obviously took lots of photos and haven’t been back long enough to spend much time with them, but below are some of my current favourites that sum up the essence of the trip…watch this space, there will no doubt be more shared as I uncover them…(and don’t forget to click on the individual photos to see them in more and better detail)

And now, I’m back in Devizes and my workshop and gearing up for lots of lovely Pet Portrait Sessions - I did my first of the year at the fabulous Dawlish Warren in Devon. The weather and tide were with us, and so was the marvellous Pierre, who ran as fast and as far as his legs would take him for a good hour. He even went for a paddle which is quite a brave thing to do in January! And then, I’ve been told, he had the most enormous afternoon sleep while I was emptying pockets and boots of sand!

So, don’t forget I’m in the Shambles every Thursday, Friday and Saturday - a new plan for this year is that I’m not going to be there physically on Fridays, though my display will be and you can see my great neighbours and colleagues Jo (All That Glitters silver) and Sara (Dragonglass by Sara) to pay for anything or for any information. Instead of being there, I’ll either be in my workshop in Devizes Marina Village (and you’re very welcome to pop in and see me there on Fridays) doing my admin, editing and working on so many behind-the-scenes tasks or I’ll be out on a photoshoot.

Any questions, drop me a message/email/text.

Here’s to 2025 and all the good things that are going to happen!

Phil xx

Pet Portraits in Devizes and around - what I've been up to!

Well, it’s been an incredibly busy year so far, and it's just getting busier...and it’s also been noted that my blog posts have been lacking to say the least...so I thought it would be good to put that right with a little update on what I’ve been doing and what I’m going to be doing... 

I’ve been photographing pets, lots of pets – mostly dogs, of all shapes, sizes, ages and characters, and I’ve loved every single shoot. I’m not going to lie, some are more challenging than others, but all have produced great memories and great photos. I’ve made new friends, both 2 and 4-legged, and am thoroughly enjoying my Pet Portrait Sessions.  

 

Yesterday morning I was in my element, in the heart of the ancient Savernake forest, photographing a made-for-an-autumn-photoshoot Vizsla – she and the golden russet colours of the forest floor and leaves still clinging on the almost bare trees were phenomenal...I am very excited about the photos...but I never share before the owners have seen the best of the best at the ‘Reveal’ so I’m afraid that for now, you’re just going to have to take my word for it. 

 

an early start in the amazing Savernake Forest

But here are a few of my favourite photos from recent shoots, to give you an idea of what fun I’m having! 

 

 

And the fun is set to continue, with my happy involvement with the inaugural Pewsey Pawfest on Saturday 23 November, 11am - 5pm! 

The name says it all, really – a day celebrating all things doggie, in the Bouverie Hall in Pewsey. There will be local experts on all things canine – behaviourists, groomers, trainers, artists, walkers and so on – and ME – I'm giving a talk at 1pm on how to get the best photos of your dog with your mobile phone. I’m going to have a table there with examples of my work and will be offering a few on-the-day special deals for my Pet Portrait Sessions, so do come along if you can (entries free, Honey’s Real Dog Food are generously sponsoring the event). I really hope this Dog Festival in the amazing vale of Pewsey will be the first of many more.

Before then, though, I’ll be in my usual spot in the Shambles, Devizes (that’s Bay 20 if you weren’t sure) - this week I’m there from Thursday to Sunday so there’s plenty of time for you to call in and say hello.

I change my display often - at some point it looked like this!

And next week, I’m going to be chatting on Swindon radio 105.5 Live - so if you’ve wondered who I am, how I’ve got to doing what I’m doing, and what I’m doing next, see if you can listen in. Wednesday 20 November from 10am…


Well that’s it for now folks- I’ve an early start setting up in the market and a heap of things to be getting on with - if you’ve any questions or comments, feel free to let me know and hopefully you’ll be hearing from me here again soon!

Take care of yourselves,

Phil x

What went on in July...

July was over before it seemed to have begun (as has been most of the year to date) - possibly lost in slow motion along the Kennet and Avon canal…the summer travels have begun and it feels wonderful to be on the move again. The plan is to have 3 months properly travelling; a Gold Licence this year means unlimited time on the Thames and any other river that’s not under the Canal and River Trust’s jurisdiction. Messing about on the river, all the way up to Lechlade via Oxford, is a lovely thing to do.

There were a few things happening before I started clocking up those slow miles along the canal…not least, the emergence of this year’s damsel- and dragonflies. They seemed to emerge from one day to the next, starting with the fabulous Scarce Chaser dragonflies and followed soon after by the pretty tiny emerald damselflies…oh, I really must mention the Ranatra Linearis that was pulling itself along the side of the boat, just underwater. I’d never heard of it so kind of thought we we’d discovered something completely new living in the canal! It’s known as a ‘water stick insect’, has the attributes of a praying mantis, breathes through its tail and is an underwater predator - how about that?!

Then, I went on holiday though there were plenty of times when the memorable line from Withnail and I came to mind: “we’ve gone on holiday by mistake”.

Highlights- catching up with great friends in the gorgeous harbour town of Portsoy in their fabulous Port House cafe; seeing puffins, razorbills, seals and thousands of other birds at the rspb Dunnet Head nature reserve; eating fish and chips in Whitby; coast walking from Whitby to Robin Hood’s Bay.

Lowlights - there are no highland cows in the Highlands (trust me on this); driving 1400 miles in 4 days; the rain, the relentless rain that made camping impossible in Scotland; eating fish and chips in Whitby (enough is enough!); seagulls at 4am (there’s no double glazing in a tent).

A big, even massive, boost this month photography-wise came in the form of a front cover and 2 page spread in Amateur Photographer magazine, where I was asked to talk about my favourite lens, the Sigma 105mm, and to submit some photos taken with it. The delight I got from this was made even greater when my SheClicks friends amassed a load of copies and sent me a photo - where would we be without the support of like-minded people?

And finally…July began with immeasurable sadness as we said goodbye to Dad. The fact he’d been suffering for too long and his passing happened with relative speed and comfort didn’t seem to make things any easier when it happened. He would be so proud of me and just the few things I’ve begun to achieve with my photography, so this is for him. RIP Dad xx

Pet Portraits - preserving a moment in time

Pet Portraits - my exciting new venture!

Isn’t it amazing how a left turn here or a right turn there can change a life?

Since 2019 I’ve been lurking in the narrowboat’s cratch, crouching in fields and hiding by rivers (to name just a few places) enjoying my wildlife and nature photography more than I’d ever imagined possible. It’s been wonderful; I’ve seen more of the UK in these years than in all my life, and been lucky enough to get to places inaccessible to most (I’m definitely thinking of the tidal river Ouse at dawn here).

And then, last summer, we made a very, very spontaneous decision to turn left off the Thames at Reading, heading onto the Kennet and Avon canal, a canal we left 3 years ago vowing never to return…and here I am (we are, don’t worry!), still continuous cruisers on our 45 foot narrowboat but with something like watery roots being put down around Devizes. It’s fabulous.

I’ve a stall in The Shambles, Devizes’ every Friday and Saturday (come and say hello) and am now branching out into Pet Portraits - what could be better than preserving a moment in time of your perfect pooch, your favourite feline, your happiest horse, mightiest mouse….OK I’ll stop there, the point is, I’m here to photograph all your pets and animals however large or small.

I’ll share more of my Pet Portraits as I capture more moments in time and, if you’re interested in your own photoshoot, please get in touch either here or via any social media app or even in person in the Shambles every Friday and Saturday. There’s no pressure, no obligation and my pricing is reasonable and clear, with no hidden extras. I’m not putting prices here because if you’re thinking of offering a session as a gift I feel it takes some of the charm away.

Well, now I have to go and get ready for tomorrow’s market…I hope to see or hear from you soon,

Take care til then,

Phil x

Narrowboats and Heatwaves

Now that the heavens have opened and the thermometer is back in the twenties, it seems apt to write about life on a 45 foot metal boat during times of extreme heat - how bad does it really get?

The short answer is, not too bad, all things considered.

Staying cool on the river Kennet

Narrowboats come with insulation as standard, which acts as a great shield for hot weather as well as cold. The small windows on my boat keep out not only prying eyes but also the sun’s glare. Open the front doors and the back and you have a pretty effective wind tunnel, or at the very least a hint of breeze - this is best done when you don’t have a boat parked half a metre in front, unless you’re happy to share your sleeping arrangements with strangers (not my thing).

Cooling Water - early morning on the river Kennet

And, very importantly, water is a cooling element, so living right on top of it keeps the temperature down compared to living in most houses.

We parked up in full sunlight to take advantage of oodles of solar power, but chose a spot that had trees at either end where we could take shelter when needed. We cooked outdoors, almost lost mooring lines to teething bullocks, hunted damselflies and went on long walks that finished with a well-earned drink…and I even got to watch the Wimbledon finals in the fresh air…what’s not to like?