Calendar debrief

Thank you to all who bought the 2025 Calendar and for your continued support on my calendar journey with another sell out. I am a bit late with my usual blog about some of the stories behind the photos that made the 5th edition of the Beautiful North Devon Calendar.

Let’s jump straight into it (with as many cliches as possible obvs) with the cover shot.

It was a choice between these two; both taken last June on Lundy Island.

The first shot is a bit right-handed heavy as far as the composition goes, plus I have seen lots of shots from other photographers of this popular perching spot for puffins on Lundy. The second, that did make the cover, and May month has the drama of the frothy sea, the orange feet, the pink sea thrift and (unusually for Puffins) everyone is looking at the camera!

February; Exmoor Signpost.

Taken in March 2024 at f7.1, 1/105 sec and ISO 125. One of my favs from the Calendar. For me it just says “Exmoor”. Despite the blue skies, it’s cold and damp on the moor in March and the infrastructure takes a battering throughout winter. This wide angle perspective emphasises the lean of the fence and the fabulous diagonal of the horizon adds to the ‘explosion’ effect of the sign post.

March; Exmoor Ponies.

Talking about Exmoor (March 2025), if you know this spot, you know that it has a timeless and bleak view of ancient Dunkery Beacon in the distance. These two mealy-mouths with their freshly well-washed and blow-dried coats wandered into the scene, asking the contemporary people-watching question; what is their relationship?

October; Morte Point.

This shot was a challenge; taken on the lowest of low tides of the year at Grunta Beach, Mortehoe. Wide angle 16mm, hand held at one tenth of a second, on an completely flat day, it shows the changing of the tide in the corner of Morte Point. Modern cameras with image stabilisation allow these images to be captured without a tripod but you will always end up with damp pants anyway.

June; Croyde.

Finally, the sunset shot. Personally I prefer the calm experience of watching the sun set than photographing it. It’s just all the photographic burden of composition, exposure and  all that sand getting into my tripod legs.. I must admit that living here in Woolacombe puts me in a very privileged position regarding beach sunsets, as I feel no pressure to shoot every one. There will always be another.

As there will be with the Calendar.  Work on the 2026 edition is well under way.

Thank you

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