At the end of each year I run through my photos from each month and try to pick my favourite. Some months I have so many to choose from that I agonise over which to choose (September and October in particular) and other months I really don't have a special shot due to a busy life and usually poor weather! December is a good example of the latter. So here is my 12 from this year. I hope you enjoy them.
JANUARY
I found this old tree just a 5 minute drive from home and worked out that in January the sun rose in the right spot for this shot. The hard frost gave it that perfect feel.
FEBRUARY
The majority of this image was taken in February with the exception of the stag. This was taken in the Chilterns at Aston Rowant nature reserve on a day out with my wife. It was raining when we left but the reserve is on a hilltop and was cold enough for snow. The deer was added later during a bit of fun with Photoshop. This image always reminds me of a great pub we found nearby after the walk which had a huge log fire and great food and where we spent a lovely hour warming up.
MARCH
Not a big month for camera use but my first trip out with a new camera (Olympus OMD EM5ii) took me to the Cotswolds. I inadvertently wandered onto a private estate and into this woodland and saw this old tree.
APRIL
My new Olympus camera has a mode on it that makes light painting and star trails really easy to capture. Chesterton Windmill is a 5 minute drive from me and ideal for star shots despite a bit of light pollution from Leamington Spa. This was taken during the Lyrid meteor shower and after dozens of shots I finally got a meteor in the image.
MAY
Bredon Hill is a lovely place for photos. There are hares, roe deer, the Malverns across the valley and these trees. I've wanted a shot of sunrise coming through the trees for ages and in May I finally got lucky.
JUNE
With some good weather finally arrived I started a bit of wildlife photography again. I'd found a local badger sett and was hoping for shots of one. Whilst I was waiting one evening a hare wandered down the path in front of me and sat resting in the clover and buttercups with the last rays of sun backlighting it.
JULY
Broadway Tower in Worcestershire is a few minutes drive from my 'in-laws' so when we visit I often pop up for a sunset shot. This was a stitched panoramic shot of 6 images taken in portrait orientation and merged.
AUGUST
Last year I got some great common blue butterfly images so I tried to better them again this year. Fortunately a good warm summer meant there were plenty but it was hard to find two together like this. This shot was taken just after dawn when the dew still covered them. This image was taken with an old Olympus OM 50mm macro lens that probably dates from the 1970's and still works brilliantly.
SEPTEMBER
September was Peak District month. I spent nearly every weekend here-mostly at Mam Tor. The views into the Hope Valley here are breathtaking as the Autumn fogs roll across the meadows.
OCTOBER
If last month was Peak District month then October was deer rut month. Again I spent many early mornings photographing the deer and have loads of great images of red and fallow deer but this one wins for cuteness and great light.
NOVEMBER
I became a grandfather again in November and my wife and I travelled up to the East coast of Scotland to meet our grandson. Each morning before breakfast I was out along the fishing harbours though the weather was atrocious. Despite the weather I found Ruby Bay in Elie and the building on the far spit of coast gave a nice focal point for this shot.
DECEMBER
This is the M40 motorway just a couple of miles from home. In December the sun rises on the horizon. For years I've been after a slight mist to give a red orb of rising sun just above the motorway but I haven't been lucky yet. Still, this beautiful sunrise made a good substitute. I would have liked more car light trails but as it was 8am during the Christmas holidays I cant blame people for being in bed!