On a grey and very wet day in September, I had the chance to visit one of Liverpool’s great heritage sites – The Hardmans’ House in Rodney Street. An iconic venue, and one that I believe all photographers with an interest in photographic history should visit. The historic studio entrance Edward Chambré-Hardman began his adult life in the army, where he was posted to India and served alongside his future business partner, Kenneth Burrell. On returning to England, they set up t

I’ve made several visits to the Great Orme at Llandudno over the years, always hoping that one day I might finally catch up with one of its most elusive visitors — the Dotterel. A few years ago I even travelled to the Yorkshire Moors with a friend when there was a chance of seeing them there, but despite the effort, I never managed to find one. Looking to Llandudno Pier Cemetery at St Tudno's Church - Great Orme So, arriving on the Great Orme a few days ago, I wasn’t expectin

I have been intrigued by ‘pinhole’ photography since my 1960’s Art College days. But more recently by Tom’s work in this area. Unlike Tom, I just use my normal digital mirrorless camera, and mount a ‘pinhole’ on the front. Pinhole photography is one of the simplest and most fascinating forms of photography. Unlike modern cameras, which use complex lenses and electronic sensors, a pinhole camera can be made from a simple box or container with a tiny hole in one side. Despite i

During a recent visit to Northern Ireland, We spent three days exploring the districts of the mighty Mourne Mountains and surrounding coastline from our base, in the small town of Castlewellan, alongside the stunning Castlewellan Forest Park. Although I had travelled to other parts of Ireland before, this was my first visit to the Mournes, and it quickly became apparent why the area is regarded as one of the most beautiful landscapes on the island. Castlewellan Forest Park Gr

Some places never seem to lose their magic, no matter how many times you visit. For Alison and me, Bempton Cliffs is one of those places. We've been fortunate enough to spend many days there over the years, but a week there last month simply reinforced why we keep returning. Sea mist rising above the cliffs This is one of the very best times of year to visit Bempton. The cliffs are at their busiest, with thousands of birds filling every available ledge. While some Gannets are

Partly due to Barry’s many Yorkshire adventures we are all aware of the superb landscapes and wildlife – mainly birds – to tempt us to photograph there. So in April I spent a day in the Haworth/Penistone Hill area, as it is reputedly good for ‘birds of prey’ as well as many small birds species; and is within three quarters of an hour’s drive from my daughter’s in Pool, near Leeds, which I tend to use as a ‘base’ for Yorkshire photo trips. As in all these ‘wild’ cases, the mai

After a few delays, we finally managed to get away and explore Cambodia and Vietnam. The trip, organised by Rickshaw Travel, took us from Siem Reap in Cambodia through to Hanoi in Vietnam over two weeks, with local guides in each region helping us find our way. We arrived in Siem Reap to a festive welcome — a large dragon display marking Chinese New Year at the airport. The following morning began early (very early — 4:30am) for sunrise at Angkor Wat, shared with several hund

My feelings about this year’s Photography & Video Show at the NEC in Birmingham were, at first, a little uncertain. The event has always aimed to bring together the full spectrum of photography — technology, education, inspiration, and community — welcoming both seasoned professionals and enthusiastic amateurs. Yet, after many years of attending, I had stepped away. Partly it felt like “more of the same,” and partly my own circumstances had changed following retirement from a

The Liver Building is one of the most famous landmarks in Liverpool. Located at the historic waterfront at the Pier Head alongside the River Mersey, it forms part of the city’s iconic skyline and represent Liverpool’s rich maritime history. The building should be called “Royal Liver Building” though there has never been a ‘royal’ seal of approval. It stands alongside the Cunard Building and the Port of Liverpool Building: these three historic structures are known as the “Thre

Those of you that have read Barry Quatermass’ take on our recent trip to the big city, will know that I was making a special trip to the V&A archive to research Alfred Stieglitz and get my hands on some of his valuable art legacy. The results of which can be seen in my photo magazine ‘Focus Quarterly’; the Spring 2026 edition is available from April ( tomleephoto.com/focus-quarterly ). Victoria and Albert Museum, Kensington, London Reviewing Camera Work - (C) Barry Quatermass

Tom was on a mission — an appointment with the photographic archives at the V&A in Kensington (I’m sure all will be revealed in Tom partner blog). I decided to tag along, partly for the company and partly for another attempt at street photography in London, a city that never disappoints — especially when it comes to weather. Albert Hall I travelled light: one camera, one fixed lens — my “mono-only” setup. This turned out to be excellent judgement, although mostly by accident.

Fine Dining on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. It was 60 years ago that Dr Beeching’s report heralded sweeping changes to the UK rail network. In the name of “economic efficiency”, around 4,000 route miles of track and some 2,363 stations were closed, with devastating consequences for communities, jobs, and what many now look back on as the golden age of rail travel. Building up a head of Steam Goathland Station While there are still a few among us who remember the halcyon

You know what they say about the best-laid plans… they usually go awry. And ours certainly tried their best. London Buses - (c) Tom Lee Our London Photo Walk began with a well-organised plan: routes mapped, trains booked, hotel sorted. Six of us were set for a photo-filled weekend in London - until Anthony called the day before with a medical issue and had to drop out. Not the start we’d hoped for. Still, the remaining five of us met at Lime Street, hopped down to Euston via

Migweek, an abbreviation for Migratory Week, refers to the specific week put aside by the professionals and helpers at the Bird Observatories around the chalky headland of Flamborough on Yorkshire’s North Sea coastline. This Year it took place between Sat 11th and Sun 19th October. It is perhaps best known for the large colonies of seabirds, such as Gannets, Puffins and Guillemot’s, which turn the white cliff faces into a spectacular bird nursery each June/July. Bar Tailed

As someone who can't take a bath in case he gets seasick, I wasn't quite sure that two weeks in a boat through the fjords of Norway was a good idea. However, as it turned out, we were very fortunate with calm seas and little wind – until the remnants of storm Amy came across, but even then we were only troubled in the open seas between fjords. So, all in all, it wasn't too bad! Oslo airport is a 30 minute train ride from the passenger ship quay, and navigation was simple. Wit

Each morning between the beginning of April and the end of August Martin Mere hosts a public moth trap opening. The variety is amazing...

Wirral Photographers started many years ago with an eclectic bunch of enthusiasts wanting to share and further each others talents....

Until the early 2000’s RAF Valley hosted airshows. As directly hosted by the RAF – similar to those at Cosford – these were quite...

The Mach Loop, more correctly known as the ‘Machynlleth Loop’, is a series of valleys in west-central Wales used for low-level flight...

The Little Terns colony on Gronant beach is ostensibly the most important UK one, normally with upwards of 350 breading pairs. Little...