30 Day Photo Challenge - 2017

So, this year's 30 day photo challenge is finally over! It's amazing how much effort it requires to take just one photo - on a particular topic (not chosen by me) - each day, for a month. Not helped by the lack of daylight hours in December, plus having a full-time job, lots of pre-Christmas socialising and deciding to take all of the shots using a 50mm lens, cropped square and converted to black and white.

But I managed it, and took a shot on that lens and processed with those criteria every day before midnight (a couple were posted late). Along the way I discovered a few new subjects that I like (the Edison bulb) as well as playing around with some new editing techniques (including inversion, not covered here). I did cheat a little, using an extension tube on the lens to get some macro shots (eg the kiwi fruit). Still the same lens though - the amazing Canon 50mm f/1.2.

So here they are! My favourites are days 18, 20, 26 and 29.

Day 1 - Self-Portrait

Featuring me!

Day 2 - Landscape

Featuring Wandsworth Park

Day 3 - Friends

Featuring Jeff & Dan

Day 4 - Natural Light

Featuring Henry & his eyelashes

Day 5 - Reflection

Featuring the Gherkin

Day 6 - Nostalgia

Featuring the steps of Chelsea Old Town Hall

Day 7 - The Small Joys

Featuring my lovely new Orr Kula earrings

Day 8 - Black & White

Featuring Prudent Passage

Day 9 - Shapes

Featuring London Plane Trees

Day 10 - Portrait

Featuring Hubby

Day 11 - Mother Nature

Featuring London Plane Trees (again)

Day 12 - Childhood

Featuring Petit Bateau, King's Road

Day 13 - Hands

Featuring my hands

Day 14 - Something Old

Featuring Guildhall

Day 15 - K is For

Featuring a slice of Kiwi Fruit

Day 16 - Worth 1000 Words

Featuring a rather pissed-off Henry

Day 17 - Looking Down

Featuring my MacBook Pro

Day 18 - Artificial Light

Featuring the Edison Bulb

Day 19 - Silhouette

Featuring Royal Avenue, Chelsea

Day 20 - Patterns

Featuring De Cecco spiral pasta

Day 21 - Inside My Bag

Featuring the contents of my handbag

Day 22 - Love

Featuring the Edison bulb (again)

Day 23 - Close Up

Featuring my other new Orr purchase, Laus

Day 24 - Christmas

Featuring my Mother's Christmas Tree

Day 25 - Tranquility

Featuring Aldbury, in the Chilterns

Day 26 - The Best

Featuring Lane Woods, Little Chalfont

Day 27 - Absolutely Anything

Featuring the view from my window (more plane trees!)

Day 28 - Feel Good

Featuring a light low freezing fog on Eel Brook Common

Day 29 - Candid Photo

Featuring me again

Day 30 - This Year

Featuring my post on 11th Jan, on learning of David Bowie's death

A Few of My Favourite Photographs from 2016

The year started appallingly badly, with the death of my childhood hero, David Bowie, and sadly failed to improve much after that. I managed a few good trips - to Iceland (x 2), Brussels, Oregon and Wales, but otherwise it was a pretty dreadful year. The day-job has taken up way too much time, so not many pictures of my home town London, although a 30 Day Photo Challenge in the last month has got me taking my camera out again (and I've been experimenting with some creative post-processing as a result).

Instead of the usual chronological photographic highlights from the year I'm just going to post a few that I like - happy moments during the year, in no particular order.

"Penguins" - detail from icebergs on Jökulsárlon Beach, South-East Iceland - my favourite image this year

Me at Stórurð, East Iceland - possibly the best day-hike in the world. I was blown away (and not, for once, by the Icelandic wind!); it was really that green!

Playing around with inversion - this is one of the Lily Ponds at Bosherston, Pembrokeshire

The incredibly cool geology of the Painted Hills in Oregon. Shame the light wasn't a little better and the drive there a little shorter :(

A little tidal pool on Cannon Beach, Oregon at sunrise - I loved the simple composition

Me, at the incredible Aldeyjarfoss, Northern Iceland, experiencing bliss!

Yup, more icebergs on Jökulsárlon Beach - the icebergs were disappointing on this visit (very few of them), but I liked this one

Reflections of sunset along the River Thames - the sky was on fire!

The incredible Litlanesfoss in East Iceland - definitely another of my favourite spots this year

Playing around with black and white conversion - plane trees in South Park, Fulham. I like the eerie feel to this one

Dettifoss, North Iceland - the most tremendous waterfall! (and actually the most volume of water in a waterfall in Europe)

A cobbled alleyway in Brussels at sunset in late March

Yet another awesome display of northern lights in Iceland - had to drive over 120km to get to clear skies (and back), but it was worth the effort

A jellyfish seen on a whale-watching trip from Husavík, Northern Iceland. I love the repeated circle patterns (better than any of my whale shots too!)

Couldn't have a set of photos from the year without one of my adorable cocker spaniel, Henry (and his 3 inch eyelashes)