BIG ruler

I recently bought a lovely bit of gear that’s made my life much easier. A BIG ruler. Big in every sense. One point two metres long and made from a massive extrusion of aluminium. It’s fantastic to hold in the hand, it feels like something you’d build bridges out of.

Keencut Safety Edge with just-cut sheet of 2mm MDF framing board

Autumn at Gibson Mill and Hardcastle Crags

Stepping stones across Hebden Water just downstream from Gibson Mill

Gibson Mill is a National Trust property just outside Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire. It’s an old water-powered cotton mill built in the deep, narrow valley of Hebden Water. The valley is heavily wooded and is a spectacular site in autumn when the leaves turn to gold. If you’re a photographer, or just like walking, Hebden Bridge is a great place to visit.

Autumn Tree Portraits – Alderley Edge

Autumn’s in full swing now, though I think the best is yet to come. Yesterday I went to explore the woods around Alderley Edge, not far from me in Cheshire. Plenty of colours and textures and the ideal weather – grey and slightly damp. I hope you enjoy these few shots.

Framers Corner PFK04 Frame Joiner review

Framers Corner PFK04 unpacked out of the box

One of the key pieces of kit I bought to let me make frames is a frame joiner called the Framers Corner PFK04. It lets you join two sides of the frame using V-nails. Professional framers use a big, expensive piece of gear called an underpinner to do this. The PFK04 is one of the cheaper options at £79. My hope was that it would give me all the quality of a bigger machine but sacrificing productivity. Well, here’s my experience of using it for a short while. I’ve now made about twenty frames in sizes from 30×40 cm to 50×60 cm with mostly good results but that’s not entirely down to the PFK04.

The start of autumn – Bolton Abbey

Wharfe near Barden Tower

I went out for my first specifically-autumnal shoot last week, to Bolton Abbey. The stretch of the River Wharfe from the abbey up to Barden tower has some spectacular mixed woodland as the river goes through a deep valley. I try and go there every autumn. Plenty of colour already but I suspect the best is yet to come. I haven’t been out photographing much recently, as I’ve been spending a lot of time in the studio making frames and prints but I’m mostly over that so hopefully a lot more shots to come.