Picture of the Week - Abstract Architecture

Well what is it? You wouldn't think that this was a car park would you? I love unusual architecture and used this Sheffield city centre multi-storey to create a simple abstract image. I enhanced its graphic qualities by converting the photo to black and white. Then I cropped it into a square, to match the square aluminium panels that clad this extraordinary building.

Bake Off!

Ruth Clemens, finalist and runner up in the highly popular BBC show, The Great British Bake Off was at Macclesfield Waterstones signing the book of the series and doing an effortless icing demonstration. I also got some first hand bread making tips from her - thanks Ruth.

Picture of the Week - Liquid Gold

Autumn can yield some stunning sunsets, like this one off the Pembrokeshire coast last week. I used a long exposure to create the marble-like patterns of the tide swirling into the rock pools. I love the way the sun makes the rocks glisten with gold. And just look at the colours of the incredible shapes that the clouds are breaking into, as the light dies for another day.

Picture of the Week - Scrapyard Fashion

Juxtaposition always works well in a photograph, so for this fashion shoot I decided to use some scrapyard machinery as a background to the rather more beautiful model and clothing. Some strong lighting helps it along too, but it’s mainly about the pose where I have created shapes with the arms and legs to make a dynamic image. And it won me an award too, in the fashion category of the North West British Institute of Professional Photography Awards earlier this year, so all in all I'm quite pleased with it.

Picture of the Week - Sunset on the Inside Passage

I travelled a large length of the Alaskan and Canadian coast along the Inside Passage. It sounds like one of the great journeys of the world and all very romantic, but in fact the scenery is basically forest and water for mile after mile. I was rewarded however with some stunning sunsets and this was one of the most spectacular.

Coronation Street Star at East Cheshire Hospice

I've been working at East Cheshire Hospice again and had the pleasure of meeting Corrie star Samia Smith who plays Maria. She's a patron of the hospice and was also being filmed by Granada TV to help promote the hospice's upcoming Midnight Walk. She spoke openly about her father who was cared for by the hospice in his last days and describes the hospice as a happy place. I couldn't agree more; I enjoy meeting the staff and nurses and there is always a very calm, friendly and relaxed atmosphere about the place. Samia was a joy to photograph, so easy to talk to and really cared about the patients there. Do support the hospice through the walk if you can - take a look at their website. They need to raise a phenomenal £6000 per day to keep running. I've decided to do the Midnight Walk myself, so if you'd like to donate to the hospice please do so by following this link.

Picture of the Week - Lindos

I love the beautiful deep blue of the sky just before it gets dark. This is Lindos, on the island of Rhodes, switching on for the evening. The eye meanders through the maze of houses, past the lights in the centre and out towards the Acropolis that so dominates that magical Greek skyline.