2024. A year in review.
I’ve had an amazing year; 2024 is going to be a hard one to beat. These past 12 months have been truly special, the by-product of a collection of unplanned events. I’ve had two jobs in 20 years, and that streak came to an end in March this year. Suddenly, I had a lot of free time, and I knew I wanted to dive into some travel photography before getting back behind a desk. So, I seized the opportunity and booked a bunch of trips. But two weeks later, I was offered a job I couldn’t say no to, and they were kind enough to work around my planned trips. So, this is the story of a wild 2024. Buckle up; it’s been a fun ride!
First up, I should clarify that this story is taken from my book; ‘2024, in review’. This is something I do every year for me alone, a way to compare my work year on year and perhaps something to enjoy later in life when (if?) I have packed away my cameras.
By now, it was March. I was unemployed but honestly excited about what the future might hold. I didn’t have a crystal ball, but I was confident in my abilities. For now, all I knew was that I was planning a number of photography trips abroad. I had become friendly with Elena, chatting about possible shoots. She was super busy—I remember laughing at her saying, “I might be able to fit you in in May.” Despite that being a long way off, we agreed on dates, and I started planning. My lack of driving meant I was quick to snap up a model who liked my work and could drive.
That same week, I had an interview that quickly turned into a job—well, a three-day-a-week contract so we could test each other out. Plus, I had promised myself at least six months off, and it had only been two weeks! They were accommodating enough to work around my planned time away, which was fortunate, as I was about to head to California for Easter with the family and then spend a week in Death Valley and Vegas.
The Death Valley trip was truly special: hard work with early starts, but an important life event. Sirena was fantastic. I loved her enthusiasm, and she completely understood what I was trying to achieve. I came away with many cherished images, now framed, as well as lots of fun memories.
Karen and Andy enjoyed Sirena’s company so much that she has since house-sat for them and joined them for suppers. It’s wonderful when models become friends, especially when it’s not just you who gets on with them. This was another trip that was deserved of it’s own blog post.
May is a month of birthdays at home, but Lanzarote was booked for the end of the month, and I was looking forward to it. Elena and I were now chatting regularly (I know I chat a lot, but I think she is even chattier). A few weeks prior, she asked if her boyfriend Mark could come along. Of course, I agreed—my only request was that he join in with the photos if the opportunity arose, which they both embraced.
Lanzarote was another important photographic week for me. It reaffirmed my belief that I could plan and book these trips and make them productive. But also, we had so much fun in the process, just the three of us. The days were divided into mornings and late evenings (it’s always about the soft light). Elena drove while I navigated to the locations I had scouted. We’d shoot for a few hours, with Mark documenting the process with behind-the-scenes images and videos. Evenings were spent sharing meals and reviewing the day’s photos. We mixed art nude shots in the wild landscape with fashion shoots in the villas we shared. It was so rewarding to shoot on our own schedule, knowing everything we did would be productive. Elena later said this was her best trip of the year, and I think I agree. Read about our adventure on my blog post here.
A few weeks later, I found myself in Iceland, sharing a beer with Dave, who had planned this trip with Daria and me. The network effect of creative minds is a wonderful thing. I had wanted to shoot in Iceland forever. Dave and I spoke about it last year, but this opportunity came out of the blue, and I couldn’t say no.
The sun never truly sets in Iceland in July, which we used to our advantage. We arrived at stunning locations when no one else was around—often at 3 am. A week of very little sleep, fuelled by creative energy and packed with Canadian banter. This was an unforgettable trip, a bucket list location spent with two very cool people. A precious time I will never forget and one that was worthy of its own blog post.
I even reunited Daria with a print I had made from our shoot the previous month—a creative loop I now exploit whenever possible. By some strange twist of fate, Marisa, who is on the cover of my Twenty Three book, was also in Iceland at the same time, so I reunited her with a couple of prints. A simple gesture that makes me complete.
This year has been a creative milestone for me. My unusual work situation freed me to further explore my photographic side, and I managed to pack so much in. But I also love (and need) to work, and my new business was essentially a start-up, which also feeds my inherent creativity. Each month brought something new, and I was learning with every moment. Printing is now a staple of my approach to photography. I am more methodical with how I shoot, conscious that I need to justify whether an image is print-worthy.
I love to travel; I love new experiences. Being able to revisit my past life in the darkroom with a new Giclée printer has invigorated my way of working. But none of this would have been possible without the people I have met along the way. My passion for photography has always been about capturing the beauty of a person. I am constantly amazed by the people I meet and consider myself very fortunate to have found such a rich and inspired vein of humanity, many of whom are now friends. 2024 was an amazing year, and, as I said at the beginning, it will be a hard one to beat.