Moments in Photography

Reflections on 2024

Hello, I’m Gill and I write a photography blog inspired by the landscapes of Suffolk and beyond. Please subscribe to read more of my writing and visit my website to view my images.

‘We do not remember days we remember moments’.

Cesare Pavese

I haven’t been out with the camera much lately as there have been too many other calls on my time but when I did manage to catch a couple of hours by the sea last week it was the small moments that have stayed in my memory.

I went out with the intention of doing some long exposure seascapes, but what I actually did was watch and photograph a small flock of purple sandpipers, a winter visitor from the high artic.

I didn’t have the right lens with me for wildlife shots but it didn’t matter. It was the moments that I spent in the company of these plump little birds that were important. It wasn’t about the images, it was about the connection.

As I look back on my photographic journey throughout 2024 it is always the small moments that stand out. I have a portfolio of images and each one brings back a memory of a connection with the natural world.

When I think about spring in the woods I am immediately transported back to dew laden mornings surrounded by the heady scent of bluebells.

Summer sunrises conjure up flowers on the beach and seals in the sea.

And further afield away from Suffolk I can hear the surf pounding on the coloured pebbles of Porlock beach and the sea eagles calling over the bay on Loch Sunnart.

These are the moments that make photography special to me. It is not so much about making the images it is about connecting with the landscape and making sure that I am present enough to file away the moments that really matter.

'Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory'

Dr Seuss

Photography is all about capturing moments and presenting them for others to see but it is also about being in the moment and sometimes I think we forget this in our urgency to capture a shot.

There have been so many moments worth remembering in 2024. Aside from the nature experiences I have had a blast running workshops along the Suffolk Coast and further afield in Exmoor and Scotland. These have been memorable for the connections I have made with other photographers and this is something I feel is really important.

I always enjoy going out by myself, but there is something to be said for shooting with other photographers. Chatting, swapping ideas, viewing images and discussing projects are all really valuable and you cannot do that without company. This is something I will be exploring more in 2025 with some regular meet ups and maybe some group projects.

I now have a presence on YouTube with a short promotional video, filmed and edited by my partner. It talks about my photography and the ethos behind my workshops and was filmed predominantly in Scotland. If you would like to watch it you will find it here.

The film was designed to be an introduction to me and my way of working but it may be the start of a more regular presence on YouTube - I am not yet sure!

I will be taking a short break over Christmas and new year and will be back with my next post on 6th January. In the meantime I just want to say a massive thank you to everyone who has contributed towards the success of my Substack. To all of you who regularly read and comment, I am so grateful for your interaction and interest. Thank you so much.

I hope you all have a happy festive season and I look forward to sharing more of my photography journey in 2025.

Gill