Artistic and Magical Moments at the end of a Summer Day. For I had moments to capture something truly Spectacular.

Observing - for that is the key thing about photography, the observation of how things can change within mere moments, and of course being prepared for that. And it was just a little after 21:30pm on Saturday the 11th of July 2026, that I had been observing some rather, "chalk like clouds." Ones that had a certain style to them, that I had a gut feeling would light up. Moments passed by, and then what did I notice? Well I had noticed that the colours were changing, elements of pink, purple and of course orange, and that signalled to me at least,

"That there was going to mere moments in which to capture the sky, to witness the artistic and magical moments at the end of a summer day, during of course the third heatwave of 2026!"

And I managed to get the metaphorical flying tripod with a camera attached to it, into the sky, and well what did I capture? Well something truly spectacular, and that of course was a work of art, that lasted moments, a short amount of moments and below is the results of what I had managed to capture. For nature really does have a way of creating arts, that people seemingly ignore. Yet take the time to observe and beauty can be seen, even if it lasts just mere moments. 

"The Glow, the Orange and Pastel Summer Hue."

"The work of Art above The Rooftops of Suburbia."

"A Panorama of a Summer Sky it Glows."

"Dreamscape Summer Glow."

"A Portrait of Art, the Town under Summer Sky."

"The painting of Summer Sunset, Abstract and Beauty Shine."

"The Summer Canvas of Painted Sunset Fire."

When you get told that there is something happening with the sky! Moments later and on the horizon I saw Drama.

It goes without saying "that the end of June was interesting to say the least!" A heatwave, followed of course by the temperatures cooling off slightly and the intense heat and humidity also gently fading away (for now at least. However the second week in July of 2026, and that could change.) But it was on Tuesday the 30th of June 2026, that I heard the following words being spoken to me, which went something along the following lines, 

"Quick, Quick, the skies have gone dark and heavy, for a Thunderstorm or Rain is on the way."

Moments later, I came inside, and got the metaphorical flying tripod with a camera attached to it, and sent it into the air, and what could I see on the horizon, spanning the entire length of The Erewash Valley, well that was a dramatic and heavy skies and in the distance, the rain falling. But I then decided to take just the one photo, overlooking the town of Eastwood, in the direction of Langley Mill/Heanor and beyond with the horizon full of drama and rain, which would some ten minutes later, provide a dramatic rain shower as it moved over into the Nottinghamshire area. But below is the photo of the Drama in the skies that I managed to capture.

"Moody, Heavy and Encroaching."

After a the sky lit up on Friday the 19th of June, a gut feeling then told me.

It was on the evening of Friday the 19th of June 2026, that at 21:26pm, the sky completely lit up, with a delightful deep orange tone to it, that changed over a rather short period of time, before it completely faded away again, but after that, I was thinking to myself, 

"Well judging by that sky, tomorrow on Saturday the 20th of June 2026, that with the cloud cover, with the warmth and with the sun, that surely there was going to be another sunset, another work of art that nature will provide, surely that will happen."

And surely enough on the evening of Saturday the 20th of June 2026, what did I notice? Well for a start I noticed that the sky was beginning to slowly but surely change colour, and immediately I just had to grab hold of the metaphorical flying tripod with a camera attached to it, and send it into the air, and surely enough as mere moments went on, passed by I was witnessing in real time, nature creating a work of art, a painting in the sky, and below are the photos that I had managed to capture.

"The evening Glow of Suburbia and The Valley."

"As the sky lights up over Suburbia and Beyond."

"From Suburbia to Sunset."

"As the rooftops of Suburbia Glow."

"The Painting of the Sky over Suburbia begins."

"A Pastel Horizon, a Town Glows."

"Over the rooftops of Sunset Town."

"Pastel fire over Suburbs and the Town."

"Art of Summer, The pastel Clouds and Sky a Glow."

There must be something about the month of June and Rainbows. For art in the sky can happen with just moments to capture it.

 

"Art in the sky from 400ft." It was on the 14th of June 2025 that I had looked out of the window and noticed that, 

"The season of Summer was not exactly being like Summer. For instead of sunshine and blue skies, what had I seen out of the window? Well that of course happened to be a rather dark, and grey, moody looking sky, and within that sky, art, the art of a Rainbow that was spanning the horizon. The only issue was - how do I manage to capture this glorious work of art that was in the sky, from the ground I could not manage to capture it, then I had literally moments to grab the metaphorical flying tripod with a camera attached to it, sent that into the sky, and the result was that I managed to capture this photo of a glorious Rainbow that was gracing the skies of The Nottinghamshire town of Eastwood, and towards the East, towards Kimberley and beyond, and of course The Erewash Valley. Needless to say that I had managed to capture something beautiful and magical."

Of course though fast forward12 months from June 2025, to Tuesday the 9th of June 2026, and well what a day it had been, especially for a Summer day, and amongst the rain showers, and hail, along with lightning and thunder, by late afternoon the weather was still a little bit meh, to say the least. Yet at 17:52pm what happened? Well one minute it was raining, the next it had stopped and immediately in the mind I had the following thought which simply said - "surely there is going to be a Rainbow in the sky." Moments later I looked out the window and noticed a low down arc in the sky, the clouds looming and grey, and between the clouds, little pockets of blue sky. 

Then with moments to spare, I got the metaphorical flying tripod with the camera attached to it, and captured the following two photos, overlooking Eastwood in Nottinghamshire, with a view towards The Hilltop area and beyond to Kimberley and Watnall. For art in the sky can happen with just moments to capture it, and when it does, you really do find something quite spectacular. 

"Catching the Colours between the Showers."

"The Portrait of Colour, a June Rainbow."

History and Perfect Spring Conditions. Taking a more "unusual look" at a Historic 13th Century Priory.

"Underrated, Understated, Ignored." For they are just three ways in which I could describe the county of Nottinghamshire to many a landscape photographer, and those three ways of describing Nottinghamshire are really quite sad. For the county of Nottinghamshire is a county that offers so much for the landscape photographer, from beautiful woodlands to explore, vistas and views complete with rolling gentle hills that change during the seasons and of course many a location that is off the beaten track and is just waiting to be explored. But it was on Thursday the 26th of March 2026 that I had the chance to visit one of Nottinghamshire's secret "Hidden Valley's." A valley not too far away from the town of Eastwood in Nottinghamshire, and a landscape that features heavily in many of DH Lawrence's many works. 

Within this hidden valley, sits a historic 13th century priory, the remains of that can still be seen today, and that of course is Beauvale Priory, a location that despite its proximity to Nottingham - seems that little bit more removed from the rushes of everyday life, and the purpose of the visit of course was for a delicious lunch! But it was afterwards that I had the opportunity to capture Beauvale Priory from lets just say "a slightly different perspective altogether." And that of course was from the air, and with that I managed to capture the following photos. Thankfully the weather conditions were just perfect which made capturing these photos even better somehow, as there sure was a sense of Spring within the air. 

"Upon the Spring of Beauvale Air."

"Spring Blue, the Priory down Below."

"Shades of Green, Woodland Glow, the Priory located below."

"From the Priory, the View to afar."

"Nestled under The Woodlands, The Priory it Stands."

"The Big Sky above, History stands Below."

"A Priory of a Panorama."

Perfect Spring Conditions and a Sunday delight of Light and Landscape Beauty.

There is one crucial element that remains a kind of backbone for any kind of photography - including Landscape Photography and that happens to be a little element called "Light." For all the time the light constantly changes and with those changes it can have effects on what you are capturing. Still it was on Sunday the 15th of March 2026 that the chance to head out towards Moorgreen/The area near Beauvale Priory arose, and with that thankfully the weather was looking just delightful, with a glorious light and thankfully the return of some delightful blue skies!

Heading up and around New Road/Narrow Lane, well the views were just something else, yes Meteorological Spring has arrived and whilst some of the landscape was looking slightly bare still - there was albeit a rather delightful and slow return to yet more colour and greenery, and below are the photos that I had managed to capture from the Moorgreen/Beauvale area. 

"Under a Spring Beauvale Blue."

"The Landscape, the Change within Seasons Beauty."

"Over the hedge, towards the Priory."

"A Sense of Moorgreen/Beauvale Blue."

"Sundown Rays, Dance across the Land."

"Across the Ray lit Land."

"Light, Cloud, Abstract, Art."

"Light and Shine, The Beauty of Light Art."

"The Spring at the Side of the Road." - (This photo was shown on ITV Central Weather for The East Midlands, on Monday the 16th of March 2026.)

"Cloudscape Abstract Blue."

"Cloudscape Abstract Mono."

Upon arriving back to Eastwood, I noticed that the sky was doing something magical, there was a glorious sunset taking place - although sadly I missed the sunset by moments :(. But looking due east, and by sending "the metaphorical flying camera into the air" what did I see? Well a truly glorious landscape and cloudscape which was akin to artwork, and here are the photos that I managed to capture. Again looking due east, over the suburban reaches of Eastwood, towards Kimberley and of course Moorgreen and The Erewash Valley. 

"Cloud, Art, Distant Faint Rainbow Dreams."

"A Bank of Cloud, The Shades of Blue."

"Swirling Clouds, Distant Rainbow."

"Light and Gold, The evening Beauty and Blue."

"The gentle Spring Light it Glows."

A crisp January Morning of Beautiful Views and Surprises.

"The month of January, a month that always seems that little bit grey, dull and bland." Or is it? Well for the longest time I have always disliked January, for yes it is the first month in any new year, yes it is Winter, but as a month goes it always seems bland, dull and boring, grey as well. However though January of 2026 has been somewhat surprising - just where is the grey? Instead it has been cold and crisp, beautiful Winter light has also provided a nice surprise, but it was on Friday the 2nd of January 2026, that I had noticed something, looking out the window I could see on the ground what appeared at first glances to be an incredibly hard and harsh frost, for there had been, but on top of that making things that little bit more magical, a dusting of snow had also fallen, and with that I managed to get the metaphorical flying tripod with the camera attached to it, and captured the following photos. 

"Early Morning Winter Glow."

"Suburbia and the magical Winter Glow."

"Glistening White, the Rooftops Below."

"The White on the Rooftops above The Town."

"Crisp, White Frozen Streets a Glow."

"The Stillness of Snow, a Magical January Sight."

Light there be magic. Taking a more unusual look from a slightly different perspective at the glorious Christmas Lights.

December eh? For it is a month in which things change, the Winter arrives, the afternoons that lead into the evening and subsequently the night, well they are longer and darker, but hold on? Is that "Christmas" that also arrives on the 25th? It sure is - but despite the afternoons and evenings and nights being darker, there is also light, a magical kind of light that can be found and they are the shining lights of Christmas, and over the past few days, well I have been fortunate to capture some amazing scenes of Christmas Lights, and it was just the other day when I was visiting Giltbrook, and a road within the Giltbrook estate called Brackenfield Drive, well it is a location that always seems to put on a truly glorious light display, all in the aid of Charity, and in the past I have photographed it from the ground, but this year, just the other day I was fortunate enough to capture it from a truly different and unique perspective, and that was from a metaphorical flying tripod in the sky with a camera attached to it, and below are the following photos that I managed to capture. 

"Floating above the Christmas Lights of Suburbia." - (This Photo was shown on ITV Central for The East Midlands, on Tuesday the 2nd of December 2025.)

"A portrait of Giltbrook Christmas Lights, the magical Glow."

And it was just yesterday afternoon on the afternoon of Friday the 5th of December 2025, that another opportunity arose, and that was something that I had in the back of the mind and that was to capture a location that I have always captured from on the ground, and that of course happens to be the fantastic Nuthall Christmas Lights, that this year is sadly their last year. However though on Friday the 5th of December, thankfully a break in the afternoon rain that had lashed down, prior meant that I could again get the metaphorical flying tripod into the sky yet again, and below is what I had managed to capture. 

"The Portrait of Christmas, a Nuthall Kind of Glow."

""Floating above a Nuthall kind of Christmas."