So often, we find ourselves in a rat race.. desperately seeking that better life, better tool, better day …any magical wand to move us to the level we really want to be. But before reaching for that new lens, considering using what you’ve got already.

Sometimes I wonder, looking back on my photographs, if I wasn’t better without the choices. Without the quality.

Or maybe the light is just better in the USA after all.

I’ve uploaded the first batch of photographs from Paul & Claire’s wedding, but there are still loads to go! You can view the full set here.

Still doing work on the website — testing blogging functionality from Flickr! The answer is: it doesn’t work perfectly with my new layout. =) I’m sorry I’ve not had much focus on posting or uploading new photographs, other than these few fun manipulations for the Pop Art White Nancy contest over on www.bollingtonphotos.com, but I’m very busy preparing for the ‘no ego’ photography exhibition with Kate McLean and Ewa James that is opening next weekend on top of all the overtime to prepare for some big events for the job that pays my dinner. Catch me later in March, when I’m catching my breath.

Don’t forget to post your own entries for the Pop Art White Nancy competition before March 1st!!

My “most interesting” shots on Flickr come from a time when Flickr was smaller, quieter, and drew less attention. The people who frequented it were real photography enthusiasts, hobbyists, and even professionals. Agencies contacted me to use my work in their advertisements and on their book covers. I (well, my feet anyway) was featured on the front page.

I participated in groups on technique, themes, and even charity. We raised thousands of dollars for Hurricane Katrina relief.

Camera tossing became a worldwide phenomenon. I made good friends. I found and fell in love with my husband.

My photographs were different back then. Brighter. More colourful. And nearly all with a point & shoot camera.

Now, I don’t participate in groups. I rarely comment. I use Flickr mostly to share my British life with my American family. And participate in the Bollington photography scene, of course.

Nearly a year ago, Tom and I were guests at Dino & Christine’s wedding in Pennsylvania, USA. As Dino and Christine both attended Franklin & Marshall College, in Lancaster, PA, many of the guests were alumni/ae, including an old friend, Jessica. It was a lovely traditional wedding, and everyone looked beautiful and happy.

I still can’t believe anything has really changed!

I’m very glad I’m not a wedding photographer, as it looked quite challenging to cover such a big wedding in such a dark room. My own wedding reception was a dinner party, and we asked our friend, Paul, to take ‘a few’ shots. The result was fantastic — we are lucky to have such talented friends. Here is a shot I took at Styal Chapel (can you spy Dino and Christine?):

I am looking forward to (another) Paul & Claire’s wedding in December, which will be a similarly small event. I hope Claire feels as beautiful and happy as I did on my wedding day — and I hope I am able to capture even just a fraction of the adoration and love between Paul and Claire in their resulting photographs!

Photographs below were taken at our wedding by Paul Maddox (or otherwise by me or Tom) and processed by me.

I’m pleased how well my first run of Bollington photographs have done – a testimony to how dear our home is to everyone that lives here. Just in time for the Festival, my second run of Bollington photographs have been printed and mounted. You can find a selection of them at the White Gallery now. With the aim to improve the affordability of local art, I’ve mounted the photographs myself, bringing the cost of a 5×7 down to £20.

Both runs can be seen through the following slideshow, as I still have three or four hand-mounted photographs left from the Autumn/Winter run. To see the full collection of photographs in person, you will need to visit the Bollington Festival Photography exhibition at the Methodist Church in May, as a good portion of my work will be on sale, alongside other fantastic local work by Bollington photographers! More information to follow.

I haven’t been taking very many new photographs lately, but for a few good reasons. My first edition of Bollington photographs is now on sale. You can view the photographs on this slideshow below. They are currently professionally mounted using neutral white mattes at two sizes.

The 18×12 archival matted & mounted photograph is available for purchase at £85 each. I’ve also sold these with some amazing handmade frames at £115 to £165.

The 5×7 archival matted & mounted photograph is available for purchase at £40 each. These are done in an off-set square matte which look fabulous in collection on the wall. These are also available with handmade frames at £85 to £135.

You can currently view my framed ‘Ebony’ at the White Gallery on Wellington Road, Bollington.

I was very happy to raise money for Children in Need by auctioning off the above photograph, with Art Graphics in the Adelphi Mill, Bollington, donating the framing. The Adelphi event in total raised £2,000!

Two more of my local Bollington photographs will be on display in the Vale Inn on Adlington Road, Bollington within the next month. These will also be for sale, with all proceeds going towards the Bollington Festival Photography group. Our ‘main event’ group exhibition will be held at the Methodist Church on Wellington Road during the Bollington Festival in 2009.