As I write this, I lie in Coniston youth hostel watching a spider run across the floor. On the positive note, I haven’t got my glasses on so can’t fully appreciate its monstrosity!

Yesterday I took this photo of the beautiful, albeit extremely choppy, Coniston Water. It was here that I took a brilliant, yet tiring canoe ride that lasted over an hour. You will be interested to know and hear that I now have muscles as big as Dwayne Johnson.

The weather was breezy but welcoming as the sun shone brightly in my eyes. However, that wasn’t the problem I faced halfway through the trip.

I’ve never suffered from motion sickness, but seasickness has reared it’s ugly head now and again. At the start of this year I took a brilliant ride to the Farne Islands on a little boat. I was fine as I gazed out into the distance, but after a short while started to feel rather iffy.

The same thing happened yesterday. Only this time, the splash back from the waves against the canoe hit my face, and my legs got quite wet. Fortunately I had waterproofs on!

But the sickness came gradually and lightly. Unlike the waves! Well, I blame the waves – I’m not sure devouring an almost full pack of Drumstick Squashies played a part…

All in all, it was a wonderful afternoon. But I’m still ground is where I belong!

I love this building. In colour, black and white, day or night, it never disappoints.

Northern Goldsmiths Jewellery store is located at the bottom of Northumberland Street in Newcastle upon Tyne. During the day it fashions a beautiful clock and by night dazzles passer bys with lights.

In a time before phones, my grandparents would arrange to meet under this clock at 12pm. Now, I take photos of it on my camera and phone! If they could see technology now…

At the start of this year, a friend informed me that there was a photography competition in one of our parts of the city. Initially, I was under the impression it was for a calendar, however I found out this week that wasn’t just the case.

In April, after having taken a selection of images of and in the said area (Jesmond), I journeyed to the library to collect the entry form.

The first visit was a fail as the library was closed, but the second time was more successful – at least it was open! I asked the polite staff if I could collect a form to enter my photos into their “A Year in Jesmond” 2020 calendar. Puzzled, they looked for the form, which was found 5 minutes later.

Upon returning home, I photocopied the entry slip, filled out the details for each submission – 5 in total per entrant – and emailed them off to the gentleman in charge.

Months pass and I receive an email in late September. It read that there were ten entrants/participants and that we should be hearing from them soon with a final verdict. Wonderful! So then there’s a chance that I should get chosen for at least one of the months of the calendar!

A week later I receive a wonderful email explaining that my “Bridge Over Jesmond Water” has come joint first as the overall winner! Furthermore, not only will the calendar be created within a couple of weeks, but an additional prize will be rewarded to myself and my fellow joint winner!

Just goes to show that hard work well and truly pays off.

I wait in anticipation for my prize. Watch this space.

JT

Beautiful Brighton. Says it all in the title of this post.

In 2017, I decided to see how many places I could visit solo in the uk – financially possible of course!

I visited Brighton in the August and, ever since, it has had a very special place in my heart.

I can’t pinpoint exactly one thing that was my favourite aspect of this amazing city; the pebble beaches, colourful lights and rides of the pier, seeing the sea beneath your feet through the wooden slats of the walkway, the vast architectural buildings and the exciting market streets. So many wonderful memories.

I stayed in a hotel called “MyBrighton”. A very quirky and vibrant hotel that catered for every need. Right in the city centre, it was the key location to the Pizza Express next door, beach and pier only being a short walk away, with buzzing pubs on the way. Perfect.

One day, I think it was the day before I came home, I decided to go and visit the shops. It was on the way I took this photo of the deck chairs. At 10am, the beach was peaceful and tranquil; families with young children chased the waves and the seagulls basked in the early summer morning heat.

I finally located the shopping centre (my geography and sense of direction is quite questionable) where I enjoyed a Superdrug meal deal for my lunch.

Deciding to discover more of Brighton, I came across a secret lane of shops where I came across heaven: Choccywoccydoodah! It was here I bought I lovely small bag of delicious chocolate drops.

It was around 2pm when I sat on the pebble beach next to Brighton Pier, eating my chocolate drops that I realised something: how completely proud and happy I was. Not only had I accomplished my adventure without dramas or problems, I was in my new happy place. Watching the children laughing, teens chatting and taking photos, people swimming in and out of the fresh waves of the sea – it was a memory I would have with me forever. Pure bliss.

Visit Brighton if you get the chance. Then thank me later ☺️

JT

Hello! Welcome to my city and my business blog!

I am JT from JT Photography, and on this blog you will hear stories and tips about the photographs I have taken in and around my city of Newcastle.

The photo I have posted today is of the Quayside bridges.

Walking in town with my friend on a mild Saturday evening, heavy camera kit in tow, we came across the entrance to a party boat.

We followed an excited bunch of well dressed women on a hen party onto the ramp, clearly not looking part of their party in our thick coats and trainers, and positioned ourselves precariously on the edge of the ramp. The photo seen above is a product of the wobbliness of the ramp alongside the 10 second shutter speed of my Nikon 3400!

Satisfied with the photo, but wanting to try another angle, we decided to descend down the ramp to the river edge. And when I say edge, the water was extremely close. If my camera stand tumbled for any reason, I would have been in big trouble…

Feeling adventurous, and thinking how wonderful the shots would look from this angle – not long was our shutter speed in action before we were told to vacate the area by party boat security.

Just another night in the life of a photographer!

JT

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton