Donaghadee Lighthouse: A little lesson from safety of the harbour

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Hi Everyone,

I wanted to share something with you about light today. It's considered the photographer's most important tool. Photographers will often talk about good and bad light, and when you are taking photographs of the landscape, a lot of the time you set up your camera trying to predict where the light will land at a certain point in the day. At the mercy of the weather systems above, you wait and see what comes. But, good or bad, you can't take a photograph without light.

In June, I headed down to the lovely coastal town of Donaghadee to photograph the lighthouse, the results of which you can see above. The moody clouds and the rising tide were wonderful to watch, even though it wasn't such a stormy night. As I took this shot, the lighthouse started it's daily routine of sending pulses of light into the gathering night.

The spiritual picture of Jesus as the Light of the World, guiding His children to the safety of the harbour is not a new one. In fact, as you know, our Sunday school at Knock is called Lighthouse for that reason. Last night, at our small group Bible study, we were studying 1 John 1, where John tells his readers:

"This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you,

that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all." (1 John 1:5)

It's all to easy to feel carried along by the tide of our circumstances. But the lesson I learn from the lighthouse is that, in the dark, it doesn't matter whether the wind and waves are high or calm. The darkness will see to it that you need a light to guide you to the safety of the harbour in any weather. You won't reach the harbour without it.

In life, God doesn't leave us in the dark. He gives us His Word, the Bible, as "a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105). If you want to know God and the everlasting life He offers, you'll need that light to guide you.

Thanks for taking the time to read,

Paul

Water is life. Jesus is everlasting life.

2014 Calendar Cover: Sneak Peak!

Hi Everyone,

Only eight sleeps until launch! It's all getting very exciting. Here's a sneaky peak at the cover for the WASH Photo Project 2014 calendar. I'll give you a peak inside when we launch next week, but couldn't help but give you a taster today.

Designed by the very talented Richard McCullough, we hope this will make an excellent gift for your friends and family for Christmas - and don't forget to keep one for yourself! They'll be available from next week, in exchange for a very modest donation of £10 towards the very worthy cause of the WASH Project in Uganda. So, there's really no excuse to hold back! :)

Not long now! Thanks for the support,
Paul

Water is life. Jesus is everlasting life.

Titanic Quarter, Belfast: To Frame or Not to Frame? (that is the question)

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Hi Everyone,
It's been really encouraging to see the interest that the project is getting. As many of you will realise from my musings on here, a prime time for taking landscape images is at either end of the day. The image above was taken in the Titanic Quarter during nautical twilight (at 6:13am in March - with wooly hat, gloves, scarf and flask by my side!). Nautical twilight is when the light in the sky balances best with city lights. I pass this particular view every time Susie and myself (and Bethany!) head to church at Knock. I think it's a great tribute to the magnificent developments that have been happening in Belfast City centre over the past decade (and longer). 

As we approach the launch on 1st October, I thought you might like to find out a little about the framing of the project prints. As anyone who has tried to get a bespoke print framed will know, it's not usually a cheap affair.

However, after some research, I have come up with solutions for the project that I hope will tempt you! The photo above has now been printed (on special Fuji Metallic paper, in case that matters!), mounted and framed like this:

Believe it or not, this frame came from a well-known Swedish Holywood Exchange retail unit! To this, I have added a bespoke mount (made for me by a local framer) and finished it by hand.  I think it looks pretty smart, and because the frame is cost effective, it means that more money can go to the project. You can of course order mounted prints, if you want to add your own frame (or if you are ordering from abroad).

If you do choose to go for a panoramic framed print, you can choose from the following colours:

If you choose a square framed print, you can choose from Black, White or Rustic Wood Effect.

All of these will be finished by hand and will hopefully make great gifts for your friends, family or for you, of course!

Keep spreading the word!
Thanks so much,

Paul
Water is Life. Jesus is Everlasting Life.

Wet Weekend Part II: Downhill Strand and Mussenden Temple

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Hi Everyone,

So, you're at least a little interested in the second soaking, right?  Despite the calm image above, the second soaking was worse by far.  Less then 24 hours after my salt water experience at the Causeway, I left my lovely family just down the beach at Downhill in the car, to "grab a quick shot because the clouds are nice".  Cue wellies, tripod, camera bag and polariser.

I wandered towards the beautiful Mussenden Temple trying different compositions as I got closer.  Working at one particular spot, I got a bit too engrossed in my camera settings and failed notice a 'much larger-than-the-rest' wave approaching!  Soaked up to the thighs, with water-logged (squelching) wellies.  And we were on our way to lunch out with no spare trousers...

You'd think I'd have headed straight for the car, right?  Wrong.  Glutton for punishment.  Then I took the image above.  Crazy?  Probably - but on browsing them later, I was glad I persevered.  Causes don't come much better, so it was worth it.  And I dried off soon enough (over lunch at the Roe Park Resort...!).

Thanks again for your interest and for sharing this post with your friends and family - let them know what it's all about.

Paul

P.S. My first test display prints arrived yesterday.  It's all coming together! :)

Wet Weekend, Part I: The Giant's Causeway

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Dear Friends,

I got pretty soaked twice this weekend.  The first was on Friday evening, when I took a trip down to our own UNESCO World Heritage Site at the Giant's Causeway.  The weather on my Met Office app looked very promising for an interesting picture, but what I hadn't taken notice of was the wind forecast!

When I arrived it was really very windy.  Nevertheless, I was excited by the churning seas and dramatic sky.  Cleaning the salty spray off my filter between each shot and holding onto my tripod-mounted camera for all I was worth, I had a go at capturing this magnificent scene.  There's nothing quite like being out in the elements (the wellies were with me again of course!) and there aren't many better places than here at the Causeway.  I arrived home windswept and with the taste of salt water still on my lips.

Imagining life without water when you live right by this spectacular coastline is hard to say the least.  And yet that's what this project is all about.  Providing clean water to those who really, really struggle to get it on a daily basis in the mountainous regions of Uganda is at the heart of this WASH project.

Water is life.  Jesus is Everlasting Life.

Spread the word!  I would be delighted if you felt you could share this post and blog with your friends and family.  It's a great cause.

Thanks!

Paul

Shimna River, Tollymore Forest Park

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This beautiful forest park just outside of Newcastle, Co. Down is a particular favourite of mine, primarily because of the beautiful, undulating Shimna River that meanders through it.  It's stunning in all seasons and weathers, but takes on an especially rich beauty in Autumn.  With the weather starting to change after a great summer (hooray!), I can't recommend highly enough that you pay this place a visit.  

And if it's a nice day, be sure to take a picnic.  You won't want to leave!

Paul

Blackhead Lighthouse (Whitehead)

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Like many who have walked around this lighthouse, I was surprised to find that it isn't called Whitehead Lighthouse (which is the nearest town), but Blackhead Lighthouse (as it sits on Blackhead).  This image was taken at dawn, after an early trek with my good friend Ashley Teague.  While I think it looks magnificent in dawn light, its purpose is to shine in the darkness.  I read a well-known verse again the other day, where Jesus says ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’ (John 8:12)  Worth thinking over, I'm sure you agree.

Paul