A quick plug ..

A picture paints a 1000 words, and this one says it all. There can be no clearer sign that we're here to stay in France than this pile of old UK plugs, electrical timers and extensions leads, photographed just before I dumped them all at the tip. No need for any of these any more..

There's been no end of helpful information when it comes to places to visit in our new home country. People are very forthcoming with advice on what to see and where to go. But, do you know what? It can all wait until next year. Next year we'll head north, we'll drive south, we'll eat there, we'll go and see that cathedral but, for this year .. we're staying at home. Staying at home and enjoying our very first full summer in France. Staying at home and tending our garden. Staying at home and welcoming new guests to the gîte. Staying at home and enjoying parties with all our new friends, both French and English. Staying at home and taking photographs in my new studio. Oh, have I mentioned that already?
Oh well, there's nothing wrong with another quick plug.. 

Stand by, studio ..

I have a new studio! I'm finally up and running in France, ten months after I closed down in Culcheth. My new place is a tad makeshift, I grant you, but has everything I'll need to shoot portraits over here. In fact, it even has a 'stand-free' overhead main light, something I never managed in the old studio. I'm so pleased to be able to shoot with controlled light again, and delighted that I'm now able to offer studio tuition to any budding photographers who rent the gîte. Say fromage .. !
 

The longest day ..

The sun's gone down on the longest day of the year yesterday, and I couldn't resist shooting as the low back-light lit up our plants. It's fantastic to think we've now been in France for both the winter, and the summer solstice, and it won't be long until we're marking our first year here. There is, however, one other thing that really makes me feel that I've settled. I'm getting junk-mail. My own, personalised junk-mail .. in French. Oh mama, I've arrived ..

To Dad!

Today's the day we think of our Dads .. not that I ever stop .. and there's no finer way of remembering mine than with this shot - circa 1980 - of his beloved Bell's whiskey and lemonade, served up in the kitchen we used to share in Eccles. I can still see his ice in the glass.

God bless ya, Dad. Nine years gone and still missed like buggery!

The Photographers ..

The times, they are a'changing ..

I had an email yesterday telling me that a domain name I owned has lapsed. The name? Martin O'Neill Wedding Photography. Imagine that! I no longer need a web presence that involves Wedding photography. It's now ten months since I last shot a Wedding and, keep this to yourself .. I don't miss it. It's the end of an era and I've moved on ..

Having said that, I'm knee deep in dust as I clear out the barn to put in a permanent studio. My lights and reflectors have sat in a box since we moved here last September and it's time to get them out. It's ten months since I last shot a portrait and, keep this to yourself .. I miss it. It's the start of a new era and I'm moving on ..

Ps: Dit fromage! Many thanks to the photography studio in Cognac whose sign I photographed last week.

Write on!..

How exciting. I've just received a Royalty payment for a book I've written.

If you're not up to speed, I wrote an adventure story called 'The Boy who missed Next Year' and sent it off to a large and varied selection of publishers and agents in the UK. However, for some bizarre reason (!) not one of them wanted to publish it, so I decided to 'self-publish' on Amazon Kindle ..

Well, I'm now pleased to say that I've finished a second book* and am already on track to have this one turned down by just as many publishers. So you can imagine that getting an email telling me I'd actually earnt some money from my first effort was a jolly old boost to the creative ego. I just don't know what the hell I'm going to do with that £1 and three pence!

*The Sun was Sad, by Martin O'Neill. Available very soon on Amazon Kindle. Probably!

Down to earth on D-Day

It was fascinating to see this person's memorial to D-Day - a series of WWII photographs stuck to a door outside their house - and incredible to think what was happening here in France exactly 74 years ago today.

Somehow the war always seems closer here, bearing in mind France was an occupied country. Memorials always proudly fly flags, and anniversaries are marked by civic events, such as the recent VE Day commemoration.

I feel closer too because, daft as it sounds, every time I dig in the garden I'm aware that I'm digging in the same earth as the tommies in the First World War. Really brings you down to earth ..