Croissants and Cowhide, Shakespeare and Shawarma - June 2023

I need to start June with some bad news. Unfortunately, due to my staggeringly high maintenance levels, I need to inform you that whenever I work, there’s a list of what some would deem as, ridiculous rider demands. It is essential that I am provided with copious amounts of coffee, a lamp stand, a soft sofa, a candelabra, and a cowhide rug.

These conditions were met in June, and the Epsom Derby went ahead without an issue.

After packing up the tour equipment, I moved on to France for a top-secret drone mission. It involved a day in the mountains near Lyon, some parachutes, lots of croissants, and a number of espressos.

It was then back to the UK to film some nice new OB trucks with a DJI Inspire 2 in High Wycombe, and then up to Haydock Park for some more horse racing. I took a wander through the woods one evening, launched the little Mini 3 from near a burnt-out car, and captured this beautiful sunset over the racecourse.

I then sprung a leak in the gym, about time, and the weather well and truly sprung a leak too. I spent a few days glued to the lightning radar and doing a bit of storm chasing in the hills.

To B (roll), or not to B (roll), that is the question. I ended up in Stratford Upon Avon to film a load of town centre shots with a drone and gimbal. It’s a great place to film with lots of interesting buildings. I got around Shakespeares’ birthplace, Hall’s Croft, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and a load of other cool landmarks. Some of it will end up available for sale at some point, just not yet.

To round off another busy month of travelling, I also got up to York again, filming the horse racing and a few city centre sights. I almost lost my drugs to the honesty box, and got tanked up on fried chicken and halloumi shawarma, with diet Coke. Obviously.

I spent a bit more important time in the woods, measuring the distance between a Sony 20mm f1.8 lens and some stinging nettles. I know this is crucial R&D to the photography community.

Why does everything need to be a “community” now anyway? It’s this community or that community. What a load of BS. There is no photography community. I’m talking new-age nonsense.

Anyway, hopefully, my efforts measuring the distance between lens and nettle might be of use to someone, otherwise, maybe check out “Coffee in the woods - June’, because this is how I finished off the month, and it was bloody awesome.

There’s definitely not a coffee in the woods community.

Coffee in the woods - June