Concluding the Composed Images review of 2015, here’s my pick of my pics from July to December… If you need a quick catch up of January to June, nip off here, then come back.
July
Sport kept coming in July. The Speedway Grand Prix at the Millennium Stadium is always a different and deafeningly loud event.
Cancer Research UK’s Pretty Muddy Race For Life in Cooper’s Field was enjoyable in a totally different way. Seeing how much it means for so many people to come together for such a cause always warms the heart.
The 2015 Ashes series began in Cardiff at the city’s Swalec Stadium. Sadly, I was too slow off the mark to get official media accreditation for the first test, but I did find a nicely positioned tree aligned reasonably enough with one set of stumps. Ignoring the amused glances of walkers on the riverside path, I climbed up to get some shots of a couple of overs.
A couple of pre-season friendlies offered me the chance to get my ‘eye in’ before the football season proper began. Newport ‘entertained’ QPR in an entirely forgettable 0-0 draw. Both QPR manager Chris Ramsey and Newport boss Terry Butcher lost their jobs well before Christmas.
August
August saw trips into the West Wales wilds of Carmarthenshire and the Museum of Welsh Life in St Fagans, photographing celebrities for a media production company.
In football, almost on my doorstep I took a trip to AFC Butetown, who enjoyed a brief FAW Cup run, as well as to the Wales training camp as Bale and co’s fine form continued on the road to Euro 2016 qualification.
Divisive new Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn visited Cardiff for a leadership rally, and enjoyed a generally warm reception in a packed out room of the Mercure Hotel.
There were weddings in Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire.
And there was a commission at Celtic Manor Resort’s incredibly impressive Ryder Cup golf course for Telegraph Media Group.
September
September was also largely occupied by the matter of marriage. My own. It did indirectly offer the opportunity for some photography of the spectacular Isle of Skye, off the Western Highlands of Scotland, where we honeymooned.
Back home I returned to Celtic Manor to photograph a corporate conference, evening entertainment and a team-building activities day.
The super red blood moon meant more gazing skyward, along with the rest of the world. This was my effort.
October
The Euro 2016 qualification of Wales was sealed, and a big celebration held at the final home match against Andorra. It was a fitting climax to the national team’s first qualification for a major tournament since 1958, where they are due to play England next June.
Rugby came to Cardiff in October for the World Cup, the ‘ball in the wall’ of Cardiff Castle proving a particular hit with selfie mad fans. A Fanzone park at Cardiff Arms Park was also successful, helped by a number of excellent performers.
November
November saw an engagement shoot at a blustery Newport wetlands, while commissions took me to a financial services company, the Senedd Building in Cardiff Bay, and Cardiff Arms Park.
An explosion at Celsa Steelworks a very short distance away from my base took the lives of two men.
Tragedy also struck Paris again, returning me to the Senedd where a candlelight vigil was held and the steps were lit up in solidarity, as was the Millennium Centre and a number of buildings around Cardiff, the UK and the world.
December
In December, Jones The Barber of Cardiff moved to new premises in the balcony of Cardiff’s Castle Arcade, and I captured some images of his stylish new shop.
One of the best features of my neighbourhood, an old boat named the Eben Haezer, finally sank and was ultimately taken away.
A few days before Christmas Diamond Tennis Academy held an open day for the people of Cardiff at Cardiff City’s highly impressive indoor sports facility, the House of Sport.
And on Christmas Eve Eve I was humbled to photograph the visit of Father Christmas to children’s hospice Ty Hafan. He was delivered safely by fellow charitable organisation Wales Air Ambulance, because the reindeers were conserving their energy for the following night’s work. It was my first visit to Ty Hafan and it is an astonishing, inspirational facility capable of single handedly restoring human faith.
Hope you’ve enjoyed flicking through these 2015 year review images. If you’re in need of any photography coverage in 2016, please get in touch.