I made a conscious effort to be more active this time last year (what with there not being too much else to do!) and like a lot of Derry people that meant being drawn to the Quayside Walk... to be honest it started with a couple of, shockingly breathless, Sainsburys to the Council and backs, before building up to the various landmarks along the walk; Sainsburys to the 'Blue' Bridge (that's it official name, right?) and back, then adding a loop of the Peace Bridge, next adding in Bay Road... until one evening I, unintentionally, kept going and completed the loop...

​Now, I'm not too sure if this is a photographer thing, or a just me thing, but I found myself making photographs in my head as I walked and as I started to recognise some of the other 'regulars' on the way - those with unique methods of travel, those starting to improve their fitness, like myself, the obvious 'fitness' crowd - who'd have been displaced from their usual gyms and leisure centres...

So with no weddings to document on the horizon, a wee Street Photography Project started to for, February onwards saw my wee Fujilfilm camera hanging around my neck on a regular basis...

I'd love to know what you think of the first batch of photographs - and if you spot anyone you know, please tag them in or share the post - hopefully anyone included will realise their photo was taken due to my admiration of them getting out & about - but if anyone would rather have theirs removed just let me know...

There are some shots of Brides & Grooms from a few Derry & Donegal Weddings that I've shared this week on Instagram... they could be described as being documentary, photo-journalistic or reportage wedding photography - more simply they're just candid photographs I've taken to capture a moment, a wee split second glance or smile that that the couple are sharing.

The featured wedding took place in An Grainan Hotel, The Red Door Country House, Lough Eske Castle, Silver Tassie Hotel, The Inishowen Gateway Hotel, Donegal & Ballyscullion Park and Bishops Gate Hotel, Derry.

There's a strong trend that wedding photographers who specialise in Documentary Wedding Photography also have a passion for Street Photography - understandable given it's the same challenge of catching a moment or scene as it happens without interfering in what's happening in front of you...Street Photography is, even, often suggested as a good practice prior to weddings... I'd definitely include myself in the category of photographers who enjoy both - even if I wouldn't consider myself near the level of some of the other wedding/street photographers who come to mind such as York Place Studios, Kevin Mullins or Bomkinghts Photography

These are a few examples from a dander along Blackpool promenade. from what seems like a lifetime ago in 2019!