Extracts from a creative journal

It's going to be a long slow road to recovery

Lives in a van. Bimbles with a camera. Often pointing his pixel box at scruff. Has been known to run long distances. Would consider cake as a form of payment.

Recovering.

Welcome

Hello, and welcome back to my little corner of Substack. Firstly I want to thank those who took to the time to read (and comment) on my last post from a few weeks ago. I’m still working through the second part of that, so hopefully I can get something out before the end of the month.

It’s also been a while since I put out one my creative journal posts, which isn’t surprising given the lack of camera time over the past few months, but I think it’s perhaps time to start those again.

I’m currently writing this update from a very hot and sweaty France, having just spent the past few weeks hiking in Switzerland which went some way to helping me overcome the panic attacks that have been plaguing my outdoor time for the past 6 months.

I am, however, getting ahead of myself so let’s rewind the clock as we hit the road again in our VW Campervan.

The mountains are calling !

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29th May

Almost 90 days !

Has it really been that long since I picked up the camera in earnest? Sure, there has been the odd image captured with the iPhone. Then there were the accompanying frames for a travel article on the Causeway Coast in Northern Ireland, and of course, a couple of images with my beloved X100T.

But contemplative photography sessions? Not since I stood under a pink dawn sky along the beautiful Gallican coastline in Muxia. It was only a few days later that I received the call from back home in Ireland that my dad had taken a tumble from his chair and broken not one, but both of his legs. Less than a week later, I found myself at his bedside, first in the hospital, and then back at home. That was almost three months ago, and there has been little time for photography since. A difficult situation, compounded by the fact that he was already disabled and has pretty severe dementia. Oh, did I also mention he just turned 90 !

Photography is my lifeline. Actually, both that and running, and sadly, since late last year, I have been suffering from pretty severe panic attacks when out running. This had started to become a little more manageable during our ten weeks exploring the north coast of Spain, but given the situation these past few months, they have come back with a vengeance.

It’s going to be a long, slow road to recovery.

30th May 2026

Arrived in Antwerp with a huge Thunderstorm heading our way. Sadly I can only manage a few quick images with the iPhone as there are more pressing matters at hand. Our LPG gas isn’t working. Not ideal on the first evening of a potentially 5 month trip.

8th June 2026

I’m currently standing beside my camera, which itself is sitting on top of my tripod for the first time in months. It doesn’t matter one jot that the light isn’t falling where I want it, nor that I’m either too short or too long in my focal length to create the composition I want.

Not one jot.

It’s simply the fact that I’m standing here. Patiently waiting. Small adjustments. My eye checking the edges of the frame for distractions. Checking the overhead conditions just in case there’s a chance of light.

I’m in my happy place. The process of photography, not simply the final image. And it feels good.

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Other corners of the inter webs you can find me.

• The X100 Diaries

• My Portfolio

• Bimbles magazine

Thanks so much for allowing me a few moments of your time. I hope you have enjoyed my words and images, and if so a quick share amongst your own community will help spread the word.

And if you really enjoyed it you can even consider throwing a few pennies into the tips jar. It helps most with diesel costs for the van to keep me on the road making images.

Until next time .. Happy Pixels …