From the Archives, February 2000

Posted on 24/11/2015 by Paul Debois

Safari Rally, Kenya, February 2000

The Safari Rally with Colin McRae and the Ford Rally Team for Top Gear, February 2000. Over the Rift Valley, Kenya, all teams used helicopters as a viewing platform to instruct their drivers and warn of obstacles in their path. One of the most memorable and scary shoots. Looking back at the other helicopters was a like viewing a scene from Mash, as they zig-zagged down the valley, rising and falling as the approached power cables. Many things were learnt here. The most important was never drink copious amounts of vodka the evening before a helicopter ride.

RHS Wisley

Posted on 18/09/2015 by Paul Debois

A selection of work taken recently for the RHS at Wisley.

Main house and laboratories

Herbaceous borders, Battlestone Hill

Canal with laboratories in background

Glasshouse Borders

Brent River Park

Posted on 18/09/2015 by Paul Debois

Revisiting part of a walk I completed 12 months ago – through Brent River Park, Hanwell.

Dahlias by the River Brent

Wasn’t sure if this was a memorial or not. Placed on a tree over the River Brent, there was nothing to suggest why these flowers were there, but it looked quite deliberate.

Tree roots by River Brent

Red berries of the Common hawthorn

Wharncliffe Viaduct through Brent Meadows, Hanwell

I have photographed the Wharncliffe Viaduct many times. Wandering around beneath the huge arches is like being in a film set. Maybe ‘Logan’s Run’ …..nature reclaiming a derelict city.

Wharncliffe Viaduct, Hanwell with the River Brent

Wharncliffe Viaduct, Hanwell

Brent Meadow, looking towards Ealing Hospital

Elderberries (Sambucus nigra)

River Brent

Oak leaves

Tree root by the River Brent covered in debris from flood water

Common hawthorn in St Mary’s Church, Hanwell

From the archives, July 1989

Posted on 09/09/2015 by Paul Debois

Sorting through old portfolio tearsheets this morning, I found this from July 1989. Car Magazine and a Porsche 911. One of my favourite car pics from that period, taken in Scotland, near Ullapool. And I still remember the car being driven over my foot.

It has dated, but it’s interesting to see a photo used full frame, with few cover lines, no barcode…..and no free gift!

Car Magazine, July 1989. Porsche 911

The Coast of Light, August 2015

Posted on 27/08/2015 by Paul Debois

I haven’t uploaded many new images from the Coast of Light series for a while, but these are selection of recent images from walks around the town of Conil, in Andalucia this summer.

Bougainvillea

Dead flowers on wasteland

Hibiscus

Fuente del Sol

Wild fennel

Dried thistle on wasteland

Bougainvillea

Playa de los Batales

School mural

Taped off crack on cliff top, caused by erosion

Foamlea Gardens, Mortehoe in Devon

Posted on 09/06/2015 by Paul Debois

A shoot for SAGA Magazine, Foamlea Gardens, Mortehoe in Devon. A brief visit.

Foamlea Gardens, Mortenhoe, Devon,

Crocosmia leaves in Foamlea Gardens, Mortenhoe, Devon

Foamlea Gardens, Mortenhoe, Devon

Foamlea Gardens, Mortenhoe, Devon, Aeonium “Shwartzkopf’

Foamlea Gardens, Mortenhoe, Devon, Geum ‘Mrs Bradshaw’

Foamlea Gardens, Mortenhoe, Devon, Osteospermum ‘Cannington Ray’

The Festival of the Unexceptional

Posted on 30/07/2014 by Paul Debois

It’s a while since I photographed a car show, but the 2014 Festival of the Unexcpetional appealed to my sense of humour. Described as a Concours de l’Ordinaire with ‘cars from the era that quality control forgot’…..Allegro’s, Maxi’s and Marina’s to name a few. Plus their owners. So, a small gallery as a flavour.

For info about 2015, see: Festival-of-The-Unexceptional

Left: Furry dice in Austin Allegro 1100 Deluxe. Right: 1975 Austin Allegro Special

Ford Cortina GT, Festival of the Unexceptional 2014, Whittlebury Park

Pink platform shoes – Festival of the Unexceptional 2014, Whittlebury Park

Ford Anglia Estate Deluxe, Festival of the Unexceptional 2014, Whittlebury Park

Left: Ford Anglia Estate Deluxe. Right: Hillman Imp Super

Vauxhall Chevette, Festival of the Unexceptional 2014, Whittlebury Park

Ford Cortina GT, Festival of the Unexceptional 2014, Whittlebury Park

Peel P50 1964, Festival of the Unexceptional 2014, Whittlebury Park

Austin Maxi 1750, Festival of the Unexceptional 2014, Whittlebury Park

Austin Princess 1300, Festival of the Unexceptional 2014, Whittlebury Park

Renault 6TL, Festival of the Unexceptional 2014, Whittlebury Park

Left: Triumph 1500. Right: VW 412 LS

Renault 6TL, Festival of the Unexceptional 2014, Whittlebury Park

VW 412 LS, Festival of the Unexceptional 2014, Whittlebury Park

Left: Ford Cortina owner. Right: Lollipops in Morris Marina

Buzz Aldrin, astronaut

Posted on 29/04/2014 by Paul Debois

Buzz Aldrin, astronaut from Apollo 11 – the second man to walk on the moon

From the archives….taken for Top Gear around 1998. Astronaut Buzz Aldrin with a Jaguar XJ220 at Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground in Leicestershire. And a most fortuitously placed vapour trail.

Coast of Light

Posted on 01/04/2014 by Paul Debois

Some more recent additions to the Coast of Light series, from Andalucia. This is an edit from a set taken in August 2013.

: Conil

: Barbate

: El Puerto de Santa Maria

: El Puerto de Santa Maria

: Retail park, Jerez

: Cala del Aceite

: Cadiz

: Barbate

: El Puerto de Santa Maria

: Barbate

: Barbate

: Fuente del Gallo

: Playa de los Bateles, Conil

: Cadiz

: Cadiz

IGPOTY at The Photography Show, 2014

Posted on 05/03/2014 by Paul Debois

I received a copy of the International Garden Photographer of the Year ‘Collection Seven’ book yesterday. With the judges final choices for 2014, it is a beautiful presentation of work, especially for those whose images are represented.

IGPOTY 2014, Collection Seven

A list of all the judges.

List of Judges, IGPOTY 2014

I really enjoyed meeting so many people over the two days I spent at The Photography Show as part of the IGPOTY programme of events. I lost count how many portfolio critiques I gave, but I saw many lovely images.

For anyone thinking of entering next year, I’ll repeat the main point of the talks I gave.

Tell a story. You have to do this without using words. Whether a single image or a portfolio, the idea is paramount. And don’t be too concerned with special techniques. These can distract and actually hide what you are trying to say. Keep it simple. Look for less obvious subjects too. People and environmental topics are all relevant.

Some of my favourite images from IGPOTY 2014

The winning entry for 2014 by Rosanna Castrini, entitled ‘My Prairie Garden’.

A group winner Jason Liske with ‘Native Coast’.

One of my favourite portfolios was by Sibylle Pietrek in the Greening the City category.

©Sibylle Pietrek 'Growing Home' community garden

Another good story was from Matteo Carassale.

©Matteo Carassale - 'Mr. DB against the Sky'

Paul Debois

Photographer

Category Archives: Travel