October 2013 Keynote Speech at the Costa del Sol Press Club, Marbella, Spain

I delivered a keynote speech on the Importance of Photography for Luxury Hotels and Destinations – my chosen destination being Andalucia – to journalists at the Costa del Sol Press Club. The event was a wonderful opportunity to share stories and anecdotes, not only from the region but also from around the world, while documenting Luxury Hotels. My speech was supported and illustrated by a myriad of images I’ve taken over recent years depicting the beautiful region of Andalucia in the best light, and capturing the very Essence of Luxury Hotels. “I can´t stress enough how important strong imagery is in successfully promoting holiday destinations,” was my core message. The Costa del Sol Press Club monthly dinner provided a perfect platform to redeliver the speech I made at the TEDx Marbella event earlier in 2013 – it’s a topic that I am truly passionate about.

October 2013 Photo shoot of Lauden Chocolates in studio, Spain

After flying First Class with BA to Dubai in the summer, I decided to interview the entrepreneurial couple behind the delicious Lauden Chocolates which I had the pleasure of tasting on the plane. I photographed the pretty chocolates in my studio in Spain. Leeds-based husband and wife team Stephen and Sun landed their deal with British Airways just five years after taking a few courses in chocolate making and selling their products at their local farmers’ market. It was great fun to shoot the individually-designed Lauden Chocolates with the help of my GretagMacbeth colour cards to ensure the colours and designs were absolutely spot-on. You can see the photos and read more here.

October 2013 Honoured in Black and White Spider Awards

This month I was delighted to receive an Honorable Mention for one of my photographs in the Black and White Spider Awards and to be nominated in three other categories. My photo “Hannah” from the series “The Pool of Life” was awarded an Honorable Mention in the Professional Nude category, while I also received recognition for my work in the Architectural, Portrait and Still Life sections. You can see the photos and read more about the awards here.

Black and White Spider Awards is the leading international award honoring excellence in black and white photography. This celebrated event shines a spotlight on the best professional and amateur photographers worldwide and honors the finest images with the highest achievements in black and white photography.

October 2013 Visit to Jerez on behalf of Andalucia.com for the V Copa Jerez, Spain

I attended the Fifth Annual Copa Jerez, held at the Jerez de la Frontera Hospitality and Catering School. This is an important event for the gastronomic world, where international chefs compete to create the most harmonious pairing, or maridaje in Spanish, of food and vino de Jerez (sherry). The event was really enjoyable and it was good to catch up with old friends from the wine industry, especially Jose Argudo, Brand Manager of Tio Pepe (Bodegas Gonzalez Byass), with whom I dined at the fabulous Ajonegro restaurant.

October 2013 Stock photography of Jerez de la Frontera, Spain

Even though I have lived in Andalucia for over 20 years, there is always a new angle on any town or village, and the Copa Jerez gave me the perfect opportunity to take stock images of the Jerez region for Andalucia.com.