2014 Highlights

2014 was my first full year as a professional photographer. The year had its ups and downs, but the positive moments outweighed the negative. I am extremely lucky to be able to do what I love and things look promising for an even better 2015.

I have spent 113 days on the road (this will have grown to 120 by the end of the season) and I have traveled 26,000 miles. As things are looking now, I will likely travel 30,000 next year; but I will maintain a little suspense and tell you more about my 2015 plans in a coming post.

So, without further ado, here are my favourite moments from the last twelve months. Thanks for visiting, I hope you come back next year.

In March, I had a fun trip to New York, but it wouldn't have been me, if there wasn't something bike-related somewhere in the mix. I shot the Red Hook Crit for Cyclist magazine. It was a fun evening, but I will never forget the incredibly cold rain that was pouring down all day. The worst part? I, of all people, was standing there with only basic waterproof gear. Hasn't cyclocross taught me anything? — In March, I had a fun trip to New York, but it would have uncharacteristic if I hadn’t worked something bike-related into the trip. I shot the Red Hook Crit for Cyclist magazine and although it was a fun evening, I will never forget the incredibly cold rain that poured down all day. The worst part? Of all people, I stood there with only basic waterproof gear. Hasn’t cyclocross taught me anything?

The Giro was my first Grand Tour, back in May. It started in Belfast and it seemed to be too close to miss. I was there on a jolly, without any assignment or pressure, just to soak up the atmosphere. — In May, I enjoyed my first Grand Tour: The Giro. It started in Belfast and it was too close to miss. I was there on a jolly, without any assignment or pressure, and was able to simply soak up the atmosphere.

The penultimate race of the Tour Series was held at the Canary Wharf, in London. I was there to follow the Rapha-Condor team. I hadn't realised that crit racing can be so much fun. — The penultimate race of the Tour Series was held at the Canary Wharf in London. I was there on assignment to follow the Rapha-Condor team. I hadn’t previously realized that crit racing could be so much fun.

In June, SRAM invited me to shoot a product launch in Germany. It was a nice trip, though it coincided with the hottest days of the summer at that part of Germany, so we got up in the wee hours not only to catch the golden hour but so that riders didn't die of heat stroke. This shot ended up in their 2015 catalog. — In June, SRAM invited me to shoot a product launch in Germany. It was a nice trip though it coincided with the hottest days of the German summer. We rose in the wee hours, not only to catch the golden hour, but to prevent the riders dying of heat stroke. This shot was featured in their 2015 catalog.

Early August, I got a phone call from Ian Cleverly, the editor of Rouleur, whether I wanted to go to the Netherlands in a few weeks' time to photograph Lars van der Haar - of course I said yes. The article with my photos came out in issue 51, my first contribution to Rouleur. — In early August, I got a phone call from Ian Cleverly the editor of Rouleur asking whether I wanted to go to the Netherlands to photograph Lars van der Haar. Of course I said yes. The article with my photos featured in issue 51, my first contribution to Rouleur.

The Tour de France in Yorkshire. The trip started with a bit of a bad luck, in the face of a car breakdown, so I was chasing the peloton in a replacement car, while my car was repaired in Hull. It was interesting to observe the Tour that close, to feel the energy of the crowds as I was driving the course, ahead of the peloton. A remarkable weekend, that I won't forget for a while. I wondered, was it special for people, journalists, riders, moto drivers, who do this every year, or not. — The Tour de France in Yorkshire: The trip started with a bit of a bad luck in the form of a car breakdown, so I was forecd to chase the peloton in a replacement car. It was interesting to observe the Tour from such a close perspective and to feel the energy of the crowds as I was driving the course ahead of the peloton. It was a remarkable weekend that I won’t forget. However, I found myself wondering if it was equally special for the journalists, riders, moto drivers, and others who follow the tour every year?

The London GP women race was a great spectacle in central London. Though putting speakers on all corners of the course would make the event a whole lot more enjoyable to every spectator, it was a fun evening out and we saw some great racing. — The London GP women’s race was a great spectacle in central London. For next year, I’d suggest the organizers place speakers on all corners of the course to make the event more enjoyable to every spectator. Nonetheless, it was a fun evening and we saw excellent racing.

I was in Annecy in August, just an hour away from Meribel, where the final round of the UCI MTB World Cup was held. We drove over to watch the race. It was probably the first bicycle race in over ten years, that I wasn't taking pictures. I was just enjoying a nice day out, admiring the view and only snapping photos with my little, disposable camera. Bliss. — I was in Annecy in August, which happens to be just an hour away from Meribel, where the final round of the UCI MTB World Cup was being held. We decided to make the short drive to watch the race and it turned out that it was probably the first bicycle race in over ten years, that I wasn’t taking pictures. I simply enjoyed a nice day out and admired the view, though I admit I snapped a few photos with my little, disposable camera. Bliss.

I was asked to photograph Gavin Dutch who runs an app development company in Edinburgh. He was nominated for the Spirit of Scotland awards and he needed a portrait for his profile. He consequently won the award – I wouldn’t say it was because of me – but it still felt great to see him win.