Phil Proctor Photography
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Whilst walking along the beach I kept finding my eyes drawn to the pebbles scattered amongst the other pebbles. I then go through the process of working out why they catch my eye. Honestly, most of my scenes are found subconsciously and it's only afterwards I work out what drew me to them 🧐. In this case it was two levels of contrast. The colour contrast ( the majority of the pebbles being grey and the subject being white), and the texture contrast ( pitted surface as opposed to smooth surfaces). What was an initial grey stoney beach turned into a photographers play area for an hour. I could have stayed longer!
Catching the light. This reed stood out from the bed of reeds due to it only catching some fleeting sunlight which had escaped through a gap in the clouds. That alignment at that spot will never happen again. This is why I take photos.
During a short walk today I saw this chap waiting at a bus stop looking towards the postbox. I wonder if he realised he was looking at a Victorian fluted postbox which was experimental in design during 1856. You can't see it from this angle, but the slit was initially vertical before swapping to horizontal in later designs to reduce the inlet of rain water. Did he just see a postbox or a Grade 2 listed monument? Simple wonders are all around us. We just need to look closer.
During a recent trip to a waterfall I found a very dark niche with this single fern growing in it. This fern, like me, was looking for good light. For me, good light makes for good photos. For the fern, it's survival.
A quick walk last night to catch the Flower Moon. Called that because it rises in May and there are flowers blooming 😁. I thought I'd at least try and get a bit of flora in the shot. It's one of the smallest moons of the year due to it being so far away from Earth.
I should have taken a 'behind the scenes ' photo for this shot, you would have laughed. I spent about 30 minutes on my hands and knees trying to create a good scene for the bluebells I had found. I imagine this spider was laughing at the scene unfolding in front of it as I sighed and groaned trying to get into position. I think it was all worth it. This close up view of the world around our feet fills me with joy. It is capturing these moments with my camera that makes it all worthwhile.
The last to fly... Nature is amazing. This seed will soar into the air, carried by a white beard of bristles, known as a pappus, from the old Greek word for grandfather. An air bubble, known as a vortex ring and unique in nature, surrounds the seed while it spins through the air, stabilised by the geometry and design of the pappus. This increases the drag fourfold and slows its descent even more, allowing the seed to fly farther before landing and increasing its distribution.
The smallest thing at the most random moment can stop me in my tracks. The setting sun was shining through a small gap in a fence and lit this single buttercup up. I love photography because it lets me capture these moments to remember.
© 2025 Phil Proctor Photography - By Grey Matter
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