stew, Author at Stewart Mckeown Photography

May 09

by stew in field report, location guide 0 comments tags: anglesey, wales

North Wales Photo Trip

Earlier this year in January 2024 I stayed on Anglesey in North Wales for a week of landscape photography. The island boasts several iconic British photography locations that I’ve been eager to photograph for some time. Additionally, it provides a chance to explore and learn about a new area. Day 1 I stayed in the seaside village of Rhosneigr, chosen for its close locality to various spots in Anglesey. The trip up would span approximately 6 hours and cover over 350 miles, prompting me to find a suitable a halfway stop for lunch. Perusing the maps, I noted Ratcliffe-on-Soar as a viable pit stop, home to the UK’s final operational coal power station. I had seen recent images of the area on Instagram which showcased the nearby canal and boat yard, inspiring my choice. I ended up staying here a lot longer than planned as it is such a great location. In particular the canal boats in varying stages of repair in the fields in front of the cooling towers has potential and one I hope to be returning to at some point. Day 2 For my first proper day in Anglesey I went to […]

Mar 29

by stew in field report, location guide 0 comments tags: bluebells

Photographing Bluebells in Kent

English bluebells, scientifically known as Hyacinthoides non-scripta, are a quintessential emblem of the British countryside, enchanting with their delicate, nodding blooms and vibrant hues of blue. These native woodland perennials, heralds of spring, paint the forest floor with a carpet of azure, casting a spell of tranquillity and natural beauty wherever they bloom. Revered for their elegance and resilience, English bluebells have captivated botanists, poets, and nature enthusiasts for centuries, embodying the timeless charm and enchantment of the British landscape. My favourite place to see the spectacular seasonal display is at King’s Wood near Ashford. The 1500-acre forest located in the Kent Downs AONB has a mix of broad-leafed and coniferous trees which can be explored via an array of trails and well-maintained paths; historically King’s Wood was a royal hunting ground frequented by Henry VIII and herds of fallow deer still roam here today. I have been frequenting these woods and photographing the bluebells for the past 10 years and I’d like to share my favourite images along with information about how I shot them. When? As I write this at the end of March 2024, the first flowers have been out for a week or […]

Mar 23

by stew in location guide 0 comments tags: faversham

Faversham Photography Guide

Faversham, nestled in the picturesque county of Kent, England, is a town steeped in rich history and charm. Situated on the banks of the scenic Faversham Creek, this market town boasts a captivating blend of medieval architecture, quaint streets, and bustling markets. Renowned for its maritime heritage, Faversham has been a centre of trade and industry since ancient times, with evidence of settlement dating back to prehistoric periods. Today, it remains a vibrant hub, offering visitors a delightful mix of cultural attractions, including historic buildings, traditional pubs, and the famous Shepherd Neame Brewery, Britain’s oldest brewery still in operation. I’ve been photographing in and around Faversham for years. I’m currently revisiting a lot of these locations at the moment to get some updated pictures so I thought this would be a good time to arrange all my best shots to date here in this blog post. The Creeks My main photographic interest over the years have been the boats and buildings along Faversham Creek and the nearby Oare Creek. In the right conditions, typically at high tide and calm winds these waterways are stacked with potential and are fantastic to photograph all year round. […]

Nov 16

by stew in location guide 0 comments

New Town Utopia

I recently watched a documentary called ‘New Town Utopia’, which charts the story behind the post-war development of Basildon, Essex. I thoroughly enjoyed the film, so much so that it inspired me to take a day trip there this past summer. The town centre is certainly full of interesting architecture, especially the grade II listed Brooke House, a brutalist tower block raised up by V-shaped concrete pillars. Here a some of my shots from the day; Thanks for viewing 🙂

Nov 13

by stew in Canterbury, field report, Uncategorized 0 comments tags: canterbury, infrared, kent, landscape, project

Candyfloss Canterbury

In early 2023 I finally had my old Nikon D600 converted with a 720nm filter to shoot infrared. I have always liked the black and white infrared look, but false colour had never really interested me, until now… I used a local company, Protech Photographic to perform the installation which they did just in time for Spring. This season is popular for infrared shooting as the fresh leaves and trees reflect infrared light, which can be used to create surreal-looking images. Here in Canterbury, there are several public parks which were displaying good vibrant leafage to test my new camera with. These locations and views are the typical postcard-type shots of the city, or ‘honeypots’ if you like, which gave me an idea… While researching infrared photography I came across a technique known as ‘channel swapping’ where you swap the red and blue colour channels of an infrared file in Photoshop to create a fantastical effect. The result can seem a bit gimmicky but it seemed fitting for this project, giving these postcard-type shots a synthetic, saccharine gloss. These images form my ‘Candyfloss Canterbury‘ project which are all available to […]

Nov 09

by stew in Uncategorized 0 comments

Cathedral Pass

Cathedral Pass Cathedral Pass is the result of a photographic exercise I undertook to help me create new and different images on the Canterbury Cathedral grounds. For three months during the summer, I would walk to the precincts with the aim of finding new ways to photograph the architectural features. By using a variety of techniques and equipment, such as infrared, ICM, and directional early morning light, I hope these images provide not-so-familiar views of this renowned location. For the first time, I have arranged the images into a digital zine 🙂

Dec 31

by stew in field report, Uncategorized 0 comments tags: 2022, kent, landscape, photography

2022 Roundup

A look back over my photography in 2022. These are not necessarily my best images but they do help to tell the story of the year… January/February The year started with a trip to Fairfield Church on Romney Marsh. There is nowhere better to go when it is frosty and despite my many visits here over the years there are still shots I have yet to capture. This panoramic was one that I can now cross of my list. The bridge that links Kent with the Isle of Sheppey, known as the Sheppey Crossing, is a site of another location that I like to visit especially in the winter. The combination of frost and fog can make the commanding concrete structures of Kingsferry Bridge and the Sheppey Crossing look evocative and mysterious. I’ve written a blogpost that delves more into this area here Alas, the south-eastern English winter is not one comprised of interesting weather events one after another! There are many dull and dreary days to contend with where the will to venture out is low. On these days it pays to match the subject to the conditions. The decaying sea defences on the Sussex coast […]

Dec 17

by stew in location guide 0 comments tags: isle of sheppey, kent, kingsferry bridge, landscape, north kent, photography, sheppey crossing, swale

Kingsferry and Sheppey Crossing: A Tale of Two Bridges

There are two bridges built within close proximity that cross The Swale and link the Isle of Sheppey with mainland Kent. The Kingsferry bridge is the older of the two. It was built in the 1950’s and is a combined road and railway bridge with an interesting vertical-lift design for maritime traffic. This was superseded in 2006 by the Sheppey Crossing which is a has four lanes and reaches over 100+ feet in the air over the estuary. This location has become a firm favourite of mine over the past few years. Access along either side of The Swale is good which enables lots of different views of both bridges plus the surrounding low lying marshes are prone to mist and fog which make the bold bridge structures more enigmatic. Here a few of my efforts over the past few years:

Oct 31

by stew in Uncategorized 0 comments

Urban Photography in Kraków, Poland

At the beginning of October I spent 4 days in the beautiful city of Kraków in the south of Poland. So, why Kraków? Well, we were actually meant to be going to Prague but I left it too late to find suitable flights for the days off we had so we chose Kraków as it fulfilled our simple criteria of looking beautiful and we hadn’t been there before. I definitely remember seeing photos of the St. Mary’s Basilica before from a photographer I follow online plus when I posted to my Instagram stories that I was going I got lots of replies from friends who each recommended the city. So I felt assured it was a good choice..! Camera Gear What camera gear would I pack with me this time? Taking all my lenses over in the carry-on bag was not an option plus I really wouldn’t want to be lugging them all around sightseeing anyway. For walking around the city during the day I picked my Ricoh GR3 which is a pocket-sized camera with a fixed 28mm lens. This was a recent purchase as a always-on-you camera and when I tested it around London with friends I was really […]

Aug 09

by stew in field report, location guide, Uncategorized 0 comments tags: artwork, coast, kent, margate, statue, thanet

‘Another Time’ on Margate

Photographs from a few visits to the Anthony Gormley sculpture titled ‘Another Time‘ in Margate These are the first times I’ve photographed the Gormley sculpture on the Thanet coast despite it being here since 2017..! I’m not sure why. You do need the right tides to see it but perhaps it’s more because I’m somewhat of a contrarian/dick at times and when it was first installed I saw all the IG posts and probably didn’t want to be seen to jump on the bandwagon. Anyway, with the news that it is to now stay until at least 2030 there is no danger of that so I felt it was ‘About Time‘ I paid a visit or two… Having full knowledge of the tides is vital to getting the best results at the coast. My first attempt to capture the sculpture was a disaster as he was already completely submerged when I arrived so I slunk off around the corner to shoot in the harbour instead. Luckily on my next visit, I timed the tides much better, arriving at low tide so I could get a better understanding of the location and assess the best viewpoints. The first thing I […]