Author: Ryan Garden

Photographer, blogger, & real ale drinking Scotsman living in the wilds of Yorkshire.

Time Away

Sun 6th Nov '22

It has been a while since my last post, in fact it feels like forever ago. Not only has it been some time since I published my previous post, but I have not been out & about with my camera either. It wasn’t my intention to take some time out from my site or photography. Sometimes life just happens.

I often wonder how bloggers who manage to blog daily or weekly manage it. Maybe it depends on the content that your creating, and/or the reason that you blog. Even when I have posted more frequently, I would struggle to post everyday. To be fair I struggle to stick to any kind of frequent schedule when posting, which I’m sure is frowned upon in the blogging world. I post when I post, and I’m sure that’s not the way to attract readers/retain followers, but I mostly blog for me, and it’s a bonus if people like my posts and want to follow my site.

This year has provided me with some big changes (good ones) & some unexpected twists. So I guess I have been a little distracted of late. Earlier in the year I decided to make a big career change, after 15 years in the same industry. So, I’m hoping now with a much better work/life balance I will have more time for photography and to get out exploring.

Watch this space for potentially some new/different photo themes than my usual photo work…

Squirrel in the Woods

Fri 29th Apr '22

There is no denying that Squirrels are one of my favourite woodland creatures. Living so close to several woodland habitats provides me with many opportunities to watch & photograph these amazing creatures in their natural environment.

At some point I would love the opportunity to be able to photograph Red Squirrels. Although Red Squirrels are the native species here in the UK, there are only estimated to a population of approx 140,000 compared to an estimate of 2.5 million Grey Squirrels. It’s sad to think that in England alone the Wildlife Trust believes that Red Squirrels could become extinct within the next 10 years.

Nature For Everyone

Sun 27th Feb '22

#NatureForEveryone

Anyone who follows my photography knows that it is highly inspired by nature. So when I came across the Wildlife and Countryside Link‘s campaign for #NatureForEveryone, it caught my eye. Although I wouldn’t describe myself as an outdoorsy person, I do love getting close to nature. My first memories of properly connecting with nature was also when I first started dabbling in photography. I would head out with my camera to capture sunsets, this then evolved in to exploring local farmland and natural habitats. Today I love connecting with natural world around us.

I feel very privileged to live somewhere that is surrounded by so many green spaces, not everyone is so lucky. As our urban landscapes expand we need to find ways to balance these landscapes with nature. Campaigns like #NatureForEveryone are so important for our well being and the well being of our planet.

Enduring the COVID pandemic of the last 24 months has highlighted the importance of being able to get out and explore our green spaces and to connect with nature. It has certainly helped my sanity as well as being a constant source of photographic inspiration.

As well as enjoying exploring green spaces such as nature reserves, forests, beaches, and parks. I have tried to do our bit for nature by turning our garden in to our own green space getaway. Our love for nature has also made its way in to our house in the form of many house plants.

Nesting Ducks

Tue 8th Feb '22

My first photo post of 2022, although I have to admit this one from my archives taken during last Summer. I’ve not had the opportunity to venture out with my camera yet this year, and the cold Winter weather is doing nothing to encourage me.

With Spring just around the corner, I’m hopeful this will bring me lots of photographic inspiration, like these nesting Mallards that I was lucky enough to photograph during last Summer. As I have mentioned before I’m not a fan of Winter or the colder weather that it inevitably brings. So I’m looking forward to getting back to exploring some of my favourite woods, parks, and nature reserves as well as possibly some new locations as the weather hopefully warms up.

In the coming weeks hopefully I will be inspired and have some new nature and wildlife photography to share with you…watch this space.

In Review: 2021

Sat 29th Jan '22

2021 was a tough year for us all, what with the continued pandemic and accompanying lockdowns & ever changing restrictions. Personally, I feel that 2021 was just an extension of 2020. Thankfully, we saw less lockdowns in 2021 compared to 2020 as we all tried get back into “normal” routines. Although a part of me misses the extra spare time that the lockdowns gave us. For me, the time to connect with nature more, as well as more time spent with my wife so we could do activities together. I’m sure I spent more time out with my camera during the lockdowns of 2020 (making the most of any outdoor exercise time we had, to go on photo walks).

As some routines returned to a variant of pre-COVID “normal” last year (such as work commitments) I tried to get out with my camera as much as possible in my free time. But I definitely struggled with motivation this time around (especially during the colder months). Days off spent not wanting to leave the comfort of our house. I can’t imagine how anyone who lives alone has coped with the last 2 years.

My Favourite Shots of 2021

I am grateful that we managed travel a little further afield (within the UK) when restrictions eased. Allowing me some opportunities to go exploring with my camera & capture some great photographs during last Spring/Summer. Some of which I have showcased below.

Photo Posts of 2021:

I managed to find some motivation/time to write a few blog posts last year (not as many compared to 2020), to share a collection of the photos that I captured during the year. Below are just a few of the posts of my favourite photo expeditions of last year. The writing part of my blog/website does not come easy to me, I try to write something (hopefully semi-interesting) with each of my photo posts so that I’m not just photo-blogging.

Hopefully in 2022 I will be able to venture out more with my camera and be more motivated. The last 2 years I have focused on nature & wildlife photography. I keep toying with the idea of working on other projects/subjects as well, I shall see where the year takes me.

Prints Available

Fri 14th Jan '22

I have played with the idea of selling my work several times over the years, but I have never found a platform that suits me. My love of photography is my way of expressing myself and sometimes a little bit of escapism. In part my decision to start selling some of my work is to hopefully fund the upkeep of my website so that I can continue to share my love of photography with the world (yes, making a little bit of extra income would be nice). So here we are, a New Year, starting a new endeavour (wish me luck).

After careful consideration of different platforms I have decided to launch my Print Store using the SmugMug, which will allow my followers and visitors to my website to purchase photographic prints of my work by visiting: https://ryangardenphotography.smugmug.com/ (you will also be able to access the store from links on my website/blog). I had initially wanted to my Print Store to be fully integrated with my website, so that clients would not need to visit a 3rd party site. Currently that is not a viable option, but I will review this in the future should my Print Store become successful.

Periodically I plan to upload more of my work to my Print Store, so please keep popping back for the chance to purchase my latest products & prints. If there is any of my work that you would be interested in that is not currently on the store please get in touch and I shall make it available.

I would like to thank everyone who follows my photography, your support is very much appreciated.