Back in March I posted a photo journal depicting scenes of Gower smothered in snow. Beautiful, of course, but not exactly inviting. Today, just a…
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Driftwood Journals Posts
It was March 7th, 2023. We were excited about the arrival of spring. Then it snowed. The Gower peninsula (south Wales) is not used to…
1 CommentThe point of this post is to demonstrate that… well, the camera you have with you doesn’t need to be “the best” for you to enjoy the simple pleasures of photography.
Leave a CommentFrom a life of travel to complete lockdown, Ben Holbrook’s fling with Fuji helped him keep his creative flame alight and find magic in the mundanity of everyday life.
Leave a CommentHolidu have recently carried out some interesting research on the top 10 rated hiking routes in Majorca (as rated on AllTrails). Below I’ve cherry-picked the…
Leave a CommentSpain is an immensely popular European holiday destination, frequented by tourists from around the world. Most people that go to Spain visit Madrid, the nation’s…
Leave a CommentAlternative title: “Post-Apocalyptic Pumpkin Patch” Even here in semi-rural Wales, life has become Americanised. That’s not a complaint, just an observation. When I was a…
Leave a CommentSummer is here and Baby Holbrook is five months old, so we eased ourselves into our first family adventure with a luxurious glamping stay at…
Leave a CommentLangland Bay is arguably the most famous beach on the the Gower peninsula’s southern stretch. And it’s one of the main reasons the village of…
Leave a CommentUnedited SOOC photos shot with my Fujifilm XT3 XF 23mm F2 R WR lens – Classic Chrome and Acros film simulations.
Continue ReadingSOOC Fujifilm XT3 Photos + XF 23mm F/2 R WR Lens – Tor Bay, Gower Peninsula, Swansea
2 Comments Like you I’ve heard all the rave reviews about the legendary Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 – the “must have video lens” for Fujifilm X series cameras. …
Leave a CommentWhat does it take to create inspiring photography and art? Learn from these world’s famous photographers as we study their most renowned projects, philosophies, and techniques.
Leave a CommentI took these photos of Penclawdd over the last year and a half (2021/22). I had no idea in mind of what I’d do with them, no goal. But after putting them together, side by side, I realised that they painted a picture, a portrait – a portrait of my home.
1 CommentLocal boy Ben Holbrook guides James and Lucy through his beautiful country, which is famed for its spectacular coastline and countryside.
Leave a CommentMy first film of 2022, and boy does it feel good to be back behind the camera! I shot this short at the glorious Rhossili…
Leave a CommentIt’s the night before and my hands are trembling as I’m packing my bag. The tent, the air mattress and pillow, the sleeping bag. The…
2 CommentsI asked my fellow UK bloggers to share their favourite beach towns in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Here’s what they had to say!
Leave a CommentThere’s a farmer who owns a woodland on the Dulais River in south Wales. For a few quid a night he lets you pitch your…
1 CommentEvocative images that provoke more and better thought with each look.
Leave a CommentSasha Asensio is an anthropological photographer based in Barcelona who photographs the unseen and overlooked: the homeless, the scarred and disfigured, fascinating people who live…
Leave a CommentLlangennith beach to Rhossili Bay across Rhossili Downs is easily one of the most scenic walks on the Gower peninsula (in south Wales, UK). This…
Leave a CommentIt’s funny how travel has gone from being my entire life to “something I used to do”. These days I spend more time in my…
Leave a CommentPenclawdd is a village of 3,500 people located on the Gower peninsula in south Wales. Its bountiful coal, tin and copper mines saw it prosper…
4 CommentsI found an old hard drive recently from 2017/18 and it was like finding a wormhole back to my life in Barcelona, Spain. If you love Barcelona too, this is for you!
2 CommentsHike one of the wildest and most beautiful beaches in the Gower peninsula, and don’t miss the iconic Whiteford Point lighthouse.
Leave a CommentIt was the summer of 2019 and I spent ten days driving around France, eating and drinking and wandering and taking far too many photos.
Leave a CommentI grew up in Penclawdd, on the marsh, the estuary forever in view. But it’s only now that I’ve returned as an adult that I…
Leave a CommentWe drank too much – wine and beer and gin and god knows what. I took some blurry drunken photos…
Leave a CommentMore from the Gower Peninsula Sands of Torture ~ Lockdown on the Gower Peninsula (South Wales, UK) “I Do Love October” – Autumn on the…
Leave a CommentMy father was Welsh through and through, but my mother moved to Wales from Gloucester, England (accent and all) to marry him in the late…
Leave a CommentWhenever I travel, especially around Spain, Italy and France, I’m always so sad when it’s time to leave. But with Hamburg, frankly, well…
Leave a CommentI can cope with most aspects of lockdown life, but…
Leave a Comment“I tried to give them their space, but I couldn’t help photographing their Barcelona love story as it unfolded before me.”
6 CommentsMy biggest adventure yet.
2 CommentsI haven’t travelled this autumn, but I’ve stayed creative. All photos taken with the Fuji 35mm F1.4 R lens (samples and lens review included).
2 CommentsIn ‘Like Living on an Island’, Ben Holbrook explores the relationship between the residents of the Gower peninsula (south Wales) and its coastline.
Leave a CommentWhether you’re on your honeymoon, celebrating an anniversary or simply indulging in your shared love of travel, these are the best places for couples in Spain.
Leave a CommentFancy an informal kickaround in the Spanish capital? The footie fanatics from CeleBreak share their inside knowledge on where to play football in Madrid
1 CommentWritten by Barcelona native Cristina Fernández Cubas, this collection of six thrilling short stories transport you to scenes of delight, delusion and despair in the sun-kissed Catalan capital.
Leave a CommentThis month’s edition of Fuji X Passion magazine is now available and comes with an ebook featuring 100 or so of my best photos and the story my photography journey.
Leave a CommentCraving a casual kickaround in the Spanish sunshine? The footie fanatics from CeleBreak share their inside knowledge on where to play football in Malaga, Spain.
Leave a CommentFrom the Mediterranean metropolises of Barcelona and Valencia to the southern seducers of Seville and Marbella, here are the best and hottest places to visit in Spain during winter – even in the depths of December!
Leave a CommentA series of photos cropped using the 2.35:1 aspect ratio + tips on how to use the 2.35:1 cinematic aspect ratio to make your images look like film scenes.
Leave a CommentReady to start your travel photography journey from beginner to professional? These quick and easy beginner travel photography tips are sure to help you take better photos.
Leave a CommentThe Earth Film Lightroom Preset Pack will help you inject your digital photos with a analogue heart and soul. Read on to find out why and how, and also see a few photo samples.
Leave a Comment“He’d do stupid things like that and mistake the attention he got in return for admiration.”
Leave a CommentEveryone’s welcome to play football in Frankfurt with CeleBreak, with both men’s and women’s games available at the touch of your phone. Download the CeleBreak app and joing a fun footie game in Frankfurt today. Here’s how!
Leave a CommentHere are my favourite beaches on the Gower peninsula and some insider advice on where to park, eat & drink nearby – plus tips on dog-friendly beaches & accommodation in the Gower (hotels, B&Bs, pubs & campsites).
Leave a CommentPaulina has lived in Spain for over 5 years and fell in love with the food, architecture and year-round sunshine of Tenerife. Here she shares her insider tips, with advice on the very best things to do, see, eat and drink in eternal sunshine of Tenerife.
1 CommentWe’d been to Sarah’s parents’ 25th wedding anniversary. We’d eaten too much cake. I’d been drinking red wine. The sun was setting.
1 CommentEverything you need to know about getting your essential Australian eVisa before you go!
Leave a CommentFrom the colossal Cité du Vin to the UNESCO listed Vieux Bordeaux (Old Bordeaux), here are the most essential things to do, see, eat and drink in the magnifique French metropolis of Bordeaux.
Leave a CommentAs one of the most remote and difficult beaches to get to on the Gower peninsula in south Wales, Pwlldu Bay is the place to escape to for ‘Famous Five’ style fun and frolics.
Continue ReadingWalking to Pwlldu Bay (Wales Coast Path) ~ The Gower Peninsula’s Most Secluded Beach
1 Comment I spent the weekend (8-9 August, 2020) with my old – roughly the same age as me – manual focus Canon 50mm f/1.8 on my…
9 CommentsAs if we needed another excuse to crack open a few cold ones, it’s International Beer Day (held on the first Friday of August each…
1 CommentMisadventure in Thailand, 2002. It was a crippling cramp that came from nowhere. I doubled over with the pain but my friends weren’t sympathetic to my…
4 CommentsI interviewed Margaux from Mosaic Flowers in Barcelona to find out how she uses her creativity “to make people’s hearts smile”.
Leave a CommentThe footie fanatics from CeleBreak share their inside knowledge on where to play football in Munich. Here’s how you can get involved in local games. …
Leave a CommentJoni from ExpatsinBarcelona.com shares his top tips on moving to Barcelona and creating the life of your dreams!
Leave a CommentFind out about Welsh Wine Week and discover 8 beautiful Welsh wines to sip yourself! #welshwineweek
Leave a CommentLet me introduce you to the beautiful new world of Welsh wine. Yes, really! Wine from Wales! Wales in the UK!
Leave a CommentSomething’s changed. I’ve changed, the world’s changed, this blog has changed.
6 CommentsJournal entry from 2016. Gloucester, England. Jack’s face was tanned and etched with thick purple scars that cracked their way up his face and over…
Leave a CommentA poem by Ben Holbrook dedicated to the beautiful pubs of South Wales’ glorious Gower Peninsula.
Leave a CommentIt was 10.45am when I woke up to Barcelona’s brilliant winter sun glaring through the huge doors and windows that opened onto my terrace. Normally…
Leave a CommentI was always at my happiest up in Barcelona’s Collserola mountains. I felt at peace, like I belonged, that I was free to be me.…
Leave a Comment“It often felt like only cool beer could relieve me from the heat.”
Leave a CommentEver imagined what it would be like to live in Barcelona and hustle a living as a travel blogger? This is an entry taken from my actual diary. Written in 2016, about a year or two after starting my career as a travel blogger in Barcelona, it sets the tone and, I think, hints at the challenges I faced while living off my wits.
Leave a Comment‘Surrender’ explores the internal battles many of us have fought during the Coronavirus lockdown, while hinting at the juxtaposition of countless lives being devastated against a backdrop of spring in full bloom.
Leave a CommentI asked the Spotted by Locals Barcelona team to share 5 of favourite secret spots in Barcelona.
Leave a CommentLocated on Barcelona’s ritzy Passeig de Gràcia, La Pedrera (aka Casa Milà) is one of the most famous Modernista buildings in Barcelona, if not the world. Here’s everything you need to know.
Leave a CommentFrom Jerusalem to the Dead Sea, experience the best of Israel on your first visit (a one-week guide).
Leave a CommentRegardless of your religious beliefs (or lack there of), a visit to this fascinating city is a must for all open-minded travellers in search of deeper experiences.
Leave a CommentFrom exploring Georgian mansions on the Royal Crescent to sipping cider at a local pub, here are the best things to do in Bath, England.
Leave a CommentWith its Georgian charm, characterful rooms and Michelin-starred restaurant, this 4-star boutique delivers the most civilised stay in Bath.
Leave a CommentI asked my fellow pub-loving travel blogger friends for their top tips on the best boozers in Scotland, Wales, Ireland and England! Here are the results!
1 CommentIn this gastro guide, local experts from Arara Tours share their tips on how to eat your way around Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, in the region of South Caucasus.
6 CommentsDiscover the best family-friendly “barrios” in Barcelona, based on things like convenience, location, public transport, general safety and access to family-friendly facilities.
Leave a CommentSeville is bursting with great tapas bars, culture and historic sites, and if you’re savvy about your spending, you can do it all on a tiny budget.
Leave a CommentFrom surfing to hiking, sleeping to eating, here’s your essential guide to one of the best beach/surf/camping destinations in the UK.
2 CommentsFrom the pyrotechnics of Las Fallas in sunny Valencia to the crazy ‘Tomatina’ tomato-throwing festival in the tiny town of Buñol, here are the best festivals and cultural celebrations in Spain for every month of the year.
Leave a CommentTucked away in the heart of Barcelona’s glitzy Eixample barrio, Hotel Alma Barcelona is a grand deluxe 5-star design hotel and a soulful home from home.
Leave a CommentMy personal recommendations on the best flamenco and Catalan rumba shows in Barcelona!
Leave a CommentFor those seeking an authentic slice of London life, away from the hustle and bustle of the tourist traps littered around the capital’s centre, New Cross is fast becoming one of the hottest places to be.
Leave a CommentMore and more travellers from the UK (and beyond) are waking up to what Switzerland has to offer – here are seven useful tips to help you make the most of your Swiss adventure!
Leave a CommentLight Breaks Where No Sun Shines (Poem by Dylan Thomas, Visuals by Ben Holbrook) Light breaks where no sun shines; Where no sea runs, the…
Leave a CommentThinking of taking a cruise? If so, here are 100 bucket list travel experiences you should start planning today! I think a lot of people…
Leave a CommentDisfrutar is easily my favourite ‘fancy’ restaurant in Barcelona.
Leave a CommentTravelling with just one carry-on bag will help you save money, time, and even the world… Here you will find my personal minimalist travel packing…
Leave a CommentA haven from the chaos of contemporary culture, Gliffaes Country House Hotel is the rural retreat you’ve been dreaming of.
Recover, reset and revel in the only 4-star hotel in Wales’ glorious Brecon Beacons.
How do you feel about travelling in your own country? I left Wales almost 11 years ago (to move to Barcelona and then London –…
Leave a CommentLjubljana is Slovenia’s sensationally charming and green capital city and offers instant immersion into this blessed nation’s unique culture – here are the essential things to do and see, along with advice on where to eat, drink and sleep.
Leave a CommentI’ve collaborated with UK recipe box home delivery service HelloFresh to share this quick, easy and extremely healthy vegetarian paella recipe that even the abuelos of Valencia would be proud of!
Leave a CommentYou’d be gravely mistaken to overlook this little jewel of a city in Italy’s gastro-centric Emilia Romagna region.
Leave a CommentHere’s my beginner’s guide to New York City, complete with advice on essential things to do (and not to do), and a few pointers on where to eat and sleep.
3 CommentsDo as the Parisians of the Belle Époque did and escape to the charming little fishing village of Étretat in Normandy for sun, sea and bonhomie. Discover the best things to see and do, as well as advice on where to eat and sleep.
Leave a CommentMy summer in Asturias, northern Spain ~ in 90+ photos and video.
3 CommentsEvery August, the street parties of Barcelona’s Festa Major de Sants offer an authentic insight into modern-day life in the Catalan capital.
Leave a CommentDiscover the best things to do in Marseille and find out what makes this atypical French city so compelling – in just 2 days!
Leave a CommentThis little rural-house-cum-bar had been my beacon for the last three hours I’d been hiking and huffing my way through the rural landscapes of Piloña in Asturias, northern Spain. This wasn’t the greeting I’d anticipated.
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