I recently sold all of my Fujifilm cameras and lenses. I had to buy a third Sony camera body (an A7iv) for my commercial photography…
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Category: Wales
Save money this summer by holidaying in Wales, UK. With its stunning landscapes, rich history and vibrant culture, Wales stands out as the perfect choice…
Leave a Comment1,500 days of daily cold water swimming in the frigid waters of the Gower peninsula in south Wales.
Leave a CommentThe waves were huge, too huge for me, so I got out of the water. Back at my van, in the time it took me…
Continue ReadingHaze for Days: Llangennith Beach, Gower (Wales) w/ Fujifilm XT4 + 55-200mm Zoom Lens
1 Comment 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…
Leave a CommentIt 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 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 I 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 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 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 CommentsHike one of the wildest and most beautiful beaches in the Gower peninsula, and don’t miss the iconic Whiteford Point lighthouse.
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 CommentI can cope with most aspects of lockdown life, but…
Leave a CommentMy 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 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 CommentFrom hilly hikes and autumnal adventures to city breaks and foodie sojourns, here are some ideas to help you book the perfect UK holiday this autumn.
Leave a Comment“He’d do stupid things like that and mistake the attention he got in return for admiration.”
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 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 As 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 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 CommentsA poem by Ben Holbrook dedicated to the beautiful pubs of South Wales’ glorious Gower Peninsula.
Leave a CommentFrom the rugged Welsh coastline to the Dales up north, this is your guide to the most beautiful national parks in the UK.
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 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 CommentThanks to the customer booking data from Glencor Golf, we have compiled a list of the best golf courses in the UK – as voted by avid golf hobbyists and PGA professionals alike.
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 CommentsLight 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 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 CommentWhen I think of Wales, I think of home. I think of my friends and family… my sunburned youth. Of endless days at the beach, chasing waves and girls. Summers spent in soggy tents and cars without air conditioning.
4 CommentsI’ve been home in Wales for the last week or so, catching up with old friends and family. Drinking endless pints of Guinness and Gower…
Leave a CommentLearn to ride or hone your equestrian skills in the outstanding natural beauty of Mid Wales.
Leave a CommentMy father brought me here when I was a wee nipper. He picked me up and plonked me down on a cushion of moss that…
Leave a CommentI went home to Swansea this week and spent some time with nature… and my mum. I’m still struck by how breathtakingly beautiful it is…
6 CommentsCamping on the Gower Peninsula has become a holy grail for many adventurous Brits looking to escape to the rolling waves and hills. Being brought…
26 Comments“Take an hour for lunch and be back here ready for the dinner rush,” David told me. Luckily I had my board in the car. I…
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