MARCUS MCADAM

Ghost Houses of the Hebrides

I’ve recently been spending some time on the Isles of Harris and Lewis in preparation for a photo holiday I will be hosting at the beginning of next year. The islands are world famous for their abundance of deserted beaches, but it became apparent after driving around that their beaches aren’t the only things deserted and empty on this isolated corner of the British Isles.

I had already passed a couple of properties which looked like they were from a 1980’s horror movie set, and this got my eye scanning for more. The moment you start looking for them, they suddenly seem to start popping up everywhere. We’re not talking about empty houses where someone has locked the door and left for a few months to winter in warmer climes - these have been abandoned for many years, often with the front door wide open, or sometimes missing altogether. Many have decayed to the point where they hold little record of their former existence, but some are amazing time capsules which seem to almost be creations of art - designed by man and perfected by nature.

Read more: Ghost Houses of the Hebrides

An Award Winning Team

Winning a major photography competition is nothing more than an optimistic dream for most photographers, with only a few ever achieving it. I know from personal experience how good it feels to win a major title after being awarded UK Photographer of the Year, but that was way back in 2003 when I think it was somewhat easier to win such awards as everything was still being shot on film. This meant there were fewer photographers and therefore fewer entries into competitions. These days, thanks to the convenience of digital cameras and the various online portfolio platforms, there are far more people taking photos, and far more photos being entered into competitions. In fact so much so that major competitions are now businesses in themselves - making hundreds of thousands of pounds from entry fees and subsequent merchandise sales.

Read more: An Award Winning Team

Sigma 12-24mm f/4 Art lens on test

Before I start with this review, I thought it was worth pointing out that Sigma have loaned me this lens in return for images taken with it. I am only doing a review of this lens as it may be useful for other photographers considering purchasing one. I am under no obligation to provide a positively biased report.

Read more: Sigma 12-24mm f/4 Art lens on test

Last Man on the Moon

Eugene Cernan was a remarkable man, but you don’t need me to tell you that. While Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became household names, Gene Cernan is generally known only to those with an active interest in Space exploration. I certainly wasn’t aware of him until a chance encounter occurred in 1999, which to say changed my life would be an exaggeration, but it certainly influenced it greatly.

Read more: Last Man on the Moon