Decided to finally sit down and make some long-overdue changes to the site, with new pages and images added. There are not only new photographs of Eastbourne and the surrounding countryside but also a new 'Transport & Vintage' gallery following a most enjoyable couple of hours spent at the delightful Bluebell Railway - thoroughly recommended either for a wander round the engine sheds and museum, or for a nostalgic steam engine trip around the Sussex countryside. Details here 

http://www.bluebell-railway.com

As always please contact me if you like what you see or please 'Share' the site on Facebook.

All images are available to buy - either directly through me (contact me for prices and print types), or a selected number are also advertised via Photo4Me - just click the links to view and buy.

Another year has almost ended  and I would like to wish all of my visitors a Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous 2014

For those of you looking to freshen up your home or office in the New Year, why not take advantage of the free shipping available on orders for my work via Photo4Me (click on the links in the 'Pricing & How To Buy' section of the site.

For those just browsing - welcome, and I sincerely hope that you like what you see!

After some prolonged, dreary, typically British weather it has been nice to see the sun again - even if just for a couple of days - and even better to be able to use the camera in anger again. Remembrance Sunday saw a whole day of gorgeous sunshine in Eastbourne, and the annual parade to remember those who fell in combat and conflict was well attended around the War Memorial in the town centre. After the ceremony I took some evocative shots of the tributes left around the Memorial.

The brighter weather has also highlighted the gorgeous golds and bronzes decorating the trees this year, and the photographer is spoilt for choice at present, with some extremely pretty scenes to be found in the parks and woodlands around the county. I was in Hampden Park early on Sunday, and have also travelled further afield into West Sussex and have been very pleased with some of the images captured. 

The Facebook page is now up and running, and whilst I have not yet got around to posting a large portfolio of work, I am trying to keep it as up to date as possible - feel free to drop in and let me know what you think. You an find me at www.facebook.com/pages/Phil-Clements-Photography/256241261115735

To the new Mr & Mrs Hollis - Stuart and Toni-Leigh, whose wedding memories I had the privilege of capturing last week. We started with  a pleasant couple of hours at the bride's house photographing last minute touches to hair and make-up, together with plenty of candid shots of the bridesmaids and the excitement of the wedding to come. This was followed by the ceremony itself  at Eastbourne Town Hall and Toni-Leigh had asked to then go to Gildredge Park for some more intimate shots of the bride and groom alone. These are always the best images to record as the couple are more relaxed and natural as they   reflect on their special day in a far less formal environment, and I was delighted with the results. All in all a joyous occasion and I hope that Mr & Mrs H are as pleased with their record of the day as I am.

Stuart and Toni-Leigh's wedding was unspoilt by the weather, which for the most part this week has been distictly autumnal, with temperatures dropping quite noticeably. One of the few upsides to this as that we should start to see a little more colour in the trees as they prepare to shed leaves, and some early morning dew and mist giving some new photographic opportunities as the seasons change. You never know what is around the corner!

.....and the living is - well, pretty hectic actually.

It has been a busy few weeks both nationally, and here in Eastbourne, with plenty of photographic opportunities. Whilst the Olympics in London was an event which was out of reach for me, it proved (even for a pre-Games skeptic like me) to be a fantastic event which restored a degree of national pride, and although the television coverage was fantastic I was also extremely envious of the photographers who did have access to the events with many memorable images of both the competitors and venues being published.

Locally, we have had the annual 'Airbourne' airshow, and once again I was unconvinced that the event would be as attractive following the earlier announcement that the Red Arrows, always guaranteed to provide a boost to attendance, and umpteen good photographs, were to be absent this year due to a commitment to appear in Moscow. The Council were however to be applauded as they took the risky decision to book the XH558 Vulcan bomber for a slot on the Saturday afternoon, which with the addition of fine weather, proved to be an equally, if not greater draw than the Reds. Having not seen the Vulcan display since Biggin Hill in around 1992, this certainly encouraged me to wander down and have a look, and I was certainly not disappointed - neither was the camera as it received a good workout that day. The event now seems secure at least for 2013 when hopefully there will be more of an RAF presence, and with attendances up on 2011 figures. It was also good to see so many people at the Big Screen arena organised at princes Park for the Olympics, but the one disappointment was that the traditional fireworks at the end of the Pier for the end of Airbourne were moved to the beach opposite Princes Park. As a spectator, and as a photographer, the concerns over visibility and the lack of a backdrop in terms of the Pier were borne out, with many discontented voices heard, and a distinct lack of any decent images collected on the night. Whether this was a genuine 'one-off' to coincide with the Olympics event or not, Eastbourne Borough Council will surely rethink this for 2013.

In addition to the photographs taken at Airbourne, the better weather, coupled with a need for fresh air and exercise have made it possible to take some very pleasing pictures of the lighthouse at close quarters (courtesy of a long-planned walk along the beach to the foot of Beachy Head) and some traditional Summer hay bales images. 

I hope that you enjoy the recent additions to the site, and as always, these and others are available to buy from my partner sites (check the links for details).

The 2012 Olympics have now kicked off with a spectacular opening ceremony in East London, and whilst working away this week I had the opportunity to sample the atmosphere in the Capital with a stroll around the South Bank and Trafalgar Square. Wow! I love London at any time but this week there has been a real buzz about the place and a wonderful feeling of excitement.

Of course I had my camera handy for my evening stroll and managed to get one or two decent shots whilst there. I was particularly pleased with a couple of images of Tower Bridge - resplendent with the Olympic Rings displayed proudly to add something 'different' to an oft-photographed scene. The one on the left pleased me very much with some lovely colours in the evening sky, and as darkness fell I was fortunate enough to witness either the filming of, or a rehearsal for, the scene in the opening ceremony where David Beckham accompanied the Torch through the open drawbridge on a speedboat with a curtain of fireworks cascading down as the boat passed through - whether he was actually on the boat or not, who knows as it was too dark to see, but the shot of the bridge and Olympic Rings AND fireworks was something special.

As always, please feel free to brows the images on the website, and contact me or click on the 'How To Buy' links if you would like a copy of a particular image for yourself!

After such a promising period of incredibly warm weather during May, 'Flaming' June is so far turning out to be a bit of an anti-climax! Whilst it is east to reassure ones self that at least we have July and August to look forward to, it is a sad fact that in just a couple of weeks time the days will begin to get shorter again!

So, time to make the most of what we get, when we get it, and with that in mind there have been a couple of short photo trips mixed in with the hectic pace of the daily toil in the last week or so. Although it was impossible to get to the Capital to make the most of the Jubilee celebrations, Eastbourne put on a pleasantly surprising programme of events over the long weekend, most notably the Beacon lighting and Fireworks at the Western Lawns, with a Funfair brought in for good measure! The Fireworks were particularly good, but were missing something interesting as a backdrop to the spectacle - something that the Pier is especially good for at the post-Airbourne fireworks in August - and even more reason for the Council to please reconsider their decision to have this year's airshow pyrotechnics at Princes Park, for whilst this will delight (and anger in equal measure) those whose houses border the site, it is absolutely useless for us togs who plan for the best angle to frame the shot of explosions above the pier and for whom a cracking image of a starburst shell above the roofs of a semi-detached house will never quite compare! Anyway, to get back to topic, there were some good shots to be had (despite the lack of a backdrop) during the fireworks and some rather interesting lcoloured light trails whilst walking through the funfair.

A rather pleasant lull in the wind and rain towards the end of this week also gave a good excuse to wander down to Birling Gap for some more sunset at low tide shots. As always, I was not disappointed. Unlike the dog, who since my car is still too new for wet sandy paws, was left at home!

Hope you enjoy the additions to the growing selection of images on the site - as always, all are available to buy in a selection of sizes and formats, either through the Photo4me link, or by contacting me directly using the contact page or email link. 

Sunshine and Showers say the forecasters, and for once they are right!

The last few days have seen almost every kind of weather imaginable - bright warm sunshine broken by short, sharp showers and with a fair smattering of thunder and even hailstones whilst driving through north Kent yesterday! That is the British weather for you.

A recent break in the otherwise gloomy April weather whilst in Brighton allowed me a very brief few minutes to capture some long overdue shots of the long lines of bathing huts on Hove seafront. There is something very 'British' about a hut, and when situated by the sea, and painted in bright colours, it just encapsulates the British seaside holiday - tea, sandwiches and a towel to preserve the modesty! The beach huts at Hove are a perfect example and offer promise of a summer to come.....

It had been a few days since I had found the time to get out and shoot some images, so in an effort to make the most of what had been a glorious few days' weather before it changed, I jumped in the car and headed for what was surely to be a beautiful sunset. On arrival I found that my chosen spot was already occupied by a sizeable crowd - a number of whom were clad in fluorescent jackets. At the top of the cliff that inevitably means only one thing, and this was confirmed with the sight of Coastguard vehicles. Some poor soul had gone over the edge right next to the lighthouse - at one of the steepest and highest points of the cliffs. Trying not to to be over ghoulish about the situation I wandered a short distance away and framed a few shots of the beautiful panorama of the Seven Sisters against the sunset sky, only to be further distracted by the sound of a Coastguard helicopter hovering behind me and just beyond the edge of the cliff. As the casualty was winched aboard there was a suspicion that this one may have survived, and surely enough the helicopter flew off in the direction of Brighton. Fingers crossed that this will be one who lived to tell the tale.....

By this time the light was almost failing altogether and after a few passable shots of the Lighthouse and Beachy Head in the eerie blue light of dusk I called it a day. Not as productive a session as I had hoped for, but a little different from the usual Beachy Head expedition.

....and yes, I couldn't resist one or two shots of the helicopter as it hovered close by!