M9

22/07/2026

SADDLEWORTH… YOU WERE ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT! 🖤📸🔮

Today, M9 Abstract Photography escaped to beautiful Uppermill for the day. Just me… my best friend (my camera 📷)… and the freedom to explore. (A very quiet day out, apart from me talking to the camera like it was a person.) 🤩

I arrived at 10:30am and didn’t leave until 4pm, and honestly… where did those hours go? (Apparently straight into the canal, the geese and my camera roll.)😳🤣

There’s something magical about wandering with no agenda other than looking for beauty that most people walk straight past. (And nearly walking straight past the canal myself.) 🤦‍♂️

I explored the stunning high street, soaked up those breathtaking views and visited some fantastic places including:

🍺 The Church Inn
🦚 Peacocks
🌉 The historic Rushcart Bridge
🚂 The incredible viaduct overlooking the canal
🪨 The stepping stones across the water
🛍️ The wonderful independent gift shops bursting with creativity
🏛️ Saddleworth Museum (closed for renovation sadly… but don’t worry, I’ll definitely be back!)
☕️ Rec Rooms for a rustic vibe and great coffee
🍺 And after what felt like a marathon and over 400 photographs, I rewarded myself with a well-earned pint of Timothy Taylor’s in The Granby Arms. (At that point I’d earned it, the pint and possibly a medal.)

Now… not everything went quite to plan… 😂

🌊 I almost ended up swimming in the canal. (Thankfully my camera remained dry… unlike my dignity.)
🪿 A lovely lady unknowingly chose the exact moment I pressed the shutter to feed the Canadian geese… let’s just say they became the stars of my photo instead of the landscape! (The geese were absolutely loving the attention.)
🔮 And perhaps the most heartbreaking moment… TWO of my lens balls rolled into the canal at Lock 23W! 😭 (Gone in seconds. Absolutely no respect for the equipment.)

Safe to say… I’ll be buying replacements…. in the meantime if any fishermen on the canal at Lock 23W come across two glass lensballs (or shattered glass) please do pop me a message. (I’d be very grateful… and slightly less traumatised.) if you could let me know if you locate them and return them 🤞

Throw in soggy feet, thousands (literally >10,000 of steps and tired legs… and was it worth it?

Absolutely every single second. 🖤🔮

But my biggest takeaway wasn’t the scenery…

It was the people.🤩

So many of you stopped to chat, scanned my QR code, asked about my abstract photography and genuinely encouraged what I do. As an independent photographer, those conversations mean far more than you probably realise. They remind me why I started M9 Abstract Photography in the first place. (And why I keep carrying far too much gear around hills.)🤣

Your community is full of warmth, creativity and people who genuinely support local talent 🔮

Thank you, Saddleworth 🖤

You’ve welcomed me with open arms, inspired hundreds of photographs and given me memories (and a couple of wet socks!) that I’ll never forget. (The socks may never recover.) 🧦

I can promise you one thing…

This won’t be my last visit….

Now… the difficult part begins…

Out of 400 photographs, how on earth do I choose which ones to share first or to add to my album? 🤔😂 (This is the real challenge. Not the canal. Not the geese. Not the falling lensballs.)

Watch this space for updates or local Saddleworth pages 🙌🤩

I’ll be showcasing my work at Saddleworth Marina for markets and follow M9 for updates to my Saddleworth album. 📸

Thank you again, Saddleworth… you beauty! 🖤🔮📸

Thank you
David
M9

21/07/2026

🌅✨ Ever been so hypnotised by a sunset that you completely forgot what time it was? 😅

That was me…

I stood there for what felt like hours, completely mesmerised as the sky by a beach transformed into an incredible canvas of purple, orange and golden yellow. Every few minutes it seemed to get even better, and I just couldn’t walk away.

Then I looked down at my trusty lensball… 💡

My first thought? “Right then… M9, it’s your time to shine!” 📸😂

A little bit of patience, a different perspective, and this image was born.

To me, this photograph tells a thousand words. Some people say it looks like a distant planet, others think it’s straight out of a sci-fi movie, and a few have even said it reminds them of a portal into another world. 🚀🌍✨

That’s what I absolutely love about abstract photography… there isn’t a right or wrong answer. Every person sees something completely different.

👇 So now it’s over to you…

What does this remind YOU of? 🤔

🌌 Another planet?
🛸 A futuristic city?
🌊 An alien ocean?
🔥 Something else entirely?

Drop your thoughts in the comments using the emojis above …

I genuinely can’t wait to see what your imagination comes up with! And if your answer makes me laugh, you might just win today’s official M9 “Most Creative Imagination” Award! 😂🏆

Thank you
David

M9

10/07/2026

🚨 Right then, Facebook… we’ve got a little mission!

There’s been loads of posts recently from small businesses across Rochdale, Middleton, Oldham, Bury and Whitworth, and it’s brilliant to see so many people chasing their dreams.

But here’s the thing… if you can spend 20 minutes watching videos of a dog riding a skateboard or arguing over whether it’s a bread cake, a barm, muffin or cob…🤣 then you’ve definitely got 10 seconds to support a local business!

It costs absolutely nothing to:
👍 Like their post
💬 Leave a comment
📲 Share it
❤️ Follow their page

Those few clicks might seem small, but they can make a massive difference. They help local businesses reach more people, gain new customers and keep doing what they love.

So let’s all do our bit and get behind the amazing small businesses in Rochdale, Middleton, Oldham, Bury and Whitworth. A stronger local business community benefits everyone.

Support local. Share local. Shop local. 🛍️

Let’s prove that our community is just as good at supporting local businesses as it is at sharing funny videos and tagging friends in random posts! ❤️🙌

Thank you

David
M9

08/07/2026

Throwback to a moment that definitely looked more productive than it actually was… 😂🎄

It was one of those late evenings around Christmas. I was sitting in a restaurant, supposedly thinking about life… but in reality, I was just hypnotised by the colours bouncing around the room.

Then… boom… this was my shot. 📸

Some people see an out-of-focus photo. I see proof that daydreaming occasionally pays off. 😅

No filters. No grand plan. Just a wandering mind, Christmas lights doing their thing, and me pressing the shutter at exactly the right moment.

Sometimes the best shots happen when you’re not chasing them… you’re just busy looking like you’re buffering. 🤣

What do you see in this blur? Wrong answers are definitely welcome. 👇

Thank you
M9

02/07/2026

Day 2 ✅🏃‍♂️

Another day, another run, another step forward.

It feels great to get out, keep improving every day, and do it all for such an important cause raising money for cancer research. Every mile counts, and every bit of support helps make a difference.

I’m also proud to be helping and sponsoring Tommi Cheung my neighbour, with the running.

Seeing us both getting stronger and better each day is a great feeling ✅

Thank you to everyone who’s supported, donated, liked, shared, or cheered us on. Let’s keep the momentum going—one run at a time! 💙🏃‍♂️

The link is on my profile 🤩

Thank you

David
M9

01/07/2026

🏃‍♂️ M9 is proud to support this fantastic charity challenge☑️♥️

Tommi a neighbour on our estate is taking on the Run 66 Miles Challenge for the Bobby Moore Fund to help raise money for bowel cancer research through Cancer Research UK. Every mile run helps support vital research that can save lives and bring us closer to beating bowel cancer 🙌

If you’d like to show your support, please consider making a donation. Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a difference.

Thank you for helping to fund life-saving research and support an incredible cause. 💙

Donate here: Tommi’s Fundraising Page below ⬇️

https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/tommis-giving-page-6

Thank you

David
M9

Thanks for visiting my fundraising page. I’m taking on the Run 66 Miles Challenge for the Bobby Moore Fund to help raise money for Cancer Research UK. Please show your support and help fund life-saving bowel cancer research by donating to my page.

29/06/2026

👀 What do YOU think this is?

Out of a catalogue of 70,000+ photographs, this is still my absolute favourite. Not because it’s the sharpest or the most technically difficult… but because of the creativity behind it.

It’s a massive throwback to a walk down the canal where I was getting some very odd looks as I randomly stopped, crouched down, and got into position to take one of my now signature photographs. I’m fairly sure at least one passer-by thought I’d finally lost the plot. 😂📸

Sometimes the best images come from looking at the world from a completely different perspective… even if it means looking a little strange while doing it!

So here’s your challenge…

👇 What do you think you’re looking at?

Drop your guess in the comments. The more imaginative, the better—I have a feeling this could get interesting! 😅

💬 Once you’ve commented, I’ll send you a private message, and I’ll confirm exactly what I used to create this image.

Pssst: anyone who already knows please don’t share my secret 🤫😂

Trust me… the answer is probably not what you’re expecting. 😉 #

27/06/2026

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who came along to the fantastic Summer Market at Smalley Hall! ☀️🌸

A massive thank you to Becky Farrugia and Smalley Hall and The Coffee Cupboard for organising such a brilliant event. The sunshine behaved itself (mostly - although I was thankful for a few clouds and the occasional breeze) the atmosphere was fantastic, and it was wonderful to be surrounded by so many amazing local businesses and lovely visitors 🖤☑️

To everyone who stopped by my stall for a chat, had a browse, laughed at my terrible jokes, admired the artwork, or even took a piece home with them – thank you so much!

Every purchase means the absolute world to a small business like mine. You haven’t just bought a print… you’ve also helped keep me fuelled with coffee and creativity for another week! ☕🍪😂

Now, I have a tiny favour to ask…

If you’ve bought one of my prints and have a couple of minutes to spare, I’d be incredibly grateful if you could leave me a review on my M9 Business page using the link below. Your kind words really do help more people discover my work (and reassure them that I don’t just sell pictures to my own family! 😆).

And here’s the really fun part…

Once your print has found its forever spot on your wall, I’d absolutely LOVE to see it! 📸 Please pop a photo in the comments or send me a message. Seeing my artwork hanging in your beautiful homes genuinely makes my day. Plus, it’s proof that my prints escaped the studio and are living their best lives instead of being stacked in my spare room! 😂

Thank you all again for making it such a fantastic day. Your support, chats, laughs and purchases mean more than you know.

See you all at the next market… where I’ll be back with more artwork, more enthusiasm, and almost certainly another questionable joke or two! 😄🎨❤️

⭐ Review link: https://www.facebook.com/share/1EjUCyHR3K/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Thanks everyone

David
M9

25/06/2026

☑️📸 SUPER 6 📸☑️

M9 is 6 years old today 🤯🖤📸

It’s been such a rollercoaster but I am grateful to my partner, my family and all my customers for everything 🤩

Watch this space for more markets over the summer 👀☑️

A little message is below!

David
M9

25/06/2026

M9 has just dropped his Erding, Bavaria album 🤩📸

I found myself completely drawn into the visual language of the place.♥️

The colours, the geometry, the rhythm of the streets, the repeating patterns in the architecture—every frame felt like an exercise in abstract photography hidden within a historic townscape.

What fascinates me most is how light interacts with form: the symmetry of facades, the lines of rooftops, the textures of centuries-old buildings, and the unexpected colour combinations that emerge when you slow down and really look.📸☑️

Bavaria has a way of turning everyday streets into compositions of shape, pattern and contrast. ☑️

As photographers, we’re often searching for extraordinary subjects, but sometimes it’s the relationship between colour, architecture and space that tells the most compelling story.⛪️

Take a look at the video. I’ll be sharing my own album shortly.

Thank you

David
M9