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Wild Valley Media, Llanfairfechan (2026)

25/06/2025

Selects from another awesome event from Abersoch Triathlon this weekend 🏊‍♀️🏃‍♀️🚴 🌞

16/06/2025

Nepal Collection 5/5 - Mountaineering

These shots capture three different locations and mountaineering objectives from the trip: Mera Peak, Amphu Labsta Pass, and Lobuche East.

Each place brought out a different version of me.

Mera Peak was my first real experience with high altitude. I was working outrageously hard just to keep myself moving at nearly 6,500m. As we neared the summit, it took everything I had to push ahead of the group and get the shots I wanted — it required an enormous amount of motivation and sheer will.

Amphu Labsta Pass was a true adventure — and incredibly well-guided by the legend Tom from Summit Guides. Launching a drone from a ledge barely the size of a dinner plate at 6,000m was terrifying. I’ll never forget catching it, knowing one slip would send it plummeting into the abyss below. The adrenaline wore off quickly though, and on the descent, I was hit hard by a stomach bug that ended up ruling me out of Island Peak just a few days later.

By the time we reached Lobuche East, I’d had a week to recover. I still wasn’t 100%, but I felt like I was flying. It was still a serious effort, but this time it felt within my limits. I had the energy to really enjoy the experience — including the thrill of jumaring ahead at 6,000m to capture the team climbing behind me. I had a pinch-me moment there: I’d started this dream not long ago, and here I was, taking photos and video at over 6,000m. A dream come true.

Using a camera at altitude demands a huge amount of thought, discipline, and preparation.

For starters, just keeping your gear functional is a challenge. Battery management is critical, you have to keep them warm or risk them dying in minutes. Temperature shifts between warm and cold environments can cause internal condensation in your lens, and in extreme cold, your shutter can freeze, either shut or wide open. On top of that, there’s the constant risk of dropping your camera or accessories, and keeping your lens clean is a never-ending battle, especially in spindrift.

And that's just to keep the camera running.

Then comes the creative side! Composing shots, finding angles, managing the light, and working with the people in front of the lens to tell a compelling story. It's a demanding mental and physical game at altitude, but one I found I loved.

09/06/2025

Nepal Collection ⅘ - Culture

You can't create a collection without including Nepal’s culture. At every turn, you encounter scenes that feel lifted from the pages of an adventure novel. For those with open eyes and hearts, Nepal’s culture is an elixir—replenishing the soul and awakening something deeply human.

There’s a reason people return here time and time again, often choosing Nepal over other corners of the world. Its pull is magnetic.

One of the most challenging aspects of this collection was categorising the images—because culture and people are the heartbeat of so many of them. These shots are my attempt to capture the most culturally rich and quintessentially Nepalese moments.

Later this year, I hope to create a short, reflective video capturing my adventures in the Himalaya, with a focus on sharing my cultural perspectives and musings from the journey.

1 – After a long, sweaty hike through rhododendron forests on Day 4, we arrived in Pangom and were welcomed into the monastery—right in the middle of a ceremony. I expected tension from our arrival, but instead, we were silently offered Sherpa tea. The atmosphere was deeply spiritual, the sense of commitment palpable. Sitting in that room was something special.

2 – Buddhist prayer flags are synonymous with the Himalayas. Sometimes they’re found in places that seem physically impossible—tied to sheer cliffs or lifeless trees. I love this photo because it pulls together so many elements in one frame. It truly captures the essence of hiking in the high mountains.

3 –Taken near the end of the journey, this photo reveals the stark reality of mountain life. At this altitude, there are no trees—so some fuel comes from yak dung. I watched a local café worker spend hours transporting it into a utility room for the fire. I imagined what it would be like to live this life, not just momentarily, but every single day.

4 - This sunset didn’t need words. Layers reveal themselves slowly as you scan the frame—from the peaks in the distance to the texture of the woven roofing. A moment of stillness, both visual and emotional.

5 – Once you reach a certain level of remoteness, life becomes simpler—though not easier. The daily rhythm revolves around keeping the fire going, keeping water from freezing, and getting food cooked. There’s little time for distraction. Perhaps this simplicity allows room for clarity, calm, and even happiness in these areas.

6 – Even the toilets in the Himalaya are fascinating—built for survival, set in breathtaking surroundings. Functional, quirky and oddly beautiful.

7 – One of my favourite moments from the trip. Lunch on Day 5, at the base of a steep gorge. The energy of the place, and the people, felt magic. A cat staring deeply into the lens, woodfire smoke in the background— a further chapter from an old-world adventure novel.

8 – I loved the chaos of Kathmandu. There’s a rhythm to it, it feels disorderly yet safe. If you pause and study the images, the number of textures is astonishing. It reflects a way of life that makes do, adapts, and persists.

05/06/2025

I recently documented a Charity Challenge Multi-day trekking adventure with a large corporate company fundraising for an incredible cause. It was an opportunity to join a wonderful collection of human beings from all over the globe to unite in one motivation, to help people less fortunate than themselves.

For me, I had an incredible insight into the lives of the humans living in the Indian Foothills of the Himalaya. The more trips and adventures I undertake, I slowly refine what is important to me in my explorations. This trip truly cemented an assumption I've had for a while, which is that I seek authenticity in my experiences. I would rather see the real version of any place over a fabricated, clinical and polished presentation, regardless of the state of the reality.

Travelling through the small towns and villages, I experienced the real sense of life in these regions, and relative to our own lives, it's an existence of simplicity, struggle and community. I believe that by experiencing harsh realities, we broaden our own spectrum to what it means to be a human and perhaps begs us to keep our fortunes and privileges at the forefront of our minds when we feel hard done by.

We were met with both warm welcomes and bewildered faces of confusion at our presence as we passed through. Most of all, I relished the opportunity to see lifestyles so far removed from my own and I hope these photos capture even just the slightest glimpse into the culture and reality of what life can look like in this beautiful yet desperate corner of the planet.

04/06/2025

Nepal Collection 3/5 - Favourite Moments

I’ve put off this post for a little while feeling like I couldn’t get the edits quite right, I was hoping that a little time and distance would help see the pictures a little differently.

Most of them were taken within a single breath of seeing the shot. I love this type of candid explorative photography but it doesn’t always give time for perfection in a creative sense.

Ultimately, I think moments speak for themselves, sometimes a picture resonates, sometimes it really doesn't and it’s entirely subjective. With this in mind, I share these pictures not with perfection but with an open curiosity to how people may experience them.

#1 - Capturing this porter was a memorable experience, as he walked towards me, I felt a sense awe and wonder to the life this human lives, several aspects of life in Nepal collided in one moment to create a moment that unfortunately a picture will never do justice.

#2 - I could see this shot happening a few minutes before I took it and ended up staying behind for while to see if it would come together. The porter Giri was at the back and had taken the heaviest load that morning to help his younger brother out. This picture for me (at less than 4000m) gives a sense of scale of humans in nature and again, begs your mind to wonder on how these folk make a living. His load was easily over 40kg.

#3 - Another shout to Dawa, I’d stayed behind to capture another moment but I turned to find him chanting his prayers into the valley below. Moments after the photo, I sat with Dawa whilst he repeated his Good Luck Puja to me whilst swaying into me, a truly majestic moment shared with another human being who cared about the world around him and it echoed through his spirituality.

#4 & 5 - Whilst you see this photo, keep in mind we’re trekking through super quiet areas of the foothills of the Himalaya, this young girl met us with a very welcoming sense of curiosity and lived in the most basic shed whilst her mother worked the fields around the settlement. I always feel a deep sense of sonder in these experiences, the idea that their life is a story unfolding and will be as intricately complex as my own, and to me, I will only pass them in this brief and fleeting moment.

#6 - I had an hour or so to myself whilst trekking down in our final days leaving the Kumbu valley, it was a wonderful chance to reflect on the trip and experience whilst still marvelling at the landscape and human influence in the region.

#7 - I’ll never forget this moment, I’ve never been so acutely aware of my own existence before. This shot was actually taken on my Iphone, at 6000m, gasping for air whilst my sharp toothed ascending device gripped a shoestring safety rope which would give most people little confidence that it would ever hold if it was loaded in a fall situation.

#8 - Take a moment with this one. Try to spot the building structure and how it’s all kept together so basically. I’ll be honest, I was gutted that a few mins before I took this picture there was a child playing on the horizon but I could get my camera ready in time to capture. Instead I sent Tom over to enjoy a few moments in the sunset glow. The scenes I witnessed on this evening reassured me that my camera has led me to some incredible places, with some phenomenal humans and that what I set out to do, is slowly unfolding in front of me.

27/03/2025

Nepal Collection 2/5 - Landscapes

The first idea we associate with Nepal is the striking snow capped mountains of the Himalaya. Being amongst these towering giants sparked my ambition to visit in the first place. True to their reputation, the mountains of Himalaya (translated to ‘house of snow’) were truly captivating and nothing like the mountain ranges I had ever seen.

What I didn’t apprehend was the diversity of landscapes, as we ascended through the climate zones from Lukla (2,850m) up to Mera Peak (6,476m) we were treated to changing and unique environments from the verdant Rhododendron forests to the barren and savage high altitude peaks.

Whilst the high mountains understandably capture the imaginations of intrepid explorers and armchair adventures alike, it was at the mid height environment of 3000-5000m that I was most mesmerised. Perhaps it was the relatively high amount of oxygen here, but I do believe at this height there is a marvellous confluence of many environmental and human factors. At this height humans, wildlife and nature can still thrive and the interplay between these is nothing short of astonishing, particularly with the Himalaya Peaks as a backdrop.

1 - Chamlang (7,319m) South-West Face - Our spectacular entrance into the remote Hongu valley. This face overlooked and dominated our mind and thoughts and we entered into much less travelled terrain after Mera Peak. The sense of scale was hard to grasp in person, never mind in a photograph. The small snow flutes and ridges on this peak were as big as some of our british mountains.

2 - Khumbu Valley - Our approach to our final base camp for Lobuche East (6,119m), we were treated to a cloud inversion spanning most of the lower valleys. This was probably one of my most enjoyed areas of our journey. Being just off the Everest Base Camp route we were treated again to tranquility whilst being surrounded by grand faces and mountains such as Ama Dablam, Cholatse, Tobuche and Lobuche.

3 & 4 - The lower altitude areas - These two pictures were taken in our first few days. I struggle to find the words to describe my sense of excitement in this first week. Being given the chance to fully immerse myself in the culture and stories of people and mountains, my mind was determined and fired up to absorb every single moment. Every turn seemed to present a new wonder and sense of amazement.

5 - Tobuche - This image symbolises my recovery journey from being sick, it was the first time I had the energy to capture anything after the joys of a stomach bug.

6 - Starry Night over Cholem Kharka (3350m) - There will be many more images from this night over the collection. A couple of hours before this image was taken, the sun was setting and each way I turned, an incredible photo opportunity presented itself. I don't think I stopped running around for at least two hours capturing everything I could.

7 - Ama Dablam (6,812m) - The mountain’s name translates to ‘Mother’s Necklace’ and is often referred to as the Jewel of the Himalaya. The central and dominating presence of this peak catches your eye and soul immediately, even with the backdrop of Chomolungma (Everest). Although Ama Dablam is at a modest height for the Himalaya, it has been a significant test piece for countless mountaineers and is facing record numbers of helicopter rescues due to the technical challenge and also increasing popularity.

8 & 9 - Hongu Valley - Our first feeling of isolation was stepping into this remote glacial valley. Following the river course running through the bottom of the valley, you are towered over by seemingly impossible steep cliffs of Peak 41, Chamlang and Baruntse. We only saw a handful of people in the 4 days we spent in this valley. Picture 8 captures Tom and Andy approaching camp with the Lhotse Face and Everest at back left.

10 - Cholem Kharka Sunset - One of several pictures to come from this sunset mentioned above.

11 - Kathmandu - I was apprehensive about experiencing Kathmandu from its reputation but in all honesty, I was more fascinated than scared upon arrival and perhaps one of my favourite cultural experiences I’ve ever had. I always felt safe in Kathmandu despite exploring some of the worse areas, I was always met with respect and excitement. I was not only blown away by the level of carnage but also how the carnage just works for them logistically.

12 - Sherpa Travels - Our last day in the forests. This area was somehow both nourishing and savage at the same time. This rough altitude of 4700m marks the transition into the higher and more barren landscapes but is also still gripped by the hardy conifer trees.

21/03/2025

Nepal Collection 1/5 - The Human Connection

It's been a few months since I've returned from what felt the most immersive, epic and culturally eye-opening adventure I could have hoped for with Summit Guides

I left the UK with the mountaineering objectives of Mera Peak (6,476m), Island Peak (6,165m) and Lobuche East (6,119m) linking them with the ultra remote Amphu Labsta Pass (5,845m) and the Hongu Valley.

Whilst I can’t (despite my best efforts) put into words this phenomenal odyssey I experienced, the icing and cherry on the cake was the human beings I got to connect with. Although the Nepalese hospitality precedes itself, I was constantly mind blown by the level of humility, eagerness to help and willingness to share in their cultural and religious knowledge.

Internally, this trip cultivated a level of curiosity I could not satisfy and the human beings around me never failed to answer my curiosities with indefatigable enthusiasm and selflessness.

I unfortunately had to sit out Island Peak with a stomach bug which in itself was a test of my ego to let go off, I was humbled when I couldn't make it to the toilet never mind a 12 hour summit day.

This trip changed me in ways I’ve felt, and also I’m sure many ways I’m yet to find out.

1) Dowa Sherpa - Our lead sherpa, I spent many hours being educated by this wise and insightful human being. A devout Buddhist with real life expectations of himself. Dowa was always on hand to go above and beyond to answer my questions on his life and culture. We’re also pretty sure he forgot his crampons on the last peak so he just did it without.

2) Tom - Our main man, the guy making it all happen and the most professional and eager mountaineer I’ve ever met. No matter what was thrown Tom’s way, he dealt with it calmly and positively, nothing was too much trouble and it was an absolutely pleasure to get to know this human and an honour to watch him operate in the mountains (even if he was the guy who had to wake me at 1am on summit nights).

3) Pemba Sherpa - The most energetic and mountain fit human. This boy could run up slopes fully loaded at 6000m that I can’t run up with no kit at sea level. Pemba’s English was limited so instead we created a language of competition, cheeky grins and showing off. I would often find Pemba grinning at me whilst doing push ups at altitudes I couldn’t breathe in, Pemba’s energy was without a doubt a key part of this adventure. I look forward to seeing where this boy ends up in his high altitude career!

4,5,6) Giri, Little Giri and Tamang - As with every exped to Nepal, our porters formed the backbone to our trip, these humans unfalteringly carried loads of up to 50kg on their backs throughout the whole trip, had no sense of any safety or seemingly no sense of tiredness either. A truly remarkable team who showed endless curiosity and smiles in the face of the most laboursome task I could imagine. To me, these guys are superhuman yet also showed vulnerability when they told stories of how hard life can be in Nepal for them.

7) Andy - Andy was my equal in this trip, a Nepal novice but with stacks of enthusiasm despite getting a nasty cough almost straight away. I really loved Andy’s humour when it all got a bit hard, he never took himself too seriously and his level of determination was unrivaled in this trip.

😎 Unknown Name but absolute legend - This lady symbolises the best of Nepalese hospitality, in the middle of nowhere she ran a small refuge hut and had the most comical laugh I have ever heard. For those that have gone the long way round to Mera Peak will have experienced this outrageous family and will likely never forget. This place will always live with me, the idea that modern day humans can live with so little and live with positivity and humour.

9) The Whole Crew (Minus Giri as he was too far ahead) - An experience I’ll never forget and a team spirit I’ll cherish forever! Thank you Gentlemen!

03/03/2024

Some of the favourite shots from the ROC Race on Ben Nevis last October. The conditions were up there with the hardest I’ve ever shot in. As usual, the participants showed great spirit in the face of what can only be described as a typical Scottish summer day! Just showing up on this day was courageous!

30/03/2023

Wolf and Dan Hale on Painted Groove Direct (E7 6c)

I recently had the privelage of hanging out with Wolf and Dan at Painted Wall, Rhoscolyn.

It was by all accounts, a fantastic day. For me, I loved the opportunity to practice my craft on overhanging terrain whilst using trad gear and methods to get into position 📸

Watching these two go at this route was an absolute pleasure and represents the amazing environments and people we love to be surrounded by ✌️

17/03/2023

Afon Llyn Mine 📸⛰️🔦

I had the pleasure of catching up with an old friend Steve this week who lead me through an amazing network of tunnels and caverns.

Photography wise, it was a new environment for me and certainly pushed my problem solving and lighting knowledge to the max! Stoked with the shots but even more excited to go back having learnt a lot!

The mine was full of wonders both natural and man made. I couldn't help but be reminded that this mine provided a livelihood and workspace for some people's entire working lives!!

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