IT'S A LONG FLIGHT Tokyo has always been on the list. One of those cities you know you have to experience at some point — it's non-negotiable. So when an Asian cruise came up and needed a starting point, the decision was straightforward. A few nights in Tokyo before boarding the ship felt less like a pre-cruise stop and more like the perfect way to kick off the whole adventure. The cruise could wait. Tokyo was first. Base Camp: Ikebukuro We were staying in Ikebukuro, which si

Naples doesn't ease you in gently. You step off the ship, turn a corner, and suddenly you're in the middle of something — a market, an argument, a scooter using the pavement as a shortcut, a church older than most countries. It's overwhelming and completely wonderful. We'd been warned about Naples. Everyone gets warned about Naples. Pickpockets, traffic, chaos — the usual cautionary tales that circulate among cruise passengers who've never actually been there. We ignored them

There's a version of Sorrento that exists purely for tourists — the limoncello shops, the selfie spots, the clifftop terraces with a view. And then there's the town that carries on regardless: the morning light on the back streets, the fishermen, the old men on scooters who've never once looked at the view because they grew up with it. We spent a week here in April, using it as a base for the Amalfi Coast, Capri and Pompeii. But some of the best moments were the ones in betwe

Kristiansand, Norway — A Perfect Day Ashore from a Cruise Ship There are cruise ports and there are cruise ports. Some involve a long trudge through an industrial wasteland just to reach anything resembling a town. Kristiansand is not one of those. The ship docks practically in the centre, the old town is a five minute walk away, and by the time your fellow passengers are still queuing for the organised excursion bus you can already be sitting with a coffee overlooking the ha

Six hours in Berlin. It sounds like barely enough time to find a decent coffee, let alone photograph one of Europe's great cities — but a Baltic cruise itinerary waits for no one, and when the ship docks in Warnemünde at an ungodly hour and there's a coach waiting, you get your camera bag and you get on with it. We started at the French Cathedral — a good warm up shot, elegant and relatively uncrowded at that hour. Then on to the Reichstag, where I managed to lose the soft re

There's a particular kind of happiness that arrives with an email from a cruise company. Subject line: your booking confirmation. Itinerary, travel documents, tickets — all attached. It never gets old. This one's a double first. Our first cruise booked through Iglu, and our first time sailing with Azamara. In the early years of retirement we threw ourselves into cruising with considerable enthusiasm — and why wouldn't you? The world delivered to your door, more or less, from

Canakkale is one of those towns that feels like it's saving its energy for the week. We visited on a Sunday, which meant the seafront was pleasant enough for a walk but the rest of the town was largely getting on with being closed. The main draw is the wooden Trojan Horse — the actual prop from the 2004 film Troy, now permanently installed near the waterfront and attracting the kind of attention that makes photography an exercise in patience. Every angle I tried had someone i

Akyaka sits about twenty minutes north of Marmaris — close enough for a day trip, different enough to feel like a different world. The town is known for its traditional Ottoman-style architecture and the Azmak River, which winds through to the sea and is best explored by boat. The river tour is unhurried and genuinely lovely. Clear water, overhanging trees, the odd duck treating the whole operation with complete indifference. I had my camera out the entire time. A word of war

Spend five minutes in any photography group or forum and you'll see this question come up constantly. And within seconds, well-meaning photographers pile in with their recommendation — which is almost always the camera they own — along with a detailed explanation of why everything else falls slightly short. Here's the thing. They're not wrong. But they're not entirely right either. The truth is that every Fujifilm camera is good. Every single one. With today's sensors, proces

Sorrento Old Town Sorrento is not just a great location but a base to explore the Amalfi coast — and a brilliant one at that. Within easy reach by train, ferry and bus you've got some of the most visited sites in southern Italy. We did three day trips during our week there in April: Pompeii, Capri, and the Amalfi Coast taking in Positano and Amalfi. Here's what we found, including the logistics that actually matter. If your reading this you may alsobe interested in my earlie

Is Sorrento worth it? We spent seven nights there in April and it cost us £340 a day for two — all in. Here's what we learned about getting there, where to stay and where to eat.

There's a particular kind of excitement that comes with a trip you've been circling for a while. Sorrento has been on the list ever since we pulled into Naples on a cruise a few years back, squinted at the coastline and thought — we need to come back properly. Well, properly starts Monday. My wife and I fly into Naples — which feels like diving straight into the deep end, Naples being Naples — before a private transfer takes us along the coast to Sorrento for a week. First ti

Is Seville walkable? After spending seven days exploring the city almost entirely on foot, this post reflects on distances, neighbourhoods, the river, and daily rhythm — and why Seville is best experienced slowly, one walk at a time.

I spent seven days in Seville walking everywhere, taking my time, and photographing the city as it revealed itself. Visiting in January meant fewer crowds, manageable temperatures, and the freedom to explore slowly — from major landmarks to quieter streets — without rushing or following a checklist.

Introduction to My Camera Journey When I set off on my recent Asia trip, I brought what I believed was the perfect travel camera: the Fujifilm X-T5. Powerful, high-resolution, and professional—everything a serious photographer could want, yet still reasonably compact for travel. But on my first stop in Tokyo, I wandered into BIC Camera near my hotel. I picked up the Fujifilm X-M5, and to my surprise, it instantly felt right. Smaller, lighter, and supposedly “less advanced,” y

Every so often, while digging through old Lightroom catalogues, I come across a set of images that stops me in my tracks. This time, it was from Portugal — a few spring days in Albufeira back in 2006.

Muğla, Türkiye — The Thursday Market Just an hour inland from Marmaris, where I've lived for over twenty years, Muğla is a different Turkey entirely. It's a proper town — administrative capital of its region, home to a university, going about its own business largely unbothered by the coastal tourist trail. I've visited twice with a camera, and both times it's felt like stepping into something more honest than the resort version of the country I usually inhabit. The Thursday

In Part 1 of this series, I shared the struggles I faced with my ageing Lightroom setup and why it was time for a serious rethink. Years of smooth editing had finally hit a wall: slow imports, laggy previews, and an overall editing experience that felt like wading through treacle. Before jumping into the fun part—choosing shiny new components—I wanted to take a step back and explore the options I considered along the way. In the end, three paths were on the table: upgrade, re

Welcome to Kristiansand! Nestled on Norway’s southern coast, Kristiansand is the laid-back capital of Vest-Agder county. It’s a summer favorite for both Norwegians and cruise visitors. With its charming Old Town, sandy beaches, leafy parks, and a couple of hidden gems, you can get a real taste of “Sørlandets hovedstad” in just a few hours. Ready? Let’s go! 1. Cruise Port Arrival & Easy Stroll into Town Your ship docks at the small but perfectly located Skagerak Cruise Termina

I’ve been lucky enough to visit a few corners of the world that leave a lasting impression. Gozo, Malta’s smaller, greener, and definitely sleepier sibling, is one of them. It's the kind of place where time seems to stretch, and locals still greet you with a nod that feels like it's been passed down for generations. Getting There: A Simple Journey Gozo Ferry Reaching Gozo from Malta couldn’t be simpler. I took the Gozo Channel ferry from Ċirkewwa, right at the northern tip of

Photo Editing Desktop PC As a travel photographer working with high-resolution images in Adobe Lightroom, I rely heavily on my editing setup to stay productive. My main Lightroom catalogue currently holds around 129,000 images — and counting. I’ve learned not to delete too quickly; with the constant improvement in editing tools, even an average photo today might become a keeper tomorrow. Lightroom is at the heart of my editing workflow, but I regularly use other software too

My Two Visits to Antigua I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Antigua twice. On my first trip, my wife and I hired a private taxi. We toured the island and stopped at some of its well-known beauty spots. On my second visit, I stayed closer to the port. This time, I spent the morning exploring St. John's—the lively capital located on the island’s northwest coast. Once you step outside the cruise ship terminal, you encounter the vibrant bustle of Heritage Quay. This area is where

A monochrome look at life aboard the Sky Princess, capturing quiet moments, elegant interiors, and the timeless rhythm of sea days. These black and white images offer a candid, atmospheric glimpse into life on a Baltic cruise.

The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe sits in the heart of Berlin — nearly 3,000 concrete slabs arranged in a vast grid, their varying heights creating something disorienting and oppressive as you move deeper into them