Public Sector Pension Protest - 30th Nov 2011

Thousands of people took to the streets of London to protest about the (lack of) pensions that public sector workers will be getting once they retire... I went out to shoot the march for REX and these are some of the images from the day!

UK Pro Surf Tour - Newquay

It was the UK Pro Surf Tour in Newquay and the mens events were on Thursday 10th Novermber. Here are a few photos from the day!

Hells Mouth Cliff Collapse

At the start of October 2011, about 200,000 tonnes of rock and mud collapsed into the ocean on the North Coast of Cornwall in between Godrevy and Portreath. I visited the location a few weeks afterwards to see the damaged that had been done to the coastline. Here are just a few images form what is still a very vulnerable part of the coast. It has been said that more of the cliff will become detached in the near future.

The Weekend

Put this weekend aside to just travel a bit and take some photos ... Was meant to be covering trials for a surf competition up in Newquay but the whole thing has been re scheduled and the event is now next weekend, so instead I had a bit of Pets and Plants fun ... Went to town on taking photos of animals ... Yep.

Documentary Landscape

Documentary Landscape


For my latest University project, I am looking at how, specifically Cornwall, is being affected by climate change and coastal erosion. Recently in the news a huge cliff on the north Cornwall cost collapsed into the sea and there are many vulnerable locations across Cornwall and the South West which could face the same devastating results.


Below are a few photographs which were taken in a village called Coverack which is by The Lizard. My idea is to document areas which are prone to coastal erosion and other effects of climate change.

Falmouth Surf

Falmouth Surf


For once Gylly Beach actually got some waves, and apart from a few injuries that a couple of guys received from the reef, i was told that they had a fun session.

Falmouth Oyster Festival - Shucking Competition

Falmouth Oyster Festival - Shucking Competition

On Thursday 13th October 2011, the Falmouth Oyster Festival began. The 4 day Festival which happens annually, marks the start of the Oyster Fishing Season which lasts around six months. 

On the final day, one of the highlights of the festival is the 'Oyster Shucking Competition'. Oyster Shucking is the process of opening up oysters and preparing them to be eaten. 

Eight competitors took to the stage and had to shuck and present 20 oysters in the quickest time possible. The were marked not only on their speed but their final presentation of the oysters. 

3 judges were appointed to mark the competitors.

BBC Cornwalls Radio Presenter Presents the Shucking Competition

The Oysters were laid out ready for the competitors to start shucking as soon as the timer started

A bottle of Champagne, resting at the end of the table, was the winning prize for the best 'Shucker'

Precision was important when opening the oysters, a year ago, a competitor cut his hand open whilst taking part in the competition

Everyone took a slightly different approach to opening their oysters. Some bent over going for it, some looking more relaxed.

The eventual winner in the middle of his successful attempt

The three judges all took their time assessing everyone's final effort

Speed was not the only important factor in the competition, final quality of presentation was as important

Eagerly accepting his magnum of Champagne for being the winner of the 2011 Oyster Shucking Competition

Falmouth Maritime and Coastguard Agency Magazine Layout

Falmouth Maritime and Coastguard Agency

Where lies the future for Falmouth Coastguards?


Falmouth Coastguard Station could be facing radical changes after the new government’s budget cuts mean a modernisation to the whole of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.


Falmouth Coastguard Station has been in its current location on Pendennis Point, Falmouth since 1981. The station runs a 24/7 service where they are constantly working as a team with other coastguards around the country saving lives and making sure that the 660,000 square miles of water that they cover are safe all year round.


If the new proposals are put in place, the operating hours of the Coastguard Station would be reduced to the daytime. The result of this would be a loss of jobs; 17 of the 27 jobs would go over a period of four years. Falmouth is not the only station facing cuts. At the moment, the 19,491 miles of Britain’s coastline are being monitored by 19 stations; however, the idea is to reduce the number of stations operating from 19 to 8 at the expense of 227 jobs. An extra 2 stations would be built to co-ordinate rescue missions.


West Cornwall and St Ives MP Andrew George believes that the steps being taken by the government are only the beginning and in the future there will no longer be a Coastguard Station in Falmouth. The changes are making the county’s coastline more dangerous and with such a huge influx of tourists in the summer season, the safety of the public should be the main concern. Unfortunately, if the government’s budget cutting plans materialise, the health and safety of the public will be put at risk and pressure on other available coastguard stations will increase and the currently avoidable loss of lives will be inevitable.
The workers at the Coastguard Station work 12-hour shifts, with four days on and three days off. The shifts are split into two-day shifts followed by two-night shifts. The waters off the coast of Cornwall are some of the busiest around the country with many busy shipping lanes which need constant attention to make sure everything flows smoothly!


Richy Williams, one of the Coastguards spoke to me about the importance of their 24/7 work. He said ‘We are not only here for search and rescue; we have many more day-to-day jobs that are of great importance’. The way in which the team works together on each call that comes though shows the importance of having enough coastguards and any less could have grave consequences.
Headed by James Instance, the Falmouth Coastguards do a great deal of work towards the upkeep and safety of the waters off the Cornish coast. The constant high quality work which they perform on a day-to-day basis is invaluable and something which cannot be lost.

Falmouth Maritime and Coastguard Acency Watchtower

Richy WIlliams at work

Richy observes his colleague working in the watchtower

Plotting bearings on the map

Richy takes down information on his computer whilst being on the radio

James Instance

Richy Williams

Billingsgate Fish Market - London

Another early start for me this morning, this time leaving at about 3am to drive down to Billingsgate Fish Market in London. 

After already having been to a fish auction in Newlyn, Cornwall, I was prepared for the pretty horrible smell that I would have to get used to for the couple of hours that I was there! Although you never remember exactly how bad it does actually smell in places!

The market starts at 5am and runs through until 7am and I arrived just around am to find everything already in full swing. 

After speaking to one of the traders, a young guy, I found out that it is never normally as busy as it was today, however due to the fact that its the Easter weekend, everyone was out and ready to buy for either their restaurants or fishmongers.

The seafood sold at the market ranges from exotic fishes in bulk, through to pre packaged fish and oysters. All of which have come from many ports across the UK and the world. Lobsters from Canada and eels from New Zealand.

It was a great experience, and so bizarre to see so many people up and about as if it was the middle of the day!

So, here are a few images from this morning .. Captions to follow and there is potential that I will change an image or two for my final edit of 5!