HOBBIES & INTERESTS
Following my curiosity.
Photography, travel, making things and asking questions.
These interests give me different ways to explore the world. Here is what draws me to each of them, and how they fit into my life.
Thumbnails are AI-generated illustrations, not photographs of my own equipment or collection.
Photography
Noticing more of the world
I enjoy photography because it changes the way I look at things. A landscape, a face or a small detail can become something worth spending time with. Working with composition and light helps me express what caught my attention, rather than simply record what was there.
Landscapes, portraits and macro photography each offer different challenges. I enjoy the technical side of taking and editing an image, but what keeps me interested is finding a perspective and sharing something of the experience.
Videography
Bringing pictures, sound and stories together
Video appeals to me because a story can unfold through movement, sound and the choices made in editing. Being involved in music video production as a behind-the-scenes photographer gave me an opportunity to see how camera work, performance and storytelling come together.
I want to explore vlogging as a way to share everyday experiences and adventures. My drone also opens up aerial perspectives, giving me another way to consider a place and how to tell its story.
Travel
A chance to see beyond the familiar
I travel because I am curious about other places and how people live. Different cultures, landscapes and everyday routines offer perspectives I would not get by staying within my own familiar surroundings.
There is also something rewarding about adapting to an unfamiliar environment. Travel encourages me to be more open to people, experiences and changes of plan. The photographs and memories are part of what I bring home, alongside a broader understanding of the world.
Explore my journeys →Walking
Exploring at a different pace
Walking lets me explore a place while also clearing my head. I enjoy the variety: Northumberland’s coast, forest trails, historic castles and stately homes, or the landscapes of the Lake District, Cumbria, Scotland and the Yorkshire Dales.
A walk can bring together several interests at once: being outdoors, discovering some local history and finding something to photograph. I like that a familiar activity can lead to a different experience each time.
Walks on my blog ↗Health & fitness
Making space for balance
The gym, cycling, walking and hiking are part of how I look after myself. Strength training gives me a physical challenge, while walking is a regular way to clear my mind and keep moving.
Hiking brings that physical effort together with nature and exploration. Keeping active helps me balance work and other interests, and gives me a reason to spend time away from the screen.
Books
Following an idea wherever it leads
I enjoy reading and collecting books because they give me access to both knowledge and imagined worlds. My shelves reflect a mixture of interests: physics, philosophy, computing, military history and science fiction.
Sometimes I want to understand a subject more deeply; sometimes I want to explore an unfamiliar possibility through a story. Reading broadens my perspective and often leads me towards another question or topic to investigate.
Philosophy
Thinking through the difficult questions
Questions about existence, knowledge, ethics and reality are what draw me to philosophy. I enjoy exploring different approaches, from Plato and Aristotle to Nietzsche and Kant, and considering how their ideas relate to the way we live.
The attraction is in examining assumptions and thinking carefully about an argument. Philosophy gives me room for reflection and helps me approach complex questions with a more considered perspective.
Physics
Wondering how the universe works
Physics interests me because it asks fundamental questions about the world: how matter behaves, what time and space mean, and how the laws of nature fit together. Quantum mechanics and relativity are particular sources of curiosity.
I enjoy working through challenging concepts and discussing the questions they raise. It connects with my background in Applied Physics and Microelectronics, while continuing to give me plenty to learn and think about.
History
Understanding how we arrived here
I am interested in how events and ideas from the past have shaped the present. Technology, culture and scientific developments are especially interesting because their effects reach into so many parts of society.
Books, documentaries and conversations let me explore different periods and compare perspectives. Looking at causes and consequences helps me make sense of the world around me, rather than treating history as a collection of dates.
Military history
Strategy, technology and consequences
Military history brings together questions about strategy, technology and the wider effects of conflict. I enjoy studying campaigns, battles and changes in tactics, as well as how military developments influence political and social change.
What interests me is the context around events and decisions. Reading and watching documentaries gives me a way to examine those connections and understand how conflict has shaped history.
Militaria
A tangible connection to the past
Artefacts, uniforms, medals and memorabilia make history tangible. Researching and collecting them gives me a way to connect an object with its period, its purpose and the people who used it.
I enjoy learning how equipment evolved and uncovering the stories behind individual items. Preserving them is part of maintaining that connection to the past.
Military action figures
Research meeting creative work
Military action figures bring together my interests in history, modelling and photography. Kitbashing gives me a chance to experiment with configurations and details, while photographing the figures introduces questions of pose, lighting and composition.
I also maintain a website for this work, sharing uniform details, historical context and project progress. It is a creative interest that connects naturally with web development and with other people who enjoy the subject.
Computing
The pleasure of figuring things out
My interest in computing grew through BTEC Computing & Electronics and my degree in Applied Physics and Microelectronics. It remains a personal interest as well as a part of my professional life.
I enjoy building custom PCs and experimenting with programming languages, hardware and software. There is satisfaction in understanding how something works, then using that understanding to make or improve something practical.
My technical work →Electronics
Taking an idea into the physical world
Electronics has interested me since college. Designing circuits and exploring platforms such as Raspberry Pi and Arduino gives me a hands-on way to investigate how hardware and software work together.
I enjoy the possibilities of making a physical system respond to an idea. It is another route into learning through practical projects and experimentation.
Inside my toolkit →Music
Where creativity meets technology
My interest in music includes learning the keyboard and experimenting with composition. Early on, I connected a keyboard to an Atari 1040 STE through MIDI and used sequencer software to create and arrange music.
Although I have not played the keyboard for some time, making a music video helped renew my interest. I have since bought FL Studio and Ableton, opening up more ways to explore music production and the connection between sound and technology.
Blogging
Making something of the experience
My blog is a place to reflect on travel, outdoor adventures, walks and visits to cultural and historical attractions. Writing about an experience helps me consider what stood out and how to share it with someone else.
Combining writing and photography lets me bring the different parts of a visit together. I enjoy connecting with people who share those interests and giving others ideas for places and experiences they might explore.
Visit my blog ↗Something in common?
I would love to hear what you are exploring.
Say hello →More about me →