What an amazing weekend I’ve had. I spent the day yesterday with a soul mate friend and we talked for 8½ hours straight! The love runs deep when you have that level of connection.

Then today I woke to the news that one of my images has, for the 5th year running, been awarded in the Fine Art Photography Awards and I was just thrilled 😊 As readers of my blog will know, I’ve been out of the photography loop for 3 years due to huge life changes (death, house move, serious ill health) and to be honest I’d lost my confidence. To have one of my images recognised in such a large international competition has been a much needed boost and replenishes a little self belief.

My friend was asking yesterday how I come up with the pictures that I create and I have no easy answer. Sometimes it’s snippets of ideas which just spring to mind, which I then mull over and develop until they’re something tangible. Other times, I’m inspired by the things I see: other people’s work; something I watch on the telly or read in a book; nature. Yet others, I’m moved by things which happen in my own life and my desire to share those experiences in case they resonate with someone else. But, mostly, images just appear in my mind with no conscious thought process at all!

The Flower Girl picture was initially inspired by the amazing work of Brook Shaden. She produced an image which included a huge flower and I loved it. It reminded me how important flowers are to me and how I couldn’t imagine living without being surrounded by their beauty. And, somehow, this image appeared in my mind 😊

Another friend, on viewing this picture, said she loved the flow and folds of the dress and I realised that lots of my pictures feature me in a flowing ballgown or with long hair blowing in the wind. Living in a rural area, I mostly spend my days in jeans and wellies but at the heart of who I am is a woman, resplendent in her femininity. And it’s through my selfie pictures that I can express the beautiful, delicate yet warrior strong part of myself which is that woman. I am her and she is me.