Natural wonders

Return to the seaside

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I last visited the coastline of north west England in January 2020 before the coronavirus pandemic took hold and we had to stay close to home.

That trip was to the Lancashire seaside town of Lytham St Anne’s. I finally returned in April 2021 to see the sea again and enjoy sunny blue skies.

I walked along this stretch of the Fylde Coast armed with my wide angle lens. The photos I took express a real sense of space and freedom – exactly what I’d been craving for in Manchester.

The past year makes you appreciate the simple things, doesn’t it?

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Sunsets: 19 days that ended memorably

/ mikeosbornphoto / 11 Comments

A week of lively weather here in the UK has resulted in a run of spectacular sunsets.

It made me think about the many sundowners I’ve captured over the years, close to home in Manchester and on my travels.

This collection brings together the sunsets I always remember and can almost feel to this day.

Anyone who doesn’t marvel at a sunset is missing a piece of their humanity. Do you agree?

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Dramatic sunset looking towards Salford

And here’s the latest memorable sunset from this week. I was looking across to the growing skyline of Salford with the water of the Bridgewater Canal in the foreground. Very stormy skies for the middle of May.

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Winter gold

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The UK winter has been cold with a lot of snow. Thankfully there’s an inexpensive way to bring warmth and colour into your life. READ MORE BELOW

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Cut daffodils are plentiful and cheap in the shops and bring a welcome burst of vibrancy to your home. 

While the UK’s winter coronavirus lockdown continues, photographing these beauties has been an absorbing stay at home project.

I suddenly remembered that I’d captured daffodils back in April when the country first went into lockdown. It seemed deeper and more nerve-jangling than the current one.

This was Easter and we were blessed with warm Spring weather. The shots I created were different to this winter set of gnawing cold and lockdown fatigue. Can you spot the contrasts?

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The January album

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January 2021 promised so much, mainly because it wasn’t 2020. But the UK has been plunged into further lockdown restrictions to battle a more infectious strain of coronavirus.

A rapidly rising death toll and widespread closures in the middle of winter are doing nothing to bolster hope and good cheer.

I have remained close to home here in Manchester city centre. Going far isn’t an option, while overseas travel remains off the table.

Photographing snowy weather, park life, some of Manchester’s new architecture and indoor blooms have been the hallmarks of a cold, introspective and at times gloomy January. How has the start of 2021 been for you?

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15 beautiful views to take you higher

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Another coronavirus lockdown has made the world shrink again. In Manchester city centre I’m surrounded by buildings and take only familiar urban walks. 

Are you also yearning for open spaces? How about clambering up hills to enjoy impressive views? Here are 15 memorable vistas I’ve collected on my travels. Let’s hope it’s easier to enjoy them again before too long.

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