Looking back at March and forward to April

Well that was another month that flew by, keeping me happily busy and also enjoying those longer days that - hurray, at last - got even longer when the clocks changed.

So, a quick look back at March…Pet Portrait Sessions, talks, prints for cafes, a bit of travel, a craft fair here and there - it was excellent!

I had 2 shoots at the start of the month and the weather was stunning - sometimes the sun can be too much but we managed beautifully with the amazing conditions. The first shoot was at Foxley Paddock a secure dog field near Devizes. I’ve done a few Pet Portrait Sessions there, and there’s a great mix of open spaces for running, tunnels and hillocks for surprise encounters, and a pond that this time made for great reflection shots - and the Wiltshire countryside provides a great backdrop too.

Then, I was off to the Photography Show that was held at ExCel, London for the first time. I had a night in Canary Wharf (and ate next to ExCel) and a night next to ExCel (and ate in Canary Wharf - really!!) The Show was fabulous, as it always is - a great mix of talks, gear (not that I was on the lookout for anything really) and lots of friends to meet or make alongside finally putting faces to names of some lovely people in the Industry.

And one evening, I took my bright yellow jacket out, in case it was chilly after dinner…and then a whole load of increasingly silly photos happened. I do love my SheClicks friends! (thank you Tina, Angela, Rebecca, Linda, Carmen, Liz and everyone)

Canary Yellow in Canary Wharf

Giggles and architecture aside, I was so proud to be on the Fundamentals stage, taking part in the ‘Turning Pro’ discussion - a few years ago I spent a weekend at the Photography Show going to lots of talks, sessions, workshops on just this subject, not really sure where they would take me, and it was very fulfilling to share my experience with people who are possibly feeling just like I did then.

I also presented Nikon with the SheClicks award for best Enthusiast Camera of the Year for their amazing Z6iii, as voted for by the SheClicks judging panel - I’m part of the panel and it’s the 3rd year I’ve presented Nikon with an award; long may it continue is all I, as a total Nikon fan, can say!

(when I get some photos of both these events, I’ll update this post)

Back in Devizes and barely recovered from the Photography Show, I was very warmly welcomed at Devizes U3A photography group when I gave a talk loosely based around the theme of ‘Composition’. I was basically given free reign to show a selection of my work that I had grouped into sections, such as ‘the rule of thirds’, ‘leading lines’ and so on. It was great fun; the members were interested and engaged, and flatteringly complimentary about the photos I had chosen to present!

Below are a few of the images, if you click on them, you’ll see them as they were on the screen (ie larger!)

I’ve had more fabulous Pet Portrait Sessions since the start of the month; not all the owners have had their ‘Reveal’ and until they do, I don’t share their photos elsewhere, but here are some captured at Drew’s Pond Woods on the edge of Devizes - an old girl and a youngster, the best of friends having the time of their lives!

I had a quick trip to the West Sussex sea-side, lovely as ever and I got onto the beach and onto Pagham nature reserve for a great walk - if you ever can, go and visit!

And then, via the New Forest and revisiting some old haunts in Poole (a blast to my Sunseeker superyacht past), I’ve been mostly in the Shambles, Devizes as well as a great little craft fair in Lacock Village Hall and the first of what will be a regular, last Saturday of every month, presence at the Old Potato Yard- I’ve invested in a Teepee (to me, a gazebo to almost everyone else) and some mega weights to keep it land-based!

Right, April is here and I’m about to go up a gear in business - Craft and Artisan Fairs begin in earnest; those bluebells and spring flowers are going to be here in no time and with them come some gorgeous Pets for gorgeous Pet Portrait Sessions. I really am looking forward to them.

First up, I’m at Ramsbury's Spring Market on April 5 (Saturday), in the garden (in my teepee) and the weather is looking perfect for it; me and around 60 other creatives, food-sellers, easter egg-hunters…it’s going to be great.

Then, I’m back at the beautiful Shaw House, Newbury on April 13 (Sunday) for their Love Local event - I’m super-excited to have been invited again and am expecting a busy day.

I’m back in the Old Potato Yard on April 26 (Saturday) - the cafe is great, there’s lots of outdoor seating if the weather’s good and a really interesting selection of independent shops worth coming over for - as well as to visit me, of course!

And apart from all that, and all my lovely Pet Portrait Sessions I’m gearing up for, you can see me in the Shambles every Thursday and Saturday (my work is still there on a Friday, but I’m finding it extremely productive to spend Fridays either in my workshop or out with my camera).

And that, for now, is it - if you’d like to get these monthly newsletters, please subscribe below. I’ll be back at the end of April - in the meantime, happy Spring to you all!

Latest News from Philippa Huber Photography

Well, that’s another month flown by - here’s my February recap!

I’ve enjoyed being back in the Shambles, seeing faces old and new and catching up on the local news…I was supposed to be slimming down my table and wall display but somehow I’ve got over-excited again about printing and have more small squares out there than ever before (they’re really cute, don’t take up a lot of space and can be displayed in different ways, that’s my reasoning anyway!) not forgetting my mugs, bags and keyrings that I print myself…

Spontaneous decisions tend to be the best, and M and I decided to go to Wales - it was extremely spur of the moment, we found a great little place just on the edge of the Brecon Beacons and, happily oblivious to weather warnings raging through the region, we set off for 3 nights.

Isn’t it wonderful how just a couple of days away can feel like so much longer? Exploring the woodland paths was fabulous and made me remember that I want to do more tree/woodland photography this year - with my favourite Wiltshire tree knolls so close, as well as the ancient forests, I just need to get planning for some shoots there.

Don’t forget that you can click on all the photos here to see them bigger and better (recommended!)

The 4 Waterfalls walk had a couple of non-waterfall surprises - the first robin was singing its little heart out (I am SO happy to be hearing all the birdsong again); the frogs were guarding their frogspawn and also seemed to be enjoying the sunlight reaching through the trees; and that final robin seemed to be telling me to get a move on, it was not my patch!

and the waterfalls themselves, well, they were in full flow after the previous day’s storm, and I felt slightly nervous approaching the edge of the paths or river bank. And then some canoeists appeared and were happy riding the waves off the top of the fall…I mean, what???

The next day, we went off looking at reservoirs, gasping at the landscape and amazing views, and then got back to ‘our place’. M went off to the pub (oh what a choice there was!) while I got set up for PermaJet’s online panel discussion to Celebrate Women in Print - it was a really lovely free-flowing chat about photography, about print (I was particularly eloquent on this subject!) and about opportunities and support (or not) for women within the industry. I recommend it, and not just because I’m in it!

 

So that’s kind of brought me up to the present, and here’s what I’m doing in the near future:

The Photography Show starts this weekend and hopefully next month’s blog will be full of photos from the 3 days I’ll be there.

Excitingly, I’m going to be on the Fundamentals Stage on Saturday at 12h00, part of the Turning Pro panel. I’m so pleased to be able to share my knowledge and experiences of the past few years - what’s worked well, what less so:

Turning pro: What you need to know - The Photography Show 2025

If you’re going to be at the Show, do get in touch, or come and say hello at the SheClicks stand where I’ll also be, listening to inspiring photographers share their insights and journeys. I’m also going to be hanging out at PermaJet’s stand with lots of questions about printing, and I’m going to be playing in the Creator Playground (last year it was amazing fun, I’m hoping for more of the same).

You may be wondering what I’m doing for the rtest of the month…well, here’s the plan:

I’m getting really busy again with my Pet Portraits; I had a brilliant shoot at Foxleys Paddock last weekend (sorry, no photos to share until those who were there have seen them) - the sun was shining, the dogs were running, the humans were smiling…it really was excellent and I recommend it as a location close to Devizes for those of you unsure about having a photoshoot in a public space or with a nervous dog.

So, more Pet Portrait Sessions next week in some of my favourite places…I will be packing my wellies!

Next Thursday (13th) I’m doing a talk for the Photography for Fun group, part of Devizes U3A - I’m really enjoying putting some of my favourite photos together and forming a hopefully interesting and cohesive talk!

The Craft Fair season doesn’t start early and I’m excited to be at Lacock (in the village hall) for the first event of the year there, on February 22 & 23, nicely planned for the weekend before Mother’s Day - if you can make it, I and many other quality, talented makers would love to see you there.

Other new and exciting news is that I’m going to be a regular at Plank's Farm Shop - I’m going to be setting up there on the final Saturday of each month, starting on March 29. I would really love people to come over and say hello (please thankyou!)

And looking further ahead, I’m going to be at The Bath Independent (@thebathindependent) • that’s very exciting even if it isn’t until May!

I think you’re all up to date, and now I need to get ready for tomorrow in the Shambles, Devizes - do come and say hello if you’re local and if you’re not and would like to comment on anything from this month’s blog, please do!

 

Thanks for reading, wishing everyone a happy and productive March,

Phil x

Hello 2025!

Hello and Happy New Year – I’ve been back in my favourite spot in the Shambles, Devizes this week saying the very same words to so many people who called in to welcome me back and have a look at my work…I’m willing the change of season along with some cute spring chicks, but then, since there was a rather half-hearted effort at snow on Friday, I also put out a quite surreal aerial photo of Silbury Hill under a white blanket.

Silbury Hill in the Snow

 

But before I head forward, let’s look back for a moment at why I have been absent for January….

After a great but hectic 2024 that left me feeling in need of a proper break, I headed off to Cornwall and Devon for some refreshing sea air, big hills and coastal walks and a rather enjoyable selection of pubs!

Staying right on the beach in Downderry was amazing – and late sunrises meant I was able to enjoy an early morning of solitary photography, just me and some oystercatchers and gulls along with the swishing of the waves as the sun rose behind them.

Oystercatchers at sunrise, Downderry beach

A Gull riding the waves…

After a quick trip back to Devizes for a change of clothes, I was off on a train to catch a plane to get on a ship in Norway, heading for the Arctic Circle – an adventure indeed!

We saw the northern lights, heard the crunch of ice as the ship made its way ever northwards and eastwards, walked out in -19 and I, personally, marvelled at the expanses of snow, ice and rock. What a place! I obviously took lots of photos and haven’t been back long enough to spend much time with them, but below are some of my current favourites that sum up the essence of the trip…watch this space, there will no doubt be more shared as I uncover them…(and don’t forget to click on the individual photos to see them in more and better detail)

And now, I’m back in Devizes and my workshop and gearing up for lots of lovely Pet Portrait Sessions - I did my first of the year at the fabulous Dawlish Warren in Devon. The weather and tide were with us, and so was the marvellous Pierre, who ran as fast and as far as his legs would take him for a good hour. He even went for a paddle which is quite a brave thing to do in January! And then, I’ve been told, he had the most enormous afternoon sleep while I was emptying pockets and boots of sand!

So, don’t forget I’m in the Shambles every Thursday, Friday and Saturday - a new plan for this year is that I’m not going to be there physically on Fridays, though my display will be and you can see my great neighbours and colleagues Jo (All That Glitters silver) and Sara (Dragonglass by Sara) to pay for anything or for any information. Instead of being there, I’ll either be in my workshop in Devizes Marina Village (and you’re very welcome to pop in and see me there on Fridays) doing my admin, editing and working on so many behind-the-scenes tasks or I’ll be out on a photoshoot.

Any questions, drop me a message/email/text.

Here’s to 2025 and all the good things that are going to happen!

Phil xx

Pet Portraits in Devizes and around - what I've been up to!

Well, it’s been an incredibly busy year so far, and it's just getting busier...and it’s also been noted that my blog posts have been lacking to say the least...so I thought it would be good to put that right with a little update on what I’ve been doing and what I’m going to be doing... 

I’ve been photographing pets, lots of pets – mostly dogs, of all shapes, sizes, ages and characters, and I’ve loved every single shoot. I’m not going to lie, some are more challenging than others, but all have produced great memories and great photos. I’ve made new friends, both 2 and 4-legged, and am thoroughly enjoying my Pet Portrait Sessions.  

 

Yesterday morning I was in my element, in the heart of the ancient Savernake forest, photographing a made-for-an-autumn-photoshoot Vizsla – she and the golden russet colours of the forest floor and leaves still clinging on the almost bare trees were phenomenal...I am very excited about the photos...but I never share before the owners have seen the best of the best at the ‘Reveal’ so I’m afraid that for now, you’re just going to have to take my word for it. 

 

an early start in the amazing Savernake Forest

But here are a few of my favourite photos from recent shoots, to give you an idea of what fun I’m having! 

 

 

And the fun is set to continue, with my happy involvement with the inaugural Pewsey Pawfest on Saturday 23 November, 11am - 5pm! 

The name says it all, really – a day celebrating all things doggie, in the Bouverie Hall in Pewsey. There will be local experts on all things canine – behaviourists, groomers, trainers, artists, walkers and so on – and ME – I'm giving a talk at 1pm on how to get the best photos of your dog with your mobile phone. I’m going to have a table there with examples of my work and will be offering a few on-the-day special deals for my Pet Portrait Sessions, so do come along if you can (entries free, Honey’s Real Dog Food are generously sponsoring the event). I really hope this Dog Festival in the amazing vale of Pewsey will be the first of many more.

Before then, though, I’ll be in my usual spot in the Shambles, Devizes (that’s Bay 20 if you weren’t sure) - this week I’m there from Thursday to Sunday so there’s plenty of time for you to call in and say hello.

I change my display often - at some point it looked like this!

And next week, I’m going to be chatting on Swindon radio 105.5 Live - so if you’ve wondered who I am, how I’ve got to doing what I’m doing, and what I’m doing next, see if you can listen in. Wednesday 20 November from 10am…


Well that’s it for now folks- I’ve an early start setting up in the market and a heap of things to be getting on with - if you’ve any questions or comments, feel free to let me know and hopefully you’ll be hearing from me here again soon!

Take care of yourselves,

Phil x

What went on in July...

July was over before it seemed to have begun (as has been most of the year to date) - possibly lost in slow motion along the Kennet and Avon canal…the summer travels have begun and it feels wonderful to be on the move again. The plan is to have 3 months properly travelling; a Gold Licence this year means unlimited time on the Thames and any other river that’s not under the Canal and River Trust’s jurisdiction. Messing about on the river, all the way up to Lechlade via Oxford, is a lovely thing to do.

There were a few things happening before I started clocking up those slow miles along the canal…not least, the emergence of this year’s damsel- and dragonflies. They seemed to emerge from one day to the next, starting with the fabulous Scarce Chaser dragonflies and followed soon after by the pretty tiny emerald damselflies…oh, I really must mention the Ranatra Linearis that was pulling itself along the side of the boat, just underwater. I’d never heard of it so kind of thought we we’d discovered something completely new living in the canal! It’s known as a ‘water stick insect’, has the attributes of a praying mantis, breathes through its tail and is an underwater predator - how about that?!

Then, I went on holiday though there were plenty of times when the memorable line from Withnail and I came to mind: “we’ve gone on holiday by mistake”.

Highlights- catching up with great friends in the gorgeous harbour town of Portsoy in their fabulous Port House cafe; seeing puffins, razorbills, seals and thousands of other birds at the rspb Dunnet Head nature reserve; eating fish and chips in Whitby; coast walking from Whitby to Robin Hood’s Bay.

Lowlights - there are no highland cows in the Highlands (trust me on this); driving 1400 miles in 4 days; the rain, the relentless rain that made camping impossible in Scotland; eating fish and chips in Whitby (enough is enough!); seagulls at 4am (there’s no double glazing in a tent).

A big, even massive, boost this month photography-wise came in the form of a front cover and 2 page spread in Amateur Photographer magazine, where I was asked to talk about my favourite lens, the Sigma 105mm, and to submit some photos taken with it. The delight I got from this was made even greater when my SheClicks friends amassed a load of copies and sent me a photo - where would we be without the support of like-minded people?

And finally…July began with immeasurable sadness as we said goodbye to Dad. The fact he’d been suffering for too long and his passing happened with relative speed and comfort didn’t seem to make things any easier when it happened. He would be so proud of me and just the few things I’ve begun to achieve with my photography, so this is for him. RIP Dad xx

Pet Portraits - preserving a moment in time

Pet Portraits - my exciting new venture!

Isn’t it amazing how a left turn here or a right turn there can change a life?

Since 2019 I’ve been lurking in the narrowboat’s cratch, crouching in fields and hiding by rivers (to name just a few places) enjoying my wildlife and nature photography more than I’d ever imagined possible. It’s been wonderful; I’ve seen more of the UK in these years than in all my life, and been lucky enough to get to places inaccessible to most (I’m definitely thinking of the tidal river Ouse at dawn here).

And then, last summer, we made a very, very spontaneous decision to turn left off the Thames at Reading, heading onto the Kennet and Avon canal, a canal we left 3 years ago vowing never to return…and here I am (we are, don’t worry!), still continuous cruisers on our 45 foot narrowboat but with something like watery roots being put down around Devizes. It’s fabulous.

I’ve a stall in The Shambles, Devizes’ every Friday and Saturday (come and say hello) and am now branching out into Pet Portraits - what could be better than preserving a moment in time of your perfect pooch, your favourite feline, your happiest horse, mightiest mouse….OK I’ll stop there, the point is, I’m here to photograph all your pets and animals however large or small.

I’ll share more of my Pet Portraits as I capture more moments in time and, if you’re interested in your own photoshoot, please get in touch either here or via any social media app or even in person in the Shambles every Friday and Saturday. There’s no pressure, no obligation and my pricing is reasonable and clear, with no hidden extras. I’m not putting prices here because if you’re thinking of offering a session as a gift I feel it takes some of the charm away.

Well, now I have to go and get ready for tomorrow’s market…I hope to see or hear from you soon,

Take care til then,

Phil x

Narrowboats and Heatwaves

Now that the heavens have opened and the thermometer is back in the twenties, it seems apt to write about life on a 45 foot metal boat during times of extreme heat - how bad does it really get?

The short answer is, not too bad, all things considered.

Staying cool on the river Kennet

Narrowboats come with insulation as standard, which acts as a great shield for hot weather as well as cold. The small windows on my boat keep out not only prying eyes but also the sun’s glare. Open the front doors and the back and you have a pretty effective wind tunnel, or at the very least a hint of breeze - this is best done when you don’t have a boat parked half a metre in front, unless you’re happy to share your sleeping arrangements with strangers (not my thing).

Cooling Water - early morning on the river Kennet

And, very importantly, water is a cooling element, so living right on top of it keeps the temperature down compared to living in most houses.

We parked up in full sunlight to take advantage of oodles of solar power, but chose a spot that had trees at either end where we could take shelter when needed. We cooked outdoors, almost lost mooring lines to teething bullocks, hunted damselflies and went on long walks that finished with a well-earned drink…and I even got to watch the Wimbledon finals in the fresh air…what’s not to like?

Life after Lockdown...on the Llangollen Canal

And we’re off…it’s fabulous to be on the move again, going nowhere fast but going somewhere nonetheless. 

After 3 months of lock-free life, is it surprising that I started to fill rather than empty the first lock I needed to go through? What was second nature at new year had to be quickly re-learned to go up the flight of 4 locks on to the Llangollen canal; luckily there was noone but me to groan at my novice’s mistake.

DSC01319.jpg

From the turn-off at Hurleston junction, there are 44 miles and 21 locks through Cheshire, Shropshire and despite the name, a surprisingly small bit of Wales, towards the end crossing the famous Pontcysyllte aqueduct (and no, I can’t spell or say it unaided).

In less than 24 hours on this canal I’ve seen wonderful blossom in the hedgerows and more bird species visiting my little feeder than I saw in the whole of lock down; I seem to be in a completely different world to the one that is barely 5km behind me.

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This morning saw the canal laden with slow-clearing mist as the sun came through the trees…

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… and a pair of moorhens and two drakes enjoying the calm.

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it’s been an amazingly special start to a new canal adventure and I hope you enjoy it along with me…

Phil xx

Life during Lockdown

I spent the first lockdown in a spacious 3 bedroom house in Somserset with my husband; we missed our 45 foot narrowboat and never quite got used to the confinement that lockdown brings but spent the time well, fully re-vamping our house so that when freedom beckoned it sold in 3 days. I was thankful I’d not been ‘trapped’ on our narrowboat; what with its limited space and the closure of the canals I could only imagine claustrophobia and frustration.

So, here we are at the better side of lockdown #2…how’s it been?

The fact that I’ve not written a blog post for 7 weeks is evidence enough that things have been pretty fine. Sure, reunion plans in Cheshire have sadly been put on hold and we’ve not explored the ‘Shroppie’ as much as we’d expected…but what I have done is spend more time in one place than planned and it’s been great.

Things take longer on a narrowboat…we needed to copy some documents and send them off and this took 3 days. One day to walk 3 miles to the nearest PO that doesn’t exist any more, one day to walk (through a field full of frisky bullocks, past some of the largest strawberry farms in the country) to the next nearest PO that doesn’t have a copier for the public to use and the 3rd day to take a bus to Stafford to complete the task. One day we walked 10 miles for the unrivalled luxury of an M&S food store - the fact it was in a garage forecourt only slightly dented the joy.

Having an isolated spot in the middle of nowhere but close enough to essentials has been key. The nearest shop is 30 minutes’ walk away, the nearest waste and sanitary station about 3 miles away. Filling the water tank and emptying the toilet become days out, planned in advance; we check the weather and aim to travel when it’s not raining, blue skies and calm days are the best. Our 6 mile round trip takes 4 to 5 hours, travelling in the wrong direction for an hour or so in order to turn around to go where we need to…you really can’t be in a rush.

Nature- and photography-wise, I’d high hopes for a mandarin duck who shared the first few lockdown days with me. There are always kingfishers darting and flashing in front of me whenever I’m running along the towpath - they don’t show themselves when I’m walking slowly, camera in hand. I’ve learned to identify fieldfares (though silently I always say ‘finefare’ which is a budget supermarket from my Cheshire days) and watched a bird of prey swoop in on an unattended pair of chicks. I’ve wandered with the Sigma 105mm macro lens that saw me so well through the first lockdown and enjoyed the way it focuses attention onto the small details. I even photographed a full moon and this morning watched a grey heron catching fish.

So I can safely say, I’ve had a ‘good’ lockdown and have a lot to be thankful for; I can’t wait to see my friends and family properly, to sit in a pub and have a pint and a chat with someone (anyone) and I’m going to stay on my little boat out in the sticks for as long as I need to stay stafe.

I hope that you’re all well and still smiling and getting out for some fresh air; look at trees and birds and berries and enjoy what’s around you…

Love, Phil xx

All the way on the Oxford canal

This was supposed to be a blog about counting locks rather than miles on the Oxford canal - but before I got to write it, we’d passed through all the locks and emerged into some sort of wondrous country where there are no locks…imagine travelling more than 8 miles a day with minimum effort!

Coming onto the Oxford canal after the river was quite a shock; after barely 3 weeks on the Thames I was fully accustomed to pressing buttons or turning easy wheels to fill or empty locks. Opening the gates was never a full body battle for me.

The very first Oxford lock is quaint; wide enough for just one narrowboat (widebeams aren’t welcome here) and charmingly rickety, I was reminded how each lock has its individual character – some are loveable, and some are decidedly unfriendly, consuming all my efforts, body weight and forgotten muscles before they move

The first stretch out of Oxford is a mix of locks and lifting bridges, nicely spaced and a gentle start to the canal…apart from one particular lifting bridge that beat me last year and beat me again this one, thank you helpful dog walker. The canal winds its way through open countryside, through tree-lines glades and narrow reed-filled stretches. We passed liveaboard communities, desirable lock-side cottages (and one that’s burnt out and derelict) and villages where weeping willows drape over the water.

But the locks…one day we travelled from 9 til 5, we did 13 locks and covered 9 miles. The next day, 9h30 - 15h45, 9 locks, 8 miles…it’s best not to be in too much of a rush and never stop thinking of the pub that is that day’s destination.

After all the locks and the disappointment of last year’s favourtie pub having moved its operation into a drafty marquee with minimal heating and dubious adherence to current guidelines, we moved quickly on to the northern part of the Oxford canal - exciting new territory to discover at last even if neither of us had realised we were entering suburbia and finishing just around the corner from an immense national grid power station; it felt as far removed from the ‘other’ Oxford canal as could be.

But this is where we discovered the joy of lockless cruising; 15 miles a day no sweat, with late starts and early stops. The only thing missing was the sunshine. We travelled the full length of the Oxford canal in 9 days; we could have taken more time but barbecue season seemed to have ended abruptlly and the rural idylls were behind us…onwards to the Coventry canal…

The best pub? The Victoria in Jericho, Oxford. Everything a local pub should be; great beer, brilliant staff and atmosphere, allegedly excellent pies and lots of space for a relaxing few hours. Plus decor that creates talking points if you’ve nothing really new to say to your partner!

Next post will be wildlife themed…the kingfishers have shown me a bit of love recently.

Until then, stay safe and stay warm…it’s getting cold out there.

Phil xx