Flight at Temple Island
- Travel Photographer of the Year Rising Talent Winner · Rising Talent · 2025 as part of “Rising Talent Winner - Travel Photographer of the Year 2025”, 3 photographs Competition gallery → Read the story →
A flock of Canada geese lifts from the water in front of Temple Island, Henley-on-Thames, as dense dawn blue hur fog dissolves the trees into soft blue-grey tones. The neoclassical fishing lodge, designed by James Wyatt in 1771, materialises just clearly enough to anchor the scene without dominating it. The simultaneous stillness of the swimming birds along the foreground and the kinetic burst of the departing flock creates a rare layering of mood and movement.
This photograph is a personal favourite, capturing a moment I only dreamed of. Geese rarely do what you wish them to do, and I have many photographs of them randomly flying across this exact scene. I was very fortunate though, that this group of them flew just where I wanted them in the compsition - between the water and the Temple, flying in formation, separating the composition. I also love the fact the birds are dark and slightly blurred from my shutter speed choice, giving this photograph a painterly feel, something that can only be appreciated when printed - and preferably large!
This photograph was part of my winning Rising Talent submission to Travel Photographer of the Year 2025.
- Camera
- Sony α7R IV · Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 DG DN OS Sports
- Settings
- 1/160s · f/2.8 · ISO 100 · 158mm
- Captured
- 9 September 2025
- Shape
- landscape
About the prints
For me, printing is the end of the photographic journey. You've done all the hard work, edited the files and reviewed them. Seeing the photograph come out of the printer is the reward. The depth of colour from a printed photograph beats seeing it on a screen a hundred times over. Bring the story and this experience home with you with a fine art print from my portfolio.
Each fine art print from my website is printed by me at home on my Canon Pro-1000 professional printer. To ensure the best prints possible, I use Fotospeed paper. This is archival grade paper, ensuring accurate colour representation. I then sign, edition and package the prints and get them posted to you. With this in mind, please allow up to 10 days for dispatch. If there will be any further delay to this, I will let you know via email - such as if I am on a trip away and it will be longer for dispatch.
If you do have specific requirements please let me know via the contact me form, and I will endeavour to solve any queries or requests. For example, if you need the print quickly for a special occasion, just let me know, and I will try my best to make it happen!
Not everything I’ve photographed is in the shop. If you’ve seen something on Instagram, in a gallery here, or at an exhibition that isn’t listed, just ask.
Why there's a border
The print will come with a white border around the photo to allow space for editioning and signing. This will also make it easier when you come to frame & mount your photograph, giving some flexibility. I sign the prints in an archival permanent marker, so it'll never fade.
Signing and editions
Every print is signed by hand in the lower border. Where a photograph is issued as a limited edition, each print is numbered, and once the last number has sold I never print that photograph at that size again. I print, sign and pack every order myself.
