This year, 2023 I officially become vintage, turning the ripe old age of 50. To me, becoming Vintage is about accepting the stage of life you are at and being grateful for things as they are while becoming comfortable in your own skin and aware of what you stand for.
My first 50 years have been nothing short of fantastic, I have no complaints and no regrets and I always enjoy reflecting back over what has been.
Where has my life taken me over these 50 years?
These are the places I’ve lived, the destinations I’ve loved and some of the memories I’ve captured through my photography.
I was born in Oxford in 1973 but when I think of my childhood it was all about the Isle of Wight as my parents moved there when I was 8, so all of my childhood memories are of island life. A beautiful island off the south coast of England that still feels like home and becomes more and more beautiful each time I visit.
Sandown beach, Isle of Wight, UK
I left school at 16 and started an apprenticeship in hairdressing which is the only industry I’ve ever worked in and a good decision since it has got me to where I am today. Once I became qualified I worked behind the chair in a salon on the Island for a few years , but it wasn’t long before I got itchy feet and longed to see more of the world. At the age of twenty I applied for a job with Steiner to work as a hairdresser on cruise ships and only months after applying I was heading to Miami to start work on some of the worlds largest and newest cruise ships.
Miami Beach, Florida, USA
Miami was my main home port throughout my ship years of 1993 through to 1997 and it couldn’t have been any more different from my life on the Isle of Wight. It was during these years that I really discovered who I am as a person both personally and professionally. I learnt the rewards of working hard and trying to better yourself professionally - all while traveling the world. I visited much of the Caribbean and many ports along the east and west coast of the US as well as completing a few Alaska seasons. My final adventure on the seven seas was a four month World Cruise which allowed me to visit just about every dream destination I could imagine at such a young age. It was during this final voyage that I knew this part of my life was coming to a close as I started to crave the normality of living on land.
After so many adventures the only place I could see myself living was London, so London it was.
The Houses of Parliament, London, UK
I arrived in London in 1997 really not sure what to expect, but London was good to me and is the place I’ve called home the longest. I lived there from my mid twenties to my late forties so London was the city I grew most in. I always lived in the East End from Bethnal Green to Shoreditch and finally the Docklands. London has so many amazing memories that I can’t go anywhere in the city without being reminded of moments or people.
Even though London was my base I still found myself wanting to travel to other countries to continue my quest to explore.
There was always a calling for Berlin and I found myself enjoying Berlin several times a year for over a decade. At the time of my first visit Berlin was the cheapest capital city in Europe with a club and arts scene that rivaled New York of the 80’s, it really was the city to be. My love affair with this city was so strong that in 2011 I took a sabbatical from work and moved there for the summer. My mum at the time asked what I was going to do for the summer - I simply answered ‘Party, study photography and write my book.’ 2 out of 3 isn’t bad (The book is still in me but will need to come later!)
It was during my time in Berlin I really discovered my passion for photography and self studied to find my way around a camera and improve my craft, even if looking back at some photos I took at this time I feel now like I didn’t know a thing!
Berlin, Germany
Another love affair for photography was Norway. It started with Oslo when I visited a dear friend, and then for a short period I found myself working across the Nordics. One day I saw a photo of Lofoten - an archipelago in northern Norway and couldn’t believe it was a real place. The view I saw was the one below, the picture postcard shot of Eliassen Rorbuer in Hamnøy and when I saw this view I knew I needed to visit.
While this single location drew me there initially every turn in Lofoten has a new spectacular sight as well as so much solitude and space. With beaches like Skagsanden below I became instantly addicted to the cleanest air in the world and some of the most beautiful nature and I found myself wanting to visit during every season and returned regularly over the years.
It was on one of my visits that I added an overnight in Oslo to catch up with friends, and on this night they invited their friend Kai who has now become my life partner and husband. Something else I’m grateful to Norway of!
Skansanden beach, Lofoten, Norway
Early on in our long distance relationship we agreed that Kai would move to London once he had completed his (second) masters, and until then he would come to London or I would go to Oslo as often as possible. Then suddenly and quite out of the blue there came the possibility to be relocated to New York with work. London had been my home for so many years if it was going to be another city it really could only be New York. Luckily Kai was supportive with us moving to New York and at the end of June 2019 after 22 years of calling London my home, my London years abruptly came to an end as I moved to a new city and new continent - New York City.
Lower Manhattan and Lady liberty, New York, New York, USA
New York immediately felt like home, however it took me a while to accept this wasn’t a dream. New York had always appealed and over the years talk of working here had come up several times however these conversations never lead nowhere.
They say it’s all about timing, The perfect job at the perfect time in life - it really was meant to be and I’ve never looked back.
Dumbo, Brooklyn, New York, USA
I love the saying ‘It’s New York or nowhere’ and I couldn’t agree more. While it won’t be my home forever it really is the center of the universe. It takes the same time for me to fly to LA for work as it does to fly home and see my family. Manhattan as my base makes it easy to get anywhere, and not just out of New York, it also gives easy access to Brooklyn and Upstate New York - two of the parts of New York that I love.
Berlin, Germany
They say you never feel the age you are and I can honestly say I don’t feel (almost) 50, but I also felt since my 20’s that growing older and embracing all life has thrown at me agrees with me. Let’s face it, not everyone gets old so I couldn’t be more grateful for the years and time I have. For my 50th I’ve decided to head to Berlin to party like I was 20 with a small group of special friends - I can’t wait.
The Solent, UK
And no trip to Europe is complete without stopping on the Isle of Wight to see my amazing family so we will head to the island as well. The way 2023 is panning out this will be the last visit as just husband and husband as by mid-year we should have an addition to our family as we are expecting a baby girl. Life really is about to get busy.
Seaview, Isle of Wight, UK
So what’s next? First it’s fatherhood and beyond that who can say - but what I do know is that I’m having the best time and can’t wait to see all that the future brings. This above sign I saw on the Isle of Wight in 2019 - it felt like it was made for me - Paris being that I’ve worked for a French company for over twenty years - or it’s an indication of a future stop? Who can say.
Happy New Year and here’s to my next 50 years!