Around a month ago I was awarded a PhD from the University of Huddersfield after five years of postgraduate study. Those of you who know me personally know how challenging this process was at times and I’m so grateful for the family, friends, supervisors, and examiners that made this journey possible. By equal measure, the experience was also incredibly rewarding in so many ways and I’m delighted to have seen the research through to completion. As the writing process took precedence the most challenging thing was to sit still, take a step back from making photographs and commit to a different form of communication. I made less photographs during this time but whenever I did the experience was exalted. I did so with a child like curiosity seeking to reconnect with the simple pleasure of making images with a camera. I didn’t have the time to work through the backlog of negatives back then but I do now. Here are some recent photographs paired with some older favourites. 1. Providence farm, 2023. 2. The lightning tree, 2023. 3. Dad in his Allotment, 2020. 4. Walking home from Dads, 2024. 5. Mum through kitchen window, 2021.