It is New Year 2026, so as usual, I’m posting 12 pictures from the past year.
These are not my "top" or "best" pictures, simply some that remind me of the pleasure of making them, and in one case, an opportunity to remember someone who very sadly died this year.
It is also a good opportunity to give an airing to a few pictures I’ve not previously blogged.
Here are four sets of three pictures, each on a different theme. Two of the themes are my usuals: birds and planes ("things with wings"). One set is from Iceland this summer, which I have not even mentioned on the blog: I need to set that straight with a proper blog piece RSN. Finally, there are three pictures from the River Thames, which are part of my much longer-standing Thames project: again, I need to write a proper blog entry about this.
Dalmatian pelican grazing the water with its primary feathers, foggy Lake Kerkini.
Dalmatian pelican, head detail.
Rolling off a loop. Major Maciej “SLAB” Krakowian, pilot of the Polish F-16 Tiger Demo Team, put on a brilliant display at RIAT2025. Very sadly, he was killed a few weeks later when his F-16 crashed at Radom rehearsing for the airshow there. I’m sharing this picture in his memory.
RAF Puma running at Northolt, March 2025. The aged Pumas of the RAF are finally going out of service, and this was one of their last flights before retirement. Out with the old…
… and in with the new. RAF Wedgetail and the Red Arrows, RIAT2025.
Regina, Iceland, July 2025
Brúarfoss
Red on red
Stand-up paddle-boarders weir surfing, Buscot
Crossing the Yantlet line. The Crow Stone and shipping, Southend.