Hot Sun, Harsh Shadows. Photography in Andalucia

Mark — Fri, 19 Jul 2019 18:12:04 +0000

Searing heat and vicious shadows don’t usually make for great photography, but the last week I have just gone with it. Love the conversion to Black and White in Lightroom… Make hay while the sun shines!

The sunlight in summer, photography in Andalucia, Spain

Christmas is Coming!

Mark — Thu, 02 May 2019 16:48:08 +0000

Christmas hotel photography for Bowood Hotel & Spa

At least it is in the world of magazines who are already on the lookout for features for their December issues. Many’s the Christmas shoot I’ve been commissioned to do – in July… With gardens looking blooming lovely and trees sporting the greenest of leaves, I’m inside with stylists lighting a roaring fire, decorating a tree and wrapping presents for a cosy, rosy glow, front cover.

Luxury hotels on the other hand are a different matter. Although they like to get ahead producing brochures that showcase their festive delights to entice guests and Christmas party bookers, many are happy to have their Christmas hotel photography completed the year before. The brochure above which I photographed for Bowood Hotel & Spa was actually shot last December when the place was in full festive mode and decorated for the season. This can only be a good thing as I’m not sure I’d feel comfortable asking the chef to knock up some mince pies or roast turkey in August while demanding the guests swap shorts for reindeer jumpers.

If you would like to discuss some festive hotel photography, do get in touch. That’ll be one thing ticked off your Christmas to do list…

Thanks so much, Mark

Casa Da Calcada, Portugal

Mark — Mon, 25 Mar 2019 15:11:07 +0000

Situated on the beautiful Douro river and not too far from lovely Porto, is the luxurious and rather grand looking ‘Casa Da Calada’ Hotel. Its famous for its wonderful food, and Tiago is a renowned Michelin starred chef. The food tastes amazing but it also looks wonderful… an easy job for a food photographer!

Food Photography at the fabulous Casa Da Calcada in Northern Portugal..

Food Photography at Gara Rock Hotel in Devon

Mark — Wed, 13 Mar 2019 13:57:17 +0000

I spent a lovely day at one of the most fabulously located hotels in the UK… Gara Rock is an institution in the South Hams of Devon, and its recent change of ownership, and upgrade that came with that, has ensured a state-of-the-art kitchen, supplying fresh and simple food for residents and visitors alike. The chef in charge is Lewis Glanville, and it was great to spend time with him and his team, photographing them as they cooked up some great dishes; clean and crisp, colourful, and above all else, tasty. Worth a visit, even if it’s the most southerly hotel in Devon, and quite a drive to get here!

Photography of food at Gara Rock Hotel in Devon

David Harber Sculptures, Garden Photography

Mark — Fri, 08 Feb 2019 09:39:43 +0000

I’ve been photographing a lot for David Harber recently. He and his team make the most amazing garden and interior sculptures, using metal and stone. They are often on a monumental scale, and are always built with the surroundings in mind. So, for instance, the circular metal sculpture above is situated so that the sun rises in the centre of the circle (it can be moved easily so that it works at all times of the year). Truly beautiful, they are found throughout the world now, in some of the most fabulous locations. I am very pleased to have been asked to photograph them!

Mark Bolton Photography, new interiors portfolio

Mark — Mon, 14 Jan 2019 15:52:04 +0000

I’m happy to announce that I have a new portfolio of my interior design photography. Please do get in touch if you’d like to get a copy. If possible I would like to drop it off in person, but am also happy to post to you if preferred. Full of gorgeous houses, amazing design and sumptuous spaces, it looks and feels like a magazine… and on another note, I am about to send out my first newsletter for a while, so please do contact me if I can put you on my list. I promise it won’t be a deluge of posts, just a quick email once every few weeks… thanks!

Mark Bolton Photography, interiors portfolio

Photography at the Great Mosque of Córdoba (the Mezquita)

Mark — Thu, 15 Nov 2018 08:47:52 +0000

Photographing in public places like this is always a bit tricky…. the crowds are always in the way (!), the fact that, unless you have pre-arranged, you cant really carry a tripod, and above all else, EVERY single person in the world has already done the shot you want…. that aside, I really wanted to see this place, and obviously, I had a camera with me. It IS amazing, and as a lover of beautiful interior spaces, I can safely say its one of the most fantastically strange and atmospheric I have ever been in. And the history behind it is as fascinating as you can imagine. All the images were shot hand-held, most at very high ISO… a great day out.

The Mequita, or Mosque at Cordoba, Spain

Food Photography in Bradford On Avon, Wiltshire

Mark — Tue, 06 Nov 2018 08:26:08 +0000

Lovely morning photographing bright, colourful and tasty food at Richard Synan’s place, The Weaving Shed, in Bradford on Avon. Modern cooking in an unfussy and stylish place right next to the river. And Bradford On Avon’s a buzzing little town with some gorgeous (ancient) architecture (one of the best Normal churches in Britain, btw!)… nice day out followed by some good food? who can resist?

Food Photography at the Weaving Shed restaurant in Wiltshire

Autumn at East Prawle

Mark — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 12:46:04 +0000

What a year for REAL seasons in the countryside of Britain. We had a real cold winter, a wet spring, a LONG hot summer and now a colourful autumn. We are just moving in to winter, which is bittersweet I always think, but the memories of a lovely year, weather wise, come flooding back (maybe not the best analogy?!) every time I flick through all the photographs on my computer.. and here are some of those images, along with a bit of John Clare’s poetry (the best ever nature poet?)

Autumnal atmospherics at East Prawle, Devon

I love the fitfull gusts that shakes
The casement all the day
And from the mossy elm tree takes
The faded leaf away
Twirling it by the window pane
With thousand others down the lane.

John Clare

The Grove Hotel, Narberth, photography for Martin Hulbert Design

Mark — Thu, 27 Sep 2018 09:03:32 +0000

I was pleased to to be asked to photograph the latest hotel interior design project by Martin Hulbert Design (featured in House and Garden’s ‘The List’). The Grove , Narberth is a country hotel in deepest Wales… understated, quiet, luxurious and very, very cool. This is partly to do with the design, which manages to be completely ‘in keeping’ and authentic, but at the same time contemporary and chic. Jay Grierson, who I worked with on the shoot, says that the aim was ‘to combine traditional and contemporary and be thoughtful, considered and appropriate… Creative with an extra layer of magic on top.’ I think it worked!

Martin Hulbert Design