#Valley of the Temples

On the outskirts of Agrigento, a town in southern Sicily can be found the best preserved Greek temples outside of Greece.

The Valley of Temples has been photographed innumerable times in innumerable ways. The challenge for myself  as a lifestyle and travel photographer, was to convey my feelings and awe of the environment, from this starting point I achieved something that is both striking and on a personal level accomplished

Founded as a Greek colony in the 6th century BCE, Agrigento became one of the leading cities in the Mediterranean region. Its supremacy and pride are demonstrated by the remains of the magnificent Doric temples that dominate the ancient town, much of which still lies intact under today's fields and orchards. The site has been inhabited throughout the ages by Hellenistic, Roman and Christian settlers. 

#Forcados - New Photos

‘Os Forcados’

As the bugle sounds the Forcados leap into the arena led by the cabo or "corporal", this is where the last hint of any sign of intelligence is traded for courage (or stupidity depending on your point of view). Their task begins by facing the bull in single file, with the cabo heading the group. Typically at this point, the bull will be at one end of the ring, the Forcados at the other. A dramatic stare-off begins this is called the caras, during which the cabo taunts the bull through verbal calls and physical gesticulations, the sole aim of which is to incite the bull into a charge. It is the job of the cabo to absorb the bull’s full impact by placing himself between the bull's horns then the remaining Forcados must work as a single unit, each man grabbing a different part of the animal's body, until it is fully motionless.

The Forcados represent the common man in the hierarchical world of Portuguese Bullfighting, the proletariat to the aristocracy of the equestrian Cavaleiros. ‘Os Forcados’ offers an intriguing and colourful insight into the brotherhood and community of the Forcados and an examination of the intrinsic differences between the Portuguese and Spanish tradition of Bullfighting.

#London Rockin Rollers - new photos

The London Rockin’ Rollers are veterans of European roller derby. At the time of our humble beginnings, there were only two other UK roller derby leagues. Now, as the fastest-growing sport in Europe, there are almost a hundred leagues in the UK and Ireland alone!

With its roots in the banked-track roller skating marathons of 1930's in the U.S.A, roller derby has evolved into a spectacle where skaters assume alter-egos replete with just as creative names.

To get the full value of joy you must have someone to divide it with.
for me Roller Derby is all about the joy of endevour and and the joy of togetherness and I chose this photo for those reasons, it's always a privilege to feel part of something and to feel welcomed, my experiences of roller derby always made me feel welcomed' 

#Sicily

Sicily has long held an allure throughout the ages, from the Greeks to the Normans, the Spanish and all have indelibly left the mark on this beautiful island.

The largest island in the Mediterranean is perhaps best know today for being inextricably linked to the 'Mafia'. The drama and tensions of the Sicilian culture borne from the influences of it's visitors and conquerors seem to exist in the land itself, this perhaps best personified by the still active volcano, Etna which dominates the landscape around Taormina.

#Alex Bishop - New photos

Alex Bishop guitars are works of sheer beauty, one of a handful craftsmen that straddles the line between artisan and artist. 

This story, a photographic lifestyle project is part of the A MANO series examining the work of like minded individuals that encapsulate the zeitgeist.

The series was originally commissioned by the Californian watch company TSOVET