Sveti Stefan and Montenegro

The famous Sveti Stefan Hotel was created by converting a historic fortified fishing village during communist rule in the former Yugoslavia under Marshall Tito. The accommodation is in the style of individual cottages set around little gardens linked by a rabbit warren of narrow cobbled alleys and steps. The privacy of the location on a rocky isthmus connected by a narrow causeway has made the hotel a magnet for movie stars and celebrities and it was on the shortlist of destinations for Charles’ and Diana’s honeymoon. Then came the Balkan civil wars and although Montenegro was not directly involved, the embargo on tourism forced the hotel into a sort of limbo, ticking over without western visitors. It was during this period that the Hotel hosted the notorious chess matches between American Bobby Fischer and Russian Boris Spassky. Fischer was convicted of sanction busting in the American courts and went into exile as a result.

Now that sanctions are over and tourism has restarted, Sveti Stefan has returned to some of its former glory. Because of its unique geographic location it is an instantly recognisable symbol of Montenegro, their Eiffel Tower or Tower Bridge, and it is pictured on the cover of the country’s only guide book. The hotel is very much the “Flagship” for hospitality in Montenegro and the government use it to impress important visitors. The dining terrace perched on top of a cliff is often used for State banquets and during my two week stay the Montenegrin President hosted a reception for foreign investors and a dinner for the Russian Prime Minister. The normal business of the hotel isn’t disturbed by these occasions and the dignitaries pass through the common lounges to their dining area. Guests watching football on TV were surprised to have the two Heads of State join them for the last half hour of a match.

Of Montenegro itself, the country is still a best kept secret with beautiful coast, gorges, national parks, and a Unesco World Heritage Site around the Bay of Kotor with its many fine, (if slightly decaying), examples of Venetian architecture. To see my stock photos of Sveti Stefan and Montenegro click HERE

Bradley Wiggins

Having already won World Championships and Olympic Gold medals for pursuiting on the track there was no question about the power of his "Engine", but most track riders who transfer to the road don't aspire to being more than a prologue time trial specialist. It seemed thus for Bradley Wiggins, whose previous Tour de France rides gave no hint of this years performance. With his job done at Beijing, Bradley has transformed himself into a contender for overall victory by shedding the pounds necessary to get the power to weight ratio which allows him to climb the mountains with the other main contenders for the yellow jersey and today at Verbier leave some of them struggling in his wake including Lance Armstrong who now has only a slender lead on Bradley's third place time.
To see my stock photos of Bradley Wiggins, click HERE

Alex Hua Tian

Alex Hua Tian was the first three day eventer to represent China in the Olympic Games, competing in 2008 Beijing. He took part in a recent competition at Powderham Castle on his dappled Gray FBW Chico. He is the youngest ever Olympic rider, ranked at 21st in the World in mid 2008.

To see my stock photos of Alex Hua Tian click HERE

Tom Boonen, Cocaine and the Snogging Defence

Current reports on the latest case of Tom Boonen failing a drugs test for cocaine indicate that the the amounts of the drug detected were small and that they might have come from secondary contact such as a handshake. Though small, the amounts are significant and a hypothesis that I haven't seen anywhere is of transmission by kissing a cocaine user which may explain Boonen's reticence about how the drug entered his system. Might be embarrassing to explain who he has been snogging! To see a stock photo of Tom Boonen wearing the yellow jersey as leader of the Tour de France Click

Mark Cavendish

For the first time for many years UK has a rider in professional road cycling who is consistently winning stages of the Tour de France. Mark Cavendish from the Isle of Man owes much of his phenominal sprinting speed to the early part of his career racing on the track at the Manchester Velodrome where he won the world championships for the madison race partnering multiple olympic Champion Bradley Wiggins.

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On transferring to Road racing, Mark immediately started to win in opposition to some of the top sprinters in the peleton. Mark Cavendish will start the 2009 Tour de France as favourite to win the green jersey of the points competition. I have photographed him during the track World Championships and the Tour of Britain. To see stock photos of Mark Cavendish CLICK

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Bedruthan Steps Cornwall

Bedruthan Steps is one of the most dramatic views on the North Cornwall coast. The cliffs are partly owned bt the Nation Trust who use the old Cornish name of Carnewas. When the tide is out a white sand beach is exposed, accessible from steps cut into a crack in the cliff, but the best way to see it is at high water during rough seas when wave break over the jagged spikes formed by the erosion of the north coast over the past millenia. It's an important landmark on the long distance southwest coast path and hikers with boots and backpack mix with trippers who have strolled down from the nearby car park and tea rooms.

To see my stock photos of Bedruthan Steps CLICK

Exeter Devon England

It's difficult to photograph your home town, familiarity makes you pass by something a visitor would notice. The favourite subjects are Exeter Cathedral, the quay and River Exe, the House that Moved, Mol's Coffee House on the Cathedral Close and the Royal Clarence Hotel.

To see my Stock Photos of Exeter, CLICK