Welcome to June!

Welcome to June! It’s safe to say things are going to be a lot busier for the next few weeks, though my annual leave is coming up soon, which means I’ll be able to use some of the free time to publish more articles whilst I work full-time.

The weather is set to get even hotter, and after last month saw the United Kingdom bake in the hot weather, it’s safe to say that we can expect a whole lot more of the hot and humid weather. Plus, it’s now officially Summer, so it’s safe to say that the hot weather is officially here to stay.

I’ll be taking the 20th June off from publishing articles as I prepare to say a final goodbye to my close friend who passed away on the 6th April, so please forgive me if you don’t hear anything from me on the day.

In the meantime, what I will try to do is, like last month, I’ll try to publish a bit more frequently if I can, but I’ve got more models I’ll be photographing soon for the photography series: “The Concept of Expression” so keep your eyes peeled over the coming weeks as I’ll be making sure to update the photography series as best as I can.

If you have missed any of the photo-sets I’ve produced for the photography series, you can now highlight your mouse or finger over the series’ own menu and you’ll be able to click or tap on the photo-sets I’ve already produced.

Until then, Welcome to June!

Alex Smithson

The Lightning’s So Electrifying on This Gloomy Day!

The lightning was so electrifying on this gloomy Spring day that it almost knocked my internet out.

It was sunny but gloomy and it did try to rain, but I didn’t chance it today but instead walked to the bus stop to catch my usual bus to work as I usually take two buses, though one of the two buses was unavailable due to road-works subjecting buses and other vehicles on diversion, but it was good to do a bit of exercise on the way to work as it kept me going all through to the end of my shift today.

This photo moment I produced on the way home from work defined how much of a close shave it was for me almost losing my internet connection today as a result of the sudden bolt of lightning.

What was the weather like for you? Was the lightning electrifying where you are?

Please tell me. I would love to hear your responses.

Alex Smithson

Gracious Greenery!

The weather continues to be wonderful as ever as it’s been nice and warm and I couldn’t resist photographing the natural landscapes and trees whilst I was on my way to work and on my way home from work.

Below are more than 200 photos I took whilst I was on my journey to work, including the photos I took whilst on my way home from work.

It was graciously green today and it was so nice and warm, so much so that I actually decided to walk to work and from work rather than get the bus to work and from work for a change. The sunglasses came out today and because of the lovely weather, it felt good to walk to work and from work while the hot weather was about, with a breeze in the air to make the weather feel more relaxing and peaceful.

Did you enjoy the wonderful weather? Please tell me.

If you enjoyed this photo-set I produced of Mother Nature showing off the gracious greenery of Spring with weather that feels like Summer, please tell me.

I would love to hear your responses.

Alex Smithson

Device Used: iPhone 7

Welcome to April!

Welcome to April! As the days begin to get brighter over the next few weeks and the days lasting longer, it’s safe to say that the next few weeks will not only be busier, but the time will be a little slower than usual.

As the weather is set to improve over the next few weeks, make sure you wrap up warm if the Beast from the East returns as there is a possible chance of snow, but hopefully, if we do suddenly get a blanket of snow, hopefully the wintry weather shouldn’t last too long considering that Spring is here and the warm weather is slowly but surely returning.

As there are a very busy couple of weeks ahead, it’s safe to say I won’t be publishing as much due to work, but I’ll be trying to find the time now and then over the next few weeks to see if I can publish some articles when I get the free time available. On the plus side, as Summer is approaching, it’s safe to say that the time will fly and it will be a lot warmer than last year.

Until then, Welcome to April and have a Happy Easter!

Alex Smithson

Beautiful Abstraction.

Art and colour are full of beautiful abstracts, but it’s the abstraction of abstract art that makes art unique and interesting.

I love art because of the vibrancy it brings. I love art because it’s not about the details that make the art interesting, rather it’s the time and effort someone has taken to make that art piece a masterpiece.

Art is a beautiful abstraction in itself considering that it’s colourful, vibrant like technicolour, but like drops of paint on a canvas. Every colourful drop of paint on a canvas makes up the masterpiece that is produced.

I know, this is probably the craziest article you will have read, but I see art as a form of expression, not just as a drawing or painting. A beautiful abstraction in the world of art from my eyes is being able to express yourself artistically, whether it would be using a pencil or paintbrush, expressing your emotions, your creativity and your hard work and effort go a long way even if it takes time.

Art, to me, is a time-lapse of hard work. Art is a journey, but a time-lapse of hard work in the art world is the beginning of the artistic masterpiece which progresses to the conclusion of the finished masterpiece.

To rush art is a waste. To take all the time in the world to produce art in small leaps and bounds now and then can make that artwork that’s produced carefully with care and precision a true work of art and also as a true masterpiece.

A delayed masterpiece is a true work of art. A rushed masterpiece is a waste, but a delayed masterpiece is better than no masterpiece.

Art is inspiring and I hope that this inspired you.

Alex Smithson

Brrrrrr….It’s a Winter Wonderland!

Just as the Beast of the East was set to reach its end, Storm Emma wasn’t letting the wintry weather disappear fast enough. Snow continued to batter the United Kingdom, with schools, colleges and even stores shutting early due to the blizzard.

I photographed this moment on my phone and made an edit to give the photo the wintry warmth it truly needed. It definitely was like Winter Wonderland as it was freezing cold, but what a brrrrrrilliant time it sure was to seize this opportunity of a lifetime to photograph the snow!

Original Version

Edited Version

I was lucky to photograph this moment as I finished earlier than my shift time as my place of work closed early due to the weather, which couldn’t have come at a better time as I’m on annual leave now for a whole week, and with my annual leave being my first, I’ll be making sure to use the time wisely to go out and have a good time, and even photograph some friends of mine.

Did it snow heavier where you are? Please tell me, I am so keen to hear whether you made the most of this snowy weather.

Alex Smithson

Device Used: Motorola C

Living Life Outside the Comfort Zone: What Was it Like for You?

Living our lives outside the comfort zone means there are new challenges that can help us to prosper and succeed if we work hard, but what is so different about living life outside the comfort zone?

The difference of living outside the comfort zone means you are not used to working hard on something in the same way you would originally think at first. For instance, before I started working full-time, I got so used to having bundles of free time that I would, on some days, go out and have a good time, whereas, other times, I would stay at home and either write articles or play on one of my consoles, and often enough, it did get to the stage where I would want to be working in a job at some point, as working full-time now in the job I have has enabled me to step outside of my comfort zone and do a lot of working hard that I underestimated I would be used to, but as the weeks have gone by and considering I just finished my first month of working full-time, my mindset has changed from being the student who just left college to working full-time and getting up early in the mornings.

I’ve noticed I have a much better mindset now compared to when I was at college, as I’m working all the time and I don’t sit down as often as I used to as I love to be busy, as I can keep myself occupied with my job whilst being able to work hard on my photography work and anything else that may be job-related.

You can probably tell I have written differently for the first time in this article compared to all the articles I have already published, as my mindset has changed; I’m focused on the job and the tasks in hand and I have noticed I am busy mostly which is better than doing nothing at all.

What was it like for you? Was life different for you once you started to live your life outside the comfort zone? Did you begin to notice you had a better mindset once you started living life outside the comfort zone?

I would love to know your thoughts on living outside the comfort zone in the comments.

Alex Smithson

Monthly Roundup: November 2017

The time sure did fly this month! It’s almost the end of 2017 and it only felt like it was yesterday we just started 2017 and now we’re almost ready to close 2017, and what a fantastic year it has been. I won’t lie, 2017 has been so much more of a better year and I cannot wait to venture into 2018 with fresh opportunities for my photography work, as I will be looking to expand my horizons in the world of photography whilst I work full-time, but I will be prioritising much of my time over next year on full-time work than I will on this website as I want to make sure I can gain all the skills I need and want to gain whilst I work full-time, as this will help me to be more confident in what I write, but next year onwards will be about photography, full-time work and raising awareness for Mental Health.

Without further ado, I shall now take a quick look back over the articles published over the course of this month.

1.11.2017 – Welcoming you all to November, I mentioned that November was set to get a whole lot busier for me considering I was about to embark on my first ever full-time job considering I finished my education for good in July, which meant I wouldn’t be free mostly as I would be putting myself first to earn from my full-time job whilst I learn and re-take Maths.

Also, on this day, ahead of the 3rd November release of Apple’s hotly anticipated tenth anniversary iPhone, the iPhone X (officially pronounced 10), I published a wallpaper pack that would consist of some wallpapers with Mother Nature’s cube, with a further set of wallpapers that would all be the same colours, just without Mother Nature’s cube.

2.11.2017 – As I use this product on a regular basis to make sure the style of my hair always stays as trendy as possible, I wrote a review on L’Oréal’s Matt & Messy Putty and I recommended this hair product to all of you considering it would give your hair that roughed up natural look, which would make your hair look as natural as possible whilst keeping the hairstyle you have in check.

6.11.2017 – Fireworks are used now and then when it comes to a special occasion; a party, or even during Bonfire Night and on New Year’s Day, but why is firework safety important? Well, the article I wrote: “Firework Safety: Why it’s Important” would allow me to air my views and reasons for why I believe that firework safety is important. I also highlighted considering I take your health and safety seriously and wanted you to stay as protected as possible by asking you to stay safe and wrap up warm, and that your health and safety are both important, and that no one, and I mean no one, is allowed to compromise that.

Thanks for such a good month everyone. I acknowledge I haven’t published as much, but I will try and find time over the last few weeks of 2017 to publish some articles, but I will definitely be publishing my photography set from my trip up to London that I produced towards the end of September before we finish 2017, I can assure you on that.

Again…thanks so much for a good month everyone, and I shall see you all in December!

Alex Smithson

Welcome to November!

Welcome to November on Mother Nature! As this month is set to get a whole lot busier for me considering I am about to embark on my first ever full-time job following finishing my education, it’s safe to say I’ll be trying to keep to a schedule of when I can publish articles, which means I won’t be free mostly as I am putting myself first to earn from my full-time job whilst I learn and re-take GCSE Maths, but at the same time, I will try and publish a few articles here and there when I can find the time.

The next few weeks are set to get much colder as we near the Christmas period, so it’s now the time to wrap up warm and don the scarves and woolly hats as we are set for a breezy and frosty winter. I too find it hard to believe it’s almost the end of 2017, and it only felt like the start of 2017 yesterday! My my! How time flies!

In terms of the photography work I have produced in recent months which still need to be published, I will try and find the time to publish my photography work for the photography series: “The Concept of Expression”, whilst also trying to get my photography work I produced of my recent trip up to London published soon.

Until then, Welcome to November!

Alex Smithson

I Just Got a Full-Time Job!

After months of job-hunting and a lot of hard work, I have finally secured myself a full-time job! I’ve not given up once despite some stress along the way following rejections from some companies left, right and centre, which isn’t too bad as I got used to that, but I am pleased to say I am officially in a full-time job.

I have felt euphoric about the positive news since I woke up at 8:30 AM this morning, and even now I still feel the sense of euphoria in the air. As it is a retail assistant full-time apprenticeship, this is beneficial for me considering I’ve had some retail experience following a two-week work experience placement with Tesco PLC which I completed from the 13th May to the 25th May 2013, with my most recent work experience placement being with Watches2U, but this full-time job will really help me to gain confidence whilst I retake GCSE Maths.

I wanted to share this fantastic news with you today as it is my first ever full-time job and I’ve been bursting with excitement to tell everyone, including all of you, the fantastic news.

Alex Smithson