July 2026 — Seen Digitally

The Calm Before the Storm

July has been an odd month.

If I'm honest, my enthusiasm for photography still hasn't fully returned. Perhaps it's because we've been living in limbo, waiting to move house. It's difficult to make plans when you're never quite sure what's happening next, so most weekends have been spent keeping things fairly simple.

That said, I made a conscious effort to get myself outside.

There were a few peaceful hours spent kayaking, enjoying the water and escaping the ever-growing list of jobs at home. I also managed an extra bike ride across the South Downs. I cycle to work every day, so riding for pleasure is something completely different. No destination. No timetable. Just fresh air, open countryside and the freedom that comes with turning the pedals.

Later in the month we squeezed in a visit to a theme park, camera in hand as always. Theme parks are probably not what most people associate with landscape photography, but I enjoy capturing the details, the atmosphere and the moments in between the rides.  Theme park posts

Photography this month hasn't been about creating portfolio images.

It's simply been about making memories.

Then, just a few days ago, everything suddenly became very real.

After months of waiting, we finally received the email from our solicitor confirming that we're ready to exchange contracts and have a moving date.

The timing couldn't be much crazier.

We'll be moving house on the very same day we leave for our road trip to Germany. We plan to leave around 10pm to catch the 2:20am Le Shuttle, so getting the keys, getting what we can in and unpacked, then hopefully a nap, it's going to be a manic day.

It wasn't the plan.

There have been a few unexpected complications further up the chain that delayed everything, and although we'd hoped to have a little breathing space before our holiday, sometimes life writes a different schedule.

So instead of choosing between moving house or going away...

...we're doing both.

It'll be exhausting.

It'll probably be chaotic.

But it'll certainly be memorable.

As I write this, July feels like the quiet before everything changes.

A new home.

A family adventure to the The Black Forest Germany..

Europa-Park.

Thousands of miles on the road.

Hopefully a camera that's ready to be used again.

Perhaps that's why photography has felt different these past few months.

Sometimes creativity waits while life asks your attention elsewhere.

And that's okay.

I'm looking forward to seeing what August brings—not just because of where we're going, but because it feels like the beginning of a new chapter.

This was July, seen digitally.