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B365 – I CANT BELIEVE I MADE IT!

April 4, 2018April 4, 2018 joshfspear5 Comments

Well, its finally here, blog post 365 and it feels a bit weird. For the 90% of my facebook friends that have had to put up with these posts each day and who are just not interested, don’t worry its over. But for those that have read these and showed a small amount of interest, this is for you.

Its over, Ive managed to post 3 photos a day for 365 days and now Im thinking back at the days all those times where I’d given up precious sleep or I’ve been rushing around writing from my phone and its all built up to this moment trying to get these post done. Now, 150,000 words later, 2TB’s of photos and countless hours walking around trying to make each day interesting and worthy are over.

It all started from a conversation with Amy on a weekend away, that turned into me basically going full steam ahead everyday for the past year and in turn has been one of the craziest years or my life, I’ve worked all around the world, including two months in America and China, completely ruined my leg and had to basically learn to walk again, now living with Amy (my girlfriend), completely done up our flat and now working on some really cool projects and productions that I’m pretty proud of.

For todays post I was trying to think of a cool way to end it, like set off loads of fireworks or fly to some amazing beach and finish with a cocktail and some sun burn, but to be honest looking back at the year, the only way to end is to really show 25 of my favourite photos from the 1200 that I’ve posted. Photos that might over wise be forgotten about and disappear into the depths of my hard drive. I’m now sat on my Lunch break at work scrolling through photos and laughing at all the stuff that’s gone on, from coming home after 18 hours a work with nothing to photograph so running down stairs and buying some fruit to cut open and photograph to seeing someone sunbath on Shoreditch high-street drinking beer in just a pair of hot pants or even that time I flew back from Victoria, Canada on a dodgy plane that had no in flight entertainment so for 15 hours I taped my iPhone to the seat in front of me and watched weird low budget films the whole way, just after I had been in the path of Hurrican Irma and witnessed what state of emergency meant in North Carolina.

This blog has been one of the best things I’ve ever done and if it wasn’t for Amy saying “you should start a photo blog” then we wouldn’t be here today and I probably wouldn’t have the confidence or even writing ability and photography skills I have today. Im by no means an expert but I like to think from where I was last year, I’m much better. So thank you Amy for putting up with the words “I gotta do my photos” to helping me figure out tough posts and just generally putting up with the daily stress of being with me. Your alright you are and I owe you big time.

Looking back at my writing a year ago I have no idea how I even managed to send an email let alone put together an interesting paragraph, but this past year I’ve written around 150,000 words with a minimum daily count of 300 words, its not just given me confidence in my writing ability, its also helped me talk to people and just going with my gut instinct, then having the confidence to see a task through till the end. That’s something I didn’t realise I didn’t have till I’ve started thinking about my next steps and how confident I am about what I want todo next. In the words of my good friend Anders “I’m no Neurosurgeon, but Ill give it ago”.

This photo challenge might be over and the stress of posting everyday is now in the past but I promise this wont be my last post, I’ve sat down this past month and thought of ways to carry on and what direction I should move in and to be honest what I have in the pipe line is something that I’m even more excited about and can’t wait to share with you all. But right now, its time to get some sleep and just enjoy the fact that I’ve managed to see this all the way through to the end. Not even the Chinese government or countless timezones and flight delays were able to stop me.

So one last time.

Here’s my photos from today. Enjoy.

B365-1-5 — – this is how i plan on spending the next 2 weeks, before I start putting work in on the next project. I will still blog but just not daily –

B365-1-4 — – doing my final walk around bethnal green taking photos for the blog this evening, it kind of felt a bit like a victory lap –

B365-1-6 — – I will always take street photos and try to capture cool moments where ever I am –

Before you see my favourite 25, I just want to say thank you too the 13,500 readers from 119 countries that have read my daily blog, not all hero’s wear capes.

On to the next challenge and a new direction for joshfspear.com

Peace out and thank you for sticking with me through the terrible grammar and countless spelling mistakes!

B0002-1-2 — – it was at this post that the idea for the blog was created, Bleinheim Palace –

– playing with the gopro after amy picked me up from the pub, thanks mush –

B321-1-4 — – walking through hyde park early morning is something I wish I could do more often –

B035-1 — – london has been the perfect city for this photo challenge, thank you to all the grumpy people that dressed up as storm troopers or sun bath on highstreets, you have made this blog a million times better –

B036-1-3 — – the day I found out my leg was ruined and I wouldnt be able to run the ultra marathon or walk for that matter –

B320-1-2 — – moving in with this one, so happy we have done the most of our ikea shopping tick list, please no more –

B083-1-4 — – explore italy, she has some how managed to put up with my constant photo taking –

B119-1-3 — – its always good to see stuff like this on your way home –

B305-1 — – this dog still is one of my favourite dogs ive come across –

B331-1-5 — – in four years of living in Bethnal Green, this year I saw the most snow ive ever seen in london –

B010-3 — – Norfolk sea side is one of my favourite places to photograph, the colours always come out perfect –

B101-1 — – this image was the first one I had taken shooting in RAW, and my god it was worth the switch from JPEG even is the files are bigger

B104_A-1 — – I am looking forward to the summer again and getting more colour in my photos

B111-1-3 — – this is one of my favourite photos from the past year, right time, right place i suppose –

B126-1-5 — -again, right place right time, the sea gull literally dived down and stole her fish and chips –

B170 (1 of 1)-3 — – seeing people jamming on the guitars in St.Louis was pretty cool, hopefully Ill get to go back there soon –

B176 (1 of 1) — – seeing a deer walk down the street in Victoria, Canada. Luckily I had a 70-200mm lens on my camera at the time –

B177 (1 of 1)-2 — – water planes on the river in Victoria, a place that I would love to explore when im not working –

B179-1-2 — – 15 hour flight, using my phone at a TV. that was an experiance I wouldn’t do again in a hurry –

B193 (1 of 1)-2 — – walking round New York, this photo was taken somewhere near the brooklyn bridge –

B209 (1 of 1) — – flying out of New York –

B233-1 — – the view from my room in Shang hai, that place is like no where else ive been –

B246-1-2 — – christmas on Bond street, these two were well into the christmas sprite –

flo-1-3 — – flo doing what flo does best, cause havoc –

– our drive to the flat in Italy, the Amalfi coast is somewhere I would love to go again –

Peace out everyone, its been fun.

Much love,

Joshfspear

B364 – THREE STONE HEAVIER

April 3, 2018April 3, 2018 joshfspearLeave a comment

ahh Tuesday morning and the end of the four day weekend, its kind of weird because I kind of feel like the four day weekend is kind of like the End and beginning of a new year, I’m not sure if its because of the end of the tax year or if its because the blog ends tomorrow. but for some reason its starting to feel like a new chapter. but before a “new chapter” starts I think its probably best if I just drag out some more easter photos just one last time.

After waking up slowly yesterday and chilling out in the morning, it was time to jump on a train back to London and sort ourselves out for work. I think its fair to say that we all left yesterday weighing at least 2 stone more. Ive had an easter egg for breakfast two days in a row and now I’m not really sure what todo with myself, I kind of feel like its acceptable to have a chocolate bar before 9am today but then again that might not be the best idea. I think I can speak for both Amy and me when I say thank you Auntie Michelle for a really really good easter break and an even better spread of food. We didn’t have the best weather but in a way thats kind of better because then everyone just goes into sleepy mode and we all just sit around chilling out, instead of trying to think of a way to make the most of the weather. kind of what easters all about, even though I wouldn’t of minded some sun and maybe just maybe temperatures above 20. today is a short and sweet post as I really need to get dressed for work, so hope thats ok with you guys.

Anyway, heres some photos from the weekend. I hope everyone had a good Easter and did exactly what they wanted too with the four day weekend.

B364-1-2 — – I wish this was desert every day –

B364-1-3 — – weather wasnt on ourside but sometime that makes weekends like this every better –

B362-1-2 — – My dad wanted me to post this photo the other day but I forgot, Release the Chimps Beer it made him chuckle –

B363 – THE SERIOUS BUSINESS OF EASTER EGG HUNTING

April 2, 2018 joshfspearLeave a comment

So as Easter is now kind of officially over and this is kind of the last day where eating chocolate for breakfast is acceptable, I think its now also acceptable that this post is a few hours late. The normal plan is to get this posted for 10am every morning apart from the odd Sunday where they go up at 2pm, I know this isn’t exactly a Sunday but it is a bank holiday Monday so in my eyes its fine.

Yesterday was Easter egg hunt day and even though the weather was pretty much terrible I would have to say that overall it was a success, I didn’t find any eggs but Flo and Phoebe managed to track down every egg and then they hide a few more for their selves to find again, so I think they enjoyed it. Apart for the Easter egg hunt, it was pretty much just a normal family Sunday, with loads of food, beer and watching some children’s movie that no one wanted to watch apart from Phoebe, but I suppose that’s what this day is all about. I did manage to get some pay back for making us watch Fireman Sam the movie, when we went on the dog walk by letting her ride though a big puddle and getting her feet wet. So I suppose it was a win win for everyone.

Right now we are about to head back to London and get ready for work tomorrow, and after four days off, Im kind of looking forward to getting back to filming again and seeing out the rest of this series. Don’t get me wrong I like having four days off, it gives me time to spend with the family and then start thinking about ideas I have and want to start, this weekend has helped to put like a mini restart on my brain and help me kick it back into gear.

Heres some photos from yesterday, hope everyone had a good Easter and enjoyed the long weekend!

B363-1 — – dog walk yesterday, as you can tell Mooney was really up for having her photo taken –

B363-1-2 — – Easter egg hat making yesterday, Flo and me make a great team –

B363-1-4 — – counting out easter eggs post hunt, not sure who the winner was but I definitely know it wasn’t me –

B334 – SO UNDERWELMING!!!

March 4, 2018 joshfspearLeave a comment

So this is a post about something I thought would have worked out completely different. If you’ve ever been to my flat you would know that a lot of the time you seem to find cables and camera gear in the most random places, under the sofa, in the bed room and sometime even in the Bath room. Its not my fault its just what happens, no one know how is happens it just does. I think its Amy, she seems to be the one who finds most of the cables and gear so it must be her that leaves it around the flat.

Well today I woke up and went to the sofa, under a cushion to my disbelief there was a CF card, the said card is the same as the one that my camera uses. for those of you that dont know what a CF card is, they are basically bigger SD cards and its what my camera uses to record the images too. This got me exicted, could this CF card be from a few years ago and contain amazing photos that I completely forgot about? could it have evidence of a past flat party or maybe a christmas I forgot about? Well the answer is no where near as exciting as this, its a CF card I lost earlier this week and only really had some photos of a shower head from a hotel, a photo of my dog and some shots of the beast from the east. it coudnt of been more disheartening. I was really hoping for some amazing shots I hadn’t seen for years.

As this has really let me down I feel that I should still post these photos to show you what I went through this morning and to make up for it Im going to quickly jump in the shower and then head out and do my best to take some amazing photos in West London! thats my aim for today!

B334-1 — – THIS IS MY DOG MOONEY AND SHE LIKES TO SLEEP –

B334-1-2 — – this is my last photo from the beast of the east I promise –

B334-1-3 — – a shower head in a hotel I stayed in a few week back. I took this picture to see if my 50mm lens still worked, not because I like showers –

B307 – HELP THE HOMELESS – SECOND SHOT COFFEE

February 5, 2018February 4, 2018 joshfspearLeave a comment

Think I need to start this by saying that the meal was a success, I managed to get through it without an awkward moments and not a single drink split. So Ive come away feeling like it went well. Its now like 10pm on sunday and Im trying to write this and stay awake, Ive got to be up pretty early tomorrow and catch a train up north for the day, which I’m kind of looking forward to as its getting out of London for the day. As much as I love this city, I also love getting out and seeing parts of the UK, and tomorrow I get to see my old friend the Virgin Train economy coach.

With having a meal with some of Amy’s family that I haven’t met before, the plan for todays photos was to take them before we met everyone, so I didn’t have to worry about getting photos during and after the meal. Luckily my mind was in full creative mode and I managed to snaps some cool photos on the way to Wembley. My idea was also to use the Iphone as the 5d might have been a bit too big to bring along. I actually love the Iphone for taking photos, it makes life so much easier. the idea that I have a really good camera just a finger swipe up on a screen, has been a life saver for this blog and I don’t think I could have got this far without it. So for that Steve Jobs I thank you.

I hope everyone likes the photos today, my plan for this last stretch of the 365 daily posts is to really develop my writing and photo skills. I don’t have to get complacent and to see how much I can really improve, I think the trick is to read more and to concentrate to composition, put more thought into the direction of the writing and how it relates to the photos I take. Thats just my sunday night thinking, hope everyone had a good weekend. much love and all that!

B307-1 — – Second shot coffe shop on Bethnal Green road, a coffee shop that helps the homeless. you can buy coffees and food for the homeless and they make sure they get to the right people. you also get the draw on the wall. Can you tell which drawing is mine? –

B307-1-2 — – amy doing business on a sunday –

B307-1-3 — – a shot from Wembley looking back on the train tracks from the bridge –

B295 – IT WAS A NICE DAY ALL THINGS CONSIDERED.

January 24, 2018January 23, 2018 joshfspear9 Comments

Today we had my grandad’s funeral, its days like this which aren’t always the easiest things to include in this photo blog thing, but I suppose its just what happened today and I have to write something to go along with the photos. Firstly I think you’ve got to give my nan credit where credits due, it was a pretty good day and she definitely pulled it out the bag with regards to the organising, it must have been a pretty hard emotionally to sort out but she did it with flying colours.

My plan for today was not to photograph any of the actually funeral that probably wouldn’t of been ok, but my dad asked me to grab some photos of the wake so that was my opportunity to grab some nice shots. One of the highlights has to have been the Portuguese cream Tarts which were Grandads’ favourites, so that being the case I got a good photo of my nan and dad having a little toast with a cream cake. Its those moments that I like to remember from the days like today.

What you have to like about funerals is they are kind of highlight packages of someones life, people come together and talk about all those good moments and times that have defined the kind of life that was lived. Today we heard old friends and close family talk in such a nice and genuine way about how he had shaped their lives and how proud friends of 30 or 40 years were to have known him from his work ethic to how he and my nan raised three children. He always wanted the best for all of them and had the determination and structure to make sure that they grew into respected adults and in turn gave my dad, aunty and uncle the tools needed to kind of shape all the gran children into the people we are today, so I think I can say from all of us “kids” cheers gramps. Oh and thanks for the pocket watch.

I wish you could have seen us all grow into adults and join us on this weird journey that people call life, but that wasn’t the case. You were loved by many and will be missed by us all.

Peace out.

B295-1 — – cheers with a Portuguese Cream Tarts –

B295-1-4 — – Not sure what Phoebe was saying but i’m sure Michele got the jist of it –

B295-1-3 — – its only right that when in the New Forest you get a photo with a horse –

B295-1-2 — – not sure who this lady was but she wanted a photo with the red lion, I was happy to make that happen –

B285 – THE BIG GUYS BIRTHDAY

January 14, 2018 joshfspearLeave a comment

Yesterday was the big man’s aka my dads 60th birthday party / gathering thing at their house. which was a really good day, the whole side of his family were showed up including his mum, brother and sister, so it was kind of a Spear party. but as I’m doing dry January I was sticking to the cups of tea and occasional orange juice, but even still it was good to see the family that I haven’t really seen in a few years.

I idea behind yesterday was that because he’s reached the grand old age of 60 that for his birthday he should get 60 presents to open, yep thats 60 presents. so the everyone chipped in and had to bring either 15 or 13 presents each, im not sure what the exact number of presents need to each person but I just knew I need to get 13. what was really good is that everyone got loads of different stuff from bonsi tree seeds to my brilliant gift of 13 bottles of his favourite water. It goes without saying that the best part of the day hands down has to go to the cake, and that was all thanks to my sister who pulled it out of the bag and amazingly got someone else to make it. but nether the less, the cake was like 6 layers of pure chocolate heaven, I kind of wish that I brought some back with me last night, it would of been perfect for breakfast this morning.

This morning Amy and me are back at the flat and up kind of early, im off to take some photos for someone, and Amy’s got a pretty busy day too. but as long as we manage to fit a roast dinner in there at some point ill be happy.

Heres my photos from today, I hope you like them!

B285-1 — – now thats what you call a cake –

B285-1-8 — – 60 presents, look how good those bottle of waters look –

B285-1-2 — -Nanny B and Richard and lynne + Mathew –

B285-1-4 — – Nanny B again, Mathew and the little monster that we all call Florence –

B284 – NOTTING HILL

January 13, 2018 joshfspearLeave a comment

I’ve had these photos for a while and been wanting to post them but just waiting for a time where they might be useful and today is a good a day as any to post them I think. It was about ten days before Christmas and I had decided that I was going to go and photograph Notting Hill once everyone had left and it was just about to shut down. To be honest I’m not a fan of these types of places when they are busy, it just seems like carnage. Places like Notting Hill are so much better late at night or really early in the morning.

They are even better when its like this before Christmas because all the lights are still up and turned on, so you get these really cool spots of different lights and that adds a colour to the road, which makes photos 10 x better. Looking back on this, I really wish that I had woken up at like 4am one day and gone over and take photos just as Notting hill was waking up. Maybe Next year.

Moving forward to today, right now I’m sat on a train heading over to my parent’s house of my dads 60^th birthday. I’m looking forward to seeing the family and eating as much food as I possible can. Obviously I’ve brought my camera with me so get ready for those corny family photos that Ill probably upload tomorrow. Its always good getting back to the countryside from London, get that fresh air in me lungs.

My plan for next week is to find a really cool part of London that might not be that well known and take some photos, maybe a market place or something, so if you know of anywhere that might be what im looking for let me know. I’m thinking along the lines of like a traditional market, with a fish mongers and a toy stand, that kind of place.

Here’s my photos from last month! I hope you like them.

B284-1 — – I think that guy should buy a jacket –

B284-1-3 — – I take it they get asked that question a lot –

B284-1-2 — – thats the kind of like i’m talking about –

B269 – AMY HAS REPLACED ME FOR A PUPPY

December 29, 2017 joshfspearLeave a comment

Yesterday was a jammed pack day of Dog walking, car cleaning and more dog stuff. nothings better than having a productive day of doing things that aren’t really work related. but right now I’m trying to get this post done in 10 minutes before a hurricane walks through the door in the shape of my little cousin.

but back to yesterday, it all started when we ended up going on a bit of a group dog walk around Biggin hill, my dog Mooney isn’t really that keen on other dogs at the moment, she recently got bitten on the her my an bigger dog so she’s a bit scared of anything with four legs at the moment. it was good to get outside and do a bit of walking though I haven’t walked mooney in ages so that was fun and its also good to get her used to other dogs again.

After the dog walk it was time to clean some cars, my mums car was unacceptable dirty so now it was time to attack that with everything I had but before that I offered to clean my mums hairdressers car, its nice todo nice things right? Clean cars is actually pretty rewarding, you can see something that was dirty and once your finished it looks totally different in a way.

Last night we also had our mate Jocobs annual Christmas Party where people sing songs and play beer pong, but the highlight of the evening was by are my Beer pong skills and also the fact Jacob has recently got to new puppies which amy refused to put down the whole night

Sorry todays post is a bit rushed but Amy and me thought we were waking up early but we are going to have family to entertain before we then have to jump in a taxi and head over to a friends and drive down to Bristol where 20 of us have hired a house of New Years eve.

anyway I hope everyone is enjoy the christmas break and looking forward to 2018, heres my photos from yesterday! I hope you like them!

B269-1 — – starting the day with a dog walk is always a good idea –

B269-1-2 — – me trying to take a photo walk cleaning the car –

B269-1-3 — – Amy has now replaced me with a puppy –

B268 – RUNNING AROUND LIKE A CHRISTMAS CRACK HEAD!

December 28, 2017 joshfspearLeave a comment

Its that weird time of year between christmas and new years where you still have to run around like some sort of christmas crack head trying to get your fix of family and chocolate and that exactly what amy and me have been doing, yesterday after waking up at Anders house I was on the move back to my flat for a 10 minute pit stop to meet amy and grab some clothes before heading back to see Flo so Amy can give her, her christmas presents. so naturally we stayed for a bit and played hide and seek and all those other games that a 3 year old likes to play. Flo was typically took control of my camera and decided to take a photo of us, so as you can expect I have included that photo below.

its now 10:37 on the 28th of December and we are sitting on my parents sofa getting ready to have a productive day of dog walking, car cleaning and hairdressing. a lot of activities but Im ready to rock n roll and get this show on the move.

theres something I want to write about on this blog today to make it final and then I have no excuse if I fail and that is a bet that I have put together my a good chum anders, we are going to be doing Dry January, No drinking alcohol for the whole of January and if we do then we have to give the other person £30. Im determined to fail and get back to track with my running, this time last year I was training for an ultra marathon and now I want to put those running shoes back on and start training of another race, my leg is in a good place and I’m sure with a bit of swimming and my a gym session or two I can get back to a good place and start running fast times.

Here are my photos from yesterday. Enjoy.

B268-1-2 — – just flo sorting out Amy’s hair –

B268-1 — – my arty shot from a coffee shop in crystal palace –