Well hello there everyone I hope your Saturday is going well. Soon enough I have a few out-of-country trips planned, which I am very excited to go on as one is to one of my favourite places and two are countries I have never visited before - so do prepare yourselves for blog posts and pictures from these holidays. Although my summer holiday has been rather long, my holidays have come late in the year so I feel I've missed the chance to write about how best to pack for all you jet setters who have already settled back home ready for winter.

So, I decided rather than to advise you how to travel, but where to go to. Specifically where I desire to travel to of course but I find these places so beautiful, how could you not want to go there and see it for yourself! I have written before how I would love to travel far and wide and capture all the beauty in my camera, and although I'm not taking it with me for one holiday planned, I'm still eager to soak up all the wonder of new places. So here is my list of most desirable new places I want to visit in a somewhat decreasing order...

1. Hawaii. I say all the time the top place I want to see is Hawaii, pretty much because of one of my most favourite films Lilo and Stitch which painted it in such a beautiful light and presented it's culture which I'd love to see and learn about for myself.
2. East Africa. Since I can remember I have always adored Giraffes, so to see them in their natural habitat in the wild African Savannah would be such a treat I'd have the beaming smile like a small child at Disney.
3. Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Brace yourself for the cliche... Since reading and watching The Fault In Our Stars the story resonates with me after it became the first full novel I read in a day, which interested my mom to read it and I felt connected to her having read the same story I have seen/heard how beautiful this capital is and would love to photograph it for myself, as well as visit the Anne Frank house and Van Gogh museum for a bit o' learning.
4. Iceland. There was once an opportunity to go to Iceland for a school trip but the price put me off. However now I've discovered a passion for photography and with that, a deeper appreciation for beautiful things, I would absolutely love to see the Aurora Borealis - The Northern Lights.
5. Greece. Like Amsterdam, I have heard and seen beautiful things about this pure white and vibrantly blue location and wish to see and photograph it for myself. There's no particular Greek island I'd like to visit as they're all as picturesque as the next, I'd sure need a wide angle lens to encompass all it's beauty.
6. United States Of America. It's quite the aspiration and achievement if I manage to visit at least one country in each continent so of course America is here. Specifically I would love to see the famous San Francisco bridge and New York's Times Square at night.
7. Rio De Janeiro. Mainly I'd like to go to Rio to venture to Pedra do Telegrafo for some crazy fun images - I definitely couldn't do this holiday alone though, it would take at least two of us to create this popular rock illusion. I would still like to see the rest of Rio and it's very carnival-esque culture but I do know there is a stark contrast between the rich and the poor there and I'd feel guilty for revelling in the beautiful areas while much of the population is left struggling.

Hi hi! I hope you are all well and have had a pleasant week. This week I've been working hard setting myself the task of slowly but surely building up my portfolio, sharing what I feel is my best work over on PurplePort. As much as I want and need one I've made a pathetic job of looking for... a job or career in photography, I'm brilliant at ignoring my problems *rolls eyes* Besides me feeling like a bit of a let down in that area (and unnamed others), I have pushed myself to take baby steps towards the direction of launching myself into the horrible "real world".

I have found a scrap of motivation within this new, intriguing website to encourage me to publish my work on it and as a result not only making me build up a portfolio but also get my work seen by studios, photographers and models alike, which hopefully helps in getting more chance of work. The fact I know being a successful and financially stable photographer is much easier said than done and works out so very neatly and unrealistic in my head puts me off from trying from fear of rejection or failure, and so I'm clinging onto this growing online portfolio for dear life and praying somebody begs me to work with/for them. That would be the easiest and most idealistic route for a job aye.

My doubts about my future and career make me hesitant, but I know that I love being in the studio and perfecting my images to share. I want to do nothing else but  please people with my photography because photography makes me happy and I want to share that feeling. So in this slither of progress I place hope that each step will get bigger and better and one day I pray I can look back from where I dream to be.

And so I encourage you all, in whatever large or small task you have facing you, take baby steps towards the goal and hopefully one day you'll glance over your shoulder and see how far you've gone and how much you have achieved, and continue on taking strides with a smile. Even the smallest of achievements matter. Perhaps we can help each other with little bursts of motivation to cling on to during this rocky road, or share your own journeys to success for the rest of us to admire and believe that although we all have different paths, goals and difficulties, everyone in turn can overcome whatever rut they're in.

Hello all, I hope you've had a pleasant week. I've sat down with the laptop this morning and am completely diving into nothingness, I have no idea what I'm writing or where this is going. I find that unless I have been on a photo shoot, in studio or on location in my own time, I really am quite clueless on what to blog about, all I ever know is I want to offer readers ideas and advice that can be hashtag relatable and thought provoking, making reading my blog worthwhile.

When I have my camera in hand, I'm on a mission. I snap away until I have hundreds of new images to play with and I love hearing people admire my photography. I'm yet to truly establish my independent style into something recognisable like Van Gogh's paintbrush strokes or Brandon Woelfel's illuminating photography (which is still all the goals I love it so much.) And I'm eager to begin to explore more and develop my own recognisable style.

This week I signed up to Purple Port, for all my photography needs. I'll be honest I'm not quite sure what to do with it now I've set up my profile, all I want to do is add new pictures and perhaps participate in their daily competitions but I haven't taken any in a while despite it being only three blog posts ago that I shared some photography with you all. I do like Purple Port but It's a bit more professional than I think I'm ready for at the moment - I need to earn the money before I start hiring studio spaces and models via the site.

Photography is my passion and I always procrastinate it and I really don't know why because when I'm busy with my camera and in the zone I'm completely immersed in the photo and it's like the world has gone into slow mo. I really need to take my camera somewhere interesting soon. Hit me up with some shoot ideas or concepts, even some themes I could experiment with - I'm trying to conjure up some ideas to enter the competitions on Purple Port.

It's a bit of a photography mess this blog post isn't it, I seem to be having some photography withdrawl symptoms. I do apologise and I'll try to consider something more put together next week unless I get some photography therapy to straighten my brain waves out.

Firstly, a while ago I decided to stop categorising my blog posts because sometimes it's hard to title it with just one topic or any at all so in the new year I'll just give it a title and send the post on it's merry way. Although I may still let you know which ones will be photography posts.

My dad asked me the other day if I had a bit of a writers block because I posted another blog of photos - I mean I love photography but yes I've been kind of stuck for things to write about, but then I had the idea to write about the fact I have nothing to talk about. I noticed this week that I'm bored. I am grateful that I have been well educated unlike many poor souls out in the world and I turn up every day for my lessons and shut up and get on with it, as I have always done - unless I'm too unwell to stand or hold in my dinner obviously.

But quite frankly I'm bloody bored of it. Waking up early to groggily walk to a building full of people that annoy me (until recently with my new pals - they're the only thing that keep me sane, and Mrs Klerides my media teacher #TopBants) and then finally returning home and having to sit there and continue working - I don't enjoy it. And it's the main cause for my many mental breakdowns.

For the most part, school has never been tremendously enjoyable for me. It makes me want to hide in my shell and makes me feel underappreciated. It's a bit of a shit hole really. I respect that other people would die for this privileged I have but they can have my place if they so wish. I'm bored of this routine - I can't remember doing anything with my life other than school and the fun days out and holidays fitted in around it. I want to try something new. Get a job, learn to drive, drive to said job. Get my own place and decorate it just the way I want. Travel to new places with my camera and capture the beauty of the world I can't go and see yet because I'm stuck in this rut.

And you're ever so mistaken if you think I'm going to uni - at any point in life. I've said to people I'll take a gap year to think more about photography courses for the year after but really, I'm having a gap life to get hands on with photography and dive straight in. I need something new and more stimulating to wake up for in the morning.

It's driving me completely bonkers, I can't wait until my last exam is over! Yes I'll then have the almighty struggle of passing my driving tests but that's something I've always wanted to achieve so I don't mind that struggle. And the struggle of finding an employer that has some part in photography - my social anxiety and lack of conversation skills are a barrier I'm willing to nervously break in order to get myself an income off anything to do with photos - really, I'm prepared to even start at the bottom printing off someone else's photos before I get to conduct a photoshoot or sell prints of my own.

I want to one day be able to legitimately call myself a "photographer" (or even a blogger while we're at it) and I'm not waiting any longer to get started on that road - as much as 3 years at uni will probably help.

Please, if you have any advice on finding jobs, getting interviews or any suggestions of potential work places in Birmingham (be it like Max Spielmann prining shops, Jessops camera selling shops or a studio I really don't mind where I start as long as I get out of this school routine) do let me know in the comments below or on Twitter. Any tips would be much appreciated. Or you can start a conversation - are you bored of school routine too?

A few weeks ago me and my dad followed his cousin and her family to wales for a week. I took loads of photos so I'm going to try to break them up and categorise them. This first part is just a random collection of images that aren't very specific - or I just didn't take much of them to dedicate an entire blog post to, so here you go.

I really liked this worn sign at the top of Oxwich beach and immediately took out my camera for a snap.

This was taken at Mumbles, there's always millions of boats there. There was even one called "itchy pussy" - I shit you not!!

One of my most favourite things to take photos of is these view point telescopes, I find them to be like a symbol of tourist-ness, and they're always pointing towards something interesting so I like to aim the focus to what the telescope is looking at.

This was taken at Caswell beach. It was a small windy little beach but it was pleasant all the same. I stayed for a few moments watching the waves splash up against the rocks here and taking lots of photos to get the best shot.

I think this was also taken in Mumbles. I spotted him perched on the top of the rock and told him to "wait there" as I took out my camera to take a photo - I was very happy he listened :)

I do really love taking pictures of birds flying, I always feel really proud when I manage to capture them in the air where they look elegant and free.

These two boys were cycling around on Oxwich beach at dusk, I like the movement in this picture with the slight blur and the simple idea of speeding along a beach on your bike.

Drinks at Oxwich Bay.

Another one from Caswell. I was reading a book and looked up to see a great composition for a photo so sat up and took a quick snap.

Yes please!! This is my favourite Welsh eatery - Eddie Rocket's Diner, massive yummy food!

There 'ain't no finer diner...

My favourite oreo milkshake, mmmmmm!

Keep your eyes peeled for more Welsh photos in the next couple of weeks, I'll be sharing my favourite photos from each beach mentioned here: Lifeguards at Caswell, Mumbles Pier, Oxwich Bay and the windy Rhossili.

Let me know your favourites from today, I'd love to hear what you all think!