New Year New Office
A landscape photography blog by Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire based landscape photographer Rob Thorley Photography.
As the title says, it’s a new year. I do have a new office and a new job.
After 40 years in the IT industry I found myself with the opportunity to take a voluntary exit (a.k.a redundancy). This all started back in July, 2023 when the company I worked for ran an expression of interest for anyone that wanted to see their figures. I’m only 56, so it felt a little too early to be finishing work, but I crunched the numbers and worked out that taking my pensions at various points between now and 67, combined with a decent voluntary exit payment meant I could (on paper) afford to go. When I factored in the first half of 2023 that I’d had, and my general lack of interest in the work that I was doing it just made more, and more sense, so I popped my request in.
After a few weeks I was lucky enough to be selected with the caveat that I stayed around until the end of the year. I quickly agreed and at the time I was quite happy with that approach and timeline as I’d had enough and was just glad I’d managed to dig my tunnel. I can say with hindsight that working what was effectively a 5 month notice period, whilst remaining professional was harder than you may think . . . . especially as it meant I’d miss photographing autumn.
So here we are. It’s a new year. The great outdoors is my new office and I guess I can say I’m a full time Landscape Photographer. Well, it just sounds better than “retired”.
I specifically say full time rather than professional as I’m under no illusion about making a living from landscape photography. I think to make a living from landscape photography you need to be diverse, so things like running workshops. Probably some formal recognition in the field combined with a large social media presence, sponsorship deals, industry assignments and a YouTube channel maybe get you to that point. Fortunately I have a few pensions to fall back on, so I’d only like to top up my income from my photography (and videography), rather than needing to make a living from it.
That said who knows what the future holds. As the proverb says . . . “A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step” but if you’re from the tourist board and reading this . . . feel free to get in touch as I don’t mind a lift.
Anyway that’s enough about me. So, where was the first day in my new office I hear you ask?
Three Shire Heads.
Well it was in the glorious Peak District National Park, and I have to admit it wasn’t a bad view out of the office “window”.
I popped over to Three Shire Heads, which I’ve photographed on a number of occasions but today I actually went here to shot some video footage rather than stills. Lets just say I need to learn, and practice more on the videography front, but I’m looking forward to doing that over the coming months, and years. From a stills perspective whilst the light didn’t quite happen I came away with a few images that I was pleased with.
All in all it was a cracking first day in the new office.
You can view more images from Three Shire Heads, and my gallery of other Peak District locations.
