by Tim Gander

Happy New Year!

How was your Christmas and New Year? Are you all re-invigorated, set and ready to take 2026 by the chestnuts and give it a good twist?

Well if not, don’t worry; there is no law which says you have to be a new you just because it’s a new year. Don’t put that pressure on yourself. Maybe spend a little time putting together your short term, medium term and long term to-do list, then stick it in a drawer and wing it like you always do! It works for me!

Being a little more serious for a moment, I know I have some challenges to face and some tricky decisions to wrestle with this year, and I will be working through them in my usual, slightly random way. However, I did at least end 2025 and start 2026 with some relaxing family time followed by a fun adventure in wildest West Wales.

And as always, my camera was with me.

So to kick off the year nice and gently, here’s a handful of random images from the Wales trip.

Looking along a smart new concrete promenade with large rocks either side as it stretches out to the sea at Aberaeron, West Wales. There are people in the distance and to the right of the picture, a woman in a red winter jacket, jeans and trainers walking her large brown dog. They are walking away from the camera. The sky is blue with whispy clouds and the sea is calm.
Aberaeron, West Wales.
A female whose face is only dimly visible is smiling at camera while her head torch shines two red beams which also illuminate the faux fur lining of the hood she is wearing. The surrounding picture is in blackness.
Helen looking like a Dr Who monster.
Looking down a supermarket aisle with shelves filled with sugary breakfast cereals on the left, green footprint stickers leading away from the viewer on the speckled beige tiled floor and freezer cabinets to the right.
Signage...
Low-angle view of sea foam on the beach looking out from Penbryn in Wales. Heavy clouds make a dramatic sky.
Sea foam
A full moon is visible between power lines against a dusk sky.
Full moon from M25
Close-up view of a display panel in the Science Museum showing a scientist at work next to text of his quote.
I'm in the Science Museum!

It was a fun start to the year and it gave me a little time to reflect and consider what goals I might actually have. Here’s the thing though; I didn’t have any revelatory moments during the couple of weeks I was away, but I know thoughts were churning in the back of my mind.

Now that I’m back, some of those thoughts have turned into outline plans which have floated to the surface like messages in a Magic 8 Ball. I’m determined to get some of them out of my brain and into reality.

So here goes 2026! I hope your plans emerge too and that you manage to make them tangible.

Happy New Year!

 

in Personal Work / photographer / Point of View / Uncategorized 0 comments
 by Tim Gander

2025 in Pictures

I’m rounding up this year with a selection of images, one for each month, which help illustrate what I’ve taken to calling a “textured” year.

Packed with work, swimming, cycling, professional and personal ups and downs, challenges and triumphs 2025 has been pretty interesting in both good and less good ways.

This gallery represents a very small selection of the assignments I’ve undertaken, and while they might not all be “bangers” they do represent a flavour of the work I’ve done and the personal images which interest me.

The majority of my professional photographic work has been with University of Bath, but other clients have also kept me out of mischief.

In the middle of it all my mum passed away in July which, while not entirely unexpected, did add another emotional dimension to the year.

 

A female Asian student in blue, yellow and black cap and gown is looking up, smiling and clapping. Other students are visible around her.
January - University of Bath Winter Graduations
Low Winter sun casts shadows of wooden benches and people across a textured concrete patio area. Trees are visible in the background.
February - I'm often on the look out for interesting light.
In a large sports hall a group of young wheelchair basketball players are being organised for a group photo. Large studio lights can be seen to left and right of the photo and a videographer is kneeling to capture some footage.
March - BTS of a PR shoot for Omaze
A female Asian student in denim jacket, pink sweater and black jeans is standing in a street of shops in Bath, smiling to camera with out-of-focus students in the background behind her.
April - Stock photo for University of Bath
A family group of two boys, two girls a mum and dad leaping into an open air swimming pool in the sunshine.
May - Shepton Lido official opening.
An engineer in orange high-vis jacket, safety hat and glasses uses a head torch to inspect a diagram. he's standing in a welding workshop.
June - IRTE Skills Challenge, Bristol.
A window sill with pot plants and a face mirror on, with a view of green hedging beyond. Below the window sill is a wooden cupboard with various personal items arranged such as a jewellery tree, a glass pot and drinks coaster
July - Mum's room.
A young woman with blonde hair wearing a peach top stands at a glass patio door holding a cup of tea and smiling. She is looking out through the window into the garden beyond, which is only seen as blurry foliage.
August - Eva Abley for Irwin Mitchell's piece on medical negligence.
A researcher stands at a lecture console with a projected image of his research on a screen behind him.
September - International antibody validation meeting.
A male conference delegate in a burgundy cap, his face illuminated by a laptop screen, glances up to whatever is happening on the stage. A bright spot light from the ceiling casts a light rim around his head and other delegates are discernible in the background.
October - IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025.
A super-wide angle view of the Roman Baths in Bath with evening event guests milling and drinking.
November - Back to Bath.
Three modern plastic chairs with wooden legs have been left on the pavement for anyone who wants them. There's a blue one, a white one and a red one. The red one is turned side on. There is a stucco wall behind them with a pale pented oblong higher up on the wall. The bonnet of a parked car is just visible around the corner. It is sunny and some blue sky is visible in the top-right quarter of the photo.
December - I have a bit of a thing for abandoned chairs.

It just remains for me to wish you all the best Christmas possible and every success in 2026. I want to say a personal thank you to all my clients and indeed to the friends who have supported me though this “textured” year. Thank you; I may not always manage to acknowledge your contribution directly, but it is very much appreciated.

in My News / Uncategorized 0 comments
 by Tim Gander

Photo|Frome is Looming

View of the front of Frome Library with extremely large format vinyl photographic prints attached to the walls showing the work of Joanne Coates
Frome Library wears the work of Joanne Coates

After a fallow year in 2024, Photo|Frome is set to return with a bang in 2025. In fact, it’s nearly upon us and installation has started!

I should start by saying that due to a combination of personal and professional commitments, I have much less involvement in this year’s festival than in 2022 and 2023. For the planning of Outdoor Exhibitions in 2025, I’ve taken on a more limited advisory role to assist de-facto new head of outdoor Mark Somerville, who’s done a grand job from a standing start.

And so on Monday of this week I was back on a scissor lift, helping a great team of volunteers to install massive vinyl prints on the outside of Frome Library. In 2023 this consisted of a collaboration between myself and the photographers of T House, an Italian collective.

This year’s star of this most visible of locations shows a small selection of images from Joanne Coates’ project “The Lie of the Land” which looks at rural life through working class and low-income communities, encompassing issues of gender and heritage and human impact on the landscape.

I haven’t necessarily summed it up very well, so do explore Joanne’s work more thoroughly here.

The wider festival, which runs from 5th – 27 April, promises to be exciting as exciting as ever, with a breadth and depth of exhibitions which will have something for everyone (always an aim of Photo|Frome).

Just returning to the library show for a moment, it’s also worth mentioning that the vinyl posters from 2023’s show have been recycled into bespoke, each-one-unique, handmade tote bags which will be available for sale at this year’s festival. Or if you’re interested in owning one, drop me a line via tim@timgander.co.uk. They are very limited edition (I believe just over 60 were made before we ran out of material), so don’t hang about!

Finally, just to say that if you are planning on visiting Photo|Frome, drop me a line so we can meet up if time allows. Either way, enjoy your visit!

Thank you to Photo|Frome’s sponsors:

MPB is Photo|Frome’s Official Sponsor, the largest global platform to buy, sell and trade used photo and video gear.

Arts Council England Photo|Frome is supported using public funding by the National lottery through Arts Council England.

Frome Town Council is Photo|Frome’s Local partner.

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