I am a part-time web designer, keen photographer and author of Golf in the Wild – the story of an obsession with an alternative form of the sport – the joy of nine-hole golf courses in hidden, wild places. I gave up the constraints of large scale IT in 2011 and have never looked back.
My obsessions in no particular order – film – all sorts but especially the Coen brothers; books, mostly non-fiction e.g. Andrew Greig and Kathleen Jamie; the glorious Fuji X100s, the near-perfect camera; my Nikon D610 (finally beginning to enjoy this device, a Nikon f.o.c replacement for the seriously flawed D600); incessant fiddling about with Photoshop CS, and OnOne’s Perfect Effects; motor racing in its golden age (up to 1993); golf in wild places; any emotive music, for example, Manchester’s finest, Guy Garvey and elbow; a Lotus Elise 135 Sport Series 1 aka The Beloved – all because I remember Clark and Chapman at their zenith; Norman MacCaig’s poetry and the less mystical poetry of John Cooper Clarke; the English canals, preferably narrow and our shared narrowboat Oakmere. And, finally a late blooming passion for two-wheeled transport, particularly my Ducati Monster 821, the Triumph Scrambler (Bonneville) and the Yamaha MT09 Tracer – this must stop – there is no room left in my garage.
Robin Down
- www.robindown.co.uk – Follow on Twitter@SandhoeJoker
- www.allendale-golf.co.uk – Follow on Twitter@AllendaleGolf
- www.golfinthewild.co.uk
northumbrian : light 
Hourly waterboarding is a good description … with a car battery connected as well.
I left Dell behind in 2011 and don’t miss a bit. Happy to find you here… your blog is great… will keep coming back for more.
Thanks for the encouragement.
I suspect HP and Dell are interchangeable – just too big and impersonal.
Thanks so much for visiting my blog today Robin and liking several posts! You have a beautiful blog. I look forward to viewing more of your work. Please visit my blog again soon! Robyn
Thanks Robyn – you have some inspirational images on your blog, I will be visiting regularly.
I too have recently joined the ranks of going it alone, stepping off the impersonal hamster wheel. Good luck in all of your endeavors!
Thanks and good luck to you as well. I have found it very liberating and rewarding in many ways except financially 🙂 All the best.
I hope you don’t mind but I have added your blog to my recommended blogs for people to visit. You can view the page here, http://ryanphotography.co.uk/recommendations/. If you don’t want your blog to be listed, could you drop me an email at brenr1958@gmail.com and I will remove it.
No problem and much appreciated. It is a useful reference, I will be taking a look at your recommendations, thanks.
Thank you for all the visits to my blog and the likes.. much appreciated.. I look forward to your photos and posts xx
Likewise Bren and many thanks for the kind words on your recommendations page
Nice reading about you.
Thanks. For visiting my blog Ajaytao2010@wordpress.com. Browse through the category sections, I feel you may definitely find something of your interest.
Thanks I will and thanks for stopping by.
thank you
Thank you for visiting my blog and liking my pictures, you have great posts on here, i must say the red bull post tickled me. 🙂
And thank you – glad you liked the red bull post. I am always surprised when somebody can be bothered to read this stuff; there is just so much out there and so little time. Thanks again for stopping by.
Very curious to see what ‘golf in the wild’ will be all about!
A long term golf project which hopefully should see the light of day by year end – watch this space 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
Glad to have found you on wordpress as well. Fabulous photographs!
Yours too – I am envious of anyone at sea.
Thanks a lot for the like on my own blog. Having returned the visit, I love the photos (particularly Scotland, so here is a follow from MM. 👍
Thanks Mick and likewise
I’m not sure what is on your profile pic exactly because it’s too small, but everytime I see it, it reminds me of one of my favorite movies as a child: the Neverending story. The profile pic looks just like the lovely Falkor in the movie 🙂
It is from a sculpture on Aker Brygge wharf in Oslo. I have found other pictures of this imp but never any details on what it is called or who created it – there are other interesting sculptures along this attractive boardwalk. From now on I will call it Falkor 🙂 Needless to say it looks nothing like me – I quit being impish many decades ago – I just like the face.
I have the great pleasure in nominating you for the “Very Inspiring Blogger Award” which I hope you might accept. Please see my home page or use the following link http://meticulousmick.wordpress.com/2013/07/04/another-award-ii/ to see further details. MM 🏆
Mick – many thanks for the very generous comments and nomination, much appreciated. I am hopeless at getting round to doing these things so sincerest apologies if this takes a while.
Not an issue at all, it takes time I know. MM
Very courageous of you to change your field of work! You have some wonderful photos on your blog, glad I came across them.
Thanks Mark – not as brave as you might think – I have reached the age where the risks and dependence on income are much less than in earlier years. Nevertheless, it has been very liberating. Thanks again for stopping by and following.
I just wandered by – and before I continue browsing your blog I must say I have enjoyed much of what I have seen and read so far.
Many thanks John, a much appreciated comment, especially from someone who makes his living from photography.
Hi Robin – So nice to come by and see your beautiful photography – love that you’ve got off the grid. Beans on toast can keep you going for years I’m told. Sadly my $10 a day habit of flat whites and almond croissants is a self inflicted impediment to freedom.
Glad you found my blog Chas and thanks for taking the time to look and comment.
My pleasure Robin!
Thanks for following my blog. Welcome! I’m going to enjoy yours too 🙂
Likewise 🙂 Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment.
I wanted to write something that was long overdue, Thank You! TY for following my blog and for all your visits. I must confess that I have come to enjoy yours immensely. Sending you joy and light.
Thanks for your kind comments and taking the time to look – I am enjoying your blog very much as well.
Just thought I should pop over and advise you that I have just nominated you for the “Versatile Blogger” award. Details can be found at:
http://meticulousmick.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=1795&action=edit&message=6&postpost=v2
Best wishes, MM 🏆
Many thanks Mick, much appreciated. I am hopeless at these things as my track record demonstrates so apologies in advance if this nomination suffers the fate of the previous one.
Hello North,
I have nominated you for some awards. Please be sure to shine your light on your bundles at:
http://deepsouldiver.wordpress.com/about/bundles-of-joy/
Peace.
Many thanks, that is a kind gesture. However as the above comments demonstrate, I am hopeless at following up on these things – perhaps I should put up a health warning. Thanks again.
Thanks for following my blog “Musings of a Horse Mom.” Good to have you on board. Your images are stunning. … Nurture what you love … Dorothy 🙂
Thanks Dorothy, I was very impressed by your blog, just had to follow.
🙂
I nominated your for Blog of the Year. Keep the great photos and words coming.
Many thanks Cate, much appreciated – forgive me if I do not follow this up, I am notoriously unreliable with these things.
greetings by
http://flickrcomments.wordpress.com/2013/12/08/inside-llewyn-davis/
Likewise 🙂
Robin, your blog continues to radiate and for that I thought I should nominate you for the Sunshine Award – please go and see http://meticulousmick.wordpress.com/2013/12/17/the-sunshine-blogger-award-another-image/ to pick up the gong. ~No problems if you have decided not to do awards, have a great day anyway, MM 🍀
Many thanks for your generous comments Mick (or should that be JRCR? 🙂 ). I don’t want to sound ungrateful or arrogant but I have by default got myself in a position where I don’t do awards simply because I am so short on time. Another project has got me glued to this PC for an unhealthy number of hours per day – it will be revealed through this blog eventually. This self-employment/semi-retired life is hard work 🙂 Thanks again, your comments and likes are much appreciated.
No worries, not ungrateful, I understand. 👍
Hi Robin,
You’ve done just what I’ve always wanted to do, hats off to you.
To give up the IT world and take up photography full time would be a dream, perhaps when I’m 65!
Great bog too,
Regards
Conor (eftwopointoh.wordpress.com)
Thanks Conor – a modest pension is a vital ingredient 🙂
For me its just watch and learn, you create great art. Thanks for visiting and the likes 🙂
Likewise 🙂 There is much to inspire out there, one of the great benefits/discoveries of WordPress. Thanks for your generous comment.
Great blog, regards from Poland , EM
Many thanks and all the best from Northumberland, UK
Good to see you keeping up the good work. Hope you are both well. Jude’s not forgotten the Chinese….now onto Amazon to order a copy of that book…
Heyup good fella, great to hear from you. Hope you and yours are all keeping well. The book won’t be on Amazon for another couple of weeks but it is available at http://www.golfinthewild.co.uk – a sound investment 🙂
That Chinese is still on my to-do list 🙂 One day, I promise.
Yup…found it. Will definitely order one…will produce it at the book signing at the Chinese 😄😄
Many thanks for the order Bill! I must start practicing my Mandarin 🙂
Robin there is no obligation to do this, but I thought you might come up with something cunning. I just nominated you to do the 5 photos 5 stories challenge. No deadline. No need to do long posts, but to be done on 5 consec days. If you take up the challenge you include a link to my blog, and put a link to the blogger you nominate each day. Here’s my post with more info at the bottom of it: http://tishfarrell.com/2015/05/19/5-photos-5-stories-hidden-wenlock-2/
I won’t mind if you don’t do it 🙂
Many thanks for the nomination Tish. I usually decline these things because I am hopelessly unreliable but I will make the effort this time. There may be a pause before I start – we head off on the canals soon for nearly three weeks and there is much to do before we take to the high seas.
I thought you might do something clever with a particular topic and thread it over 5 posts? Actually your canal trip could be just the thing if you’re still on line then.
Could be Tish but as you say, much will depend on wifi/3G access – in the spirit of adventure, I will try to give it a go 🙂
Just found your blog via the weekly wordpress ‘Broken’ challenge and find we have some common ground apart from the photography – even the golf ! I shall enjoy visiting you ! 🙂
Likewise, many thanks for the follow and I look forward to reading more of your blog.
Thanks for providing such consistent pleasure here! Regards Thom.
Many thanks Thom, it is always reassuring to find a like-minded appreciative audience.
Good morning from the Black Isle
I have created a website on behalf of seven clubs in the Highlands all designed by James Braid and would appreciate it if you would allow me to use one of your photographs of Reay Golf Club in it?
This is a co-operative venture by the clubs involved and as a member of Muir Of Ord GC with a smattering of rusty IT skills I set up the site for them.
The site is at
http://www.jamesbraidhighland.golf/index.asp
By all means John – if you can sneak in a reference to http://www.golfinthewild.co.uk that would be much appreciated, particularly as Reay will feature in the sequel.
Best regards
Robin
Morning Robin
I was wanting a good photo of Reay to include in the home page map so that if the Reay marker was clicked on it would open up a window with the photo.
For whatever reason when I try to insert the photo only half appears so for the moment I have put it in the Pending Tray and will let you know if and when I solve the problem.
Thanks again for your reponse.
No problem – if you think an original jpeg might help, let me know and I will send via email.
Regards
Robin