Aurora Hunting in Wiltshire Ancient Sites - Silbury Hill and Avebury

On the night of 24th August 2024, I headed out to the area of Avebury in Wiltshire, UK, camera in hand, hoping to capture something extraordinary. Not only was it the night of the Perseids Meteor Shower, but thanks to the solar maximum, the northern lights graced the skies again, providing another opportunity this year to photograph these ancient landmarks under the aurora.

As the sun set, the air was charged with quiet anticipation. I began the night at Silbury Hill, a location that has long been on my photography wish list. As the sky darkened, a soft, violet hue appeared on the horizon, gradually intensifying into the unmistakable bands of the aurora. The sight of this ancient mound under the northern lights brought a deep sense of happiness.

From here, I quickly made my way to Avebury Henge. Although the aurora was not as strong by the time I arrived, it could still be seen towering over the stones. The atmosphere was calm, with a gentle breeze rustling through the trees and the prehistoric stones standing silently as they have for millennia.

Aurora over Silbury Hill, Wiltshire, UK

Aurora near Silbury Hill, Wiltshire, UK

Aurora over Silbury Hill, Wiltshire, UK

Aurora over Avebury Henge, Moon Cove, Wiltshire, UK

Aurora over Avebury Henge, Wiltshire, UK

Interview for Alfa TV Network, Egypt

On a recent trip to Egypt in October, I was asked to be a guest on a late night talk show to share my views on the situation in Palestine and Israel but also in particular to how this is playing out in Europe. It was one of the hardest interviews I’ve given. The interviewer struggled to grasp that there was sympathy from western countries for the Palestinian people. It’s no wonder they think all westerners support Israel given our governments stance and refusal to call for a ceasefire. UK politicians do not speak for me. #ceasefire

Summer Solstice at StoneHenge

Last month I was invited to go to Stonehenge with a group of friends and decided to document the experience. I’d always wanted to go Stonehenge for the summer solstice. This short short is what 13 hours overnight looks like at one of the most ancient sites in the world. On the night before the summer solstice, the gates open to the public at 7pm. This provides a rare opportunity for the public to be among the stones without a private viewing. The festivities commence with a traditional Druid ceremony, followed by continuous drumming throughout the night until 8am when attendees are asked to leave. The atmosphere is incredible, often imbued with a sense of spirituality and tribal energy. The sound of the drums will echo in your ears for days. Watching the sun rise through the stones, surrounded by a sea of people, is a breathtaking sight that makes the lack of sleep entirely worthwhile.

Come walk with me in a crop circle!

Recently we had the first crop circle of the year in Broad Hinton, Wiltshire, UK. It was giant and had such a joyful energy about it. Although these formations have appeared worldwide they are often found in this area and are large geometric patterns of flattened crops. Crop circles are often thought to be messages from intelligent extraterrestrial life, but others believe they are the work of humans. It's hard to imagine people doing this in the middle of the night without being seen, especially due to the scale of some of them. What do you believe? The truth is out there! #cropcircles #wiltshire #ufo

Chasing flags

Two nights before the Coronation I was in London for an event. The flags were everywhere and I had to get a couple of shots. These were taken around the streets of Piccadilly Circus. I really enjoy long exposures in the cities with all the traffic. It makes for some really interesting light effects!

Stonehenge and lady Aurora

As soon as you see someone get a great shot of the Aurora Borealis at Stonehenge it makes you want to try. Alas I didn’t catch them behind the stones but they did appear across the fields. It’s my first time catching them in the UK so to be honest I didn’t mind where I caught them. Tonight the forecast was KP7 with just enough solar wind in our direction to make them dance around 9pm.

Avebury Magic

Situated in the heart of Wiltshire is the village of Avebury. Unlike other villages, Avebury sits inside the largest stone circle in the world and was built between 3000BC and 2500BC. This is around the same time period as the pyramids in Giza were built. Despite the traffic from the busy road that cuts right through the heart of this sacred site, walking amongst its vast stones still feels magical. As the sun goes down, the stars come out and remind us how small we really are. If you’ve not been before I encourage you to make a side trip for England’s best kept secret.

Undercover Egypt

I’m super excited to announce that from July 9th you can now watch Undercover Egypt across Europe on Netflix. The film was a labor of love for all involved and it’s so good to see it getting more exposure. I hope you like it!

Breathe in, Breathe out.

I hope everyone is doing okay out there? In and out, in and out. 🙏