My Top Ten Photos of 2012

Here are my top ten photos of what has been a quite extraordinary year.

1. London 2012 Olympic Stadium,12th July 2012.

Rain lashes down on the poncho attired opening ceremony volunteer cast for a marshal rehearsal. We were there for approximately 5 hours dancing (and singing) in the rain. It was the first time we had seen the seat lighting in operation and couldn't resist taking this photo on my HTC phone. The glorious British summer couldn't dampen our spirits and the drummers/marshals thrived in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of participating in the Olympics.     

2. London 2012 Olympic Stadium, 25th July 2012

This picture was taken by my wife who attended the second opening ceremony dress rehearsal with my mum. All cast members (and many games makers) were given two free tickets for their families. This picture shows the end of the 'Pandemonium' opening scene where the industrial revolution chimneys retract back into the stage and the forged centre ring is hoisted up to meet the other Olympic rings for a dazzling finale. I am somewhere on the far side of the stage towards the right of the picture with my drumming group - 49. 

3. London 2012 Olympic Stadium, 9th August 2012

As well as being a cast member of the opening ceremony, I had managed to buy tickets for the evening athletics in the ticket ballot. The evening in question had men's 200m final which would feature Usain Bolt and a Jamaican gold, silver & bronze and the men's 800m final which provided a world record! As athletics fans from childhood (my dad was a sprinter in his youth), it was a dream come true to be at the Olympic games athletics and one I was able to share with my sister Debbie. This photo is not only one of the best we've ever had taken together but it shows us in the stadium in our Team GB colours. A very special picture. 

    

4. Backstage of Olympic Stadium, 12th August 2012.

This picture is special for a few reasons. Firstly it is taken just before I entered the Olympic Stadium for the last time as a cast member of the closing ceremony, secondly it was taken on my 39th birthday and thirdly it is with one of the great new friends I made during the Olympic ceremonies, Natalie. I wasn't overly keen on the costume of shorts, sock suspenders, jacket and blue bowler hat with lightbulb but I wasn't going to complain - after all I was in the centre of the stadium for the closing ceremony. 

5. Table Mountain, 23rd August 2012

Laura's prize for winning The Guardian's 'Been There' travel photography competition (http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/gallery/2011/dec/28/been-there-photographs-year-2011#/?picture=383572093&index=10) was a 5* safari. We decided to make the most of it and travel around South Africa for a week or so before heading to the game park. The weather was gloriously sunny upon arriving in Cape Town and with no 'tablecloth' of cloud on top of Table Mountain, we dumped our bags, jumped into a cab and headed up there. I had previously been there in 1999 so it was very special to be with Laura this time. 

     

6. Ngala Game Reserve, 2nd September 2012

The only one of the 'big five' that I hadn't seen in previous safaris was a leopard. 30 minutes into our first game drive we encountered this beautiful creature up a tree. We sat mesmerised for another 30 minutes during which time she turned her head and I was able to take this picture. We were so lucky with the rest of the safari too and managed to see not just the big five, but as our driver called it, 'the magnificent seven' 

    

7. Mud Baths in Dalyan - Turkey, 26th September 2012

My wonderful parents kindly decided to take the family away to Dalyan in Turkey in September. It was brilliant to spend time together in a wonderful place. The highlight of the week was hiring a boat for the day which took us out to sea, to the beach and up the Dalyan river finishing at the mud baths. 

   

8. Star Wars set near Tozeur - Tunisia, 29th December 2012

As someone who went to the cinema to see the original Star Wars movie in 1977, the opportunity to visit the set built for The Phantom Menace was one to take. After a 4x4 ride over sand dunes in the Sahara, we arrived at Mos Espa. To say I was excited is an understatement.   

9. Chott el Djerid Salt Lake - Tunisia, 29th December 2012

This is a special picture to me for two reasons, firstly it was sunrise on the amazing salt flat in Tunisia but mainly because Laura and I have had an amazing year and I am so proud of her and her achievements this year including her published article in the Guardian  (http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2012/oct/05/safari-south-africa-been-there-photography) and subsequent photo assignments and awards. 

    

10. Sahara Desert - Tunisia, 28th December 2012

The perfect end to my top ten pictures, the sun sets on 2012.