Edinburgh, City 6 of 69 in the UK Cityscapes Project

1. Is your business located in one of the 69 cities of the UK?
2. Would you like to secure more clients or sales?
3. Would you like a low risk way to get your business name into a national market for at least a whole year for less than £2 per week?

Invest Now

The UK Cityscapes Project can help you do just that!

For a one off £100 investment into the project you will get a year of sustained advertising, your link will be a permanent fixture on my blog for at least the next year and my social media accounts are growing every day, my blog currently gets up to 500 page views per day and I have thousands of followers on Twitter and Facebook and you will benefit from all of that to ensure that you reach a massive national market.  It's not a low risk investment, it's a no risk investment!

So Buy It Now, there are only 20 business spots available!

To contact me click HERE

Become a business investor of UK Cityscapes the book

Beautiful Liverpool, my first city of 69

Todays special perk of the day is just for you, yes you, the ones sitting behind desks plugging away in your own business.

If you become a business investor you'll get a massive amount of publicity and you'll be able to tell the world how brilliant your business is, it would make a great press release for your business


For only £100 you will get a blog post all about you, a permanent link from my blog in my blog links section, you will also get your name/logo on the investors page of the finished book and there'll be a direct link in the digital version.  I will be selling the book in Kindle form through Amazon and the actual book will also be on sale on Amazon too! In addition to that you'll also get a copy of the actual book which you can display for all to see in your work area or office.

But hurry, there are only 20 business spots available!

To claim this perk just go to my Crowd-Funding page

It's not just about that though, it's about you and your business being part of something good and great, something which encourages others to make bold leaps and bounds in their lives and businesses.

So currently I have 3200+ Followers on Twitter, 3500 followers on Facebook and my blog gets on average 200-400 page views per day although lately there've been days when I've had in excess of 500 page views, I've been blogging in some form or other since about 2004 so it's one of the things I'm quite good at!

If you don't have quite as much to invest then today I've also added another little perk, only 250 available, you can get yourself a 7x5 print of any image which makes it onto the blog of your city, it's not a fine art print but it is printed on Fuji Lustre professional paper, the same paper I use for all of my prints and it's also not a limited edition but it is your chance to own some of the art work and join me on this project.  to claim this perk my funding page is here

1 final thing, until Midnight tonight you can pre-order a digital copy of the book for only £2 instead of £5, what are you waiting for, go claim the perk now!

Finally if there's some way in which I could you to promote your business that I haven't already thought of, get in touch, lets work together to inspire people, you can email me at mandy@mandycharltonphotography.com

For 24 hours only - Pre-Order a digital copy of UK Cityscapes for only £2 instead of £5

For one day only dear reader you can pre-order a digital copy of my forthcoming UK Cityscapes book for just £2, the regular price is £5, only 100 copies are available and the offer only lasts for 24 hours so pre-order your digital edition of UK Cityscapes today!



If I can sell 100 copies in the next 24 hours I'll be nearly half way to my crowd funding target and there are still 31 days to go. I really need your help to do this, if you missed why, you can catch up here

If you're wondering why I'm not off hopping and leaping and bounding through cities right now it's because I have a full week of work this week, portraits, pre-wedding shoots and consultations as well as it being my beautiful daughter Abigails 12th Birthday

She was pretty delighted to receive her very first pair of Dr Martens, purple ones too!  She also got new brogues, new Converse and a brand new electronic keyboard (yes that's 3 pairs of footwear, it seems my passion for shoes has passed to both daughters even though this one says she is not a girly girl, one day I think she'll rebel and all she'll want to wear is pink!  Abigail of course has already travelled to some of the cities with me as has Looby and that for me is a wonderful thing, I think that probably goes to making up some of the adventures we've had on our travels so far.  I love going to cities and travelling even when I'm on my own (and I actively try to deal with that anxiety I still get when someone is walking behind me) but it's always fab when you can share the experience, I can't wait to share more cities with them in half term and then the summer holidays, I'm even hoping hubby will be able to come along to some cities, I think that's how the stories are created, it'd be easy to just turn up to 69 cities, take one photo and then sneak away without anyone seeing you but I don't want to do that, I want to truly experience each city providing enough images for a blog post and chapter of the book about that city.  I think it would be really hard to get a feel for a city in an hour, who knows though, I may find cities I want to escape from as soon as I get there ;)  I don't believe that though, I think there's beauty to be found in each an every one of our cities, definitely there are some where it's not immediately visible but it's only by exploration you get to see it.  I guess that's a bit like people really, you can't just take people at face value, you have to see what's inside them to have a true knowledge of their inner selves.

So Happy Wednesday, Happy Birthday to Abigail and I am off to buy a big 12 year olds birthday cake (as opposed to a 12 year old birthday cake which wouldn't be very nice at all really)

Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland, a bank holiday jolly family day and a weekend roundup.

Happy bank holiday Monday everyone, what a lovely weekend it's been, on Saturday I photographed some gorgeous sisters at Tynemouth Longsands, an adorable newborn with her family at home and look out for a post all about the Tipi party I photographed on Saturday night which is coming soon.

and then yesterday we had a lovely breakfast out followed by Ice-skating at Whitley Bay Ice-rink and then ice-cream at the coast on the way home!

Today we went to visit some huskies and ponies who live on a farm, one of hubbys' clients invited us to meet her brood of kids, doggies, ponies and there was even a guinea pig.

After that we swooshed over to Bishop Auckland for a stomp around Auckland Castle, i'm thinking that would be a wonderful place to shoot a wedding, it's very pretty and the surrounding park is fabulous!  We went for a very long walk and I can definitely feel it in my legs this evening.  I didn't take a lot of photos today because it was mainly about just having a wonderful family day together and enjoying the moment but I did get a couple of images

Out of the window a chocolate box view over the countryside.

my hubby is looking so good, he gave up alcohol last November, lost lots of weight and now he's given up smoking too and looks at least 10 years younger and has his chiselled jaw back, he gets 2 thumbs up from me for sure ;)

I asked them to be serious for a moment, bad mistake ;)

Baaaa!

More countryside, I love wandering and stomping and exploring, I guess another of the reasons I started my Uk Cityscapes project, there'll be a new post about that later this week but I still have quite a way to go with my crowd funding target, i'm 100% sure that I'm going to do it though!  If you could help by claiming a perk or even sharing the link on any form of social media, your blog, by email or even in person,(ooh humany) I would be utterly grateful. My crowd funding page is here!

A Sunday look at #UKCityscapes and why this project is so important to me

It's a grey and slightly damp morning in Newcastle and I'm still in my pjyamas planning my next move! This morning someone tweeted a link to this photo saying they'd found it in my Etsy store and isn't it fabulous.

and this dear reader is the photograph which inspired my UK Cityscapes project

Earlier this week I spoke about why I need your help and told my story but this was really the moment that inspired it all.  I was over 400ft in the air standing at the top of the radio tower in Liverpool and for the first time in forever (sorry Frozen ;) ) I felt that feeling of total insignificance, we're all so incredibly small when viewed against the large landscape in which we live.  We can be all consumed by our problems, worries or human conditions but in reality they're so microcosmic when compared with the universe and it's amazing structures, formations and landscapes.  Now I'm not trying to undermine how utterly trapped you can feel when you have any mental health challenge and I should know from my own personal experiences of bipolar and agoraphobia, I suppose that several years ago I could not have done this, I could not be so high, so open,so tiny for agoraphobia made me essentially hide into the smallest corner wanting to be wrapped in a warm dark blanket of my own mortal fears.  I manage my own mental health pretty successfully and I speak about it to try and help, encourage and inspire other people who may at this moment feel trapped by their own inner mortal fears.  I think there's an ongoing fighting viking inside me which some days has to fight harder than others, don't get me wrong, when I get worried I get anxious and when I get anxious I forget to breath, funnily enough though it never ever happens in my professional life, probably because when I hold that camera I am very much in charge of the world, maybe that's what we all need, to find our own empowering tool which helps us to be in charge of our own universe so that we can climb tall buildings, scale large mountains and reach the precipice of our own destiny.

That's another reason that this project is so very important to me, I want to use this to do as much good as I can, I want the world to know my story and for everyone who's currently struggling to know that it is possible to be amazing and do great things.

Please support this project by claiming a perk on my crowd funding page or sharing this post or sponsoring me with your business and thank you, you're amazing!

Uk Cityscapes, here's where we're at -

It's Friday, it's day 11 of my crowd funding, it's a couple of weeks since I started the UK Cityscapes project and I've been to 7 cities so far.

Liverpool
Newcastle
Carlisle
Durham
Sunderland
Edinburgh
Glasgow

the most important post I've written this week was about the reason why I'm doing this, my war against agoraphobia and bi-polar and why I must achieve this

and so where are we now?  Well currently I've ran out of my own tiny weeny pot of savings, everything i'm earning at the moment is going into this project so as soon as I get paid for some stuff I'll be back on the road, or the train, I am actually hoping to hop to York today but it very much depends what time a delivery arrives.

My favourite image of the project so far -

Possibly because it's the image which made me decide to do this and it's all about transition, change and making bold statements, something which I identify with in my own story.

Someone asked me this week how you can go from having agoraphobia to being 400 foot up in the air with vast spaces around you, well the answer is that agorapobia is always there and there are anxious moments but then I remind myself that I'm literally giving agoraphobia a big kick in the face and I'm not just doing this for me, I'm doing it for everyone who's living with a mental health challenge and winning, although i'll always have bi-polar but I don't believe i'll ever relapse, good medication, a positive outlook at all times and a love of photography, enterprise, inspiring and helping other people mean that even when i have scary moments/hours/days I know exactly where the boundaries lie and I know how to fight them and win.

So what can you do to help?  Well there are a few ways, as of this morning I have raised £528, that's 21% of my Crowd-Funding target, if you're wondering how that works, mostly credit card payments mean I'll get a substantial part of the total around 14 days after the crowd funding deadline closes in 36 days, anything paid via paypal I get immediately and that's helping me get to cities, with the admin and getting the word out there as well as securing perks for people who contribute.

If you want to make a contribution you can do so here

If you are a business reading this, get in touch, tell me how I can help you and in return secure some business sponsorship. I've spoken to press and coverage is imminent so the earlier you're in this with me the more publicity I can get for us both.  Perhaps you would like to exchange artwork for sponsorship, well that's fine but I can't help you if you don't give me your proposals, you can email me at any time at mandy@mandycharltonphotography.com

All of the images from the project are available as framed fine art prints, 7x5 in size in a 2 inch mount with a matt black frame and they're signed and numbered, all are only available in a limited edition of 100 and if you would like to purchase one again just email me or you'll also find a selection in my Etsy store, Philomenas Boutique

If you want up to the minute progress while I am on the go all you need to do is follow me on Twitter and you'll also find me on Facebook and of course I have my own website and I am still very much available for weddings and portraits oh and 1 more thing, if you don't live in the North East and would like to book a photo shoot with me when I visit your city there's a couple of special perks just for you on my crowd funding page.  book early though so I can plan it into my schedule as some cities I may only be coming to for a few hours, whilst I'd like to spend 24 hours in each city it's just not possible.

1 final thing, if you're travelling to a city somewhere and have room in your car for me (serious offers only and no serial killers please) I'd love to split the petrol costs with you so do get in touch :)

Have a wonderful bank holiday weekend, I am shooting portraits, a party and then celebrating Abigails forthcoming 12th birthday which is on Wednesday but we always celebrate on the bank holiday weekend.  This year she's getting an electric keyboard and some Dr Martens amongst other things, being 12 seems pretty splendid to me.

Oh and here she is, my just about to be 12 year old.

Galsgow, City 7 of 69 (host city of the 2014 Commonwealth Games), UK Cityscapes Project by Mandy Charlton

First of all I just want to say a massive thank you to everyone who has shared the campaign page, read my blog post about why I'm doing this or made a contribution and claimed a perk!  This morning I've raised 21% of the total and campaigns who manage to get the first 20% are statistically more likely to reach their target, there's still 37 days to go and 79% to go though so keep sharing, helping, whatever you can, I'm determined I can do this now!

So lets get back to city number 7 of 69, the 2014 Commonwealth Games host Glasgow...

largest city in Scotland and 4th largest city in the UK with a population of over half a million people.  It's home to some of the most splendid museums and it's a place to go if you have kids because with the exception of the science museum they're all free!  Don't leave out the Science museum though as it's quite fantastic, we go every time we're in Glasgow because Abigail and Looby love it so much.

1 thing I've never managed to do in Glasgow is go up the Glasgow Tower which is unsurprising because since it was built in 2003 it's only worked for 20% of it's whole life, I suspect if I ever get up there I'll be rewarded with the most spectacular views of Glasgow ever though!

Glasgow of course has long been associated with Rennie Mackintosh, the designer, architect and artist was one of the most influential figures of Scotlands history.

Shall we get on to the photos?

The cityscapes aren't always the most picturesque things you've ever seen but they all make up the amazing city that is Glasgow

It's been lovely having my daughters along while they've been on their school holidays, I shall really miss them next week when I start doing the cities on my own.

sorry about the dodgy photograph of me, you can't really pack hair straighteners when you're carrying everything in a backpack, my neck is in enough pain without packing unnecessary products!

Cityscapes are everywhere in Glasgow because of the multiple hills it's built on, I would have liked to get higher up but I'm happy to wait until the Glasgow Tower re-opens this summer, I reckon it'll be a view worth waiting for.

The next city I'll be visiting is York, I know exactly where I'm going to capture the cityscape and there'll be lots of photos of the beauty of York too, I had intended to go today but the weather is appauling all over the UK today so I'm having another admin and planning day.

If you're a photographer popping your head in to read this post you may like to know that all of the images were taken with the Fuji X-Pro1 and the 35mm f1.4, it's the most amazing combination and the dynamic range alone is quite a special thing.  You may also like to know that all of these images were shot in Jpeg, the X-Pro1 makes it possible to never have to shoot in RAW again, how much editing?  Well all of the images have been through Lightroom, then Photoshop and then Lightroom again, it's quite a specific look and feel I have gone for and there's more information about why I've chosen to do that on the campaign page.

If you would like to contribute to the campaign in anyway possible the page is here and to email me about any of the images or anything about the project at all my email address is as ever mandy@mandycharltonphotography.com