Ashley Franklin Photography

16/06/2024

Delighted to hear that I have just had 25 images accepted by my image library Trevillion who sell book covers to the global publishing industry.
This is especially pleasing as Trevillion have very exacting standards when choosing images. My 25 acceptances came from a submission of 90 images.
Here's my favourite 10 images. Let's hope there are some book publishers in the world who are looking for covers for novels centred on Tuscany, the coast (Norfolk especially) or a French abbey!

09/06/2024

I am currently planning for the Duffield Carnival on Saturday, June 29th when I will have a stall selling my Derwent Valley book. Added to that will be six mounted prints of Duffield scenes. These are the six images that will be made up into prints, and I am also considering turning them into mugs.
If you have a connection with Duffield and hope to be there at the carnival showground, would you be interested in buying these images as either (or both) prints or (and) mugs?

29/05/2024

I have a new talk for WIs, U3As, Probus groups etc., on Flower & Garden Photography. This is how I'm promoting it:
In this talk - entitled From Gardens Where We Feel Secure - Ashley reveals his passion for taking photos of flowers and gardens. In a presentation adorned with colourful images of flowers both familiar and rare, he'll show pictures of gardens both private and public taken for his calendars, as well as images for Derbyshire Life magazine and clients who commissioned him to assemble a book of their garden through the seasons. Ashley also shows photos of plants and flowers taken purely for pleasure and offers tips for anyone who would like to share his pleasure and, at the same time, improve their picture-taking.

05/04/2024

I'm delighted that my camera club Derby City Photographic is hosting a talk this Tuesday, April 9th by international award--winning photographer KATHRYN SCORAH, one of the most acclaimed image-makers on the UK circuit, with a great reputation for creative imagery bursting with emotion and atmosphere.
It's only £4 for visitors if you wish to attend.
'An extraordinary body of work that all our members found inspiring. Highly recommended!' - Poulton Photographic Society

01/03/2024

A reminder that I'll be presenting the story behind the Derwent Valley Mills photo book at the Derby Book Festival at the Museum of Making inside Derby Silk Mill this Sunday, March 3rd, between 6 and 7 pm. Tickets are only £6. I know I'm worth more than that but the festival have put me in a 250-seater room so there's lots of seats to fill!
I'll be joined by my fellow pro photographer Ian Daisley, who'll be talking about his role as the book's designer. You can book through this link:

Sunday 3 March, 6 - 7pm, Museum of Making Local photographers Ashley Franklin and Ian Daisley, along with 50 other photographers, have produced the first ever photo book to celebrate the wonder and beauty of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site. Covering three themes — Industrial Heritage,...

04/02/2024

This Tuesday, February 6th at 7.30 pm, Derby City Photographic Club welcomes award-winning photographer PAUL HASSELL FRPS, MPAGB, FBPE, FIPF with a print talk entitled An Insight into My Photography. And what an insight this promises to be as Paul has four of the finest distinctions in the photographic world only 12 years on from joining a camera club with no prior experience.
The talk is at Room 107, Strutts Centre, Belper DE56 1UU.
Visitors only £4.

01/02/2024

As you'll see from my poster, there are three places to fill on my Tuscany workshop from May 4th to the 11th alongside pro photographer Ian Daisley.
Check out the website: https://www.ashleyfranklin.co.uk/tuscany-workshop

30/01/2024

Sad to hear of the death of photographer Brian Griffin at the age of 75. He was an eccentric, though very innovative portrait photographer. A lot of his quirky, offbeat portraits were, I'm sure, down to his sense of mischief, which you can certainly see in my favourite of his portraits, (below right) when he depicted Tony Benn with his pipe stuck up his nose. It is an optical illusion, of course, influenced, so he told me, by Magritte's famous painting of a man with his nose stuck in a pipe.
I got to know Brian briefly when he had an exhibition at Derby Museum & Art Gallery and I wrote a feature about him in Derbyshire Life Magazine. I don't think I have ever been so nervous taking a portrait of him for the feature (below left). Fortunately, I found a painting in the gallery of an escalator that I thought would make a dramatic backdrop, and Brian did the rest, bless him, saying: 'I tell you what, I'll wear my coat and peer straight down your lens.' One shot and we were done.
When I sent Brian the portrait, he rang me and asked if he could display the photo when he stepped up to receive his centenary medal at the Royal Photographic Society. He used that portrait often, I'm told. I didn't ask for payment - the honour was enough. RIP Brian.

27/01/2024

I do hope you will support my Chairman's Evening at my camera club - Derby City Photographic - on Tuesday, February 27th at the Strutts Centre in Belper. As soon as I had gone on a workshop - in Valencia - with Steve, I knew he would make a great guest speaker.

24/01/2024

I'm pleased to announce that as we approach a complete sell-out of the 500 copies of the Derwent Valley book, I am taking the book off the publisher's hands by ordering another 500 myself. This means that I will be dealing with the accounts, orders... and storage. The latter is a problem as I have no room to store over 60 boxes of books.
Is there anyone out there who could provide storage for me? Obviously, the storage space needs to be dry (this means I couldn't really consider a garage) and the offer needs to come from someone in the locality (I live in Milford). I thought I would make this request before approaching a company like Belper Self Storage.
The 500 books will be arriving on February 19th.
If you CAN help, please message me or send an email: [email protected]

22/01/2024

I have just had a letter published in the Daily Telegraph, inspired by a letter-writer who recounted the fact that 'the time taken to travel from my home to Cambridge is the same as the span of the first movement of Bruckner’s Seventh Symphony.'
I wrote it as I was coming to the end of my radiotherapy treatment for prostate cancer. My final session was this morning. If you have to undergo similar treatment - for any ailment - you might want to read how I got through it.
Ok, the radiotherapy was painless but I still used to tense up while lying under the 'machinery' as it rotated around me, until I found a way of coping with that tension. One of the radiographers at the Derby Royal was so encouraged by my words, she photographed my letter and circulated it to her fellow radiographers. Maybe they'll encourage other patients to follow my example!

22/01/2024

Tickets are now available for my talk on the Derwent Valley book at the Derby Book Festival on Sunday, March 3rd 6-7 pm. I am honoured to be an author appearing for the first time at a book festival. I hope you'll support this event. And hey... it's only six quid.
Click here for more:

Sunday 3 March, 6 - 7pm, Museum of Making Local photographers Ashley Franklin and Ian Daisley, along with 50 other photographers, have produced the first ever photo book to celebrate the wonder and beauty of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site. Covering three themes — Industrial Heritage,...

21/01/2024

I'm thrilled to see Derbyshire Life magazine devoting 8 pages to my Derwent Valley book in their February isssue. I say 'my' but I need to point out that amongst the 477 images, 275 are mine, 79 belong to Ian Daisley and 123 come from 49 other photographers.
In fact, it's Ian's wondrous shot of a sunrise over Crich Stand that forms the first page of the article, with 13 other photos in the other 7 pages.
Get your copy now... of the book as well as the magazine!... we've nearly sold out the 500 copies of the book. You can order online - https://www.derwentvalleyimages.co.uk/purchase-book

06/01/2024

I would like to extend you an invitation to Derby City Photographic Club's next meeting this Tuesday, January 9th at 7.30 at Room 107 in Strutts Community Centre. This is always a special event in our calendar as we'll be showing an audio-visual of the North & East Midlands Photographic Federation (N&EMPF) Projected Digital Images (PDI) Exhibition 2024.
Pictured below are four of the 370 images on show.
This exhibition is the federation’s showcase, attracting entries from virtually every single camera club in N&EMPF – 36 this year. This means that you will be viewing the very best work of our regional camera clubs, covering the full spectrum of subject matter - portrait, sport, nature, landscape, architecture, still life, both in colour and black & white.
I always put the audio visual together myself and I can assure you it's a quick-moving, entertaining but, above all, inspiring showcase lasting 100 minutes. This is an AV that will hopefully encourage you to be a part of the camera club world.

05/01/2024

I hope you'll support this petition. Vennells received her CBE not before her period as head of the Post Office but AFTER. What WAS the government thinking? She'll probably lose it anyway if former Post Office staff are eventually prosecuted, but hopefully this petition will further ensure that people like Vennells WILL be prosecuted for overseeing the lies and cover-up that led to the greatest miscarriage in the history of our legal system.

I just signed the petition calling on Paula Vennells, the former CEO of the Post Office to be stripped of her CBE. Will you sign too?

31/12/2023

A wonderful end to the year... After winning the Royal Photographic Society Landscape Group Photo of the Month in three sucessive months in the summer, I have rounded off 2023 with a second place award in December's Photo of the Month for this image taken on The Chevin when it last snowed, only a few weeks ago. The title of this shot is Autumn Turns to Winter as the orange leaves are hanging on in the snow. I fancy this could become a Christmas card next year...

23/12/2023

You had better move fast on the Derwent Valley book as I have just made a count of the books we've cleared through subscriptions, orders and my personal sales and it comes to 344. That's not counting the 20 books at Hall of Frames in Belper and the 10 at Scarthin Books in Cromford village. I'm not sure how many the Cromford Mills shop has sold but I reckon their sales will probably give us a figure of over 400. Only 500 were printed, so we are heading for a sell out. Hurry now and buy!
https://www.derwentvalleyimages.co.uk/purchase-book

22/12/2023

If you would still like to purchase my Derwent Valley Mills book - the perfect Christmas gift - it is available at three shops locally: Scarthins in Cromford, the Shop in the Yard at Cromford Mills or Hall of Frames, Belper.
However, you could always order the book from me and have it personally delivered - just as long as you live within a 10-mile radius of my home (DE56 0QJ). For more details, click here:
https://www.derwentvalleyimages.co.uk/purchase-book

18/12/2023

My favourite Matt cartoon of the year. He has the extraordinary knack of being cutting whilst at the same time being gentle. In fact, I think Gary himself would smile at this.

15/12/2023

I will have a stall tomorrow - Saturday - in front of the Belper Ritz, selling my Derwent Valley Book, Derwent Valley Calendar, my Christmas cards and a few mounted photos. I'll be there from 10 am until 3 pm at least - or until the books run out! Get your copy tomorrow - we may well sell out completely by Christmas.
My thanks to Carol Brewer of Our Belper Mills for providing the gazebo, Bless you Carol and all in your team.
By the way, the forecast for tomorrow is good... and I have a card reader!

15/12/2023

The birthday greetings already coming in are very heartening, especially as three hours of my birthday will be spent at the Derby Royal Hospital. Today is Number 13 of 37 daily radiotherapy treatments for my prostate cancer but it's all perfectly painless and I'm feeling fine. Put it this way, I played racquetball two days ago, so I've got to be optimistic.
I don't have time to think about my prostate anyway as I'm busy promoting my Derwent Valley book. It's selling really well. Buy online - https://www.derwentvalleyimages.co.uk/ - or see me tomorrow (Saturday) in front of the Belper Ritz when you can buy the book and calendar along with my Christmas cards and photo prints.

Professional Photography in Belper, Derbyshire by Derwent Valley Book Project See portfolios, information and contact details.

03/12/2023

A shame the Belper Food & Gift Fair was cancelled but although I missed a chance to sell my books, I would have missed capturing The Chevin in the snow. It was about the most magical I've ever seen it, with just enough snow, a hint of mist and a lingering of autumn colour. Here's 12 of the best. A series of Christmas cards, maybe?

02/12/2023

Pictured here are the Christmas cards I will be selling at the Belper Food & Gift Fair tomorrow. I will be inside (or outside depending on the weather) the Belper Ritz at the top of King Street.
All cards are heavily reduced to 50p but if you buy 5, the price is only £2 - a saving of 50p.
All proceeds will be going to the two charities being supported by the Derwent Valley Mills calendar (which will also be on sale), namely Family Support Derbyshire and the Arkwright Society.

02/12/2023

Tomorrow (Sunday, December 3rd), I will be selling my Derwent Valley photo book, the Derwent Valley Calendar, my Christmas cards and a few mounted photo art prints at the BELPER FOOD & GIFT FAIR.
From 9.30 am until 3 pm, I will be inside the The Ritz Cinema, so come in from the cold and browse through - before buying! - the first ever photo book of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site. It's a 228-page hardback book with nearly 500 images. Price: £30. Don't worry if you don't carry cash - I have a card reader.
The book is selling so well I think we may well sell out by Christmas, so don't delay purchasing a great Christmas present.
Don't forget the calendar which contains images from the book, with all proceeds going to two charities: the Arkwright Society and Family Support Derbyshire.
See you tomorrow!

04/11/2023

When my Derwent Valley book is published, I aim to sell copies whenever I do talks. As fewer people carry spare cash these days, I am going to need a card reader. However, a cursory look online shows that there are a huge number out there. Any advice?
It doesn't need to have bells and whistles. It doesn't even need to be one that prints out receipts. Let's keep it simple...

04/11/2023

You can now order the Derwent Valley Photo Book before we sell out our 500 copies. With 150 books already sold through our subscription appeal, you don't want to miss out on securing your copy ahead of publication date - November 25th - as it makes for the perfect Christmas gift.
Here is the link: https://www.derwentvalleyimages.co.uk/order-book
Please spread the word about the book.
Here are three more double pages from the book from the three categories of Industrial Heritage, People & Places and Wildlife.

04/11/2023

A few people who have subscribed to the Derwent Valley Photo Book have been asking about the publication date, as it was originally due to be yesterday - November 3rd. Actually, the book launch is now Friday, November 24th which means the book will be available to pick up or purchase (or to be delivered) from Cromford Mills on SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25th.
It's worth pointing out that only 500 copies are being printed and with nearly 150 copies already ordered, you are advised to purchase a copy before we sell out as it's likely to prove a very popular Christmas gift.
I am in the process of amending the subscription page on the book project's website so that you can put an order in for the book. Watch this space...
In the meantime, here's three double pages from the book - one from each section: Industrial Heritage, People & Places and Wildlife.

14/10/2023

I have extended the deadline for subscriptions to the Derwent Valley photo book to today (Saturday). This is your chance to help pay for the book while at the same time receiving a discount. This 228-page hardback book of 600 images is yours for £25 instead of £30. Subscribe here:

A message from Ashley Franklin...Thank you for linking into this page of the Derwent Valley Book Project website. I trust this means you are going to subscribe to our book. If so, thank you again!

13/10/2023

The deadline for subscriptions to the Derwent Valley Photo Book is TODAY.
As we have received just over £7,000 in subscriptions and donations, I’m delighted to say that the book WILL get printed. However, having passed that first target, we welcome further subscriptions to help pay for the whole book.
Here is the link to subscribe: https://www.derwentvalleyimages.co.uk/subscribe
If you DO agree to subscribe, you will be able to purchase your copy at a discount price. This 228-page hardback book of nearly 600 images will retail for £30 but, if you subscribe, you will be charged only £25.
And there is more… if you make a pledge, your full name will appear on a page of this book as a ‘thank you’, and a memento of your invaluable help.
The book will be published – by the Arkwright Society - on November 24th.
I have reproduced four of the pages from the book here...

30/09/2023

I have just booked a Zoom talk tomorrow night - Sunday, October 1st at 7 pm) about the colour mixer brush. To my shame, I didn't even know Photoshop had such a brush! What encouraged me to join this Zoom session was that portrait photograhers use this brush tool for skin smoothing, Wildlife photographers blend distracting backgrounds with it and Still Life and flower photographers create wonderful textures and backgrounds using it. You can even paint fields of meadow flowers. Sounds fascinating. Book here (for only £3.79):

9 further Photoshop sessions, tackling the things which so many of you asked for!