Having neglected the blog for a while i thought I’d cull the archive for a look back at the last few months of 2014.

Michael Grove delivers his conference address - Wednesday 01 October 2014.

Michael Grove delivers his conference address – Wednesday 01 October 2014.

A bit of everything here…from everyone’s favourite former Education Secretary (more on that later) to my day-to-day array of cute kids posing for my usual commercial photography in Manchester.

A very quick set of pictures of Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard. Taken at the fag end of a long day's advertising film shoot...we got about two mins for the interview and 30 seconds for the pictures.

A very quick set of pictures of Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard. Taken at the fag end of a long day’s advertising film shoot…we got about two mins for the interview and 30 seconds for the pictures.

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Did a few different bits of sport last year, which is not my usual field. Here's some Rugby League action. Great game.

Did a few different bits of sport last year, which is not my usual field. Here’s some Rugby League action. Great game.

Covered a couple of games at Man City for a corporate too.

Covered a couple of games at Man City for a corporate too.

Spent a day following the Archbishop of York, the Rt. Revd. John Sentamu as he visited Oldham - Thursday 23 October 2014.

Spent a day following the Archbishop of York, the Rt. Revd. John Sentamu as he visited Oldham – Thursday 23 October 2014.

Lots of different cute PR photo stories at the end of last year.

Lots of different cute PR photo stories at the end of last year.

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Two takes on the same picture. Captured at the Labour conference. The Mail used the one with Miliband apparently ignoring Ed Balls...and the Mirror used the one with him looking supportive. Funny old job.

Two takes on the same picture. Captured at the Labour conference. The Mail used the one with Miliband apparently ignoring Ed Balls…and the Mirror used the one with him looking supportive. Funny old job.

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Actually, same thing going on here...spilt seconds apart but the smile makes all the difference to the pic.

Actually, same thing going on here…spilt seconds apart but the smile makes all the difference to the pic.

LABOUR PARTY CONFERENCE 2014
Staying with the Labour Party conference - you've always got to try and get something a bit different. Caught a glimpse of Miliband between two bottles of water and thought it made a nice frame. Didn't get a show though!

Staying with the Labour Party conference – you’ve always got to try and get something a bit different. Caught a glimpse of Miliband between two bottles of water and thought it made a nice frame. Didn’t get a show though!

Nice bit of framing for the big address.

Nice bit of framing for the big address.

Last thing on this conference...can't not mention the perennial photographers' favourite. Ed Balls on fine form this year...huffing, puffing and almost breaking one freelance reporter's nose.

Last thing on this conference…can’t not mention the perennial photographers’ favourite. Ed Balls on fine form this year…huffing, puffing and almost breaking one freelance reporter’s nose.

LABOUR PARTY CONFERENCE 2014
Flitting back to PR photo jobs actually...some are too racy for me. Cue offers to help carry the bags...

Flitting back to PR photo jobs actually…some are too racy for me. Cue offers to help carry the bags…

Couple of press jobs with some local hero's...the first being New Order drummer Stephen Morris as he opens up the Macclesfield festival...

Couple of press jobs with some local hero’s…the first being New Order drummer Stephen Morris as he opens up the Macclesfield festival…

...and a few frames of Maxine Peake for Red Magazine during her run in Hamlet at the Royal Exchange.

…and a few frames of Maxine Peake for Red Magazine during her run in Hamlet at the Royal Exchange.

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Staying at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester, but with Sheila Hancock as she guests at the Manchester Literature Festival.

Staying at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester, but with Sheila Hancock as she guests at the Manchester Literature Festival.

This year's festival attracted a fab list of writers...inc Kate Tempest...

This year’s festival attracted a fab list of writers…inc Kate Tempest…

...the Today's programme's Jim Naughtie at the beautiful Portico Library.

…the today’s programme’s Jim Naughtie at the beautiful Portico Library.

...plenty of Children's writers at the festival  too!

…plenty of Children’s writers at the festival too!

My personal favourite from the festival has to be Peter Blake. What a life well lived. Had to snap him in his trademark red, white and blue union jack colours. Not easy to set up in a few mins.

My personal favourite from the festival has to be Peter Blake. What a life well lived. Had to snap him in his trademark red, white and blue union jack colours. Not easy to set up in a few mins.

And so we come to my ever-favourite event...the Tory Party conference. Most photographers don't enjoy the conferences, but I'm a bit of an anorak. As the Tories KO'd in Birmingham there was the usual sex scandal. Will they never learn.

And so we come to my ever-favourite event…the Tory Party conference. Most photographers don’t enjoy the conferences, but I’m a bit of an anorak. As the Tories KO’d in Birmingham there was the usual sex scandal. Will they never learn.

Trying to file a few conference more opener pics...

Trying to file a few conference more opener pics…

Much of it's quite pedestrian...a series of set-up pieces for camera...

Much of it’s quite pedestrian…a series of set-up pieces for camera…

...with the nation's finest waiting to get whatever we're given that morning.

…with the nation’s finest waiting to get whatever we’re given that morning.

Boris arrival always perks things up a bit though. Never fails to give a good picture and is followed everywhere accordingly.

Boris arrival always perks things up a bit though. Never fails to give a good picture and is followed everywhere accordingly.

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Why don't we wrap up with a last reminder of Michael Gove. He's quite friendly in person actually...sorry Michael.

Why don’t we wrap up with a last reminder of Michael Gove. He’s quite friendly in person actually…sorry Michael.