It started with a photograph

Back in November 2021 Ian Stephens, a gardener with over 25 years of experience at various golf courses, was challenged to do a 'Daily Nature Photo Challenge'. Initially he thought here would be no chance he would do the challenge. Then in June 2022 at the end of #30DaysWild, an initiative run by The Wildlife Trust, Ian thought he would give it a go as a continued way of showing his support for them.

Ian started the challenge on the 1st July 2022. Every single photo was taken on the day it is listed in the book. They were all taken on his mobile phone, with no post-editing work at all, except they are all resized into a square format for publishing. The choice to use only his phone was to show that the challenge is achievable for anyone even with limited resources.

After a year of taking pictures , with the help of publisher Lisa Greener at Green Cat Books, an independent book publishing company, his first book ‘My Year In Photos’ was published. Each page has two of Ian’s photographs with the day number, a brief description and, plenty of corny puns.

Ian decided that all profits from the book will be donated equally between Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust and Bassetlaw hospice. The total of which is £1420 and has given £710 to each charity so far.

So what is next for Ian?
I asked Ian what he would do now that book one was published. He replied with a smile, well I have continued to take photographs every day and it has been over a year, so I think there is only one thing to do really.... Publish another book! In fact as an exclusive, I can not only confirm Ian will be publishing another book, but I can give you a sneak peek at the new front cover. The second book will also have all of its profits shared between Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust and Bassetlaw hospice.