Kemp Town Carnival 2013, Brighton

Posted: 04/06/2013 | Author: Juraj Hrk | Filed under: Festival, Lifestyle, Portraits, Walkabouts | Tags: Art, Brighton, Carnival, Dancing, East Sussex, Festival, Jazz, Kemp Town, Music, Summer | 4 Comments

The 2013 Kemp Town Carnival once again did not disappoint and came with the much awaited signs that a summer of sorts could be arriving in the UK. So on the 1^st June hoards of people turned out to the Kemp Town Village to celebrate what is undoubtedly one of Brighton’s largest community events.

Much of our time was spent at the Bristol Bar Jazz Stage listening to the amazing music from bands such as Sussex Jazz Orchestra, Bristol Bar Quintet, E.M.E and Bristol Bar Jam. It must be said, there really was something to please all of the family whether it was the custard pie fight, live music, children’s entertainment, street theatre, dance displays, musicians or just enjoying a plain old fashioned Pimm’s or beer in the sun…

The quirky, good natured atmosphere of Kemp Town and the celebrations of children, dogs and adults alike the Brighton way…

From Goa to Mumbai

Posted: 12/02/2013 | Author: Juraj Hrk | Filed under: Travel | Tags: Arabian Sea, Asia, Canacona, Goa, India, Mumbai, Palolem Beach, Travel | 1 Comment

When skies are grey and snow flurries causing chaos on the ground, there is nothing better than escaping away somewhere nice and hot to feel the sun against your skin and the lovely sea air wrap around you like a warm hug. We recently spent a couple of weeks in India, starting off on the sandy beaches of Goa and finishing off in Mumbai with a four day wedding in between, which was truly an interesting experience. India – spiritual and probably the world’s most multidimensional and diverse country which has a lot to offer but you will need more time to fully experience it…

Hot Air Balloon Fiesta

Posted: 22/08/2012 | Author: Juraj Hrk | Filed under: Travel | Tags: Bristol, Fiesta, Flying, Hot Air Balloons, Nightglow, South West England, Travel | 42 Comments

It was a gorgeous Friday afternoon when we set off for our road trip to Bristol, for the 34^th International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, which is apparently Europe’s largest annual Hot Air Balloon event. With almost 250,000 visitors on Saturday alone it most definitely felt like it!

With a night stopover just outside Bath, having left it late booking a B&B it turned out to be almost impossible to get any decent accommodation within 20 miles of Bristol! Just as well though as we came across this gem of a cottage in beautiful countryside – many thanks to lovely Angela and Chris for their warm hospitality even though it was such a brief stay.

Very early on Saturday morning, when most people are turning over in their beds and dreaming of the impossible, we set off for Bristol aiming to get there by 6am for our hot air balloon flight. Unfortunately this didn’t happen for us or the hundred or so people who were booked for sightseeing flights due to high winds up at 2000ft, even though on the ground it was very calm and windless with a clear sky. It turns out that hot air ballooning is a very complex operation, with the weather, mostly winds, being the main factor. The exhibitor’s flights still went ahead though as planned. Despite a little disappointment it turned out to be a great day that was finished off with the famous ‘Night Glow’ where around 20 or so balloons were glowing in time to music – quite spectacular, followed by fireworks!

Balloons getting ready for ‘Night Glow’

A short video from the day…

https://vimeo.com/47988068

With a great and needless to say long day behind us we set off for a 3 hour night drive back to Brighton – getting home and crashing out in bed never felt this good, even though it was almost sunrise :-)!

Kitesurfing in Brighton

Posted: 27/06/2012 | Author: Juraj Hrk | Filed under: Travel | Tags: Beach, Brighton, East Sussex, Hove, Kitesurfing, Sea, Sport, Surfing, Watersport, West Pier, Windsurfing | 28 Comments

It was one of those weeks when the wind was howling nonstop for days on end. So late one Friday afternoon after a hard day at work we decided to head to the coast and take advantage of this wonderful British summer weather with our cameras! Strong winds whipped at our faces and spray puffed off the ocean waves – perfect conditions for kitesurfing in Brighton. We watched as the hard-core surfers battled the blustery winds to prepare their colourful kites before braving the cold waters of the English Channel. What a shame the sea wasn’t turquoise blue and the beach wasn’t covered with beautiful girls in bikinis… perhaps another time, another place miles away from here.

With so much fun and excitement we decided to come back the following day. So very early on Saturday morning we returned to the seafront but this time round with much warmer clothes on. The sky was blue with some white puffy clouds on the horizon. With the winds still strong, once again the adrenaline driven kite surfers were out and about tackling what the rough seas of the English Channel had to offer. As they sped across the water in front of the striking backdrop of the derelict West pier and with plenty of shots in the bag we decided to head back home.

So here goes, a compilation of some of the shots taken over two days at a very windy Brighton and Hove beach, although the photos really don’t do it justice!

With gusts well over 40mph, needless to say that by the time we got home, we felt like we had just gone through a tumble dryer… on a cold setting that is!

Isle of Wight and back in 90 minutes

Posted: 10/06/2012 | Author: Juraj Hrk | Filed under: Travel | Tags: Aerial Photography, Boats, Brighton, East Sussex, England, Flying, Hove, Isle of Wight, Shoreham, The Needles, Travel, West Sussex | 81 Comments

On a beautiful Saturday afternoon, with a gorgeous blue sky and no clouds on the horizon, we took a trip to the Isle of Wight – by plane. This day will imprint itself upon the history of 2012 as being the point when summer finally hit, although it didn’t last very long, after all this is England! From above, with people chilling out in the sun, enjoying bike rides, burgers and bikinis, the world looks relaxed and worry free. As the sun kept shining and the wind kept blowing, with my mate Dan at the controls, we headed west to the Isle of Wight, admiring the beauty from above.

If you are interested in pleasure flights or flying lessons please get in touch.

Me at work, trying not to get sucked out of the plane…

Chasing some boats along the way…

The Needles, Isle of Wight – needs to be seen from above to appreciate its beauty.

This is where it ends, well it wasn’t our choice but with fuel running low, we thought we’d better land. With a great day behind us and happy memories, off we went to the pub for refuelling!