When going back through all my photographs, I have noticed that I am gradually photographing more and more pieces that have had a life and are now starting to either rust or decay. I think the same is true with portraits, in that I would rather photograph someone with lines and wrinkles as it shows they have lived a life and have stories to tell.

So often we are seduced by the shiny object, the new car, the new watch, the new clothes and I still like to photograph the stunning VW camper van or Beetle, the shiny scooter with all the bells and whistles.

But, when I see the one which shows its age, that’s what really excites me. I love that is has been left to show all its scars and travels and I wonder where it has been, what it has done.

The same is true of boats. Portsmouth, being an island, is surrounded by the sea with its salty air which helps the rust and peeling paint overtake so many of the boats that sit on our shoreline.

There must be a reason I find this more interesting and I look forward to someone explaining it to me one day. In the meantime, I shall continue to find more items to photograph that are either rusty, decaying or have peeling paint.