Alan Mackenzie Photography

There are times when carrying a heavy Canon EOS 5D Mark IV body and various lenses is not convenient, especially when I'm on a leisurely day out to Wakehurst or Kew Gardens. Smartphone cameras can take high quality images   — I use the Xiaomi 14T PRO, which comes with a fine Leica-branded camera, but I wanted an everyday carry, lightweight mirrorless camera to bridge the gap between my smartphone and professional-level Canon DSLR. The lack of a viewfinder on the Sony ZV-E10 has not hindered me, as I am already used to taking photos this way using my phone. The camera provides me with access to 24.2 megapixel RAW images, eleven frames per second and a small enough body to fit in my backpack. After testing the supplied kit lens, I decided to replace it with the much better quality Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8. The lens has an image stabiliser and sharp resolution across the focal range, even at the widest aperture. Although the Tamron is slightly bigger than the Sony camera body, the d...

There is nothing quite like walking around a British bluebell wood in late April or early May, especially during the 'golden hour'. For 2025, I chose a small, hidden bluebell wood along an embankment, perhaps one hundred metres long and twenty metres wide. I first discovered the wood late one evening, in April 2022. With daylight running out, I rushed a few shots, which showed promise, but never went further than my desktop. I have only seen one other person in the wood in three years of visiting, yet there is a busy road nearby and well-trodden bluebell woods attracting thousands of visitors per season. There is no parking and the wood can only be accessed from a long, rough path, with gullies, which fill with rainwater after storms. My first visit of 2025 took place under bright, but sunless skies  — ideal for daytime bluebell photography. After carefully following a deer track into the wood, I spotted a dead Hornbeam tree surrounded by bluebells, with an adjacent English oa...

People who follow my work closely will immediately notice that this year's early summer project has expanded to include species other than roe deer. There are fewer roe present at the nature reserve, and this has been the case since 2023. It would appear that the neighbouring farmer has stopped keeping horses, and fences installed to prevent them leaving have now been cut. Grazing horses kept grasses short, allowing buttercups, a roe deer favourite, to thrive. Buttercups now have to compete with other summer flora. There are currently only four roe deer — two does, one mature buck and one yearling buck. I have seen the dominant buck chasing the young male, so he can have exclusive access to the females. He is very confident and if he makes an appearance, I can easily observe him, time permitting. The females are not ready to mate, but the buck is showing signs of being interested. I like to take great care of my expensive tripod-mounted camera and lens, especially when positioning ...

The mild, wet winter and cold April led to peak bluebell flowering before the beginning of May at an ancient bluebell wood in East Sussex. It was interesting to see how much individual trees had changed in just 12 months. The decaying lower branches of a particular old oak gave way at some point since my last visit. I wouldn't have liked to be in the vicinity when they fell.  Best practice is to avoid the popular public stomping grounds and visit much less well-known woods up the muddy tracks. The advantage is that I can photograph pristine carpets of bluebells before they get disturbed. Bluebells cannot generate energy to regrow bulbs if people crush the foliage, something annoyingly visible every year, as social media influencers drape themselves, their children and brides among the flowers. If a route to a good vantage point is not immediately obvious, I will find an indirect route, taking care to step on bare patches and leap over clumps of flowers. Since my somnolent ri...