Shropshire from Dawn to Dusk – stunning images depict landscape and county love

One of England’s best-kept secrets, magnificent Shropshire in all its variety is captured on camera by award-winning father and son professional photography team, Mike and John Hayward, in the recently published book, Shropshire from Dawn to Dusk.

Mike and John’s pictures have been captured by journalist, Lynne Hayward, who also happens to be Mike’s wife and John’s mother, thus making the book even more of a Shropshire enterprise. And, of course, it is published by Ludlow-based Merlin Unwin Books.

Mike, a former newspaper and sports photographer, tends to focus his lens on the ‘people’ of Shropshire. His son, John, on the other hand, is happier to be up before dawn trudging with heavy camera equipment across Shropshire moor and bogland, and up steep hillsides to find the best light for his stunning landscapes.

Both father and son have worked together to share their enthusiasm for the county they live in and love. Their joy in Shropshire landscapes towns and villages shines through on every page of the book.

Their dedication comes through by the magnificent images such as the shot of the hot air balloons hovering over Old Oswestry hill fort in early morning or sunset at Pole Bank pond, the highest point on the Long Mynd.

There is also clear pleasure in capturing people from the county — from the Severn Valley Railway steam enthusiasts at Highley, to cricketers at the idyllic village ground at Burwarton, to the priest blessing his congregation in the dodgem cars at Ludlow’s May Fair — is clear from every shot.

Shropshire From Dawn To Dusk (hardback, Merlin Unwin Books, 2020) costs £20 and is dispatched via Royal Mail 2nd class post. Mike & John Hayward have also created 1000-piece jigsaw puzzles which feature a range of beautiful Shropshire scenes and are a perfect gift this Christmas, to find out more click here.