CALLUM O'CONNELL "Alfie in the Air"
Creating beautiful landscape photography with his drone and camera, Callum O’Connell’s photographic work is easily recognised thanks to his skill for showing well known landmarks from a unique perspective and his vivid colours bringing the Island to life. Better known as “Alfie in the Air”, Callum’s prints are a treasured addition to any wall space, whether you’re local or wanting to take a little piece of the Island home with you.
Born and raised in Birmingham, photographer Callum relocated to the Island right before the pandemic in 2020, since turning his lockdown interest into a successful career. Now shooting all over the world, at home here on the Island remains his favourite place to photograph.
Callum fell in love with the Isle of Wight landscape exploring the many beautiful beaches, landmarks, viewpoints, and vistas on his daily lockdown walks with his little dog Alfie. Capturing their adventures with his drone and camera, Callum decided to try selling his photographs online which really took off, so much so that he decided to turn his hobby into a profession on the other side of the pandemic and look for a workshop and gallery to display his work.
Now the proud proprietor of “Alfie in the Air”, inspired by his walks with Alfie, on Union Street in Ryde, Callum and Alfie welcome locals and visitors to the gallery to peruse the brilliant collection of Island imagery and maybe even take a piece home. Make sure you pop by!
CALLUM SAYS...
“There are benefits to photography with both a drone and a regular camera, I like to do both. Shooting with a drone provides access and a unique perspective of places and things not usually accessible by a person, while shooting on a camera allows for more creativity in the set up of the shot. If you’re lucky enough to have access to a boat, photographing the Island and surrounding coastline from the water provides an amazing perspective and you discover bays, landmarks, and things beneath the surface you’d never know where there.
Living in Ryde, it’s one of my favourite places on the Island, I can’t get enough of the views out across the Solent and the beautiful Appley beach – the best in my opinion! Alfie loves to walk along Seagrove Bay and St Helen’s Beach, both dog-friendly and excellent spots for photography - I always recommends Lily’s Café in Seaview, Off the Rails in Yarmouth and The Garden in Cowes for anyone asking for a great place to eat when they visit the shop.”
TOP TEN
We asked Callum, and Alfie, their favourite places and things to photograph on the Isle of Wight. Let their expert insight inspire your own Island photography.
1. Bembridge Ledge
The walk along Bembridge beach near the lifeboat station is a dog walkers paradise. I like to go early morning for sunrise and when the tide is out it reveals the ledge.
2. The Needles
A must see when you visit the Island. I love taking my boat round to Scratchells Bay and anchoring up, having lunch on the beach there with views of the Needles with the towering cliffs above you. There is a great boat trip from Alum Bay which takes you out the lighthouse, you might even be lucky enough to see dolphins.
3. Bramble Bank Cricket Match
The quickest and wettest cricket match in the world! In the sea between Cowes and Southampton, the sand bank is only revealed at very low tide when once a year people meet there for a cricket match.
4. St Helens Fort Walk
A walk to a fort in the Solent, only accessible at very low tide once a year. Hundreds of people take on the walk as the causeway magically opens up.
5. Newtown Creek
Here you’ll find an abundance of wildlife, birds and even seals and eagles. The landscape is so unique, from the marshes to the salt pans. No flying drones here, camera only.
6. Medina Shipwreck
There for 25 years, the wreck is located in the River Medina along the cycle path from Cowes to Newport and is great to photograph in all lights and weathers.
7. Isle of Wight Scooter Rally
Thousands of scooter enthusiasts descend on the Island during the August Bank Holiday, heading out on a ride out from the bottom of Union Street in Ryde.
8. Seaview
A really pretty coastal village popular for sailing. The coloured sails of the Seaview Mermaids and SVOD wooden yachts are great for photographing.
9. St Mildred’s Church
A piece of Island dating back to before the Domesday Book. In the 1800s, the church was rebuilt to meet Queen Victoria’s taste in splendour, the design overseen by her beloved Albert. The family attended while on the Island, with the youngest Princess wed here in 1855.
10. Ventnor
A fantastic beach, botanical gardens, hilly landscape, curved bay and lots to look at and great places to eat. A great location for a day out and photography.
For more incredible images, follow Callum & Alfie on Instagram @AlfieInTheAir or visit alfieintheair.co.uk