Welcome to The Blue Hour Journal.

Welcome.

The Blue Hour Journal is a collection of documentary stories, photographs, objects and observations gathered over four decades of travel, work and study.

Over the years I have travelled widely through Asia, Africa, Europe and South America, documenting people, places and events with a camera and a notebook. Some stories record moments of social change, others explore everyday lives, forgotten communities, landscapes, objects and ideas. Alongside photography, the journal will also include research into ceramics and material culture, personal observations, travel writing and occasional works of fiction.

Many of the photographs and stories published here were created long before social media became dominant. Some have appeared elsewhere; many have remained unpublished or unseen for years. The purpose of this journal is to bring them together in one place, creating a permanent and curated archive that can continue to grow over time.

The title reflects a favourite time of day: the blue hour. A brief period between night and day when the world appears quieter, softer and more reflective. It is often during such moments that observation becomes possible.

This journal makes no claim to have all the answers.

It seeks only to document, examine and understand.

Stephen Ford – Independent

We analyse and observe. Nothing more.