Gervase has just launched his latest book "Yorkshire Journey" published by the Dalesman price £17.99. This is essentially a large format picture book of Yorkshire Photography and Watercolours by Gervase's artist son Matthew, richly presented with Gervase's witty Yorkshire prose. Many of the photographs particularly of North Yorkshire subjects are mine. This is a lovely Yorkshire book which I am proud to have been associated with and well worth looking up at your local bookshop.

It seems it's been a good year for poppies. My usual haunt on the Wolds near Thixendale haven't flowered this year but one I photographed near Sedgefield in County Durham seven years ago was a riot of colour again last week.  A very large corn field with hedge to hedge poppies. I found a new one - not quiet as good - but still impressive near Hovingham in North Yorks. I passed one near Knaresborough a couple of weeks ago BUT no camera with me. A lesson there.

I returned to the Sedgefield one last Thursday to do a sunset shot but they had been sprayed and were dying. No longer good enough for a picture. Yesterday my friend John Devlin took me to a rape field he had found near Seamer, Scarborough last week which was hedge to hedge poppies but over the week they were well past their best.

My new poppy images are all up on the site now. Search for 'poppies' or 'poppyfield'. The latest ones come up first.

I've just returned from a week on Lake Como. Unfortunately the light was continually poor so I didn't achieve the photography I had hoped for. Its a beautiful part of italy with the fabulous lakeside towns and villages of Bellagio, Varenna and Menaggio where we stayed. My best few images will be on the web site in a week or two so look out for them

During 2008/9 Mike was commissioned to photograph the Castle Howard landscape. He is currently working with Dr Chris Ridgway Castle Howard's curator on a coffee table book of his photography. Anticipated publication date is late in 2010

All though this has been a very dry spring there has still been a good showing of bluebells. In addition to my usual bluebell haunt of Newton Woods near Roseberry Topping I have found good displays at Thorp Perrow, Swainby and Kildale

The North York Moors National Park is running a 'meet the artist' event at its Danby Moor Centre. Mike Kipling together with John Devlin and Brian Jobson will be talking about their work with an illustrated talk on Thursday29th July from 2.00pm to 4.00pm

On Sunday 25th July 2010 at the Danby National Park Centre the North York Moors National Park is having a launch day of the project 'Inspiring Landscapes Inspiring People'

Mike will be there together with other artists and photographers to talk about his work. Admission is free

Mike now carries out one to one photography tuition with photographers Brian Jobson and John Devlin as part of the MasterDigital team. For info visit masterdigital or call 01642 360613