Mike Finley

Mike Finley is a fine art photographer specialising in monochrome floral photography. He also works in monochrome landscape and monochrome infrared photography, and does a small amount of colour photography.

Lillies

A couple of bright bold lilies highlighted by the dappled sunshine. A couple of bright bold lilies highlighted by the dappled sunshine. This monochrome floral photograph is printed using a warm black ink which gives a glowing effect in the bright lily flowers.

Treeline

A line of trees at the base of fells viewed across Loweswater in the Lake District. A line of trees at the base of fells viewed across Loweswater in the Lake District. This photograph was taken using monochrome infrared film, and shows the lightening effect this has on the foliage of deciduous trees. (The effect is far less evident on coniferous trees.)

Foam

An incoming wave expends the last of its energy climbing up the beach. An incoming wave expends the last of its energy climbing up the beach. The foam glistens in the sunlight as it approaches a back rock embedded in the sand at Gorleston-on-Sea. This monochrome photograph is available as a giclee print.

Time

Ten past ten, or count the years? Time is mutable but this tree can no longer grow with it. Ten past ten, or count the years? Time is mutable but this tree can no longer grow with it.

Nichol End Marina

This low-key monochrome photograph was taken early one morning in Spring in the Lake District, and shows a patch of sunlight stretching across the lake, throwing the jetty and boats into darker relief. This low-key monochrome photograph was taken early one morning in Spring in the Lake District, and shows a patch of sunlight stretching across the lake, throwing the jetty and boats into darker relief.

Sarracenia Seedhead

A seedhead of a Sarracenia plant. A seedhead of a Sarracenia plant. Sarracenia are insectivorous plants native to the North America, and commonly known as the 'American pitcher plant'.
This image of a Sarracenia purpurea seedhead rich autumn colours of yellows, oranges and reds, with the head just beginning to split and almost ready to start releasing the seeds.

Nigella #1

Monochrome floral study of a Nigella flower and bud (common name "love in a mist"). Monochrome floral study of a Nigella flower and bud (common name "love in a mist"). This high-key study shows a white form of the flower in the foreground framed by the delicate filamentous foliage, with an out of focus bud providing a counterpoint in the background.

Sunflower

A monochrome macro photograph of the centre of a sunflower head in summer. A monochrome macro photograph of the centre of a sunflower head in summer. Limited depth of field gives a somewhat abstract interpretation and renders the flower difficult to recognise.
Available as a limited edition giclee print.

Autumn Mist

A traditional monochrome landscape image of trees and mist in autummn. A traditional monochrome landscape image of trees and mist in autummn. A majestic oak takes centre stage with smaller trees in the distance. During the summer the oak would have offered welcome shade for the cows or sheep grazing in the field. Located by the River Dane near Holmes Chapel in Cheshire.

Calla #2

A monochrome photographic study of a Calla lilly flower. A monochrome photographic study of a Calla lilly flower. The grain of the film serves to soften the edges of the gentle curves and shadows in this floral image.

Wheels

This monochrome landscape vignette shows a pair of old wheels left to rust in a meadow. This monochrome landscape vignette shows a pair of old wheels left to rust in a meadow. The slightly surreal feel of this photographic image results from the use of infrared film.

Pines

A dark and moody monochrome image of pines in near silhouette against a heavy cloudy sky. A dark and moody monochrome image of pines in near silhouette against a heavy cloudy sky. Taken in the English Lake District in 2007.

Patterns in the sand

One of nature's abstracts. One of nature's abstracts. Patterns left in the sand by the withdrawing tide at St Bee's in the English Lake District.
Naturally monochrome, this photographic image has been rendered in black and white tones.

Cyclamen Cloud

The flowers of a miniature cyclamen seem to float in mid air, detached from the plant. The flowers of a miniature cyclamen seem to float in mid air, detached from the plant. This monochrome digital print started life as a large format photograph of a miniature cyclamen, and then has been carefully altered to leave just the flowers floating in a cloud in front of a matt black background.

Calla #4

Another monochrome floral study, this time of a miniature Calla Lilly. Another monochrome floral study, this time of a miniature Calla Lilly. More an abstract study in lines, curves and blocks of tone than a horticultural reference!

Magnolia #4

Close up photograph of a magnolia blossom, one of the harbingers of Spring. Close up photograph of a magnolia blossom, one of the harbingers of Spring. This monochrome picture emphasises the detail of the subtle structures in the flower.

Ripples

Ripples on the surface of a fast flowing river. Ripples on the surface of a fast flowing river.

Black Rain

Black Rain

Arisaema #1

A monochrome floral study of part of an arisaema flavum leaf, but more of a semi-abstract architectural image than floral reference. A monochrome floral study of part of an arisaema flavum leaf, but more of a semi-abstract architectural image than floral reference. A photographic image printed in carbon inks on a coated alpha cellulose paper.

Quiet Corner

This landscape vignette shows a quiet corner where boundaries meet at the corner of a field. This landscape vignette shows a quiet corner where boundaries meet at the corner of a field. The sun on the leaves adds a highlight, emphasised by the special characteristics of monochrome infrared film.

Ferns

A small patch of ferns growing in a shaft of light in Cathedral Quarry in the Lake District. A small patch of ferns growing in a shaft of light in Cathedral Quarry in the Lake District. Originally photographed on Fuji slide film, with its characteristic brightening of foliage greens.

Mersey Ferry

This monochrome photograph shows the Mersey ferry terminal in a backlit view across the River Mersey. This monochrome photograph shows the Mersey ferry terminal in a backlit view across the River Mersey. The sun shines through a break in the cloud producing a patch of brightness on the river. A single seagull is just visible in the bright patch in the sky. The ferry terminal is visible in the foreground in partial silhouette.

Apple #1

high key monochrome photographic image of half an apple. high key monochrome photographic image of half an apple. Printed in carbon inks on a coated alpha-cellulose paper.

Gerbera #3

Floral monochrome print of a gerbera flower, with a delicate high-key rendering. Floral monochrome print of a gerbera flower, with a delicate high-key rendering.

Dying Iris

Floral monochrome photograph of a dying iris, backlit to show the translucency in the petals of the fading flower. Floral monochrome photograph of a dying iris, backlit to show the translucency in the petals of the fading flower.
Available as a limited edition giclee print.

Flight #2

Picture of a bird flying up into the trees. Picture of a bird flying up into the trees. (Its actually a young starling.) Digitally manipulated photograph available as a limited edition giclee print.

Branches

This monochrome winter landscape shows tree branches covered in snow. This monochrome winter landscape shows tree branches covered in snow. The photograph was taken at the edge of woodlands near the River Dane in Cheshire.

Magnolia #1

Close-up photograph of a magnolia blossom, one of the harbingers of Spring. Close-up photograph of a magnolia blossom, one of the harbingers of Spring. This monochrome picture emphasises the subtle structures in the flower, and the flowing curves of the petals.

Magnolia #3

Close up photograph of a magnolia blossom, one of the harbingers of Spring. Close up photograph of a magnolia blossom, one of the harbingers of Spring. This image emphasises the detail of the subtle structures in the flower. OK, this is another photograph of the same flower seen in Magnolia #4, this time taken in colour.

Nepenthes

This monochrome image shows a young Nepenthes pitcher. This monochrome image shows a young Nepenthes pitcher. It is photographed using a limited depth of field to make it stand out from the background, which includes the sinuous curve of another leaf and pitcher.

Trapped

Autumn colours with a fallen leaf trapped in a spiders web on a dry stone wall. Autumn colours with a fallen leaf trapped in a spiders web on a dry stone wall. Macro photography taken in the Lake District.
Available as a signed and numbered giclee print.

Snow

This monochrome winter lanscape shows freshly fallen snow on trees at the edge of a small wood in the Dane valley near Holmes Chapel, Cheshire. This monochrome winter lanscape shows freshly fallen snow on trees at the edge of a small wood in the Dane valley near Holmes Chapel, Cheshire.

Copse near Addingham

A late Autumn landscape study of a small copse near Addingham in Yorkshire. A late Autumn landscape study of a small copse near Addingham in Yorkshire.

Gerbera #2

Floral monochrome print of a gerbera flower, with a delicate high-key rendering. Floral monochrome print of a gerbera flower, with a delicate high-key rendering.