It’s been an excellent few days in the life of our new book, Shropshire From Dawn to Dusk.

Publication was put on hold at the start of lockdown, but the easing of restrictions means it is now on sale in all the county’s independent bookshops and other outlets, as well as through our website.

A fantastic in-depth feature by Toby Neal appeared in the Shropshire Star and, to cap it all, John and Mike were interviewed by presenter Ross Kennedy for BBC Radio Shropshire’s breakfast show.

Shropshire From Dawn to Dusk is a large format book that celebrates our county in more than 160 beautiful images. It builds on the success of our previous book, A Year in Shropshire, which was published in 2017.

John says: “I’m never happier than when I’m out and about in the Shropshire Hills, and I spend a lot of time checking weather forecasts to take advantage of the best conditions.

“My favourite time of the day is sunrise. This is not only because the light is at its best but also because it’s quiet and I generally have an entire hill to myself. 

“The early starts are never easy, but sunrise in the warmer months requires a lot of dedication. It involves getting up really early, so my alarm regularly goes off at 3.30am.

“I like to be in position half an hour before the sun comes up to allow extra time to explore other ideas, or perhaps see a different angle that may be more productive.”

Mike also loves the Shropshire landscape, but the many years he spent as a press photographer have made him more than comfortable with capturing images of people.

He says: “I’m always on the lookout for the humorous and the offbeat, sometimes without the subjects even knowing they’ve been ‘snapped’.

“My particular favourites in the new book include the quirky image of a church service being held among the dodgem cars at Ludlow May Fair, and the picture of some morris dancers queueing at a bus stop in Shrewsbury.”

:: Shropshire From Dawn to Dusk (£20, hardback) is published by Merlin Unwin Books. It is available in bookshops and local outlets and also through our website here.