Mark and Anny
Welcome to our website.
Our names are Mark Hockey and Agnieszka Stachura.
Mark says... I specialize in mountain, landscape and wildlife photography and my career as a chef has taken me to some of the finest locations in the UK. I moved to Glencoe, Scotland following a short-lived career as a trainee accountant in Leeds to gain much mountaineering experience and photograph the mountains during all times of day and in all seasons.
I am shortly to transfer my entire collection onto this page. My latest trip North from home in the Yorkshire Dales resulted in a spectacular sunrise from the summit of Ben Nevis (22/3/07) - A night/morning well worth the 11hrs driving and the long plod up and down the great mountain.
Since then (March 2007) I have set up a small business, Ilkley Images, concentrating purely on expanding my collection of images around my hometown.
Ilkley is an attractive town just outside the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The Town is situated in the Wharfe Valley which at this point runs east to west. Ilkley is best known for the famous Ilkley moor above the south side of the valley. The Cow and Calf Rocks are one of the most photogenic features on the moor, especially when viewed from the south with the town below and the gentle slopes of Langbar and Beamsley Moors beyond. Ilkley is also the start of 'The Dales Way 'which winds its way westwards from Ilkleys 'Old Bridge' along The River Wharfe for a while before branching off to terminate in Bowness in The Lake District.
Read more about Ilkley
The moors surrounding the town provide excellent viewpoints of this part of the Wharfe Valley. For example the views west from the Cow and Calf Rocks on Ilkley Moor over White Wells to Addingham Moorside, Langbar Moorside, Beamsley Moor and Beamsley Beacon, early mornings and late evenings can be superlative. The same can be said for the views to the north and north east to take in Denton Moor and Almscliff Crag. I try to photograph Ilkley and its surroundings in all the different weather conditions and seasons.
Read more about Ilkley Moor
The town of Ilkley itself changes with the seasons to help with my favourite images - the spring blossom on The Grove seen from the top of Brook Street, at the same time the Bluebells in Middleton Woods are at their peak is a sign the famous Ilkley Moor will soon be glowing purple, clad with its sturdy Yorkshire heather. Autumn to me is the best time of the year to be out with the camera and Ilkley's possibilities for superb images are endless. Temperature inversions, although infrequent can bring about Brocken Spectres on our moorsides if your in the right place at the right time!
I took many images of the Ilkley Summer Festival this year and we were fortunate to have good weather during the continental market on The Grove. Ilkley in Bloom voluntary workers helped to light the town up with magnificent flowerbeds in several key locations, the finer ones being along Brook Street and The Grove.
Agnieszka Stachura says:
I am Mark's partner. I'm Polish and also a keen hill walker, artist and photographer. See pictures in 'Agnieszka Stachura' photo-gallery in the Photos section.
My first and last rock climb was The In Pin on the Isle of Skye.
Our names are Mark Hockey and Agnieszka Stachura.
Mark says... I specialize in mountain, landscape and wildlife photography and my career as a chef has taken me to some of the finest locations in the UK. I moved to Glencoe, Scotland following a short-lived career as a trainee accountant in Leeds to gain much mountaineering experience and photograph the mountains during all times of day and in all seasons.
I am shortly to transfer my entire collection onto this page. My latest trip North from home in the Yorkshire Dales resulted in a spectacular sunrise from the summit of Ben Nevis (22/3/07) - A night/morning well worth the 11hrs driving and the long plod up and down the great mountain.
Since then (March 2007) I have set up a small business, Ilkley Images, concentrating purely on expanding my collection of images around my hometown.
Ilkley is an attractive town just outside the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The Town is situated in the Wharfe Valley which at this point runs east to west. Ilkley is best known for the famous Ilkley moor above the south side of the valley. The Cow and Calf Rocks are one of the most photogenic features on the moor, especially when viewed from the south with the town below and the gentle slopes of Langbar and Beamsley Moors beyond. Ilkley is also the start of 'The Dales Way 'which winds its way westwards from Ilkleys 'Old Bridge' along The River Wharfe for a while before branching off to terminate in Bowness in The Lake District.
Read more about Ilkley
The moors surrounding the town provide excellent viewpoints of this part of the Wharfe Valley. For example the views west from the Cow and Calf Rocks on Ilkley Moor over White Wells to Addingham Moorside, Langbar Moorside, Beamsley Moor and Beamsley Beacon, early mornings and late evenings can be superlative. The same can be said for the views to the north and north east to take in Denton Moor and Almscliff Crag. I try to photograph Ilkley and its surroundings in all the different weather conditions and seasons.
Read more about Ilkley Moor
The town of Ilkley itself changes with the seasons to help with my favourite images - the spring blossom on The Grove seen from the top of Brook Street, at the same time the Bluebells in Middleton Woods are at their peak is a sign the famous Ilkley Moor will soon be glowing purple, clad with its sturdy Yorkshire heather. Autumn to me is the best time of the year to be out with the camera and Ilkley's possibilities for superb images are endless. Temperature inversions, although infrequent can bring about Brocken Spectres on our moorsides if your in the right place at the right time!
I took many images of the Ilkley Summer Festival this year and we were fortunate to have good weather during the continental market on The Grove. Ilkley in Bloom voluntary workers helped to light the town up with magnificent flowerbeds in several key locations, the finer ones being along Brook Street and The Grove.
Agnieszka Stachura says:
I am Mark's partner. I'm Polish and also a keen hill walker, artist and photographer. See pictures in 'Agnieszka Stachura' photo-gallery in the Photos section.
My first and last rock climb was The In Pin on the Isle of Skye.