Geraint Rowland

Hide and Seek: A Moment in The Gambia

Home is more than just walls—it’s the comfort and protection we find within them. In the streets of Banjul, The Gambia, a young girl hides behind her mother, peering cautiously at the camera from the doorway of her home. Her mother stands as both a shield and a source of security, embodying the quiet strength that defines a sense of belonging.

Banjul, the capital of The Gambia, is a compact yet vibrant city, sitting on an island where the River Gambia meets the Atlantic Ocean. Despite its small size, it’s full of life—colorful markets, the call to prayer echoing through the streets, and a community spirit that is felt in every interaction. During my travels in The Gambia and neighboring Senegal, I was fortunate enough to stay with a local family, experiencing daily life from within rather than as just a passing observer. The children were full of energy, always eager to play, pose, or sometimes—like in this moment—shy away from the camera.

Hide and Seek: A Moment in The Gambia - Travel Blog by Geraint Rowland Photography

The Layers Within a Travel Portrait

Travel portraits are more than just faces—they tell stories, reflecting emotions, relationships, and environments. In this particular image, the game of hide and seek adds an extra layer to the scene. The girl’s cautious but curious gaze creates an emotional connection, while the vibrant patterns of her mother’s dress contrast beautifully with her tentative body language. The bold yellow and green fabric dominates the frame, serving almost as a protective barrier, reinforcing the idea of home as a place of safety.

While I captured several images of the children during my stay, this one stood out. It speaks of innocence, the quiet bond between mother and child, and that universal feeling of childhood curiosity mixed with the need for comfort. Moments like these are why I love candid photography—it allows real life to unfold without interference, capturing emotions that might otherwise go unnoticed.

In the following slideshow you can check out more portraits from this time—images of the lively, warm-hearted children I had the pleasure of meeting. The above photograph however, remains one of my favourites from my travels in The Gambia, a reminder that home isn’t just a structure, but the presence of those who make us feel safe.

Camera Details, West Africa Blogs & Keywords from The Gambia

📷 Canon 5D Mark II | 50mm f/1.4 | f/6.3 | 1/320 sec | ISO 250

#Gambia #Banjul #StreetPhotography #TravelPhotography #Africa #CandidPhotography #Photojournalism #SenseOfHome #Motherhood #WestAfrica #PortraitPhotography

Photographing the Countrywide Great Tour 2015

In the summer of 2015 a small group of cyclists set off from Anglesey in North Wales for a 64 day journey, circumnavigating the coastline of Great Britain.  At the start of July the cyclists began their epic journey cycling the entire coastline of Wales, Scotland and England before finally arriving back at their starting point seven weeks later.  Over the course of the 6,700 kilometre journey they were joined by hundreds of fellow cyclists for various stages of the Tour.  Always cycling in sight, sound and smell of the sea, the Countrywide Great Tour celebrated the beautiful and varied coastline of England, Scotland and Wales.

In 2010 I took part in the original Great Tour as a cyclists in which I rode the entire coastline of Wales.  In 2015 I was invited by the Sweetspot group (organisers of the Great Tour as well as the Tour of Britain and the Tour Series), to join the Countrywide Great Tour as the official photographer.  Photos were published daily on their social media accounts: Facebook, Twitter, and their Flickr account.  In addition to images created for social media, a photo was also published in the Telegraph newspaper daily.  Click through the slideshow below for a selection of cycling photographs from the Countrywide Great Tour 2015:

The Countrywide Great Tour was an amazing experience and I recommend anyone to get involved in 2018 when the Great Tour is returning.  Cyclists can join for individual days, whole weeks or for the more adventurous: the entire 64 days.  The individual day stages are around 100km and are fully supported so are suitable for the majority of people regardless of your cycling experience.  It is an amazing way to get outside and experience the beautiful coastline of Great Britain on two wheels.  

I wrote an additional blog containing some landscape and location photos from the Countrywide Great Tour 2015 titled, 'Photographing the Coastline of Great Britain'.  In the meantime for more photos of the Countrywide Tour 2015 you can check my CGT2015 Flickr Album.  

More examples of my photography can be found on my website, my Instagram, and my Flickr account. If you are interested in purchasing any prints, using an image online or would like further information please send me an email at: geraintrowlandphotography@gmail.com.