Welcome to my revamped website - and there's even a cup of coffee - please don't knock it over!
I have always been interested in photography - a friend recently sent me a photograph of a group of us visiting Paris when we were about 12 or 13 and I had a camera over my shoulder even then. This was my dad's prized possession and he very kindly, or stupidly, lent it to me for the trip - he need not have worried as both the camera and I returned home safely. There was always a camera with me on holidays but the results were very much "snaps".
It was not until 2007 that I got into photography as a serious hobby. I'd spent a while helping a friend at weddings as her assistant - not carrying her gear, but capturing all those candid moments that probably capture the day more than some of the 'posed' photographs. I really enjoyed it but after a few years we both decided that the hours were just too long for us. Also in 2007 I joined my local camera club in Midhurst. Right from the start I entered the print competitions and soon realised that my work had some way to go. However, I learned a lot from looking at other people's work, listening to comments from some of the judges and also going on workshops. It wasn't long before I started getting into the 'winners' enclosure' and even managed to get a First Place at the end of my first season. Since then I have progressed through the ranks and am now in the Advanced Group, but still haven't managed to win one of the leagues - I've been 1 point behind the winner on three occasions - must obviously try harder.
My first dSLR was an Olympus E-400, but I soon bought a Canon 40D, later replaced by a 7D and finally a 5D Mk3. However the weight of the camera and a bagful of heavy lenses were taking the toll on my back and early in 2015 I decided to make the move to a CSC. Initially I couldn't bring myself to sell the Canon, but after a few months when it only left the house a couple of times, I decided it was time to bid it a fond farewell. I must say that I haven't regretted making the move to the Olympus OM-D EM-1 and it is so easy to pop it into a very small backpack, with a couple of lenses, and go out for several hours without feeling like a packhorse!
I hope you enjoy looking though the images on my website - new ones will be added on a fairly regular basis.
I have always been interested in photography - a friend recently sent me a photograph of a group of us visiting Paris when we were about 12 or 13 and I had a camera over my shoulder even then. This was my dad's prized possession and he very kindly, or stupidly, lent it to me for the trip - he need not have worried as both the camera and I returned home safely. There was always a camera with me on holidays but the results were very much "snaps".
It was not until 2007 that I got into photography as a serious hobby. I'd spent a while helping a friend at weddings as her assistant - not carrying her gear, but capturing all those candid moments that probably capture the day more than some of the 'posed' photographs. I really enjoyed it but after a few years we both decided that the hours were just too long for us. Also in 2007 I joined my local camera club in Midhurst. Right from the start I entered the print competitions and soon realised that my work had some way to go. However, I learned a lot from looking at other people's work, listening to comments from some of the judges and also going on workshops. It wasn't long before I started getting into the 'winners' enclosure' and even managed to get a First Place at the end of my first season. Since then I have progressed through the ranks and am now in the Advanced Group, but still haven't managed to win one of the leagues - I've been 1 point behind the winner on three occasions - must obviously try harder.
My first dSLR was an Olympus E-400, but I soon bought a Canon 40D, later replaced by a 7D and finally a 5D Mk3. However the weight of the camera and a bagful of heavy lenses were taking the toll on my back and early in 2015 I decided to make the move to a CSC. Initially I couldn't bring myself to sell the Canon, but after a few months when it only left the house a couple of times, I decided it was time to bid it a fond farewell. I must say that I haven't regretted making the move to the Olympus OM-D EM-1 and it is so easy to pop it into a very small backpack, with a couple of lenses, and go out for several hours without feeling like a packhorse!
I hope you enjoy looking though the images on my website - new ones will be added on a fairly regular basis.