Born in Millom, Cumberland, 1956
I have had an interest in photography for a good number of years floating in and out of it as a hobby. I go back as far as the early eighties when I got my first proper 35mm SLR, a second hand Practica Super TL with match needle metering and a shutter clunk you could hear a quarter mile away. I later bought a brand new Ricoh KR10 super and that was so advanced from the Praktica. I lived in South Lakeland at the time and would clear off for the day with a couple of rolls of film and my pride and joy KR10 super, sometimes I would use up both films in the day ALL 48 shots. As my interest in photography grew I built a darkroom under the stairs and developed and printed my own black and white prints. If you have only ever known digital photography I cannot put into words the feeling of seeing your first print develop in the tray in front of your eyes.
As time moved on enthusiasm for photography was up and down along with various camera, makes, models and formats. I never went to any smaller film format than 35mm but my favourite format was the 6 x 6 Bronica system, each lens had its own leaf shutter built in so you could sync flash at any speed you wanted great for fill in flash. That said I think the maximum sync speed was only about 1/500th of 1/1000th sec but it was still a technical marvel and a lovely large negative to work with.
As you can probably tell I have a keen interest for the technical and mechanical side of photography, I do struggle with the creative side but I am working on that.
My interest was awakened again when I got my first digital camera, this was only a compact camera but it did show me the possibilities of this new medium if I had more control so I bought my first DSLR in 2006 a Canon 300D with a 6 Mp crop sensor. The photography interest was still very on off because I was busy with my work. I only had chance for photography on holiday so most images ended up as holiday snaps. For the last few years I been able to spend more time developing my photography skills so hopefully my skills at are improving. I have owned and used a varied array of cameras since from Panasonic and Canon bridge types to currently a Canon 5D mkII, I am also trying an Olympus OM-D EM5 at the moment and loving its compact lightweight qualities along with all the configurability of the DSLR. I can see me going completely over to this CCS with the EM1 and some pro lenses soon as it means a much lighter bag and more inclined to venture out and that’s what it is all about. A camera is only a good one if you use it.
At the end of the day I do believe that whatever camera you use Ansel Adams quote ” The single most important component of a camera is the twelve inches behind it” stands so true.
If you asked me a few months ago what sort of photography I do I’d have said I only like doing landscape because its static and does not shout at you if you get it wrong. Since doing my Diploma course I have changed my outlook and look forward to trying much more varied subjects, I have been awakened. For me the most important thing is to enjoy what I am doing and do it for the pleasure of ending up with a nice image. Back to my technical / mechanical bent I usually don’t feel like the job is done until I have something physical in my hand. So now in this marvellous digital age it is digital darkroom to process then print and mount the image even if it never gets framed I still like to do this with my favourite images.
If you are still with me and have not dropped off asleep with boredom thanks for reading this and I hope you enjoy looking at my images as much as I have enjoyed capturing them. If you have any comments even critisisms (constructive) please feel free to let me have them.