Biography

Photography has become a love of mine and I have only been photographing for 2 ½ years now.
Obviously portraits are my great love – especially the creative images. I love to try new ideas and strive to be that little bit different. I knew nothing about photography until I joined Pontefract Camera Club. The ‘back to basics’ nights and talking to friends gave me the best start I could have asked for.

So, anyone wanting to start Photography – don’t book expensive courses, come to Pontefract Camera Club and learn the basics first.

Equipment

My equipment is very basic compared to some others. My camera is a Canon 20D with a 28-135mm IS Canon lens.  I use a Sigma 17-35mm wide-angle spherical lens for full body shots.

I use a Canon Speedlight 580EX flash and also have two 500W static lights that I always use for portraits.  I have a couple of the usual filters  - one of which is the polariser, which is often overlooked in portrait photography.

Inspirations

Where do I get my ideas and inspirations form? Well, everywhere actually! I may see a picture in a magazine that I never replicate but use the idea or effect for a different pose or scene.  I even made images just from phrases I heard such a ‘Beautiful Youth’ or ‘Liberation’. A simple word can trigger an idea.

Obviously, some images just turn out unexpectedly and unplanned. Competition judges also inspire me – if they say ‘you should never look up  a woman’s nose when photographing her’ I instantly know what my next image is going to be!
I just love to be different.

Click anywhere in the area of small images to start a
Flash Presentation of these images and view a slide show.