SCROLL DOWN TO VIEW WORK...
Winter solstice, looking south from Lizard Point, the most southerly point of mainland UK.
“I took this photograph on my trusty Nikon FM2 in 2000, I’d just won the Observer Outdoor Photographer of the Year, and part of the prize was a trip to India.
We arrived at sunrise, the soft light, diffused through the mist, gave the intricate marble and architectural detail a luminance and iridescent quality. As I framed the image and prepared to make an exposure I became aware of the tourists moving and milling about and I realised the composition was about to become more refined, something more than another souvenir snapshot of the Taj Mahal. And sure enough, all the tourists did fall into position - it could not have been orchestrated any better. A genuine moment. And of course shooting on film - no instant review or play back, but I had a feeling I had something special. I only made two exposures on the day - which seems remarkable now in these days of digital, rapid-fire disposable imagery.”
Seen here as a limited edition fine art print on Hahnemuhle photo rag paper.
Contact me here to buy this print.
Taj Mahal, Agra, India (Dec. 2000) - shot on my Nikon FM2, see original contact sheet below.
Original contact sheet (Dec. 2000) - I only made two exposures, seems remarkable now in these days of rapid fire disposable imagery. In the second frame you can see how the arrangement of the figures has really anchored the composition. The light and general scene is impressive enough in the first exposure, but I could sense that a more significant composition was developing - and sure enough all the characters fell into position - one of those once in a lifetime moments.
Taj Mahal, Agra, India
Taj Mahal limited edition fine art print
Signature detail
Edition numbering
Twenty years ago a friend of mine, Paul Lewin, had a bag containing his sketch book stolen from his car.
Abandoned in the woods by the thieves, the bag was recently found by a walker and handed in to the police. Here is his sketch book, decayed, eroded and encrusted with leaves and general woodland detritus.
Click here to see video
Delicate Sycamore
Click here to buy this print...
Click here to buy prints
My professional photographic career spans four decades, I have been commissioned to photograph everything from small delicate items in the studio to gnarly outdoor types on rock faces in Norway. Some of my finest work has been given a new lease of life recently and this shot for Sprayway is amongst my favourites. Taken in 1997 whilst trekking across the Nigardsbreen Glacier in Norway 🇳🇴 Authentic and rugged; jacket and model working well.
Click here to see more images from this collection...
The Cream of Manchester
Obliterated Shop Window #II
Cardigan Bay
Stromness to Hoy
Christmas Lights on Deansgate
Click here to buy this image as a framed print...
Skara Brae, Orkney
On the second Sunday in May every year around 2000 hardy souls attempt the Fred Whitton Challenge; 115 miles of hard cycling round the Lake District, up and over some of the most gruelling climbs in the UK. This image shows a rider approaching the steepest section of Hardknott Pass, a genuine 1 in 3.
Climbing Hardknott Pass on the Fred Whitton Challenge.
The tricky descent down Hardknott, heading towards Wrynose.
In June 2014 I was cycling round Scotland and took this unassuming snapshot on my cameraphone, little did I know that five minutes after making the exposure I would crash on the very bend you see and spend the rest of the week in hospital.
Following my recovery, some 18 months after the event, I decided I wanted to revisit the road and try to figure out what actually happened. This led me to travel round Scotland with my old Mamiya twin-lens camera and just one roll of film.
View the outcome of that journey here: '12 Scottish Exposures'
A trip round Scotland with my old Mamiya twin-lens and one roll of film. '12 Scottish Exposures'
This is the camera that I used on my trip round Scotland; a Mamiya c330 twin-lens reflex. It is a marvellous mechanical contraption. The focus is achieved by a rack and pinion arrangement that contracts and extends a set of bellows (that you can hear creak from time to time!) As you wind on to advance the film through the chamber you see a rotating spindle that cocks the shutter for the next exposure, and during a long exposure a satisfying clockwork whirr can be heard as light silently enters the chamber to make its mark.
Pin Oak Leaf - click here to buy this image as a limited edition fine art print.
As featured in Lewis Blackwell's book 'The Life & Love of Trees'.
Penmon Lighthouse - although not actually listed on my site as a print sale, this atmospheric image is available as a limited edition fine art print. Beautifully printed on museum quality fine art paper. Contact me here for more details.
DUSK I - although not actually listed on my site as a print sale, this abstract and evocative landscape is available as a limited edition fine art print. Beautifully printed on museum quality fine art paper. Contact me here for more details.
Conwy (man & dogs) click here to buy this image as a framed print
A 'Thank You' card I recently received - how lovely!
Magenta Diffusion I (rear brake light, Honda Executive Tourer #thepowerofdreams)
Magenta Diffusion II (rear brake light, Honda Executive Tourer #thepowerofdreams)
Experiments with a Camera Phone
As I moved in closer and closer with my i-phone I came to a point where the lens touched the lens of the brake lights. Contact was made, a new magical world opened up as light and colour flowed, bled and fused into one.
In the past I have been encouraged not to reveal the mundane subject matter and unsophisticated means of capture for fear of dumbing down these images. I understand the reasoning behind this - but I prefer a more candid approach.
I know and understand the best traditions of photography - I was splashing around in the darkroom 40 years ago, I have worked commercially and artistically on all formats from 35mm to 10 x 8 - I don't feel the need to elevate these images by fudging or obscuring the technique and process.
Furthermore, this foray and experimentation with an accessible and everyday means of image capture reflects my enjoyment of the ordinary and everyday, something which I celebrate through my photography - both in technique and vision. I'm not attempting to emulate the quality of a high end plate camera, I'm more interested in exploring the possibilities of a new creative tool.
Vision and technique aside, the title of these images underscore the concept - dipping between dreams and the harsh reality of a brake light. Borrowing the Honda strap-line ‘The Power of Dreams’, tagging it, and the idea that the marketing people at Honda have elevated the status of an estate car to an ‘Executive Tourer’ is more than enough PR spin!
Printed on beautiful fine art paper, these images are an immaculate inky diffusion of time, space, light and colour. An abstract and sensorial exploration of the subject, distilled and exposed.
Corporation Street in the Rain click here to buy this image as a framed print
Spring equinox looking east from Lowestoft Ness, the most easterly point of mainland UK. From my 'Cardinal Points' project.
Gyrograph #0006
Trams passing Bridgewater Hall in Manchester city centre click here to buy this image as a framed print
Characterful pieces from that well known commercial property board game.
Morecambe Bay from Bardsea
Conwy (man & dogs) click here to buy this image as a framed print
Taj Mahal click here to buy this image as a framed print
A while ago I won the Observer Outdoor Photographer of the Year, it was a while ago, as digital imaging hadn’t really taken off, so I was shooting exclusively on film. Part of the prize was a trip to India, where I took this photograph of the magnificent Taj Mahal, and it really is magnificent, one of the few places I’ve visited that does exceed expectation. I remember the moment well, the light was perfect and I framed the shot on my trusty old Nikon FM2 (as featured in the images!) I made one exposure and then I noticed how the tourists were milling around and moving into a perfect composition, so I waited a while, looking and hoping and then click, perfect, everyone in place - it could not have been orchestrated any better. A genuine moment. And of course no instant review or play back on the camera, but I had a feeling I had something special.
In these days of rapid fire disposable imagery, it seems remarkable that I only made two exposures - you can see them on the contact sheet below. The first one is okay, but then the arrangement of the people in the second frame anchors the composition and creates a narrative that elevates the image to another level.
Contact sheet showing the two exposures I made - the second one being the more refined composition when all the elements came together.
Winter Fence click here to buy this image as a framed print
Cloud I
Winter solstice, looking south from Lizard Point, the most southerly point of mainland UK. From my 'Cardinal Points' project.
-
-
-
Share