I have been taking images on and off for the last 30 years. I was given a Praktica film SLR for my 18th birthday (many years ago!) and in my twenties I completed a City & Guilds qualification with a friend which gave me a perfect grounding in the basics of photography plus her father taught us how to develop film and create prints in his home darkroom. Even in this digital age, that knowledge and experience is invaluable. In later years as my children have grown up, I have been able to do more of the hobby I love.

For many years I have focussed on landscape photography, and I was held true to several beliefs that have slowly transformed over recent years. For a long time, I believed that I could only go out in the golden hour and using a tripod was a must. To me that was true landscape photography.

My change in thinking corresponded with a move back to Cardiff, my hometown. I joined a local camera group based in the local library. This was more about meeting people socially rather than thinking about my photography, but it has had a profound effect. Firstly, many of the people there were relatively new to photography and for me it has reminded me of the photography possibilities beyond simply landscape photography. Martin, the person running the group, also set a series of monthly projects, focussed on different aspects of photography. These got me involved in types of photography and techniques I hadn’t done or not done for a long time. It also meant I was making fuller use of my camera, both in terms of its capabilities and I was out more taking pictures.

This broadening of my photographic interests has made me more open to other forms of photography. I have taken an interest in street photography, which has developed into two current projects: My Hometown and The British Seaside. Whilst landscape photography is still my main passion, these other projects have become important to me and ones I am always looking to add to. The other important thing I have learned is that whilst the result, the photograph, is important, it is the experience I have learned to enjoy and value. This was brought home to me by a trip to Scotland for a week of photography which I undertook with Martin (from the library). I was very lucky to be able to take a whole week out to go to Glencoe for the first time and see all these wonderful locations. I found the planning, preparation and being out on location taking the photographs was as valuable and exciting as the final photographs.

I am always learning and growing as a photographer, there is always something new to master in this technological age but the most important I value is being out in the fresh air in the environment, always trying to better the last image I took!

I hope you enjoy my images and if you want to know more, please feel free to reach out and contact me.