People
For 20 years I worked as a portrait photographer usually based in a studio using artificial light sources. I also photographed over 1000 weddings, which were once described to me as "Portrait photography at a gallop". Two different forms of portraiture, one set up in a studio with controlled lighting and the other reliant on the weather and the light available on the day. The technique is much the same though because the ultimate goal is to create the right conditions to produce a pleasing portrait.
I work less in studios now but still take portraits, only now, more often than not, I go out with my camera and "people watch". I look for character, interesting faces, dramatic lighting etc. I still have the same goal but the aim is to please me and not necessarily the subject.
Without doubt my favourite medium is natural daylight, if I am lucky I can find locations where I can control the light so wooded areas are good, old farm buildings, in fact anywhere I can manipulate light and shade. On occassions however I find and interesting subject and just shoot it, sometimes it works and other times not.
Over the years I had my own children who, sometimes reluctently, acted as my "unpaid" models, as they got older they got wise to it. Now I have two granddaughters and I take every oportunity to photograph them. I suppose one day they too will be old enough to object, but at the moment they will have to suffer me.
In this gallery I have tried to give a cross section of the portraits I do now.