12/02/11

For those of you who don’t know me I’d like to tell you a little about myself. I don’t normally like to do this but having paid money to get my name printed in large letters I thought I’d take advantage of your attention.

My first camera was given to me by my father when I was twelve years old, so he is the reason I am here today in more than one sense. After receiving the camera (which is on display in this exhibition) I was hooked - but as a teenager I could not imagine photography being a profession. It was only after I had left school and spent a miserable year at university that I considered photography as a possible career choice.

I started in commercial photography when I moved to London in 1983 after studying photography at college. I could not get a full-time job so I became a freelance photographic assistant working for a variety of photographers in advertising and publishing. I worked on room sets, interiors and still-life shoots enjoying the glamour of painting walls, cleaning floors, loading film, buying sandwiches and most importantly - making tea. I loved it.

After a couple of years of assisting I landed a job with Reader’s Digest working on the New Do It Yourself Manual. If you have a copy you’ll see my name in the front. The photography was not glamorous but it was technically challenging and I learned a lot. And not just photographic skills - I went on to renovate a derelict house on the strength of that book.

I became a freelance photographer in 1986 and spent the next 15 years based in various London studios working for advertising, corporate and publishing clients. However, there were a few location shoots thrown in to keep me on my toes and some of the shots in this exhibition were taken while I was on those assignments.

About ten years ago I stopped actively seeking commissioned photography and started to rethink my photographic motives. After completing a Law degree I worked for a time at the Association of Photographers as an advisor on copyright and legal matters. During this time I started to concentrate more on travelling and shooting what I wanted. I eventually moved out of London altogether and currently plan a few trips a year; sometimes in the UK and sometimes abroad.

People often ask me how I produce my shots and assume I use Photoshop to create effects. I don’t like to use digital enhancing techniques; what you see here is more or less what I saw at the time. The world we live in is beautiful; I see little point in trying to create a different one in my pictures. None of my shots are composites and I do not enhance colour. I prefer to wait for the correct conditions; it is harder work and takes longer but is ultimately more satisfying.
I started using a digital camera about three years ago and, while most of my current work is shot digitally, I still use transparency film. Fuji Velvia is my film of choice and most of the shots in this exhibition were taken on film.

This exhibition does not have a particular theme; I have simply chosen a selection of images which I like and I hope you like them too.

Finally I’d like to thank Grantham Museum for inviting me to exhibit and I’d like to extend a huge thank you to the museum staff, especially Julie Ashworth who has been an excellent advisor and great support during the planning of this exhibition. Enjoy the pictures.

Grantham Museum
St Peter's Hill
Grantham
Lincolnshire
NG31 6PY

Tel: 01476 568783
Email: grantham.museum@lincolnshire.gov.uk