Bio
Originally from Teesside, in the North East of England, I moved to Edinburgh, Scotland over a decade ago.
It was in Scotland I found my love of photography, and first began shooting in earnest in 2016. Since then, I have developed into a fully self-taught professional photographer, and have worked with a host of esteemed clients.
My client base has predominantly consisted of tourist boards and high-end boutique accommodation.
I have worked with clients across Scotland, Europe, Africa and Asia on my travels across the globe, and look to continue to extend my network further.
I am also a brand Ambassador for Easicampers in Scotland, where I have the privilege of touring the country in their vehicles to capture the wealth of treasures Scotland has to offer.
My Extended Team
My wife Beth and my dog Bally are my adventure crew and accompany me on most of my travels. Beth is a travel and tourism professional and has a keen eye for how to best market properties through my photography work.
Bally just brings the good vibes.
Patience is a virtue
As a typically restless person, the greatest skill I have learned from photography is patience.
Landscape photographers know all too well that capturing the perfect shot requires waiting for the right conditions to align. I have learned to anticipate these moments, observing the change in the weather, the movement of the clouds, the windows of light that present themselves and transform a landscape before your eyes.
When I have my camera in hand, it is one of the few times I truly slow down and immerse myself in the art. At these times, I feel truly integrated with the world.
I have been able to come to terms with the fact that not everything can be controlled. I must bide my time and find pleasure in the pursuit of the shot.
Chiaroscuro
Through my studies in fine art, I became captivated by the interplay of light and dark used most notably by artists of the Renaissance, particularly in the works of Caravaggio.
I now have this inherent nature to search for this balance and pattern of light and shade in my photography. This contrast creates the drama I seek to capture in my images.
Understanding how different lighting conditions affect the mood and atmosphere of an image has heightened my sensitivity to the subtleties of the world around me.
The most mundane and ordinary scenes can be brought to life, in a fleeting moment of brilliant light.
My connection with nature
Landscape photography has deepened my connection with nature in profound ways.
I pay far more attention to my surroundings than ever before, becoming more observant of textures, details and patterns.
One may view a constant obsession with taking photos to be a form of detachment from the world around us, seeing it as not being ‘in-the-moment’, especially in a world where we are saturated with images through social media.
To the contrary, I have never been more absorbed in my surroundings.
As I compose my shot, wait for the right moment and feel my mind relax, I've discovered a sense of harmony between myself and the world, fostering a deeper appreciation for the present moment - and the privilege of preserving it forever.
Embracing the Unknown
The world is an unpredictable place. The best laid plans for capturing the shot you envisaged are often foiled by changes in the elements.
These unforeseen challenges present an opportunity to adapt - and it is in this adaptation that you develop into a better photographer. Whereas once I would set out with a particular image in mind, I now set no expectations and instead take what comes my way.
I must be optimistic that there is always a shot. More often that not, there is - it just may not have been what you set out to find.
The Pursuit of Perfection
Like everything in life, whether we like it or not, the pursuit of the perfect shot is a relentless endeavor that requires dedication and continuous improvement.
Ultimately, it’s a game of trial and error, succeeding and failing, until you do the former more than the latter.
But perhaps the most key element of photography is finding inspiration, which can often be elusive. I have learned to avoid 'forcing’ my photography, and instead of relentlessly carrying my camera with me, appreciate my time without it, so that when I do pick it up again I feel hungry to get out there and shoot.
It is when it all aligns; you see that image through your viewfinder that you know you will cherish, that makes it all worthwhile.
Until the next shoot, when that insatiable appetite arises and the pursuit begins all over again.
