“You don't make a photograph just with a camera. You bring to the act of photography all the pictures you have seen, the books you have read, the music you have heard, the people you have loved.” Quote attributed to Ansel Adams

As with any art form, be it music, painting, sculpture, literature, or whatever, it is the human spirit which drives creativity. No matter how clever Artificial Intelligence may appear to be, there is no substitute for human input. My photographs are real. I may compose and then edit to emphasise what I saw at the time and to draw the viewers eye to certain aspects of the image, but looking at my images you are essentially seeing what I saw. In particular I do not add colours that were not there - a practice which, in my view, detracts from and devalues the authenticity of landscape photography.

That is not to say my photographs are always what I saw in a literal sense. I may edit a photograph in black in white, which is obviously not how I saw the original scene. I may create an impressionist image by multiple exposure, intentional camera movement, or by using a slow shutter speed to create movement or blur. These are photographic techniques applied in the field.

For me photography is primarily about the experience of being there, feeling the strength of the wind, the soaking rain, or the stinging winter spindrift and even, occasionally, the warmth of the sun. Obtaining an image is a bonus. Legend has it that before painting "Snow Storm" the  renowned English artist, J M Turner, tied himself to the mast of a ship during a nocturnal snow storm just so he could experience the elements of the storm first hand. Even if this never actually happened, it makes a good story and the point is made about the need to experience nature. Just to be clear I do think this would be somewhat extreme and I am not advocating that anybody should seek to emulate Turner in this manner.! Being in a blizzard on the Cairngorm plateau in winter is, however, probably similar enough..:-)

We are blessed here in Scotland to have world class scenery and wildlife on our doorstep. The ever changing weather patterns can at times provide amazing light.

I am passionate about the great outdoors. I love to be out in nature, in the mountains, on the moor, or by the sea or just sitting watching the wildlife. It is important that we preserve these for future generations, for without them, life would be much diminished.

I am a qualified Mountain Leader (Summer) and member of the UK Mountain Training Association and have insurance to take people into the mountains anywhere in the UK. I also hold a current outdoor First Aid Certificate. 
In addition I hold the A2 Certificate of Competency for flying drones in the UK.