Southampton Camera Club is only my second club ever, having joined when I moved to Hampshire from Bedfordshire 4 years ago. My camera club life started in 1996, when I decided that I wanted to figure out how to take better pictures and use to best effect the new camera I had bought recently. I spent the first few years deciding what I liked best and what other people liked, finally settling to a style which came to me after attending 3 workshops run by Hugh Milsom and Iain McGowan – these two photographers influenced me strongly.

My photography is mostly landscape and seascape, with a little nature, tending to concentrate on slightly abstract and very simple images. It is still developing, especially the seascape side, which is helped as I now live 10 minutes’ walk from the beach. I like black and white, but I don’t seem to have much aptitude for it if camera club judges are to be believed! So nearly all my work, these days, is in colour, both slide and print. I still use film exclusively, and print by scanning slides into a computer, colour correcting and de-dusting them there, and printing them on an ink-jet printer. I will buy a digital SLR when I feel the combination of specification and price is right.

My competition success is limited – not many judges appear to be on my wavelength. However, I like what I produce, so will continue on my track. I intend to apply for ARPS in the near future, but have not yet produced my panel, although I have the pictures. By next March, I have promised myself. I said that last year too.