My first camera was a present for my eighth birthday – a very secondhand Ricoh compact with two brightness settings. I used Kodachrome 64 because that’s what my dad used, and amazingly some of them actually turned out! At 18 I bought my first SLR. This had an aperture ring on the lens rather than sunshine and cloud symbols so I started buying “Amateur Photographer” to try to learn how best to use it. Over the years I added a couple of lenses and another camera, and took pictures mostly on high days and holidays.

Joining Southampton Camera Club in 1997 helped to develop my interest further – but perversely it was not really until 2003, following the loss of all my equipment, that I started to feel more passionate about photography. A couple of friends kindly lent me cameras to try out (very brave as I had recently left my camera bag on a train in Barcelona!) This motivated me to go out looking for new photographic subjects.

I went on to buy a Canon EOS30 and a range of lenses, and then acquired a 10D in 2004, though I still also use slide film. I enjoy photographing a range of subjects and feel I haven’t yet really developed a particular style. In general I prefer subtle colours and lighting, and relatively simple composition. I enjoy isolating elements of the landscape, and love the shapes, colours and textures of nature in close-up. The Club remains a great source of inspiration to me - I am constantly amazed at the quality and range of members’ work. These are a few of my favourite images – mostly taken on a recent (very wet) trip to New Zealand.