Photography started for me as a way to make better use of unexpected free days. Rather than sitting at home, I began heading out, exploring places and visiting wildlife collections. I had visited zoos before, but taking a DSLR to Yorkshire Wildlife Park was one of the points where simply taking pictures began to turn into wanting to make better photographs.
Based in Lancaster, Lancashire, I work across Lancaster, Morecambe, Carnforth and the wider North West, while also travelling further afield for selected photography projects.
Why wildlife
Wildlife quickly became the area I was most drawn to. Part of the appeal is that very little has to be planned in advance — you can arrive, see what is happening and work with whatever the day gives you.
What keeps me coming back is the individuality of the animals. Their interactions with each other, their keepers and the people around them are always different, and each animal has its own character. I am naturally drawn to the quieter expressions and moments of behaviour that show something of that personality, rather than simply recording what species is in front of the camera.
Patience and familiarity
Some of the most rewarding photographs have come from simply being willing to wait.
Red pandas are a good example. Over the years I have been fortunate enough to watch five different sets of cubs being raised — four at Safari Zoo in South Lakes before it closed, and one at Blackpool Zoo. I have spent hours, sometimes most of a day, standing by the same enclosure waiting for a brief glimpse of them. Even poor weather rarely made much difference, and there were running jokes with zoo staff that my footprints would eventually become permanently etched into the floor.
Watching young animals grow and seeing their behaviour change over time is a real privilege. Returning to the same animals also gives me a better chance to recognise their individual personalities and to notice the smaller moments that can easily be missed on a single visit.
Looking beyond wildlife,
Although wildlife remains a major part of my photography, the same curiosity carries into everything else I photograph.
Landscapes give me a reason to get outside, explore unfamiliar places and really take in my surroundings rather than simply walk through them. Pet photography grew naturally from photographing my own dogs and from the same interest in expression and individual character that draws me to wildlife.
Sports photography connects with my background in martial arts and my involvement with the International Youth Games, while events give me the chance to look beyond the obvious main attraction and notice the people, reactions and smaller moments that help make an occasion memorable.
Dance and theatre are areas I am still exploring, but photographing performances has steadily increased my interest in them. Travel works in much the same way as landscapes and events — it encourages me to slow down, look more carefully and notice the details that people may pass every day without really seeing.
Always learning
For me, photography is not about awards or collecting recognition. The enjoyment comes from the process itself — getting out, observing, trying something new and gradually improving.
That probably reflects my martial arts background as well. I no longer train because I am chasing the next grade or belt; I train because I want to learn, improve and help others where I can. Photography feels much the same. There is always something else to notice, another technique to refine and another way to approach a familiar subject.
What matters most is continuing to enjoy the photography, staying curious and producing images that feel true to the subject and the moment.
Explore the photography
Browse the portfolio to see the different subjects, places and moments that have caught my attention.