Born and brought up in the north east of Scotland I moved to Stirling when I was eighteen to attend university. In 1992 I moved to Fort William with my job and slowly became attracted to the outdoors.   My low key interest in photography, previously restricted to holidays and family events began to blossom, largely out of frustration with the poor quality shots I was producing and my desire to make something more worthwhile. After a walk up Ben Nevis and a dropped rucksack broke my old Canon AT1 camera I splashed out on a second hand Canon T90. With the addition of an inexpensive tripod all I now needed was for the nice man in the camera shop to sell me something called Fuji Velia and I was hooked.

  After a couple of early morning starts had produced some shots I was proud of, I joined the Lochaber Camera Club, sadly now defunct. I began to enter the club competitions, eventually with some success, and noticed through the comments of the visiting judges that I was beginning to develop my own style.

 I particulary like early morning photography, not only is the light at its best you generally have the site to yourself!  There is also something about the promise of a new new day that I find particularly appealing; except when on holiday I take very few sunsets.  I take far more photographs in the upright `portrait` format than most landscapers, often using a wide angle lens just above the ground to fill the frame with a strong foreground element.  I have always tried very hard to develop good technique, I always use a tripod with a cable release, small apertures allied with hyper focal focusing to get the best depth of field. I use polorising and neutral grad filters on a regular basis, though warm up filters I am becoming more economical with. I use both medium format  and digital equipment,  though due to a combination of cost and versatility I find an increasing ammount of my work is now digital.

I have been able to take a trekking holiday every couple years since I came to Fort William,  Thanks to Easyjet and a good tent costs, were kept under control by camping and eating on the cheap. In Utah things were helped by being unable to buy a beer at the end of a days hiking... there are no pubs in Utah!! 

  For the Future:-  I need to get up earlier, more often.                                 

                          I need to slow down and make each shot count.

                          and above all,  landscape photography is not about sitting in

                           front of a computer.

  When I first started taking photography seriously I invested in a Canon T90 35mm SLR, a manual focus camera but with wonderful metering and handling. This was complimented by a pair of good quality Sigma zoom lenses and finally a Tokina wide angle zoom. This was enough to take any shot that that I was able to visualise.   While I still have this equipment it has not been used for several    yaers now.

 After a few years I invested in a Pentax 645 and eventually aquired  a 35mm wide angle, along with 45-85 and 80-160 zoom lenses.  All bought second hand they have been excellent quality and are still used regularly.

 About a year ago I moved solidly into digital with a Nikon D200  camera. I had been using a D70 but compared to medium format I was unhappy with th drop in quality. The D200 however is excellent and with a good set of lenses gives both versatility and high  technical  quality. I use a Tokina wide angle zoom along with Nikon 28-70 zoom and 70-300 IS zoom which has opened up the possibility of wildlife photography for the first time. The recent addition of a second hand hand sigma macro lens promises a new range of options .

     While out in the hills I carry my gear in a LowePro PhotoTrekker Aw backpack. With a couple of clip on pockets for water bottles it has proved perfect for the half day walks I mainly do.  In addition, minus the water bottles it is of airline carry on size and inconspicuous enough not to attract attention even when carrying more than the regulation 7kg normally allowed.  Along with most outdoor photographers I have never found the perfect tripod  but am pretty happy with my Manfrotto 055Pro which would be perfect if it only weighed a bit less. I also use a Manfrotto ball and socket head which I find compact, light and easy to use.

For walking and camping I have settled  on a small range of good quality gear.

For jacket and tops I now stick to Paramo, trousers are Haglofs or Mountain  Hardware depending on the weather, and boots are either Meindl or Merrill. I am also now addicted to smartwool socks and tops which can be worn for many days and still stay fresh, an absolute bonus when on a walking holiday. In warmer weather I also love Teva walking sandels ;I am yet to be convinced of their use in Scottish conditions.

  For camping I now use a two man Terra Nova Voyager tent which though lightweight gives good space for extended periods. Sleeping bags are either Ajungilak Kompact Winter, rated to minus 20`c or  a very compact Snugpak Softie for summer use. I also use Thermarest sleeping mats, again with cold and warm weather options.

 While this may may sound like a lot of gear I have foud that if you invest in good equipment and look after it you get a better return on your investment. It also helps if you stay in Fort William and can take advantage of the end of season sales!

  Book List   Dont buy a whole library of books on photograhic technique, they are all telling you the same things. Buy books which inspire you to get out and take photographs.   My favourites are;-

The Backpackers Photography  Handbook      Charles Campbell.                       Landscapes Of The Spirit                              William Neill                               First Light                                                    Joe Cornish                              Mountain Light                                             Galen Rowell                             Galen Rowell`s Vision                                    Galen Rowell                            Landscape, The Worlds Top Photographers      Terry Hope