About you
I was born in Fort William in the West Highlands of Scotland. My work background is varied but I have recently worked on a long-term project to promote environmental tourism in Scotland. I have combined all this with over 35 years professional photography experience and an insatiable curiosity about the world. I have a strong social conscience and this underpins much of the work I do, whether photographic or not.
What are your aims as a photographer?
I have always been drawn to people. What they do, and how and why they do it, and much of my work reflects this. My aim in my images is to combine a sense of place with the story being told, and to do so in an intelligent and artistic way, using light and composition to best effect wherever possible.
What aspects of what you do are most important to you?
Being truthful to the subject and honest with the audience. It is also important to me that my work has value for others, and whenever possible I will co-work with small communities or individuals, or low-income charities, to enable them to gain some benefit from my endeavours.
What is your greatest photographic achievement?
Probably the Social Work photography project I devised some years ago where I supported two men with learning disabilities to photograph the community in which they live. Their work won them a major arts award and was subsequently toured by the Scottish Arts Council to great critical acclaim. More than any other work I've been involved with it demonstrated to me the power that photography can have when used imaginatively, and taught me never to underestimate people's creative abilities.
Where or what do you most enjoy photographing?
Blue sky days don’t interest me - I much prefer 'edgy' days of scudding cloud and changing conditions, and in particular stormy weather, when the light is unpredictable. Successful images depend on an almost intuitive response to the changing scene. I enjoy the unpredictability of wildlife, the difficulty of landscape, but am particularly fond of photographing people. Taking good 'people pictures' is not easy!
What does ‘Conservation Photography’ mean to you?
My belief is that a good conservation image is not defined by what it is, so much as by what it can do, by the latent power it possesses. Even the most mundane image, in the right context, can have huge power. Conservation photography should tell stories and do so in an intelligent, perceptive and balanced way that explores the issues and their effects on our world.
How can nature photographers make a difference?
Nature photographers can make a difference by being witness. Here's the big secret - nature photography is not all about the pretty stuff, the daffodils and rabbits. Yes, these things matter but in reality campaigning nature photography is all about people. Include some evidence of the 'hand of man' in your work and you immediately add context, interest and perhaps value.
What advice would you give to aspiring conservation photographers?
Work hard. Don’t worry about the weather, worry about the image, and how it will enhance the story you want to tell. Think about your audience. Who are they? What will move them? What will anger them? Much of what 'conservation photographers' do is about people, so develop not only your technical skills but work on your social skills too, so you are comfortable talking, interacting, questioning and being questioned.
