Tell us a bit about your photographic journey. How did you get started, and what keeps you passionate about it today?
Fifty years ago, I had a stab at racing motorbikes but fell off more that stayed on. Self-preservation kicked in and I took up photographing motor bike racing first and eventually followed into most forms of racing and been there ever since. Much less painful and helps keeps me sane.
How would you describe your approach to capturing a scene or subject? (What’s your photography “style)
I am a very simple type of photographer. I spend quite a lot of my time assessing the shot to give me the best colour, light, angle and movement before I press the button. I shoot purely in jpeg and have no idea how to use Photoshop. Simple style with simple results!
What role do Tamron lenses play in your photography?
Up until about 8 years ago I wasted God knows how much money on expensive Nikon / Nikkor glass and really wasn’t getting the return on what was such large investments. A nice case of Tennis Elbow kicked in in my left arm and I knew then that I would have to find something much lighter and easily manageable to keep on doing what I do. Enter Tamron, at sometimes up to 20% of the price I’d been paying, excellent quality images and light – oh yes so light. Did the swap and been there ever since!
Beyond technical skills, what are some essential qualities that helped you become a better photographer?
Patience, observation, shutter time and never comparing my photos to the works of others. Morgan Freeman once said that ‘comparison is the thief of happiness’, and I can’t agree more. So many people let themselves get so badly bent out of shape by surfing the various social media, etc and comparing their own pics to pics that they know very little to nothing about and unnecessarily killing their own confidence.
Any advice you have for aspiring photographers?
Take your time, relax, don’t believe half the BS some people throw around as to their capabilities and experience. Be your own guide and never compare your work to others – only against your own. Constructive criticism (when asked for) is helpful but shutter time and honing your skills continuously is, in my opinion, the greatest tool you can have.
Are you working on any exciting projects you’d like to share with our readers?
Spent a month in South Africa last year doing 28 wildlife safaris, just got back from 3 weeks shooting the glorious Canadian Rockies and off to work as an intern in a Sri Lankan elephant refuge next month.
What’s your favourite Tamron lens, and why?
My faithful 150-500 G2 bolted via an adapter to my Nikon Z9 and straight on to my Nikon D6 is just fantastic. I use it 75% of the time. Awesome +++
