About me
Almost all my images are shot with Nikon and Hasselblad digital cameras from one of the first digital point and shoots to my latest acquisitions a pair of Nikon Z9 replacing my D5 and trusty pair of D850s.
My focus is wildlife – primarily teeth and claws – but right now I go almost anywhere to shoot anything new to me. For my personal work -- 2016 & 2017 were years of discovery for me and my photography. Spending over 16 weeks on a safari in Africa; taking lots of opportunity to engage with top pros on workshops and seminars; and in travelling to shooting opportunities around the UK and Europe.
2018-2020 I was living and working as an advisor in Abu Dhabi UAE. Returning to the UK in May 2020 I went straight into lockdown/lock-in.
From May 2020 when the enforced lockdown limited my shoots I acquired a Hasselblad X1D-II and many lenses to begin my medium format journey and set up a studio.
With the ending of lockdown in 2021 and 3rd vaccination my expeditions have started again. I received the first or my Nikon Z9 "mirrorless" cameras in January 2022 and received the 2nd on 21 March. The 2 long Z-mount lenses I ordered just arrived, I can now travel entirely mirrorless my journey to shoot entirely mirrorless is complete.
For what it is worth my opinion of the Z9, the Z400mm f/2.8 and Z800mm f/6.3 (and the rest of the Z-system) is “wow”!! So wow that I am selling/have sold almost all my F-mount gear and will also sell the Hasselblad).
Almost all my shots are taken 14/16-bit RAW and are converted, adjusted and cropped on my 2022 Mac Studio Ultra using Adobe Lightroom Classic (11.3.1 with Adobe Camera RAW 14.3) and finished with Topaz AI plugins. I have been obtaining better results from using DxO Pure Raw 2 to convert the Raw files into DNG and then working on the LKRC - so for the very few good images I take them through this process.
I also use Photo Mechanic 6 for rapid review of files to grade, sift and select the images I want to work on; Phocus 3.6.4 by Hasselblad for images from the X1D, AND also Capture One 22 and/or DXO Photo Lab 5 (5.1.3 55) from time to time on my better shots to see which provide the best results.
After upgrading to a Mac Studio Ultra in April 2022, my whole process speeded up considerably.
Firmware upgrade v2.0 added 12-bit RAW formats to the Z9's video recording capabilities and these add a wonderfully more detailed and smooth colour depth to vids - but at the cast of truly vast files.
My thanks to those who spend their time giving a guiding hand or shooting.
This site does not contain any commissioned work.
Follow my blog
Stay up to date with my wildlife expeditions and art by following my blog page. From a simple hobby to a day job, there’s certainly much to tell!
