I wanted to be the next Richard Avedon and this quote was an inspiration to me whilst I was studying for my degree in photography and still resonates with my love of photography to this day. I first started when my father gave me his old Fuji rangefinder at the tender age of 15 and the desire to be a photographer was ignited. It was with great joy and pride to see my daughter achieve an A grade in her A Level photography this year and hope the joy of capturing and producing beautiful photographs will stay with her as it has done with myself. I’m always gratefully that I became a photographer - the saying ‘if you choose something you like doing for a career you will never do a days work in your life’ is so right. The joy of shooting is just that, a total joy, be it a building, an interior or a portrait.

I miss...My Nikon FM2 but not as much as my Rollei 6006, or dropping off the film at the end of the day in Soho @ Flying Colours for Jag /John to process and then a beer at the Shaston Arms whilst it’s being processed. The magic of watching a piece of paper submerged in the developer transform into a print and working in a darkroom all day only to realise that in fact it’s the next day. It’s not quite the same staring at a computer screen but I guess that is the cost of progress.

I like...my new Falconeyes LED lights which are as glorious as my old Broncolor in terms of quality of the light but weigh a lot less. My new green canvas Domke camera bag - their selling slogan is almost true “buy one bag for a lifetime“ as this is now my second bag in 30yrs. I wish I could buy a new shoulder, it’s still a great bag even if I cannot cram 20kg of cameras and lenses into her. Then there is my trusty Systematic Gitzo tripod, still as solid as a rock to use but doesn’t get any lighter.

Photography is my passion and the work of the greats is still a marvel to glance over. Ansel Adams, Bill Brandt, Julia Margaret Cameron, Richard Avedon, Irving Penn, Robert Capa, Alfred Stieglitz, Eve Arnold, Dorothea Lange, Robert Doisneau, Edward Steichen, Elliot Erwitt, Robert Frank, Horst P Horst, Walker Evans Weegee, Helmut Newton, Herb Ritts, Robert Frank, August Sander & George Hoyningen Huene never fail to inspire.

Music Favs…an old skool A-Z: AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Crosby Stills & Nash, Dead Kennedys, Eminem, Fleetwood Mac, Grace Jones, Heaven 17, INXS, Jimmy Buffett, Kate Bush, Lloyd Cole, Morcheeba, Nickelback, Oasis, Pink Floyd, Queen, Rammstein, Sex Pistols, The Grateful Dead, Underworld, Velvet Underground, Whitesnake, Yellowman, Zero7.

But still discovering.