I have worked as graphic designer in some of London’s top advertising agencies and studios, including a year at Saint Martin’s School of Art, and have been creating ‘art’ professionally for the last 50 years. You can therefore assume that if I post something here, that I meant to do it the way I did it.

Photography is to me an expression of ones thoughts, impressions and feelings at the time the image was taken, with regard to the particular subject at hand – It's an image.

There are no rules that I consider to be important in arriving at that image, apart from it’s framing and exposure, a photographer is then an artist that uses a camera as a creative tool. Photoshop is the modern darkroom and a lot better one at that. I make no apologies for using it however I want to, or to what extent.

Purity with reference to 'developing and printing' ones photographs is subjective, to me it means pushing it however far I want, to remain faithful to my interpretation and feelings at the time, which is what happens anyway as soon as one picks up a camera.

This is only the outward form or expression of the 'idea' behind the image, which is unique to the creator, there are also other design keys like layout and the personality quirks of the designer, illustrator, photographer, artist that are not going to change.

Understanding that, the images that I choose to create are my own, regardless of whether I choose to use heavy processing or just present it ' straight out of the box’, and like any artist I'm almost never satisfied. I am only 'finished' with an image from the standpoint that I'm reasonably satisfied with it at that point in time, tomorrow I may feel differently about it and push it an entirely different direction.

I'd like to note that a camera is only a tool. It is only a part of the process of creating a piece of artwork whose final expression is an image, printed or digital. The difference between a snapshot taken by every person who has a camera, and a 'photograph' has far more to do with knowledge, experience, artistic vision and post processing than with the brand or cost of the camera.

Thank you to all those who have taken the time to add their personal commentaries and encouragement, they are all read and appreciated!