Update: For New Year 2025.

Hello! Thank you for taking the time to 'drop in' on my profile page. I guess, like for so many, not a great deal has changed since my last update, just a little older, and hopefully at least, a little wiser. In fact, still navigating my way through learning to come to adjust to retirement. It only took 50 years of working to get there, so I am going to make sure I enjoy it as much as possible. Everything you need to know with regards to myself is here.

Also, should you wish to 'chat' at any time, feel free to send me a flickr mail, and I will get back to you.

You sometimes wonder, 'where did all the time go'.

Another year arrives, and time again to 'take stock' of where I am photographically at least.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle penned these words for the character Sherlock Holmes to his friend Dr Watson. "You see Watson, but you do not observe".

Having a camera has certainly enabled me to be more observant when 'out and about' to those things which are all around, if you take the time to look.

Just your average guy, who has always enjoyed taking photos. Really now want to concentrate on becoming more proficient, and improve the overall content of my pictures, which I guess is easier said than done. I still maintain I am at the 'hit and miss' stage.

The one area I know I am not too hot in, which is a real disappointment for me, is portrait photography, so I am keen to see how these sort of shots can be taken. I have to admit, with the examples I've seen so far, it could be a long job, and I guess, if I am to advance at all, I am certainly going to have give more time, and a bit of financial investment into my 'project'. That could be a challenge in itself. To help me in this, there are many various examples of composition and pose in my 'favourites'.

Being self taught and previously unable to attend local clubs or societies, Flickr is very much my 'Camera Club'

You will find that Flickr is not too disimilar to the 'outside' world. There are those people you will 'get along' with, and those you wont. Those who are willing to support your efforts, and the 'Glory Hunters' who don't give a 'stuff' for your work, they simply want to gather praise for themselves. You simply find out who each person is, and take the appropriate course of action. If you are 'comfortable' with what you have produced, it doesn't ultimately matter what anyone else on here thinks. Ironically, there are those who will post items which clearly they have not photographed themselves, who then disable them in order that others don't get to share those images. I understand those who want to protect their own hard work, but not the 'image fakers'.

My 'portfolio' is, very much, a work in progress, most certainly since I 'moved up' to a Canon 500D. My first DSLR, and again since the purchase of a Canon 70D. I have now taken the bold step to advance my photographic experience by investing in a mirrorless system. Time will tell on that one I think. I also took the opportunity to enrol at the local college on a course relating to post production, production and publishing. Not sure if or when I will use the knowledge gained, but photography is only a hobby and pastime, so I’ll just see how that pans out. But it’s another ‘string to my bow’.

This site is very much a 'voyage of discovery' in that a lot of images are found from contacts of contacts (if that makes sense)

What is good, is that I am able to glean a great deal of information, and ideas, from some REALLY nice people, of which there are many.

Thank you all.