Was a mountain walker before I was a photographer and still sometimes I choose not to bring a camera with me and just enjoy the world for what it is. It is on these camera free days that a huge stag will emerge from forestry plantation 20 metres in front of me or something similarly memorable will happen!!

I am new (ish) to the world of digital and advice / constructive criticism is very welcome

I am English but resident in the Republic of Ireland at present....probably for good now.

The first photographer that I ever noticed enough to buy work by (although not originals!) was Tim Page. Currently I am buying publications by Don McCullin. I find his work from the North of England moving and his landscapes sublime. All of his work is in my opinion dark and I always remember this quote by him -

-I have been manipulated, and I have in turn manipulated others, by recording their response to suffering and misery. So there is guilt in every direction: guilt because I don't practice religion, guilt because I was able to walk away, while this man was dying of starvation or being murdered by another man with a gun. And I am tired of guilt, tired of saying to myself "I didn't kill that man on that photograph, I didn't starve that child" That's why I want to photograph landscapes and flowers. I am sentencing myself to peace.

* Please note that all images are covered by copyright and cannot be re-used in any way without specific consent. I will almost definitely give consent so please have the courtesy to ask.

** Please note that I do not trust users that fave multiple items without having any content themselves or profile info. I will block you. Sorry but experience is a hard teacher ;-)