I started taking pictures around 1955, when I was seven, with a Kodak Brownie box camera. By 1960 I was using another Brownie: a hand-me-down folding camera. My first really good camera was a Yashica Lynx 35mm which I bought round 1972 and still have. I added a used Kowa Six 6 X 6 cm, which gave superb results when it decided to work, which was not often enough. For an extended European trip in 1974-5 I got a pair of Fujica ST701 SLR's and used them almost exclusively till 1983, when I finally got rid of the Kowa and bought a Mamiya 645 medium format. Then in the late 80's came the last of my (new) film cameras, a Pentax Super A. I also have a 5 X 4 Sinar view camera, a Leica CL, a Pentax MX, a Yashica Electro GSN and a couple of Braun Paxettes. Probably too many.

Round 2005 I started using digital; a Fuji S5500 and Fuji Z1.

In 2012 came my Pentax Kx and Fuji X100. I also have a Fuji X-Pro 1. in 2016 I replaced the Kx with a full-frame Pentax K1.

The cameras listed below are in current use.

 

Although I am delighted to take exciting and dramatic pictures when I can, and have no qualms about manipulating images to add interest and perhaps some of that drama and excitement, my normal work is taking peaceful pictures of the rural and urban scenes and structures I come across in my native place. Industrial sites, dilapidated and empty buildings, rusty vehicle bodies in fields, doors of every kind and of course landscape and more landscape.

I don't really care about the 'rules of composition'. I am happy to place the subject interest in the centre of the frame now and again, or to have the horizon running across the middle.

I am no purist who refuses to crop, and usually apply some re-sizing to my pictures, though I often find it better to leave in all the interesting details that seem to inhabit the edges of the frame.

 

Current gear:

 

Digital

 

Fuji X100

 

Pentax K1

35-70mm f3.5-4.5

18-55mm f3.5-5.6

10-17mm f3.5-4.5

 

Fuji X-Pro 1

35mm f1.4

18-55 mm f2.8-4

50-230mm f4.5-6.7

Samyang 12mm f2

Samyang 24mm TS f3.5

  

Film

 

Mamiya 645

80mm f1.9

55mm f2.8

150mm f2.8

210mm f3.5

  

Pentax Super A

Pentax MX

50mm f1.4

50mm f1.7

50mm f2.8 macro

28mm f2.8

100mm f2.8

135mm f3.5

(These lenses I also use on the digital Pentax.On the Fuji Xpro they serve as 75mm, 55mm, 150mm and 200mm equivalents, respectively)

Fujinon 50mm f1.4 (An M42 size screw lens, I bought this as part of my Fujica ST701 rig in 1973. I use it still, via adaptors, because it gives fine results)

 

Leica CL

Rokkor 40mm f2

Rokkor 90mm f4

 

Sinar 5 X 4

Rodenstock 135mm f5.6

 

Various other film cameras including

Braun Paxettes