They say that a photographer is either a picture taker, or a picture maker…

… and I am firmly in the picture makers' club. While fully appreciating the "what you see is what you get" approach, I am much more interested in chasing an ever-elusive image that appears in my mind's eye, an image that conveys my feelings and emotions, rather than remains a mere statement of fact. My favourite photography subjects are: flowers, still life, and also capturing my impressions when travelling.

I have an FRPS and an EFIAP photography distinctions and a number of photographic awards, including eight Gold and Silver Gilt medals at the RHS photography competitions, category winner of Food Photographer of The Year competition, various distinctions at each of the International Garden Photographer of The Year competitions, and multiple medals and distinctions awarded by various Photography Salons. I am proud to be a member of the Arena Photographers group.

There are several Creative Photography courses and one2one sessions that I am currently teaching; I also often get invited as a speaker to clubs around the South East.

I think of myself as a studio photographer. As much as I enjoy outdoor photography done by others, it is not something that I feel inspired by, or confident in doing, myself. My usual approach to creating a new image means constructing an image in my head first - visualising the overall composition, the objects I am going to use, the overall colour scheme, the lighting, the background, etc.

Flowers and still life are my favourite photography subjects. Still life in particular is perfect for a perfectionist like me - no one fidgets or makes faces, no sudden gust of wind or some other quirk of ever-changing weather can spoil your shot. But, by the same token, you cannot count on something interesting that just happens all of a sudden - it is all up to you; the choices are infinite, and the final result is entirely in your own hands.

The approach to flower photography that I take is somewhat similar to that of a portrait photographer - for every flower and plant that I photograph, I always try to find its unique look, study its mood and character, and ultimately unlock the hidden beauty of my models. A successful flower portrait attempts to discover something unique in a flower, something hidden or not necessarily obvious at first sight.

While appreciating the natural beauty of plants and trying to stay true to their original look, I do not limit my point of view to purely botanical. Instead, I try to lift a flower off its typical setting and put it into indeterminate space, where its beauty can be seen in all its purity.

I am an Ambassador for Lensbaby, a company that produces a range of amazingly creative lenses and optics. For me, Lensbaby definitely was “love at first sight”, and I have tried to spread the joy of using their lenses and optics for ages now, talking about it to anyone who would listen. If you are not familiar with Lensbaby - my advice is to click here and take a look, it just might be a tool you are lacking in your camera bag, whatever your chosen photography subject is.

For the full list of my photographic awards please click here.