I first started shooting on slide film in 2000 after a prompt from John and Gail Gravett at Lakeland Photographic Holidays. I'll always remember my first day walking with John and learning to see the light as well as the object. I highly recommend spending some time with them.

Since then I have gone digital with Canon 30D and 40D bodies and Sigma 10-20 and 18-200 lenses. Add a polarising filter, a couple of grey grads, a neutral density filter, a Manfrotto tripod and I'm ready.

Once or twice a year, I'll take a trip to a great location or sneakily plan the family holiday to be in a fabulous area like Yellowstone. Otherwise, I practise just down the road at Idsworth where there's a lovely church in a field. I love the challenge of finding the right light and creating that satisfying composition. And always I aim to get it right in the camera rather than do any digital manipulation.