Who am I ?

I was born in the Netherlands but grew up in England. That’s where, at the age of twelve, I discovered photography with a little Brownie 127 my parents gave me. I’ve never really stopped since. I learned by doing — studying both my successes and, perhaps more usefully, my mistakes. And whenever I could afford it, I bought a slightly better camera.

When I was about forty I started a public relations company and photography became a much more important part of my life. Working every day alongside talented professional photographers was incredibly inspiring. During my frequent business trips, especially to the United States, I began taking more and more portraits and street scenes — people, their expressions, their stories, all fascinated me.

In 1999, I turned a new page: I sold the business and retired to France. At last, time for myself — for photography, and to enjoy life in the Périgord countryside. The landscape, the villages, the light… an endless source of inspiration. Then came the digital revolution! Time to adapt — new camera (still a Canon reflex), new lenses, and the discovery of Lightroom and Photoshop.

Photography is often a solitary pursuit, but sharing and exchanging ideas is how we really grow. In 2010, a few friends from Jumilhac and nearby villages and I founded a photo club and began exhibiting our work. Later, I joined the Photolim87 photographers’ collective in Limoges.

Today, I photograph mainly for the joy of it. I’m inspired by the beauty of the countryside and the villages around me, but what moves me most are people — portraits, street scenes, performances such as the Éclats d’Email Jazz Festival, which I cover each year. I regularly exhibit my work and occasionally sell some of my images.

I live near Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche, and I also take commissions for brochures and websites, working both in the studio and on location throughout the Périgord-Limousin. These days, I use Fuji X cameras — superb image quality in a lighter, more compact form than my former Canon reflexes.

My recent creative work focuses on people in motion — finding ways to capture the beauty of movements too quick for the eye to appreciate. And when it’s cold or raining, you’ll probably find me in my warm studio, working on portraits or still life.