Who am I ?

Born in the Netherlands, but educated in the UK,  I started taking photos at 12 years old when my parents gave me a Brownie 127.  I learned by experience, especially by analysing my failed photos and and my successes.  I also bought better equipment as soon as budgets allowed. 

It was at 40, when I started a public relations company, that photography became really important for me.  Working daily with highly talented creative pro photographers taught me a lot and inspired me to take many more photos during my frequent overseas business trips, particularly to the USA and particularly photos of people - portraits and street photos. 

Fast forward now to 1999 when I decided to sell the business and retire to France.  Finally plenty of time for photography and a new life in the Périgord countryside for inspiration.  However, very quickly the digital revolution arrived and it was time to change cameras, for a Canon digital reflex and several new lenses.  It was also essential to learn new tools for developing images : Lightroom and Photoshop.  

Photography is essentially a solitary activity, however, it is through discussing and sharing with others that one advances, so in 2010, with several friends from Jumilhac and the surrounding area we started a photo club and began exhibiting our work.  I also became a member of club OPPV in Thiviers and the photo cooperative PhotoLim87 in Limoges.

Today, I take photos principally for my pleasure : I am inspired by the beauty of the countryside and the villages around me in Périgord-Limousin but the subject that interests the most is still my fellow citizens : portraits, street photography and events such as the jazz festival Eclats d'Email.  As a professional photographer I exhibit frequently in the towns and villages around the area and sell a few of of my creative images.  Based near St Yrieix la Perche, I work both in studio and also travel around the area to take pictures for brochures and for web sites etc., using the Fuji X system cameras and lenses - superb quality, yet smaller and lighter than their Canon reflex predecessors.

My recent creative work is centred around people in motion - finding ways to reveal the beauty of mouvement normally too rapid to be fully appreciated by the naked eye.  And when it's cold and wet : portraiture or still life photography in a warm studio are very appealing.