Ethos

For me, the most important thing when I'm taking photographs is capturing the mood and emotion felt at the time of observing a scene, so that it can be relived at a later date. A good photograph should be able to transport other people back to that time and place, in much the same way as a well-written novel can. Most of my work has become about creative expression: my photographs are records of how I felt, as much as they are about what I see.

Since photography first began, there have been debates over how images are produced. These debates have continued in recent years with the trends towards digital manipulation. Few people will consider that in years past, the darkroom techniques of Ansel Adams underwent similar scrutiny. Few were willing to use equipment like optical filters, yet these now form an essential part of the modern landscape photographer's kit.

My own standpoint lies somewhere between the purists and the artists. I am a perfectionist at heart, and take pride in capturing a moment faithfully. However, our own perceptions are shaped so strongly by our imaginations, that I feel the camera alone is rarely able to gather every satisfaction in front of us. The most precise and methodical literal transcriptions can be cold and devoid of feeling, yet the works of Monet are able to convey beauty without details. Choosing to employ a technique, or not, is simply another step in the creative process, and dependant on the intended message of the final product.

The end justifies the means.