The Gift That Keeps On Giving

My husband has a hobby. Fly-fishing. He does this at every opportunity. The house is littered with fly-fishing rods... reels... lines.... and flies. I've almost stepped on a fly (that was attached to a HOOK!!)

Orange River, South Africa, 2010

A week before we came to the UK in 2009 my husband realised that I was as passionate about photography as he was about fishing. He bought me my camera, with an extra lens and tripod. I could never thank him enough. It has bought me so much joy that I will need to get an external hard drive as my laptop has run out of space. My camera is my most prized possession and I rarely leave the house without it.

Emotional Influence

I have a passion for people. Nothing speaks to me more than a person in a picture. Any race, ethnic origin, religion, age or gender - National Geographic's Afghan Girl springs to mind. (Please click on the link - the read is sooo worth it!)

I was sitting alone on a beach in South Africa after a lovely day with my family. When a woman walked past me. She was carrying avocado pears that she had been selling. The thoughts that went through my mind as she passed were, where is she going, has she sold enough avos, how many mouths does she have to feed, will she be safe tonight, will she be warm and how does she manage to do this day in day out? I stole this picture of her.

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa 2010

Whenever I look at the picture I always feel the same way I felt that day while taking it, then resting the camera on my lap, and watching her disappear over the rocks.

A Wee Riot!

The recent success of  My First Studio Shoot sky rocketed me to fame! I was hounded by gorgeous people from all over The Globe, Scotland, my Facebook page, to take their pictures. Okay, it was only two and I had to do a lot of convincing but hey, Jak Doig and Pam Horseburgh came along and absolutely brought their A-game.

My First Studio Shoot

I came across Denise Hanvey's status on Facebook and asked her if she would let me take her picture.

She came over, dolled herself up, and proceeded to pose in the tiny make-shift studio (spare room / laundry room) with a creased sheet and a hole in the wall.

Four hours and more than a hundred photos later Denise was developing a spasm in her neck and I was sure that I had "The One". My model went off on her merry way and I uploaded the pics.

I'd hardly completed this when I received a call from Denise - in tears and barely able to speak. My skin grew with goosebumps. I was hooked.