My interest with photography started at school, where I was an active member of the camera club and learnt how to process and print black and white film and other darkroom techniques. I also started learning to scuba dive and by my late teens was a fully qualified third class (open water) diver with the British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC). in 1989 I went on my first dedicated diving trip to the Red Sea equipped with a Sea and Sea Motormarnine 2 and strobe, these first images can be seen here.

As my interest in scuba increased, I decided to become an instructor and also became much more interested in the technical aspects of diving, qualifying to use a rebreather and a boat skipper.

Photography became a bigger part of my life when I housed my Nikon F100 in a Subal underwater housing and invested in a Subtronic strobe and different lenses and ports. At this time I also trained to become a PADI Open Water Instructor, and with professional teaching skills, I ran some early photo workshops to help divers improve their underwater photography skills.

My passion for underwater photography led me to pursue formal training in the field and earn a prestigious City and Guilds qualification. Despite limited underwater photography opportunities due to time budget constraints of a young family, my love for the art form persisted. I honed my skills through independent study and set up a darkroom at home to process my own black and white images. I also began selling my prints to continue sharing my passion for photography and underwater image making with others.

Our move to New Zealand opened up new opportunities for landscape photography, and it was this love for landscape astrophotography that led me to dive deep into the world of deep space astrophotography. To pursue this passion, I made a significant investment in a specialized telescope and equatorial mount. This allowed me to fully immerse myself in the art and science of capturing stunning images of the cosmos.