I am a largely self taught photographer, having only done a couple of short
courses to get myself started. From there I read, took photos and picked the brains
of the best photographers I could find. Those that would let me anyway...
It was then a short step from taking photos of my girlfriends to where I am now,
able to enlist some of the most interesting looks and personalities and involving
them in my many wild and wonderful ideas.
My main influence is of course Helmut Newton, who taught me one important thing...
beauty sells. He did more than just sell beauty though, he made it interesting.
That is one thing that I strive to do with every photo I take. Someone once said
that I can 'find beauty in ugliness and ugliness in beauty ' - I take that as
a great compliment as I am not a glamour photographer. I'm not trying to make
my pictures sexy... I take portraits and hope that in every shoot I do I can find
that special something.
Having entered the Brisbane RNA in 2003 and not being hung at all, I was reluctant
to enter any prizes again. But I did and in 2004, I placed fourth in the open
colour section with my portrait of my wife Jean-Maree entitled 'Dreaming' - and
By Golly, I was happy :)
Since then, I have exhibited at Gallery Six Nundah and The GPO (Brisbane Australia)
and plan to exhibit in Melbourne and Singapore quite soon.