About Me

I re-kindled my interest in photography fours years ago, when I purchased my first second-hand DSLR and a couple of lenses. Although I was heavily into photography during my late teens and early twenties using film and a 35mm Fujica camera my parents bought me for my 18th birthday, I had spent twenty years taking snaps of my kids as they grew up.

Five years ago, I met someone who loved photography and who showed me how much fun it could be as well as how interesting, demanding and challenging it was. I couldn't help myself. I started spending a lot of time learning whatever I could and trying to take better shots and develop some sort of style. My shots have got better (I think) but a specific style still eludes me. Unless trying anything and everything counts as a style. I'm starting to think of myself as an "experimental photographer."

A big turning point came when I began acting as a back-up photographer on weddings - that's where the pseudonym 2nd Shooter came from. The idea that I could take pictures that meant something to people was a revelation to me and I found out how rewarding it is to see how other people react and respond to my photographs.

This blog began in late 2011, as a way of recording a personal 365 project to document my 50th year on planet Earth. There are 367 shots in all (it was a leap year) and it just kept going. My 365 project started again on the 1st of January 2013 after a six week break.

As I write this, I'm shooting a lot of sports, silly macro stuff and light painting. I'm not shooting as much music and concert stuff as I did in the past and I definitely need to get out and shoot more portraits.

I'm an amateur and don't make any money from photography. By and large, I shoot for not-for-profit organisations and groups It's a hobby (or maybe a passion) and has kept me sane at times when that wasn't the easiest thing to do. Thanks for stopping by, and for looking at some of the photos on the site. If you see anything you like (or hate), please leave me a comment or get in touch - my details are on my contact page. Even better, if you need a photographer or have an interesting project or event that might benefit from some photographs, drop me a line.