Mike
about me
I’m a sixties-something male living in North London. I previously ran my own building renovation company, in partnership with my son. Having retired a few years ago, I am now a gentlemen of leisure, with more time at my disposal to comtemplate and indulge my passion for travel and photography.
My holiday destinations are invariably chosen to encompass the monuments of ancient civilizations, the diversity of religious architecture and the stunning scenery. I always undertake thorough research of my intended destination prior to travelling. A detailed list of places I intend to visit is prepared ahead of time and I always buy maps and a good guide book.
I travel with a group booked through my favourite travel companies for ease of booking etc. Though many group members have become my friends, I take every opportunity to spend as much time as possible exploring on my own. This gives me freedom, choice and rewarding chance encounters that would never happen when part of a large group. Consequently, I tend to visit more places and get to see fabulous sights that are not part of the official itinerary.
On my travels I have been fortunate enough to meet many wonderful people who have shown me genuine hospitality - people who possess little; yet are prepared to share what little they dohave with me.
Travel and photography have always been passions in my life for as long as I can remember. I use my trusty twenty-year-old Canon A1 camera. Yes, it uses that ancient system of 35mm film - I have yet to be converted to the digital age - so I carry around a bag of heavy lenses. Over the years, my camera has become a part of me. I know all its nuances and instinctively know what settings to use in any photographic situation. Many of my photographs are taken using the camera’s manual settings as I do not use an exposure meter. This gives me more creative control unlike the automatic settings on most digital cameras. No doubt at some point in the future I will be dragged, kicking and screaming, into the digital age but, until then …
... kicking and screaming I have finally entered the digital age; certainly my credit card was kicking and screaming. Giving up the emotional attachment to my trusty A1 that has served me well for the past 20-odd years was not easy but ... the times they are a-changing. My new camera is a Canon 7D.
The digital format has opened new horizons previously unavailable, enabling me to enter a brave new world where the boundaries and limitations have been stretched beyond my wildest dreams. This is now photography on a completely different level, instant gratification and no excuses for not producing wonderful images.