I was delighted to be awarded my Fellowship from the Royal Photographic Society yesterday. The Fellowship distinction requires a body of work of 21 images and a written Statement of Intent defining the purpose of the work, identifying its aims and objectives. It is the highest award the RPS confer.

I confess to being a competitive person & I need targets to drive me. When I started my photographic journey in 2016 it suited my personality to use the awards structure to measure my progress and with the FRPS I’ve now completed all the awards I targeted. It’s taken 6 years and has had many highs and lows - but I count myself as truly blessed to have discovered photography.

If you’re interested you can read my Statement of Intent below & watch a slideshow of the images I used.

Statement of Intent;                    

My objective is to present a submission demonstrating the incredible diversity of life that relies on our oceans for its existence. 

From the largest predator to the smallest scavenger, they all contribute to a complex ecosystem. Harmonious, symbiotic relationships are plentiful, but just as common is the aggression and trepidation that characterises the lives of the hunters and their prey.

I’m privileged to observe some of these scenes first-hand; relaxed feeding, boisterous play-fighting, curious juveniles and stealthy hunters. I find it challenging, exciting and often tragic - but I’m always moved, either by their beauty or their behaviour.

Using a pictorial style, my aim is to convey the emotions I feel as I take the shot, recording one moment of their largely unseen lives.