My first attempts with any camera came when, as a small lad, I used to harass my Mum for a go with her Olympus Pen. I think it safe to say that none of those pictures were going to win prizes but all were smiled upon by my family and I was given great encouragement to keep snapping away.

It wasn't until my Eighteenth birthday that I could really start to progress a little with the wonderful present of a Pentax ME Super. I took pictures of everything & anything and had some quite pleasing results. It was now however that I realised how expensive photography could be and sadly I just couldn't afford to continue with it and indulge my other passion which was/is fishing. Something had to give so photography took a back seat.

As the years went by my angling skills increased and so did the size of the fish I was catching. As a boy I was happy with a net full of small Roach & Rudd but now I was in to specimen hunting and was catching Carp of 30lb and bigger. This meant the need for 'Trophy Shots' before returning the monsters back to the watery depths of the numerous rivers & lakes I was fishing and so out came the camera again. With the onset of digital cameras cost was no longer a factor and while spending time waiting for 'bites' I began to photograph my surroundings.

I now own an array of equipment that allows me to photograph my favourite subjects – Landscape & Nature. Things have come full circle and fishing now takes second place to photography. Being based in Somerset allows me to visit the coast with ease and I have the Levels, Quantock Hills, Exmoor and the Mendip Hills all on my doorstep. I consider myself to be very fortunate and love the area with a passion.

Ian




We would like to welcome Tim Donovan to the NBP team. Tim is a very keen photographer who loves wildlife and the outdoors. He spends many hours on the Somerset Levels and will be one of our guides leading some of our workshops & tours.