I think it is fair to say that since my formal training in professional photography in the late seventies things have changed quite a bit.

The whole attitude of photography is different. Now picture taking is in the hands of the masses.

And yet, and quite sadly this very expansion into cameras for everyone has often been at a cost - and that cost is to value the images taken. The more you have , the less you value them.

Digital media also means that long term archiving is in the lap of the Gods & hardrive's not failing.

Few now experience the thrill of watching a film develop or a print come out of the developing tray. It has for many simply lost it's magic.

But ofcourse that is not the whole truth - there are as many if not more great photographers today than there was in the past. Great images still happen. Images are recorded for example in warzones that simply were not possible with earlier technology.

What makes a great photographer? I tell you now, having worked with many photo students over the years it's not something you just learn. It's an inbuilt burning passion to get the image, to take an idea and run with it - to see the image often before it's even taken. It's having a "seeing" eye.

Have I got a seeing eye? Well I like to think so - and I guess on this website you can judge for yourself. The great thing about my recent work is so much has become "context" based, working often with young talented performers.  I shall concentrate mainly on modern work at this time - so that means digital imaging, but I was and remain a film photographer in my shooting techniques as I will explain as we go on. I would welcome your input and indeed images from others which may in time feature here.

So enougth of the words for now - please enjoy your visit, and if your interested in taking part in a shoot then get in touch too.

Take care

William D         http://williamdavid.actwill.co.uk/page49.html

New infront of the camera or considering it? Avoid the pitfalls:- Info Link above.

An image from my early days around 1979 taken in Bedford Town Centre!

For those interested taken on a Minolta XD7 which had just been released with a 35mm f1.4 lens.