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Hi, I'm a modern day adventurer, elemental photographer, seasoned Stormchaser and writer, from Leicestershire in the UK. I am also an ambassador for Olympus as a pro elemental photographer.

I have been fortunate to witness and capture some of the most hostile extremes of Mother Nature, witnessed by few. Tornadoes, Hurricanes, Monsoons, Aurora, Tidal Bores are just some of my magical subjects.

"Driving 24 hours a day in the dusty Plains of USA, hanging from an open car window, attempting to photograph a destructive tornado spinning at over 300mph in front of you. Dust, mud and debris lash the car as it starts to shudder....this is the wildest challenge and ride on earth"

I currently shoot with the stunning Olympus E3 system, designed for Extreme. My adventures have pushed camera system to the edge. It has performed underwater (physically), in dust storms, in freezing temps ( -36C), extreme heat (120 F) and beyond. I insist on quality, performance and a robust weather/dust proof system.

I have worked with many major TV clients including the BBC, ITV, Ch 4, Ch 5, Virgin Media, exhibited at Tate Modern and Olympus Inheritance exhibitions. My elemental photographs have been published around the world and I have written many articles providing reportage, reviews and photojournalism for the National newspapers and magazines.

One incredible year of adventure - Elemental Project http://www.elementalproject.com

For commissions, TV/Documentary ideas with a difference, correspondent work and reportage do get in touch - Email Me

Galleries

Sky at Night : Moon, planets, star trails, space shuttle, ISS & noctilucent. A selection from my night sky gallery.

Sky at Night

Moon, planets, star trails, space shuttle, ISS & noctilucent. A select ...

Updated: Nov 21, 2009 4:38am PST

Optical Phenomena : Rainbows, sunsets & other optical beauty created by Mother Nature.

Optical Phenomena

Rainbows, sunsets & other optical beauty created by Mother Nature.

Updated: Aug 02, 2009 9:44am PST

Severe Weather : A tiny selection of my stormchasing adventures from the past few years.

Severe Weather

A tiny selection of my stormchasing adventures from the past few years ...

Updated: Aug 03, 2009 2:37pm PST

Iceland March 2009 : Geysers, frozen waterfalls, glaciers, volcanic landscape, thermal springs and stunning scenery. Continuing my journey across 66 deg north. What a spectacular country My first visit to Iceland bowled me over. An unspoilt jewel in the arctic circle Atlantic. My journey started at Reykjavik and continued along the infamous Route 1. Blizzards, snow drifts, clear skies, horizontal freezing rain...I had it all along the route. An incredibly challenging photo shoot in such conditions. All images captured from the south part of Iceland. Next stop, the north side!

Iceland March 2009

Geysers, frozen waterfalls, glaciers, volcanic landscape, thermal spri ...

Updated: Mar 23, 2009 9:36am PST

Norway_Arctic_Aurora Feb 2009 : Arctic landscape, Northern Lights, reindeer, huskies, skidoos frozen rivers and much much more. The journey commences in Tromso, our 'Gateway to the Arctic', continues via Finland culminating in our base camp, the raw landscape of Ravnastua, Karasjok. This was an epic journey, an adventure and fed us with a hostile beauty. Clear skies every evening resulted in the magical aurora dancing constantly through the freezing arctic skies. It was script written for adventure. Enjoy the journey.

Norway_Arctic_Aurora Feb 2009

Arctic landscape, Northern Lights, reindeer, huskies, skidoos frozen r ...

Updated: Feb 26, 2009 3:30pm PST

Severn Bore Aerial Feb 2009 : What an adventure. A photo shoot of the Severn Bore from a microlight. A real early start in the freezing cold. Reached the bore the lower part of river and conditions were fantastic (clear with no wind) albeit freezing. Something like -20 with wind chill up at 500ft! Got about 40 mins of real good footage and then the mist rolled in and we had to make an emergency landing in a field in Newnham. This gallery is a pick of the best. Real tough shooting conditions as my hands were frozen solid after 5 mins. All shot with the amazing Olympus E3 and 50-200mm SWD + 12-60mm SWD.

Severn Bore Aerial Feb 2009

What an adventure. A photo shoot of the Severn Bore from a microlight. ...

Updated: Feb 11, 2009 4:42pm PST

Hurricane Ike 2008 : Utter devastation and shocking footage from this huge hurricane. Over the years I have watched, learned and listened. This was the time to act. In fact, I have been waiting two years for this experience. The last two hurricane seasons had been very quiet indeed with nothing to bite at. 2008 was a lot more active. In fact, hurricane frequency (and climate change) is something I have been delving into as part of the www.elementalproject.com Atlantic Tropical Cyclone reports from the last 20 years show an average of 14 named storms, 7 of these becoming hurricanes and 3 of these becoming major (Cat 3 or above). During this period there have been a few fluctuations in number and intensity but nothing to verify current media hype that we are getting more (and bigger) hurricanes. Further data is needed to quantify that. What an adventure it turned out to be. Action filled, technically, physically and mentally very challenging as well as a poignant reminder of what Mother Nature can dish up. This was the 9th named Atlantic storm of the season, the 4th hurricane and 3rd Major. This was Category 4 Hurricane IKE which made landfall at Galveston, Texas on Saturday 13th September 2008.

Hurricane Ike 2008

Utter devastation and shocking footage from this huge hurricane. Over ...

Updated: Oct 27, 2009 2:06pm PST

North American Monsoon 2008 : Spectacular lightning, dust storms, monsoons, flash flooding...Arizona has it all. At the end of July in 2008 I headed off to the scorching deserts of Arizona for the Extreme Heat project. I witnessed the unique and massive movement of moisture flowing into the desert landscape, the North American Monsoon, resulting in intense flash flooding, huge electrical thunderstorms, incredible haboobs (fast moving dust storms) combined with extreme temperatures. With the Grand Canyon and Death Valley a stone’s throw distance away I was within one of the hottest spots on earth. So hot you can make instant sun tea and hot water comes out of both taps! I captured every minute of this incredible cyclic phenomenon. However, all did no go to plan. After a few days moisture flow was cut off from an early season hurricane and I had to adopt plan B. This took me to Florida in search of waterspouts and thunderstorms. I returned to Arizona for the last few days of the project for some stunning lightning displays too. A true adventure.

North American Monsoon 2008

Spectacular lightning, dust storms, monsoons, flash flooding...Arizona ...

Updated: Nov 15, 2009 10:45am PST

Tornado Alley 2008 : The Plains of Tornado Alley in the USA and storms at their very best. I headed off to the Plains of Tornado Alley during June 2008 in search of tornadoes. My aim was to hunt down, photograph and record the most violent storms on this planet including tornadoes, supercell thunderstorms, huge hail and intense lightning. It was the Tornado project journey from www.elementalproject.com The Great Plains in the mid west of USA, known as Tornado Alley, is an extraordinary place during storm season. It truly is the eigth natural wonder of the western world. It is an area in which 1000 tornadoes occur each year and geographically encompasses the central core of the United States (Great lowland areas of the Mississippi, the Ohio, and lower Missouri River Valleys). During the main storm months of April to July three main ingredients come together. Tropical moist air from the south via the Gulf of Mexico collides with hot dry air from the east via the Rockies and cool dry air aloft from the north. These air masses stack up over the centre of the nation, creating a unique combination of atmospheric ingredients and which provide a perfect breeding ground for severe storms. Such storms can flatten entire communities within minutes and cause utter devastation.

Tornado Alley 2008

The Plains of Tornado Alley in the USA and storms at their very best. ...

Updated: Nov 15, 2009 10:50am PST

Arctic & Northern Lights Feb 2008 : A selection from my Arctic expedition & the magical Northern Lights. The aurora borealis, commonly known as the Northern lights - "A pattern of differently coloured lights that are sometimes seen in the night sky in the most northern parts of the world" The Northern lights is a natural phenomenon I have always desired to experience. It has a magical almost mythical surrounding that has been witnessed by few people in all her glory. The Vikings thought they were contrails from Thor's chariot pulled by three goats. I wanted to be included on this elite list and seek out Thor's chariot. Without adequate planning the odds of seeing the Northern Lights are very low. Logistically, one has to travel to a cold northerly location where firstly the Northern Lights can be seen AND when the sun is particularly active AND also hope the skies are clear. In addition, it is a winter event. Throw in the phases of the moon, which can diffuse any showing and you realise JUST how the odds are really stacked against witnessing the phenomenon. I braved the odds, the wild arctic weather and travelled to the Northern Territories of Norway early in 2008. My efforts were rewarded as I witnessed and captured the Northern Lights spectacle on camera for a number of successive days.

Arctic & Northern Lights Feb 2008

A selection from my Arctic expedition & the magical Northern Lights. ...

Updated: Feb 03, 2009 7:12am PST

Greensburg Tornado Damage 2007 : On May 4th 2007 a huge devastating tornado wiped out the entire town of Greensburg in south western Kansas. It was the first ever tornado to be rated EF5 on the enhanced tornado intensity scale, destroying at least 95% of the city and killing ten people. The 2 mile wide tornado struck the town of 1,800 residents at about 9:45 p.m. local time, leaving a broad swath of destruction. Residents reported that tornado sirens sounded for about 15 minutes, then fell silent when the power was knocked out. June 21st I was back in Greensburg. My mission was to capture images of the devastation, talk to the local people and take the information back home to the UK in order to raise awareness of the event. I was hoping by way of media coverage and a future exhibition this can be expedited, which in turn will raise much needed money for the Greensburg cause. Unfortunately, disasters of this nature become yesterday's news too quickly. It is so important to sustain coverage and aid in order to rejuvenate a sense of normality (if that is possible). 

From a research point of view I was looking for many usual signatures associated with tornadic damage. These signatures I have witnessed before with such damage in both the UK and overseas, albeit in lesser intense events. Buildings pierced with projectiles, localised rotation damage, bark stripped trees etc. In fact so widespread and intense was the destruction that I witnessed very few of these signatures. This shocked me but was also a valuable learning exercise. There comes a point within the rotational destruction of vortexes where damage becomes unrecognisably specific. This I assume is where and why the EF5 intensity scale was attributed.

Greensburg Tornado Damage 2007

On May 4th 2007 a huge devastating tornado wiped out the entire town o ...

Updated: Nov 15, 2009 1:37pm PST

Severn Bore : The Severn Bore is a truly unique natural wonder of the western world. It is a large surge wave that runs into the River Severn estuary, where the tidal range is the 2nd highest in the world. The estuary and natural topography of the river converge the water into the narrowing stretch as it moves inland and as the tide rises. The tide-wave is slowed by the river bed and constricting nature of the estuary. 12 hours of flood tide is compressed to just over an hour whereby the rising tide becomes unstable and a bore forms at the leading edge thus forming the large wave. Capturing the Severn Bore has been extremely challenging. I have used many a craft in order to capture the heart and soul of the great wave as it snakes inland on its epic journey. Car, boat and microlight have all been tools in my constant quest to capture the best of this natural phenomenon. This gallery is a culmination of my photographic journey.

Severn Bore

The Severn Bore is a truly unique natural wonder of the western world. ...

Updated: Nov 15, 2009 10:36am PST

iLife : Images straight from my iphone. No editing. Natural Daily Life. The iphone (3G) currently has an inbuilt 2MP camera. Actually, from a quality point of view it is an excellent camera. Bear in mind it has a fixed focal length (no zoom) and what you see is what you get. Consequently taking good quality photos on it is challenging. Thats's why I set up this gallery. An attempt to fill in the days in between elemental projects with images of life. None of the images are edited, cropped, altered or otherwise and uploaded straight from the iphone. Quite a challenge indeed to test the photographic vision and execution. The images surround life, every day life with people, nature, things that surround my movements on a daily basis.

iLife

Images straight from my iphone. No editing. Natural Daily Life. The ip ...

Updated: Oct 26, 2009 12:10pm PST