Who is Chris Abbott?

27/05/07

I have enjoyed photography for over 25 years now and the passion has never stopped growing. I give it as much time as I can in the gaps between family, job, and one or two other commitments.

It’s my father’s fault. A keen photographer himself he supplied me with a steady stream of cameras and there were always copies of photographic books and magazines about the house for inspiration.

I can really remember using a Box Brownie when I was very young but my first Single Lens Reflex camera was an Olympus OM 2. I followed this with a second-hand OM 4 which went with me practically everywhere. I had the perfect day job too - it took me all over Somerset at all hours, so by chance alone I stumbled across many beautiful scenes to photograph.

My wife, Louise, was very supportive. She helped me with a wonderful birthday present. No, not a new lens, filter or gadget for the camera bag, but a night school course in developing and printing from film. The experience was priceless and when my portfolio for the first City & Guilds unit won a distinction, I was over the moon. I owe another big “thank you” to my tutor, Steve Welsh. If you're serious about improving your skills then I recommend a trip back to old fashioned basics - it's invaluable.

But for the arrival of my first daughter, I would have built my own darkroom under the stairs. As a cleaner and safer stopgap I bought a film scanner and an A3 printer. That was me hooked on the digital alternative to chemicals and safelights. As soon as quality became affordable, I bought a digital camera, the prosumer 8MP Konica Minolta Dimage A2.

Around the same time, my job changed. I was more inside than out, so my landscape photography had to become a little more planned. This forced more discipline in selecting subjects and lighting, but I soon learned the value of this extra effort.

I owe a great deal to the experiences of others. There is always something more to learn, or re-learn, and sharing your experiences with other photographers is a great way to go about it.

Marketing my photography has been a wonderful experience - I wish I'd started sooner to be honest. The greatest benefit comes from the satisfaction of knowing that your work is definitely appreciated by others.

I rely on word of mouth to promote my services, and it's proving to be a very effective strategy. I'd like to thank everyone who has helped to make it the success it has become. I have the perfect balance between the commercial pressures and the sheer joy I get from taking pictures and I'm loving every bit of it.

Encouragement from my family and friends has been a great help in getting me this far. I'd like to thank them all here - you know who you are. And here is a special mention for Brian Phipps, a very accomplished wildlife photographer who has been very supportive (please follow my link to Brian's website).Thank you Brian.

To move up to the next level I returned to the versatility of an SLR system – this time a Canon EOS 5D. We're pretty much inspeparable now - well who else would join me in getting up before dawn for first light photography?

I hope you enjoy my pictures. Please use the “get in touch section” as I’d love to know what you think, and if ever you find yourself at one of my exhibitions please introduce yourself - it would be great to meet you.