Welcome to my world, well my blog anyway…
These pages will typically tell you a bit about my photography outings and exploits around the UK and also occasionally in the bigger world.
I have been taking photos for a while now, I got my first camera for my 21st birthday which feels like a seriously long time ago. I began by taking landscapes and then when the kids arrived they were what I generally photographed but they’re older now and I’ve got a bit more time on my hands. My passion for this art form has really accelerated during the last couple of years when I’ve really tried to lift my game. I am a member of two camera clubs, one of which is my local club Ribblesdale and the other is Chorley who are one of the top clubs in the world.
I have attained the MPAGB accreditation which is regarded as the highest level of club photography in the UK. Acheiving the ‘M‘ was a long held ambition after seeing a stunning set of images whilst doing my CPAGB but it wracked my nerves and challenged my work immensely. Along the the way I gathered a CPAGB (Credit), DPAGB (Distinction) and EPAGB (Ecellence) and I have simultaneously managed to work my way to BPE5* in the British Photographic Exhibitions circuit which has been both interesting and challenging.
As part of my photographic journey I have also takien up judging in an attempt to share some of my thoughts on images with the members of camera clubs across the North-West of England. Recently I was selected as one of the PAGB accredited judges and can now judge national competitions and exhibitions
My two favourite subjects, photographically, are Wildlife and People and between them they fill a fair chunk of my portfolio. I am also a keen Sports and Dance photographer. I am a fairly competent user of Adobe Photoshop to enhance or even create images but I strongly believe that PS should be used to make a great photograph better and not to just salvage a poor image – get it right in camera!
I hope you enjoy looking through the blog.
Steve Proctor - MPAGB, BPE5, PPSA 
Congrats on your CPAGB Steve. Don’t think about DPAGB straight away but start entering the BPEs to test your readiness to achieve at that level. It is a good guide to the requirement for D.
Cheers
Bob
Dear Steve
I am contacting you in connection with an incredible photo of yours that I came across on the internet, of a Bateleur Eagle eating a black mamba in the Kruger National Park.
I live in South Africa, and have been asked to write a children’s bird book on the birds of southern Africa. As well as writing the text, I need to source photos to bring the book to life, and your photo illustrates so well the amazing snake-eating habits of the Bateleur.
I am writing to enquire as to whether you would be open to me using this photo in the book, and whether or not you charge for photo use. Thank you so much, and I look forward to hearing from you. All the best, Helene Loon
Dear Steve, just to let you know how well received your talk at WHCC was last night, really inspiring!
Thank you Debby for the feedback. I know we get good comments from the chairman on the night but when members of the clubs say something it always makes it worthwhile.
Hi Steve, I attended your Passion for People lecture at Nelson Camera Club last week. I thought your presentation was BRILLIANT – all the images were of an exceedingly high quality, the inclusion of AV was superb, and the way you introduced yourself through a single slide, built up of single words as you developed your story was exceptional. I have rarely experienced such an excellent lecture/presentation – and that is from someone who has put together, and had to listen to, literally thousands of presentations during my working life. And then to cap it all you told us that you played the David Gilmore guitar solo yourself! Is there anything you do to just an ordinary standard – I bet you even played squash and cricket at a country level didn’t you?!!
As I said to you on the night, I think we have met each other in a previous life when I was Sales Manager for Renishaw.
Thanks again, I so very much enjoyed the time you spent with us, and all the best until we have the common sense to ask you back again!!
Hi Mark
Thanks for the feedback, I really appreciate that. Part of my job in later years involved influencing groups of people with many different learning styles & I have tried to put that learning into my talks. The guitar piece is a bit like my composite photography – many attempts and made from different segments.
Regards – Steve