Fine Art Photography: Birds on Bright Water

I'm an artist, albeit an artist with a camera.

One of the greatest joys is to sell your artwork. This is where the print on demand companies, Zazzle.com and RedBubble.com, come into their own. With no financial outlay, and a little digital work, you have quality products ready to share worldwide. The company's take all the pressure off by producing and distributing your finished work. All you need to do is collect your profits. But apart from that, it is also great fun, it's another part of the creative process and it is extremely satisfying to see your work online.

I finally permitted myself to claim the title of artist when I went to have my first photographs printed. When I saw them I was staggered to see they looked nothing like they did on my screen, or in my head for that matter. I said as much to the printer who told me, 'oh I didn't like the colours so I changed them for you.' That made them HIS photographs not mine - needless to say I didn't accept them and we now have an understanding that he just prints them and leaves the artistic interpretation to me.

On this lens, I wanted to share some of my enthusism for a particular series of photographs I have been working on. 'Birds on Bright Water' came about when I decided to buck convention and not crop and frame the birds I was photographing. For me, the water is as much a part of the picture as the wildlife, sometimes even more so. I am delighted by the way water is constantly changing depending on light and what is around it. Because these photographs are taken on the Leed to Liverpool canal, it means there are often pretty narrow-boats around to lend their colour to the water. This is what can result.

Please pass on this lens to your friends - I need to make more friends around the world! Blessings.