Your work has been published widely throughout North Wales. I understand you publish your cards and calendars your self, what are the pro’s and con’s?

Yes, I publish myself. I can control what goes out, what it looks like, and how it is used. I enjoy the challenge of establishing and developing a successful business and more of the income comes my way.  I do not parti    cularly want to spend time doing assignments for others - this way I can take what I want, and what I enjoy.

The cons? I take all the risk if things go wrong in the business. I find too little time to take pictures because of all the time taken up packing cards, supplying shops and doing office work.

What’s the symbolism of your fish logo and company name of Origins?

I am a Christian and the fish logo is the Christian Icthus symbol. I originally wanted to call my business Genesis, but there is already a business by that name  in this area (and a dodgy 70’s stadium rock dinosaur!). The word Origins symbolises to me going back to basics sounds like a Government intiative, doesn,t it?!. I am motivated by very natural things, rather than manmade things. I am trying to communicate my view of all things created. The Welsh company name that I use is Gwreiddiau, which means Roots.

Where else has your work has been published?

A few books, magazines, brochures, album covers, posters, etc. In general I do not try to get my work published anywhere else. If I am approached about using one of my pictures I take each case as it comes.

Is photography and publishing your cards etc your full time employment or do you have other eggs in the basket? Won’t tell the Inland Revenge, honest

It is very full time. I am continuously turning work away to try and concentrate on what I see as my core areas. I do travel fairly often to do AV shows, but these are intentionally non-commercial.

As a landscape photographer you couldn’t live in a better area but would you like to work elsewhere too?

I enjoy any beautiful areas. Most of my cards are Welsh because that is where I am trying to sell them (a fair proportion of my greetings cards are of elsewhere).

What sort of schooling and photographic training have you done?

None at all. No training, no reading. Just picked up a camera a few years ago to try and capture my experiences in the mountains, and had it pointed out to me that I was taking reasonable pictures. Technically I still know very little. Most of the techniques I use I have worked out for myself from first principles, rather that learn from elsewhere. I take pictures by ‘feel’. I guess that I have some kind of eye for composition, light, textures, colour. I have to pinch myself that people enjoy my pictures, because I feel that I am a fraud!

Dave, teach me to be so fraudulant!

Do you send your pictures to photo libraries, what are your experiences?

No, I don’t. Because my pictures are usually taken for ‘me’, I don’t like handing over my originals to others. I also want my originals available for my AV’s. I am aware that I could make more income from libraries than from my cards, etc., but that is not my main motivaton.

Do you belong to any professional or amateur photographic bodies? What do you think of them?

No, I don’t. I do not think much of many of them. I am not particularly keen to join an organisation, then try to work my way through various grades of membership to try and impress other photographers. I would rather just get on in my own little corner and let the card buying public judge my work.

Was there a defining moment when you realised this was the business for you?

No, more a gradual dawning. I realised that if I did not give it a try, I would regret it later.

How long have you lived in Snowdonia?

Since 1982, I moved here to work at an outdoor centre.

How do you choose locations?

"A.”  Many of my best pictures are when I am in the mountains with friends, out with the family, on holiday, and just take what I see - I am not trying to ‘force out’ a picture that way. For postcards, some have to be of particular areas (though by no means all), and I will make use of a map of areas I do not know well, to work out viewpoints, lighting, etc. When out on walks or climbs I look across to other peaks and valleys and make a mental note of where to visit next time. But usually it comes back to my best pictures being taken when I go out to an area in the middle of the night, start taking pictures at dawn and just wander in that area all day, following my eye - and my nose.

Wow, Photo’s by sense of smell! …Do you have a favorite location.

A few. Castell y Gwynt at either sunrise or sunset. Cwm Cau, Cader Idris. The River Artro. Harlech Beach. The Weisshorn. The Picos de Europa.

Where would you like to go to shoot, given infinite resources

Antarctica. Chile. New Zealand. Saturn and its moons!

Clearly from your pictures you are an experienced mountaineer…

I have been climbing since I was a child. I have around 20 Alpine seasons behind me including a lot of leading and teaching others. I had a few serious first ascents behind me, but am gradually working my way down the grades now as I get more easily frightened and my body is falling apart a bit now. But I do love being in the mountains and try to get out in the mountains fairly regularly.

Have you had any dealings with famous mountaineers or photographers?

I know a few well known mountaineers (some no longer alive), but not photographers (apart from a couple of well known mountaineering photographers). Most of the mountaineers I knew before I took up photography. I do not know many photographers.

Have you had any nasty moments out on location?

In the mountains, yes. Vomiting fulmars, lightning, serac fall. I’ve gone up some rather dodgy hillsides to find the right viewpoint. I have had a couple of occasions of taking pictures for hours and then discovering I forgot to put a film in.

Do you fancy any other dangerous sports?

I have done a lot of white water paddling and gorge exploration, plus some caving. Fancy trying parapente, and doing some more advanced skiing.

We particularly like your dawn images, tell us about the process of capturing these, It must involve a lot of ascending in the dark or over-nighting on the mountains. Do you plan these shots or do you just happen to be at the right place at the right time.

I find dawn and the couple of hours afterwards to often be the most useful time for photography. Apart from the beauty of the sunrise, there is often interesting cloud or mist. After sunrise the light is often strong and low angle, emphasising shapes and texture. As you will see, I also like stong colour, and I can get stronger colours soon after sunrise, when there is less haze.

A weather forecast will influence which day I go. For these shots I will usually get up at 1 a.m. or 2 a.m. after a couple of hours of sleep only. I will usually plan from a map or from memory where to be, but will often change plans on the way there, reacting to prevailing conditions. I find it very hard work getting going up mountains in the dark (I am not a morning person at the best of times!), but once going I love moving quietly in the dark up a mountain. I have had some wonderful peaceful experiences on my own on a mountain for sunrise, that stick in my memory as much as the pictures.

When you go to the mountains are you there to climb with a camera or do you head out with the expressed aim of taking pictures.

Originally the former, but now more often a compromise between the two. The decision of where and when to climb with friends may well be influenced by what pictures I am interested in. How to lose friends in one easy lesson!

What equipment do you use?

I now mostly use a Minolta 700si with a Minolta 24-85 and a Sigma 70-300 apo. I also carry a Sigma 17-35, but rarely use it. I carry a Minolta 5400HS flash. I make use of only two filters in general, a polariser and a graduated grey. If I can cope I carry a fairly hefty Uniloc tripod - they are very adaptable and sturdy in the breezy conditions you find in mountains.

What’s your favorite item?

The spot metering button on my 700si. I will often decide on exposure by use of this button. I bought an 800si recently, but soon rejected it because of the relative difficulty in spot metering.

…and your favorite film?

Velvia. It’s the colours mostly - punchy but realistic. Good grain as well. Pity it is not available at that quality at 400asa!

I'm sorry about this question but I’ve got to ask it……Which photographers have influenced you and or which ones do you admire?

Because I try hard to not copy or be influenced by other photographers ideas, and have not read much or met many other photographers, very few have influenced me. One in particular, John Beatty, influenced me before I became a photographer - his AV’s inspired me to get out and do my own thing. Earlier than that I was influenced by John Cleare and Walter Poucher. I admire any photographer who comes up with original ideas and does not cut corners too regularly. I especially admire those who can produce good images in really trying conditions.

Are there any other area's of photography you'd like to explore.

I’m discovering new areas that I experiment with regularly. I know of no other new areas that I would like to explore, because I have not discovered them yet!

How do you feel about digital imaging, are you embracing new technology in any way?

To be honest I am frightened by it. Because I still know very little technically it all seems rather daunting. It worries me that poor pictures may be turned into good ones by someone playing around on a computer. It worries me whether people will want postcards, greetings cards, etc., in 10 years time.

On the other hand it is where the future is and I do not want to be left high and dry. I much prefer the feel and quality of film, but I have a good film scanner (Nikon Coolscan III). I have not worked out how to use my manipulation software, and don’t really want to bother. My printers do some bits of cosmetic work for me e.g. removal of flare when shooting into the sun.

Do you shoot transparencies or neg. and why?

Trannies. Because I like the film and because what you take is what you get, rather than rely on a process/print company to get it right. I do a lot of AV’s. You need a positive for the printing process.

Finally, what are your future plans, hopes and aspirations? Have you got any upcoming projects?

Nothing special, just to keep taking pictures of the things that excite my eye. I am climbing in the Picos de Europa with friends in June. At some point I would like to publish my own book in my own way. In a few years I would like to be in the position where someone manages my business day to day, and I can wander remoter areas of the world with my camera...

...no assignments, just pictures I want to take.

...Whew, that took some time!