I use a standard point and shoot Canon SD800IS, although I rarely use the automatic function. I have been using this camera since about April, and before this I used a Canon PowerShot S50 that I got as a birthday present 3 years ago.
2) What got you interested in photography?
My Dad was in the British forces, so I spent a lot of my childhood moving house (and country) every 3 or so years. My Dad had a film camera with a number of lenses, which I was never really allowed to play with. I got my own SLR at 16 or so, off a mate who bought "all the gear but had no idea", and it went from there. My new found excitement for photography comes from my girlfriend who carries a camera EVERYWHERE she goes!!
3) Do you have a favourite category of photography and if so, what is it?
I try to live my life outside. I am lucky in that I have seen more than my fair share of the world, and I always think myself lucky that I have had the chance to see some things that most people dream of. In this respect I'd say Landscape is my favourite category.
4) What is your most memorable photographic experience to date?
Wow - I spent the millennium at Annapurna base camp in the Himal region in Nepal. I slept in a tent at minus 20 on 31st December 1999. I woke to a super sub zero new millennium where EVERYTHING was frozen solid other than me and my SLR, which spent the night in my sleeping bag. Sitting there and watching the first sun of the millennium rise over the worlds tallest mountains blew my mind. I wish I had a digital camera back then...... all my pics from then are still on negative strips!
5) Do you like to manipulate pictures? Or do you prefer them as a true record of the event? What is your view on Photo manipulation?
Ha ha ha if only I knew how to manipulate my pictures!!!!! I'd love to be able to play with my shots more. I am a relative newbie to PS, so I guess my answer is right now I prefer my pictures real!
6) What, if any, are your photographic ambitions for the future?
I look up to photographers like Ansel Adams, and aspire to being able to draw that much depth and awe into my photos. Living in British Columbia, Canada, I have some of the worlds best vistas on my doorstep, and just need to learn how to capture them properly for those who don't have the fortune to see them for themselves. I'd also like the chance to revisit some of those places like Nepal with a better camera and a better eye for photography.
Now for Gilly's favourite Five -
The Grand Canyon - November 2005. I was sent to Vegas for work (ha ha ha fools!!), and took the opportunity to kill two birds with one stone, and fulfilled two of my dreams in one. Took a helicopter flight, and visited the GC all at once! The cactus, canyon walls, and general solitude made my trip worth it. I had a champagne breakfast just before i took this shot!!
Cypress September - 10 minutes from my door step. I snowboard past this at least once a week in winter, and took a hike here in summer / fall to see it without the snow. I was greeted with this site.
Galliano Island - BC. This was taken in August last summer, on a bank holiday weekend. I got up and suffered the mild hangover to watch the sunrise on the rocky beach. Me and thousands of purple starfish. Pretty amazing morning. Went back to my friends to find them cooking breakfast!! fantastic!
This is the top of Whistler Mountain in spring. This is where I'll be in a month or two when I'm not at work!!!! This place is 'Gilly' and everything I live for. Snow, blue sky, mountains and gravity!
This is my girlfriend, Melissa, in the Caribbean this summer, on our vacation to Cuba. I love this photo because it was taken whilst we were messing about and laughing in the ocean without a single care in the world. I go back to this picture when I'm having a crap day at work, or when the rain is hitting the window at home! Its one of those shot that makes me feel content!
Many thanks Neil for sharing that with us.
OK the floors now open, do you have any questions you'd like to ask Neil?
If so post them below.
Venom
Gilly,
From what you say and the pictures you've posted your obviously a very well travelled man, who's seen some fantastic scenery but which would you say is the best/most memorable photography apart?
Mike
jonH
Whistler eh.. some day i'll get there.. mountainbiking mecca and then some Canada's a place I'd love to visit for the scenery too - you see no end of wonderful views on flickr so I'm rather jealous of you right now!!
Love the shot of your girlfriend btw - no wonder it's a pic that lifts your moods!
hil26
That was one nice read of your experiences and giving me a bit of envy at your himalaya experience - what a mind blowing time - would love to see some of those images scanned and posted on here some time.
You have named in your spotlight three of my "places to go to see before I go and see that man up in the Sky" - Himalayas, Grand Canyon, and Canada (although did do a very very brief stop in Canada ones - 2 hours in Montreal)
Thanks again for uplifting me
pasvorto
I'm really liking the 3rd and 4th ones.
Gilly
Venom wrote:
Gilly,
From what you say and the pictures you've posted your obviously a very well travelled man, who's seen some fantastic scenery but which would you say is the best/most memorable photography apart?
Mike
Mike - I don't think I could put my finger on any one favorite photography moment. I suppose the excitement of getting a new camera, and seeing what it will do rated fairly highly. I really want (and wish I could afford) a digital SLR now i've joined this site, and seem some of the work people on here can do...... Given time I'll get one I hope!
Quote:
Whistler eh.. some day i'll get there.. mountainbiking mecca and then some Canada's a place I'd love to visit for the scenery too - you see no end of wonderful views on flickr so I'm rather jealous of you right now!!
Love the shot of your girlfriend btw - no wonder it's a pic that lifts your moods!
Jon - Whistler just shut down for the season yesterday for biking..... one of the best places to ride downhill EVER!!!! I have a season pass there, and get up there as often as I can through summer (like 15+times)... yesterday was a fantastic sunny cold day - blue skies and freshly dusted mountain tops! (no pics as i was riding to my hearts content!!)
Quote:
You have named in your spotlight three of my "places to go to see before I go and see that man up in the Sky" - Himalayas, Grand Canyon, and Canada (although did do a very very brief stop in Canada ones - 2 hours in Montreal)
Dave - I hope I have added some inspiration to get you to go / come to these places! I will try to dig out some shots from Nepal soon for you, in the mean time i'll post some from my sister (who lives in Kathmandu) to keep your appetite keen!
Thanks guys for the kind words, and interest!
jonH
Gilly wrote:
Jon - Whistler just shut down for the season yesterday for biking..... one of the best places to ride downhill EVER!!!! I have a season pass there, and get up there as often as I can through summer (like 15+times)... yesterday was a fantastic sunny cold day - blue skies and freshly dusted mountain tops! (no pics as i was riding to my hearts content!!)
I went to Les Gets in the summer and loved every minute - I'll be back there without a doubt! Seeing as you're a biker too, I'll share a pic of a little something i bought a few weeks ago - it's replaced my '03 Orange Patriot, which I never really got on with (it was an insurance replacement for a lovely '99 SC Bullit that got nicked) I've not had much chance to play with it yet, but so far it feels awesome
(you'll be happy to hear that it doesn't look quite as clean and shiny now)
Gilly
jonH wrote:
Gilly wrote:
Jon - Whistler just shut down for the season yesterday for biking..... one of the best places to ride downhill EVER!!!! I have a season pass there, and get up there as often as I can through summer (like 15+times)... yesterday was a fantastic sunny cold day - blue skies and freshly dusted mountain tops! (no pics as i was riding to my hearts content!!)
I went to Les Gets in the summer and loved every minute - I'll be back there without a doubt! Seeing as you're a biker too, I'll share a pic of a little something i bought a few weeks ago - it's replaced my '03 Orange Patriot, which I never really got on with (it was an insurance replacement for a lovely '99 SC Bullit that got nicked) I've not had much chance to play with it yet, but so far it feels awesome
(you'll be happy to hear that it doesn't look quite as clean and shiny now)
nice jon...... how do you like the Fox shock? I just bought a new 888 to replace my overused Junior T, and i'm loving the plushness! Set myself up with a set of Avid Codes too - fantastic brakes, and the best upgrade I think I ever made!
The Orange Patriot is a nice bike - shame you never got along with it.....
I don't think I have any of my bike its always too muddy to look any good in pictures!!!
jonH
Lol well to be fair that pic was taken within minutes of me getting it home from the bike shop :D
The forks are 36 van rc2's and they're the nicest forks I think I've ever ridden. I've not been able to spend a lot of time on it so far but it's plush - the Orange was really harsh (5th element rear, manitou sherman firefly front) - skitted over the top of stuff and I never really ever felt like it was me doing the steering, this is planted and extremely nimble; I thought my old bullit was a stunning descender but this is so much better, and it climbs much better too!!
I really need to get it up to Scotland but events are conspiring against me, time's running out before winter and now ruth's gone and given me her cold
creators
You know, something the 'Powers that Be' just don't get is that humans cannot be contained in CCTV world. I loved what you said, 'This place is 'Gilly' and everything I live for. Snow, blue sky, mountains and gravity!'. I don't much care what it's called, spirituality, or our capacity to experience awe and wonder, but we are more than function and form, and you have touched on that all the way through your Spotlight, Neil. I loved reading through your spotlight, sometimes awe and wonder become quiet and I forget briefly that they are what I live for as well, but when they awake, they are as fresh and new as the first time I was touched by them. I think the times I feel most human and alive are those times when I completely forget myself, when I am caught up in something much bigger than me, that shot of Whistler is amazing. I can't imagine what snow boarding down that would be like. Thank you so much for your spotlight.
GREENWIZARD
love that shot of your girlfriend .....i can see why it brings joy to your heart
Canada's a place I'd love to visit for the scenery too - you see no end of wonderful views on flickr so I'm rather jealous of you right now!!
its always too muddy to look any good in pictures!!! 
