At the age of 16 Simon's parents bought him an Agfamatic 110 camera. A small basic film cartridge camera that kickstarted his passion for images.
When asked about what he sees as influences in the photographic world he says: " I remember going to an exhibition in London of original Ansel Adams prints. There were many of his most iconic including a huge print that he made of Half Dome in Yosemite. You could reach into the picture and touch the rock, smell the air, and feel instantly transported to a truly magnificent place! This for me, showed the power of the image and an art form that could change your thoughts and make you wish you could emulate this power."
Over the years working as a photographer and cameraman Simon has worked with many well known equestrian clinicians. Talking with Simon about some of his past he recalls:
"I remember spending over a decade filming Monty Roberts in the UK. An amazing man who understood horses, and felt he was on a mission to stop violence. Something he had been on the receiving end of for a lot of his young life. Every night on tour in the UK, I'd be freezing bits of me off in venues that were really open to the elements. Monty would tour in Winter and Autumn, and the weather was always unpredictable.
But the amazing thing about it was that I had the best seat in the house, although I was standing quite still for about two hours a night so as not to distract the horse, Monty, or the audience. It taught me so much about the language animals use, and how working with them, you can achieve so much. The problem is that humanity has lost touch with nature in a big way. We all know that."
"Over the years I've struggled to develop my own unique styles. In the last few years I've now settled on three "feels". However more importantly, I make images for me. It sounds selfish, but I'd rather know that I have created something I love, know, and feel for, than try to pander to market forces. If a viewer loves the image as much as I do, and wants to have a copy thats the best feeling on the planet. It's not about making money, its about living with yourself, being thankful for what you have, and knowing that you can sometimes reach out into someone else and change a view, perspective, thought, or emotion."
Simon has three distinct styles of images that are available through his shop. An explanation of his styles can be found on this page.
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