I’ve been interested in photography ever since I was little, since my parents first got a kodak digital camera, I think it was 1.2 mega pixels! Being able to take a photo and delete it without having to go to have it processed only to find out it had double exposed was a godsend! It wasn’t until I got my first bridge camera in my 20’s that I really started getting into landscape photography, we toured Scotland for 2 weeks in 2007 and that camera went everywhere with us!

Swanage Beach Groins by Rob Nolan
What is your favourite photographic memory, and why?
It would have to be our family holiday to Sharm el Sheik, Egypt, there was an amazing jetty on the beach at the resort that seemed to just go on out to sea for a mile! I had taken all my latest gear including filters, tripod and Nikon D7100 and spent most sunrises and sunsets on the jetty trying to capture the perfect shot, I enjoyed it, my wife was not so enthusiastic 🙂

Osmington Mills Beach Waterfall by Rob Nolan
Who is your favourite photographer, and why?
Mark Bauer
I spent a couple of days with Mark in 1 -1 tuition sessions to help me improve my landscape work, his work especially in Iceland and in his home of Swanage, Dorset is second to none, I never fail to be taken a back when I see a new image of his.

Motion Clouds over Durdle Door by Rob Nolan
What would be your ideal camera, and where would you take it?
A Nikon D800, and I’d go out to the Atacama desert, one of the darkest places in the world and shoot the Milky Way Galaxy band, that for me would be stunning!
Tell us what you enjoy most about your own work, and what has inspired you recently.
Recently I’m getting into my portrait work, and I have found I really enjoy working with people, couples and children trying to capture their thought, memories and usually laughter and fun!

Sidmouth Seafront by Rob Nolan
Do you have bursts of creativity – and when/where are you most creative?
I sometimes find I’m my most creative when I haven’t planned a shoot, I’ll just pick up the camera and find something to shoot, and then it’ll progress from there into something completely unexpected, and sometimes, quite rewarding! Other times it will be a planned shoot, such as a sunrise on the stunning Dorset Coastline, where you’ve planned the day, checked the weather, the tide times, even the wind speed, all just to ensure you’ve got the perfect conditions. When a plan comes together and you get that image there on the screen that’s been in your mind’s eye for months, or even years, that is a special moment! And suddenly that little SD card is more precious and fragile to you than a 1000 gold bars until you can get it back to the PC to process it!

Boat out of Water by Rob Nolan
What are the most important elements of a successful photo?
If we’re talking landscapes, then it has to be the perspective, trying to shoot a famous landmark or place is easy, but trying to capture it in a way that is unique to you that will make people stop and say “Wow” is a special thing, and you made that happen – you went to the location, or told the model to sit this way, do this or do that, and you pressed the shutter button, immortalising that unique moment that is unlikely to ever happen under that same set of circumstances ever again……. that’s a pretty special job or responsibility to have 🙂
Tell us about your favourite photograph, either your own or someone else’s.
My own favourite photograph at the moment is my capture of West Bay Cliff at sunrise

West Bay Cliffs Sunrise by Rob Nolan
I look at this photo and I can remember the warm sun just lighting up the beach in front of me, and it did a good job of drying my feet off when the waves came in and caught me a little off guard!
However, I dont think anyone can scroll passed this image by Stephen Banks and not fail to be impressed by it! Stephens work is awesome and something I think we can all appreciate in the world of photography.

Archway to Heaven by Stephen Banks
How do you spend a creative day?