The first days were spent in practicing loading darkslides with 5×4 inch sheet film - the dark slide is the thin wooden box that holds the film in place in a view type camera. The idea being that you set up the camera shot using the ground glass viewing screen (Which gives you an upside down and back to front image) using the darkclotth over you head and a magnifying loupe to check focus. You then insert the darkslide and pull out the baffle and fire the shutter to expose the film, replace the baffle and remove the darkslide. Then you go and develop the film. Strictly a one off, time consuming operation to take a single photo so you had to get everything right first time.

 Once we’d got the basics, which included a lot of science to do with light, lens design, chemical formulas for developing etc, we were taught how to photograph virtually everything. A great course with superb lecturers.

One lecturer had a unique way to produce architectural exteriors at night using his own special flash flares. These were a mixture of suet fat and flash powder that gave a steady, very bright burn. We set up the camera in front of the college building, opened the shutter for an exposure of about 15 minutes at f64 and then placed and lit the flares. The resulting print was absolutely gorgeous and to think we only made one exposure!

 We did move on to roll film cameras and (gasp) even 35mm cameras but for ultimate quality and precision a view camera always wins. Do I miss those days - nope, I love my digital camera and computer!

  Using it taught me a lot about photography and I loved taking photos and showing them off but never thought about it as a career.

.( I must admit that I saw the film “Blow Up” starring David Hemmings in 1969, which made me think “Now there was a good way to make a living”! The scene where he rolls around in his studio with Lyn Redgrave and another gorgeous model in the middle of rolls of background paper may have had a subliminal effect on my teenage hormones too! Definitely a film worth seeing if you never have.)

I was even doing pure sciences at school and went on to study Botany at University. The chemistry and math involved were way beyond me and given the choice of repeating the year or starting afresh, I decided to seek some career help.

  The local Career Advice centre had an aptitude test which would identify your basic areas of interest  as a start to pointing you in a direction to head down.

It basically gave you a choice of Literary, Scientific or Artistic areas to start with but unfortunately I scored 33% on each. The career adviser looked my results over and the ensuing conversation went something like this:

“So Peter, you scored evenly on all areas, doesn’t give me much to go on - you could really choose any career path. What do fancy doing?”

“I don’t know, that’s why I came to see you.”

“Okay, what’s your favourite hobby?”

“I don’t have any particular one, I like reading and music and chess….. and beer…… and women…..and - oh yes, I like taking photos too.”

“Ah ha! Well why don’t you become a professional photographer, I can give you the names of some college courses……..”

And so it began, I’ve been lucky enough to have been in the Photography business ever since!

As a regular photographer for the Welsh Craft Council, I used to take publicity photos at their various functions. One such event was Princess Diana’s visit to the Craft Council’s annual get together in Swansea city hall. I was the only photographer allowed inside and my brief was to photograph Craft Council members doing the usual handshake thing with the Princess. I was assigned a Royal Detective to accompany me to make sure I behaved myself and the event went well up to the point where the Princess and officials moved on to the location of the final speech.

As the party went ahead down the corridor, the Detective pointed to a side archway and said if we cut through it, we’d be in a perfect position to catch the speech and a group photo at the top of the stairs before Princess Di left.

Great idea.

He squeezed through the archway and I followed - did I mention that there was a large potted palm tree in the archway? With spreading branches and that it was a very narrow archway? Oh and that I had two cameras with flashguns around my neck and a large camera bag? You guessed it, trying to hurry after the Detective, I became hopelessly entangled in this palm tree and the more I struggled to get by, the more the palm tree began to sway and rock. I was virtually dragging the tree with me as I suddenly came face to face with Princess Di who ducked to avoid the swinging fronds and burst out laughing along with the Detective and the others in the party.

It must have looked hilarious - photographer attacks Princess with potted palm tree! She took a deep breath and in between fits of giggles announced, “My God, it’s a Triffid!”. Then swept on by before I could even splutter out a plea for one last photo. Oh well, you win some etc.

By the time I emerged outside, the TV and waiting press had heard all about  “The Triffid Photographer” and I made the news too!