WE ARE DELIGHTED TO INTRODUCE OUR FIRST GUEST FROM THE UK: FROM SUTTON, SOUTH LONDON, WELCOME MIKE DALES "I wish I could say that I have been taking pictures for almost as long as I can remember, but this would sadly not be true. My first 'proper' camera was a Mamiya SLR which I bought while at university in the mid-1970s. I managed to acquire a key to the university darkroom and so began my real photographic journey. The Mamiya was followed by a Canon and finally a Pentax SLR, thus beginning my love affair with this venerable brand. Marriage and children took up most of my energy (and money) for quite a few years, although I continued to snap away when I had opportunity. It was in early 2003 that I decided to take up the hobby again with any sort of seriousness and joined a local camera club here in South London. I haven't looked back since! My first faltering attempts at producing competition pictures were met only by encouragement and I freely acknowledge my debt to its members.

Seeking a challenge I set myself the task of gaining the 'LRPS' distinction (Licentiate of the Royal Photographic Society) and this was awarded in March 2007. A year later I embarked on a project of photographing the London Underground and this resulted in an 'ARPS' (Associate of the Royal Photographic Society) which was awarded in March 2008. The image ‘Mind the Gap’ was from this portfolio. I am something of a ‘Jack of all Trades’ photographer, taking pictures of just about anything (except landscapes which I seriously suck at) but find myself mainly doing urban work. I tend to like relatively simple compositions, and especially like to take images which are a little on the quirky side. "