I have a general collection of both cacti and other succulents housed in a 17 by 20ft (5x6m) greenhouse. Since taking semi-retirement from my business I now have time to indulge my main interests; succulent plants and the restoration of my collection of around 3000 old photographs of my home town Seaham and surrounding towns and villages.
Recently, a combination of aspects of these two hobbies, digital image manipulation and plant photography has enabled me to produce images of cacti and succulents which in the main would not have been possible using conventional photographic techniques.
Most of the images on this site are digital compilations of various parts of one or more plants; the most common technique being to combine the in-focus sections of two or more photographs of a plant using Photoshop CS on a computer.
To have special appeal and lift a photograph beyond the realm of the record shot the final image must usually be a distortion of the truth to some degree. My images begin with photographic "fact" but I usually have to dip into fiction at some point to make them entertaining, to hopefully stop you in your tracks!
This manipulation does not extend to altering the physical characteristics of a species, just to correction, removal or concealment of less than perfect parts of the plant or flower and attention to foreground (removal of pot) and background.
Whatever your opinion of my work, I would be very pleased to have your comments.
To the best of my knowledge species names are correct, re genera, I am no botanist and have trouble keeping up with changes so please bear with me on this one.
Thanks to everyone who helped with names, especially Roy Mottram.
A big thank-you to everyone (listed below) who has allowed me to photograph their plants, for their time and their hospitality.
Brian Goodie (Southfield Nurseries)
Roy Mottram (Whitestone Gardens)
John Pilbeam (Connoisseur's Cacti)
John Henshaw (Croston Cacti)
Derek Bowdery (Eau Brink Cacti)
Hollygate Cactus Nursery
Richard & Wendy Edginton (Seedling Cacti)
Bob & Beryl Potter (Toobees Nursery)
Terry Edney
John and Mairi Frew
Keith and Kathy Flanagan
Stewart Thompson
George Dyer
Harry Middleditch
Hamish McKelvie
John Ellis