I first picked up a camera at high school in 1976 – my father’s Soviet Zenit-E clone of a Pentax 35mm SLR. At school I learned the basics of photography, and learned how to develop black and white film and how to use a darkroom and enlarger to make black and white prints.

Through the 1980s much of my photography was motorsport based as this is what particularly interested me at the time. In the early 1990s I rekindled my interest in black and white film shooting and developing, creating a darkroom at home out of my bathroom. When I met my (now) wife in the mid-1990s I taught her how to use an SLR camera, how to shoot, develop and print black and white images.

Since around 1986 I have generally been self-employed or an employee of companies that I have owned or partly owned. My businesses have all been around computer software development – initially packaged software that we sold worldwide through distributors and resellers. Subsequently my business developed large-scale data integration software, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software, data analysis and reporting software for the automotive industry.

In business I have often presented in front of large groups of people at trade events. I have also been extensively involved with pre-sales and sales, involving presenting to groups of people – not all of whom are enthusiastic about being sold to! I have also been responsible for training people – in groups and one-on-one. I have developed course material which I have subsequently presented.

For some years I was involved with a personal development educational organisation, eventually becoming a seminar leader for that organisation. This involved leading courses to groups of up to 100 people. In addition to the classroom style course presentation, this also involved taking people through practical exercises and coaching in smaller groups and one-on-one.

I have travelled to many countries – both for business and pleasure, and have always carried cameras with me. When travelling for pleasure, the travel has often revolved around photography and wildlife, especially birds.

For the last 20 years I have been a bird and wildlife photographer (in my spare time). My wife and I are also avid birdwatchers, holding the record for the most number of species seen in the state of Victoria in a calendar year. I have participated on and organised pelagic seabird watching and photographing trips – I am confident in my ability to identify seabirds from a boat and have photographed most species that I have seen. I am also confident in my ability to identify birds and photograph them well under most circumstances. Worldwide, my wife and I have seen somewhat more than 2,500 species of bird, and several hundred species of mammal.

I was on the committee and then subsequently the Convenor for Birds Australia (Victoria), and then Birdlife Australia. These roles were akin to being on the boards for these organisations and involved developing budgets, funding projects, fundraising through activities and competitions and hosting and speaking at the monthly open meetings.

I have entered and been awarded in numerous Australian and International photographic competitions. I was twice Photographer of the Year at the Melbourne Camera Club and have twice won the Australian Inter-club Portrait Competition. I have also judged club, Australian and International competitions.