Martin Smith

I was born in Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire in 1954, but I have lived for most of life in Llandeilo. Like many, my interest in photography started with the gift of a camera, in my case a Kodak Brownie when I was ten years old.

Armed with this shiny new toy and a roll of b&w film I went to the local agricultural show where I photographed all of the bulls on show! When the prints of my first photo expedition came back , my father was somewhat annoyed to see staring from each frame either a Friesian, Welsh Black or Hereford bull. Thank goodness he had a sense of humour and saw the funny side.

Over the years I have used a range of photographic equipment from Miranda and Yashica 35mm to Mamiya 645 and 330F medium format cameras - always keen to learn whilst having a great deal of fun. My first autofocus camera was the Minolta 7000i, followed shortly after by a Minolta 9000 body along with a variety of lenses. Both these cameras were a revelation and transformed my interest in photography. My first departure from film was with a compact and this was my launchpad into the hugely exciting digital world. I now use Sony mirrorless cameras with a wide range of lenses.

I have an interest in a range of photographic subjects, with a particular interest in producing quirky or surreal images which hopefully raise a smile and are taken primarily in my small tabletop studio.