I was awarded the "Observer Outdoor Photographer of the Year" for this dramatic shot of Norwegian mountain guide Andreas Haslestad hacking out of a crevasse in Norway. Commissioned by Sprayway.

The war photographer and founding member of Magnum, Robert Capa, once said “if your pictures aren’t good enough, you aren’t close enough” I had that adage in mind when I took this photograph of the telemark maestro Andreas Haslestad on location in Norway 🇳🇴 for Sprayway clothing. I wanted to get in close with a wide angle lens and feel the action, rather than observe from the sidelines through a long lens. This image was shot on film, there was no digital imaging in 1997! Seems remarkable now, I only made a few exposures, obviously no instant playback or review, but it worked.

Arguably a stronger and more evocative image... but the product has gone. I sometimes think that what is not there is more interesting, more intriguing, it keeps you guessing and imagining. The fleeting, the past, the ephemeral... the anticipation... A serendipitous moment, the beauty of photography.

And this is how the ad appeared. We had to use a vertical format shot to fit the page layout - should have done a double page spread!

My professional photographic career spans four decades, I have been commissioned to photograph small delicate items in the studio and gnarly outdoor types on rock faces in Norway and pretty much everything in between! Some of my finest work has been given a new lease of life recently and this shot for Sprayway is amongst my favourites. Taken in 1997 whilst trekking across the Nigardsbreen Glacier in Norway 🇳🇴 Authentic and rugged; jacket and model working well.

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