Andy Collier


Premium (World), Portsmouth
[fc-user:784358]

About me

Always an enthustic amateur photographer, after 12 years in submarines I transferred to the Royal Navy's photographic branch and did it full time for 10 years, the best move I ever made!

Had a wonderfully enjoyable time photographing all sorts of things from studio portraits of senior officers to air to air photography and reportage.

Spent 3 years working for the United Nations as the resident photographer in Iraq before leaving to become first a photographer and then a CSI for Hampshire police.

I have been fortunate enough to have had the use of a number of different, now older, cameras over the years from my first little OM1, the beautifully crafted Linhof Technika 45, Hasselblads & Nikons as used by the Navy, including the cumbersome gyro-stabilised F3's fitted with the Nikkor 300mm 2.8 and 250 film back which we used for aerial intel work and which used to seriously fight you when the helicopters were manoevering. I currently use a Nikon D5300 at work, which is quite a good little camera, all things considered. All of my pictures are as they left the camera as I do not know one end of Photoshop from the other! Maybe one day when I have the time.

I have a small collection of old cameras I like to use now and again including a battered but indestructable Mamiya RB67, a widelux F5, a Nikonos 5, (which sadly sees very little use these days), an OM4 and my trusty old OM1. I would love to get my hands on an XPAN but I just can't justify the cost at the moment.

Although I find time is tight these days, I still have a great passion for photography and find it a wonderful way to unwind, but I have to say that I have been totally blown away by some of the stunning images on this site. Technical ability is great to have, but there really is no substitute for having a good eye for a photograph and there are some incredibly talented people showing here and I love when you see fantastic images that have not been 'Photoshopped'!

You really are never too old to learn in this game!

Comments 17

  • Canan Oner 08/03/2010 11:58

    Thanks a lot Andy !!!
    Have a nice week,
    Canan
  • Canan Oner 15/12/2009 21:44

    Wishing you all the best!
    Canan
  • SophiaK 14/12/2009 19:40

    Thank you for your comment!
  • Canan Oner 29/11/2009 9:26

    Thank you so much Andy...
    Have a nice Sunday ...
    Canan
  • Andy Boardman 30/09/2009 11:17

    Thank you for you're comment Andy, I would have loved to have got closer to the aircraft and walked around them but we were all kept at a distance by a fence. No VIP pass lol.

    Regards Andy.
  • Buhler Sofie 10/09/2009 14:04

    thank you for your comment!
    BuTtErFlY
    BuTtErFlY
    Buhler Sofie
  • Ewa Canada 09/09/2009 3:20

    Andy thank you again:) Comments like yours encourage me:)
  • Ewa Canada 08/09/2009 1:30

    Hi Andy,
    Thank you for visiting my site and posting a comment. It is greatly appreciated.
  • weggi 27/08/2009 8:07

    overlook2
    overlook2
    weggi
    dear andy
    strong words that make me happy, thank you very much for the visit!
    with kind regardings, weggi
  • SteffenT 26/08/2009 20:23

    Thanks for your comment, which I really appreciate from someone with your background!

    Regards
  • John Willems 21/05/2009 5:28

    PRESENTLY BEING VOTED

    Thanks Andy for all Your nice comments on my photographs.
    I’am proud that my image CitySCENE (below) has been recommended for the Gallery by Bertold Klammer.
    Maybe I can also obtain my FIRST star in the Gallery thanks You (or Your friends) and if You want.
    Everyone can vote this image on this moment (within 24 hours) on http://www.fotocommunity.com:80/pc/vote/display/16698851
    Presently being voted for:
    CitySCENE.
    CitySCENE.
    John Willems

    /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
    Thanks again to everyone from John Willems.
  • weggi 23/04/2009 12:28

    dear andy
    thanks a lot for your nice comment!
    much greetings, weggi
  • Fatima Al-Halwachi 22/04/2009 20:33

    Thank you very much for the comment Andy,

    I value your opinion greatly.

    Keep in touch

    Fatima

    Traditional Wedding in Bahrain
    Traditional Wedding in Bahrain
    Fatima Al-Halwachi

  • Fons van Swaal 26/03/2009 13:42


    Thanks a lot Andy , your comment is much appreciated...;-))
    Greetings,
    F...
  • Jacqueline Chay 21/03/2009 1:29

    Hi Andy, Thank you so very much for you comment on my picture's. I appreciate it. WoW what a wealth of experience you have and how very lucky to have such a wonderful photographic career. I am sorry to say i have only take up the art since the advent of the digital SLR and i love it - i am mainly self taught but wish i had more technical knowledge, still im learning every day. Best Regards from Australia
    Jackie
    Mirage
    Mirage
    Jacqueline Chay

    PS I am originally from Kent in UK and all my family are still living there.
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