You can't expect to take a definitive image in half an hour. It takes days, often years.

I don’t get wrapped up in technique and the like. I have a simple rule and that is to spend as much time in the location as possible. You can’t expect to take a definitive image in half an hour. It takes days, often years. And in fact I don’t believe there is such a thing as a definitive picture of something. The land is a living, breathing thing and light changes its character every second of every day. That’s why I love it so much.

But I was, and still am, an avid reader and so when I first started I chose to photograph many of the great writers in this country to try and earn a living.

I had been working in colour for ten years or so and looked at digital and liked the possibilities it gave me.

Born Berlin 1931, Germany, father a British diplomat, mother an American artist. Educated at various schools all over the world. 1958 Settled down to live in London. 1966 Became interested in photography through photographing my young children. No formal training.

You can't expect to take a definitive image in half an hour. It takes days, often years.

Look at lots of exhibitions and books, and don't get hung up on cameras and technical things. Photography is about images.