I had no aspirations to become a landscape photographer at all. In fact it was portraiture that was my beginning, I suppose. I have always been a very keen walker, though, and I often took a camera with me on my walks. 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.

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

I have always loved reading, so was interested in the literary world, and took many literary portraits.

I hardly teach. It's more like a gathering of minds looking at one subject and learning from each other. I enjoy the process.

I like photographs which leave something to the imagination.

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.

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.