I have had an interest in photography for around 20 years with no specific area of interest.  I just loved taking photos.  I started taking much more when I moved to Massachusetts, USA in 2004, everything was new and big.  Every week there were several trips to my local pharmacy to get my film developed.  From then on, photography was a passion.  During my time in the US, I graduated from Long Island University in American History and from Salem State University in American History and Culture.  

When I moved back to Scotland, I continued to take my photos, with taking the majority in landscapes and farming with the majority of it experimenting, getting to know what works and what does not. Fast forward to 2018, I got my first full DSLR with my first proper zoom lens.  I have no qualifications or training in photography or media, however I have plenty experience.  I was always out taking photos, chasing sunsets or combines doing a midnight harvest until the start of 2020.

Photography halted from then with the start of Covid-19 with my main photos of my cats with my phone.  When it was safe to go out places, I was driving past Musselburgh when there was a race on.  I had only ever watched horse racing on tv, never in person.  I then looked for the next fixture, although it was racing behind closed doors.  Thankfully there was a public path that I could watch from a safe distance.  My first fixture was the start of November 2020 and I have never looked back.  I can't say exactly what it is was about that day, watching the horses race and jump, I just knew this was the direction I was going and all my experience was going towards this new passion.  Photography is a great way for me to express myself and has been a great help with my mental health and now combined into horse racing, this is the direction I want, and am being pulled towards.  A positive thing to come out of a global pandemic.  

I have much more improvement to make towards my racing photography and trying to get as much experience in it as I can.  I don't limit with what photos I take, I like to tell the full story of the race and meeting.  I love experimenting with black and white also.  I have only covered Musselburgh, Kelso and Hamilton with living far down the coast in Dunbar, East Lothian.  Hopefully over time I will get to more meetings and try and take some of the many photo ideas in my head.  In-between meetings I am currently doing a bachelor of science degree with the Open University in design and environmental design.

I appreciate all your support you have given me up to and beyond this point.

Claire