I live in the North East of England and have been a photographer for over 20 years. I initially became interested in photography to capture the memories of each location I visit. I loved the pictures that Joe Cornish took and wanted to take similar pictures but with my own twist.

I never formally studied photography. I am self-taught using research, trial and error with some help from my great friend David Bond.

It was a shot of Buttermere. I was over the moon with it, a flat surface on a dull day. Looking back, the picture was awful.

I currently use a Nikon D750, Kase filter system, Formatt Hitech filters, Nikon 50mm, Nikon 24-120mm, Irix 15mm.

I hope to achieve improvements on my photography and new ways of taking pictures, pushing the envelope outside of my comfort zone and trying new branches of photography.

I am not good with reacting to compliments, being too much of a self-critic but I had a picture printed and framed to go over my mantelpiece. I had to pick it up at lunchtime and have it in the office prior to taking it home. A colleague exclaimed how much they loved the picture and whether they could buy it from me. I sold it within hours of picking it up so had to arrange another print.

What inspires me is being with nature, being in the wild, away from mobile phones, mortgages, phone calls etc. Forgetting about the woes of modern life and remembering the good times, especially with my pal who is no longer with me. We would spend ages trying to get the perfect shot but the weather was never on our side - it was a running joke.

Clean, natural, colorful.

There is a lot of competition with landscape photography these days. Never easy to stand out amongst such superb amateur photographers. I don't enter a lot of competitions so to win this means a heck of a lot, and to get Gold is just a brilliant feeling!

I am proud of my home region. I wanted to show nature matched with some future technology at a place steeped in history. I decided to visit a place called North Gare on the North East coast which was close to the famous blast furnace in Redcar, now closed. I wanted to emphasise the waves and make them look bigger next to the offshore windfarm. I crouched low to the water surface with a telephoto lens and waited for the sun to appear. I took this shot shortly before I became drenched by a wave.

It gets me noticed for what I'm proud to do. A career in landscape photography is difficult but it will help me explore other photographic avenues.

Joe Cornish.

My friend David Bond who took some amazing pictures in Yugoslavia during the war.

Nigel Danson.

Concentrate on framing the shot first.

Don't expect fantastic shots straight away, it can be a confidence knock but take your time and learn from your mistakes.

Rather than feeling down because the photographs you took weren't that good, look at them and find the reason why. It may have been weather, the location or the settings but use it in the positive. Remember, even the professionals will take the odd bad shot, they just will never show them.

Technology is always improving and new techniques come with it. Don't let it intrude but know that it is there to call on when you need it.

To those who are nervous about showing their photos, show them off. Be proud. The more you take, the better you get. Take criticism as a positive and improve. It really does work. Even if the weather/location turns out not to be ideal, just be with nature.