FOTOCRAFT IMAGES

Paul Heaton is a Yorkshire based landscape photographer with a special interest in the Yorkshire Dales.

Paul has taken photographs for over 20 years. In 2003 he decided to turn this hobby into a profession. He has since established a successful business marketing mounted and framed prints of his photographs as well as greeting cards of his images through craft fairs and his web site.

One of the inspiring features of the Yorkshire landscape is the way its appearance changes in different seasons and light. A particular view may look completely different bathed in summer sunlight and blanketed in snow. Paul spends time scouting locations and thinking about what conditions will show them to best advantage. He will then return, often more than once, until he captures a scene in the best possible light. This often involves getting up early, to take advantage of dawn and early morning light, or waiting until sunset, or sometimes even later.

Until 2005 Paul captured all his images on slide film, normally using Fujichrome Velvia. Paul has now started to capture some of his images digitally, using a Canon EOS 20D camera and good quality Canon lenses. Paul finds that one of the most useful items of equipment he uses is his tripod. It not only provides a firm platform to assist in maximising the sharpness of his images, but also slows down the picture taking process. This allows Paul to think carefully about what to include in the frame and, equally important, what to leave out.

Lynn Heaton began making handmade cards in the late 1990's when she was living in Saudi Arabia. There was a very poor selection of greeting cards available in Saudi shops at that time, but an excellent craft shop close to home. Lynn began making cards to send to friends and family and soon after people who had seen her cards asked her to make cards for them.

After returning to live in the the UK, Lynn continued making cards. Paul and Lynn decided to combine their interests in one business venture and Fotocraft Images was born.