South Devon Photography by Ivybridge Photographer Mark Coombs

Mini Bio

I was born in Plymouth, Devon, England in 1963. At the age of 16 I joined the Royal Air Force and spent the next 25 years working and living in the UK and overseas. I have been fortunate to see most of Europe, parts of the Middle East, a small amount of the USA and Canada, Central America, some of North Africa, some the Mediterranean countries and a few other places. Unfortunately I wasn't seriously in to photography until recently so I've missed out on a lot of fantastic images. Still I've got my memories, for now, I think!

I first started taking photographs at the age of 14 but packed it in at the age of 19 when I went to work and live in Berlin for 3 years on my first overseas tour with the the Royal Air Force. It is only in the last 5 years that my interest in photography has resurfaced after taking up a College course in 2002 and it's only since May 2007 that I have shown my images publicly.

My main interest is landscape and seascape photography. This subject provides both joy and frustration. I have travelled and walked miles in pursuit of the ideal scene only to find once I’d found it the weather or some other element has changed and made the view not as photogenic as I had wished for. And there has been times when I have been at the right place at the right time but still come back with some duff photographs because I haven’t been in the right frame of mind and not concentrated on what I was doing. But even if my effort doesn't produce an image worthy of anything more than a wry smile it's always worthwhile because I would have learnt something from my efforts and I'd have spent some time outside in the fresh air. I would like to take a lot more seascapes which I'm sure will bring me the same hurdles as landscapes.

I have recently returned to Devon and now live in Ivybridge. I'm home and it feels good. I have a wonderful teenage daughter whom I'm very proud of and have to thank for her assistance, patience and company in taking a lot of these photographs. Thank you Jessica you're an angel.