Gunshots had forced us to take cover.  Face down on the jungle floor, I tried to concentrate on keeping my camera running.

I was deep in the Nigerian jungle on the border with Cameroon with one of the anti-poaching teams, protecting Cross River State National Park.  Prior to setting out, the team members had made it very clear to me that the lives of both poachers and protectors were lost regularly in their attempts to protect the many endangered species within the park.  Thankfully on this occasion the situation was dealt with without incurring casualties and we were able to continue on our way.

"You know it is the survival of the fittest. We have a trick of combating and dealing with such. All we rely on most of all is prayer. So we always pray to God before moving out and when...

Thorsten and I had been invited to interview Seal about his upcoming album at the Soho Hotel, London.

We had found Seal to be kind and funny and he had made us feel very welcome.  Once the interview was over, Thorsten and I were preparing to leave, packing up our kit when Seal noticed our additional cameras. It quickly became apparent that the three of us shared a passion for the legendary German camera brand, Leica and we were delighted not to mention a little surprised when he invited us to stay back in his hotel room.  Minutes turned into hours and later Seal's wife Heidi joined us for drinks.

The conversation was fascinating,  focusing on photography and camera technology with Heidi providing intriguing insights into the world of fashion.  Later, Seal invited us t...

I feel privileged to have experienced my 'school of journalism' at The Associated Press (AP).  On any given day, more than half the world’s population sees content from The Associated Press, impressive... 

Working as a producer on the features desk often involved working under pressure, it helped me gain invaluable skills that I continue to use on every shoot.  I also made amazing friends, many of who regularly put themselves at high risk in order to provide us with our daily news reports.  The physical effects are often visible, however some of these camera operators, producers and editors suffer hidden mental distress and I have the deepest respect for them.  I left the AP to become freelance and it was during this time that I received, probably my most challenging assignment to dat...

As we all await the release of the latest Bond film, 'Spectre', I fondly remember my own brush with the famous spy! Invited to test the latest film equipment from Sony, I made my way to the legendary Pinewood Studios. Delighted to be back on site I was straight away on the look out for the famous and the interesting. Passing the food van which was a hive of activity and dodging oncoming golf buggies I soon spotted the unmistakable 007 stage.

The stage was built in 1976 for the Bond movie 'The Spy Who Loved Me' and has since been used in the filming of many high profile films such as Tomb Raider, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the Da Vinci Code.

It was a thrill to see the film location and I was reminded of the time that I visited Golden Eye in Jamaica, the place where Ian Fleming wro...

We were sitting in the Jamaican sun, soaking up the atmosphere when the man we were here to meet appeared.

"This is Hope Road. These are the steps of Hope Road. When you hear someone say 'I am sitting on the steps', these are the steps, you know.  My father, my brothers, friends for years and years we sat here you know, yeah, Hope Road."

Rohan Marley 6th child of the legendary reggae singer and devout Rastafarian Bob, looked every bit the image of his father and I could easily imagine generations of Marley family members sitting on this very spot!

My fellow Associated Press Journalist and I had arranged to interview Rohan as part of a travel and news item that we were filming in Jamaica.  Coffee in hand, Rohan guided us onto an old bus and we headed out into the Blue Mountains. We listened...

The Isle of Skye (The misty Isle) is my temporary home during a break from my work on the cruise ship, Voyager of the Seas.  A stunningly beautiful island off the North West coast of Scotland it attracts visitors from all over the world for much of the year. It was a slight shock to the system after the hustle and bustle of city living, however Skye's gentle yet rugged charms soon cast their spell and I have slowly adjusted to the rhythmic day to day routine of the island and its people.

Everyday activities often require a little more planning.  For instance, an invitation to lunch from our friends Rob and Yvonne involves a choppy boat ride to their isolated croft on the isle of  Scalpay and  it is not unusual for us to arrive dripping from sea spray.

As the island attracts film m...

"Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: Ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man."  John F. Kennedy

Theodore (Ted) Sorensen was chief speech writer and close political advisor to the late John F. Kennedy.  Whilst it was J.F.K who delivered the highly acclaimed speech, Ted Sorensen was the man behind the words and I was about to meet him!

My photographer friend Thorsten had invited me me to Stockholm to film an interview with Ted and I felt very privileged.

Sorensen was instrumental in bringing the Cuban missile crisis to an end when he drafted a letter from J.F.K to the soviet leader, Nikita Khrushchev.  Decades later he was busy supporting Barack Obama in his bid for...

A gorgeous Cook Islands Sunday morning and I set out on a motorbike for some sight seeing in the glorious sunshine. With my small camera slung around my neck I headed out.

It wasn't long before  I came across a group of local people, beautifully clad in traditional dress and I immediately regretted leaving the majority of my camera equipment behind.  The friendly group waved me over and shared their food and drink with me.  It has become very clear to me during my travels that it is the people who make the places and I just loved spending time with these warm and friendly Cook Islanders. Keen to photograph them despite a lack of equipment, I asked them to pose for me In a dark doorway where the light seemed about right.  They look incredibly beautiful, I think.

I now try to...

As for many people today, my working life involves a lot of travel.  At one stage it felt as though airport lounges were home, by any standards though, the journey to Aitutaki, Cook Islands, was epic!  11 hours to LA, a further 8 hours to Rarotonga, an hour in a small plane and finally a bike ride to the guest house. On arrival,  I lay my head wearily on my pillow and sank into a deep sleep.

Opening the window on the first morning my heart skipped a beat.  I was actually in the Bounty advert!  An expanse of deep blue lagoon, mirrored and unbroken, bordered by an expanse of golden sand lay just outside my window.  This incredible place was to be my home for a month whilst I documented the incredible beauty of these Pacific Islands.

The Cook Islands have been the preferre...

"Mum, Who is Tony Curtis?", "Honestly Emma!" 

She quickly enlightened me and I hurried towards Harrods to meet Fox entertainment presenter Neil Sean who would be interviewing the man himself.  We entered a shiny gold lift and on exiting were met by Dodi Fayed and Tony who was wearing a massive cowboy hat.

What a charmer! "Be careful where you put that" he chuckled as I fumbled about In his jacket to put his mic on.  As he playfully held onto my arm and whispered in my ear I got the impression of a real ladies man! 

The interview took about an hour and was a very relaxed affair over a cup of tea.  Tony left the interview and was met by a mass of reporters and photographers,  the charismatic old film star was in his element!