Biography : the Story So Far
With an Hons. degree in Electrical Engineering (Nottingham University) John spent some 13 years as a design engineer, programmer and consultant with Elliott-Automation, Vaughan Programming Services and Warren Point Limited. He worked on a number of technically challenging projects including the Concorde autopilot and multi-computer defence systems, as well as a variety of process control and automatic test systems. Later he also became involved in PR and technical journalism.
In parallel with the engineering career, photography was an increasingly important hobby, and John moved on to form his own company – Diafade Limited – to design and manufacture a range of slide-projector control systems for serious amateur photographers and enthusiasts, and to provide professional audio-visual (AV) programming services, including photography and scriptwriting. The hardware production eventually ceased when the growth of low-cost video had its inevitable effect on the slide/tape market.
The company's AV Production services developed to include technical writing and newsletter and brochure design; all this work transferred to the then-new Apple Macintosh in 1987. John went on to adopt and learn a broad range of software for brochure and website design, illustration and graphics, and also developed considerable expertise in Database Publishing – the design and maintenance of relational databases for publishing applications.
After 30 hard-working and mostly enjoyable years John closed the company at the end of 2007, choosing to work as a freelance writer and designer. As well as photography, personal interests include fine art, classical music, jazz, rail travel, cycling, and hiking in the English Lake District and overseas. He is a Member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (MIET) and an Associate of the Royal Photographic Society (ARPS).
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