About Mountain Images

Mountain Images

Today Mountain Images publishes well in excess of 200 prints, and are always looking for ways to expand and develop the range. All new prints are considered and then selected for publication with the same care as "Ben Nevis in Winter Raiment" all those years ago. The most important criteria when making making a selection is that any image must be a genuine representation of the mountain scene exhibiting a similar characteristic use of landscape and light.

Mountain Images are delighted to be able to collaborate with, and publish the work of, Inverness-based mountain photographer Alan Gordon. By combining the portfolios of two of the country's most experienced and respected mountain photographers, Mountain Images are able to provide its customers with the largest on-line collection of specialist photographs of the high mountains of Britain.

The main difference between the prints produced 25 years ago and those of today is the method of production. With the introduction of the very latest print technologies, every print is manufactured individually for each customer, making it a genuinely exclusive and hand-crafted product. At Mountain Images, our prints are made by mountain people for mountain people. Few other businesses can boast such a detailed knowledge of its product range and affinity with its customers. Your custom is highly valued and we take pride in the personal attention and friendly service that we provide to all our customers.

Ian Evans

Ian Evans has an international reputation both as a photographer and as a writer on the mountains of Britain and The Himalaya. Born and educated in Liverpool, he now operates from his base in the small Scottish border town of Lochmaben.

Ian's work and portfolio extends beyond the accepted boundaries of landscape photography. He is a 'mountain man' through and through, never happier than when he is amongst the world's highest mountains - and so his images are taken from that perspective. A sensitive observer of landscape and light, his love for, and his knowledge and understanding of this high mountain environment is reflected in every image.

Ian's photographic skills are self-taught; he learned his craft during an intense and detailed exploration of every corner of what he regards as his 'native' Snowdonia. His influences are the works of W A Poucher, whose black and white guidebooks gave Ian a grounding in mountain form and camera angles, and Galen Rowell whose imaginative and creative use of light was an inspiration to a generation of aspiring mountain photographers.

Over the years, Ian has led or participated in more than 20 expeditions to the Himalaya including visits to Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan, Sikkim, India and Pakistan, during which time he accummulated one of the finest collections of photographs of the world's highest mountains to be found anywhere in the UK.

Ian's images have appeared in many high profile volumes, including 'Wilderness Walks', 'Wild Walks', 'Exploring the Far North West of Scotland', 'On Top of the World', The 'Call of the Corbetts' and 'The Magic of the Munros'. His written work includes articles on the mountains of Scotland, Wales and the Lake District, trekking in the Himalaya and Alpine-style climbing in Nepal.

Between 1975 and 1989, most of Ian's early material was taken in 35mm format using Olympus OM system cameras and lenses which he chose because they were light, compact and simple to use. But as Olympus slowly withdrew this system from the market, Canon EOS became the preferred alternative. Ian moved up to medium format in 1988 and used a variety of systems to produce material supplemental to that from the 35mm Canons. However, by 1999, with the arrival of the stunning panoramic Fuji GX617, this became almost exclusively the camera of choice for all of his work at home and abroad.

With the dawning of the digital era Ian returned to using 35mm; but it was only after performing extensive trials over a two year period on a variety of systems did he decide to make this a permanent change. The camera of choice was, and still is, the Canon EOS 1Ds. All of Ian's current work is now produced exclusively on the 21 mega-pixel Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III which Ian claims is "the only camera that I can safely and comfortably carry high up into the mountains and which will give me the top-line performance that I require for my high quality prints".

Alan Gordon

Alan Gordon lives and works in Inverness, where he enjoys easy access to most of Scotland's finest mountains. He has climbed, walked and photographed them for most of his life.

Alan's photography reflects his passion for high mountains and wild places. Many of his chosen viewpoints are well beyond the reach of the traditional landscape photographer, requiring climbing skills, determination and a high level of fitness and commitment. Taken from many spectacular locations, his images therefore have a powerful impact on the viewer, coveying many of those emotions which only the dedicated mountaineer would experience first hand.

Over the past few years he has successfully published the acclaimed series of Scottish Mountain Calendars, and his images have appeared in a number of well known book titles including 'The Munros - Scotland's Highest Mountains' and 'Wilderness Walks'. His material also appears regularly in many of the Britain's leading outdoor magazines.

Like so many photographers of his generation, Alan also began his photographic career using Olympus OM System cameras and lenses. Indeed, with their lightweight bodies and advanced metering systems, the Olympus OM2 and OM4 cameras were particularly popular with photographers who wished to exploit their creative abilities in more challenging environments.

He later added medium format, first to 6cm x 9cm, and later the visually more powerful format of the Fuji GX617. With the coming of the digital era, Alan has maintained his commitment to obtaining images of only the highest quality, and he now uses the solidly powerful and versatile Nikon D2X.

You can learn more about Alan, and you can also buy his prints, by visiting his own website at www.highlandlight.co.uk