Profile

Martin Priestley is an award-winning landscape photographer based in the heart of West Yorkshire, UK. His work is driven by an appreciation for strong composition and the quality of natural light—especially the rich, shifting tones of dawn and dusk. These fleeting moments, when the landscape is at its most atmospheric, lie at the heart of his photographic vision.

Martin's love for photography grew naturally from a passion for hiking, cycling, and spending time in the countryside. In the early days—when digital photography was in its infancy—he began shooting with 35mm film cameras, later moving on to medium format. As his interest deepened, Martin took several photography courses and eventually enrolled on a degree program at Harrogate College (which was a campus of Leeds Metropolitan University at that time). There, he learned to develop film and work in darkrooms—skills that gave him a strong technical foundation and a lasting respect for the craft.

Martin's shift to digital photography began with a Fujifilm S5000. By today’s standards, it was a very basic camera—just 3 megapixels, only two ISO settings (200 and 400), and a lens that was both soft and prone to colour fringing. But despite these limitations, it was with this camera that one of his photographs was first published in a magazine—a small but significant milestone in his journey to becoming a professional landscape photographer.

Since then, he has gained two decades of experience and owned at least nine different Canon DSLR and mirrorless models. He now shoots primarily with a Canon R5 and a selection of Canon RF lenses.

Over the years, Martin's work has been widely published and recognized with a number of national and international awards. His portfolio reflects an ongoing pursuit of beauty in the everyday—from brooding moorlands and ancient woodlands to crumbling ruins and quiet, hidden valleys. Each image is shaped by light, weather, and the enduring character of the landscape.

The British countryside continues to be his greatest source of inspiration. Its diversity and grandeur mean that a striking new vista is never far away. Whether he's chasing morning mist through a silent forest or waiting for golden light on a windswept headland, his photography is a celebration of place, patience, and the timeless power of nature.

As well as print sales, some of Martin's work is also available for commercial use on stock image websites. For more information, click on the links for Alamy or Getty.