Testimonials

Reproduced here are unsolicited comments from customers who have bought my work or a course, and others who have commented on it. The names have been withheld for confidentiality.

Customer and Other Comments

Comment after a 1-to-1 course for 3 days: "These photographs were taken during a very cold weekend in December 2009 in the High Peaks, Derbyshire, during a black and white photography workshop with local landscape photographer Dave Butcher. All the photos are black and white, most taken on my Mamiya 7 medium format 6x7 rangefinder camera (which performed magnificently), some taken with my Leica M6 and Bessa R2C rangefinder 35mm film cameras. I can highly recommend Dave's work and courses. He is a first class photographer with an infectious passion for film and black and white. His tuition in dark room printing was as enjoyable and useful as taking the photos with him." NdM, London, 23 December 2009

"Thanks for the picture - it's lovely." SP, Oxfordshire, 13 November 2009

"Dear Dave, just a short note to thank you and congratulate you on an excellent course yesterday. I thoroughly enjoyed it and truly learnt a lot. It has been a long time since I worked in a dark room. The last time would be in the 1970's when I was working in Canada. Wonderful.I have spent all morning searching for the below lens filter kit. Nobody seemed to have it. Eventually I found a firm called Second Hand Darkroom and they have it. I would be very keen to hire your services to do a 2 day course, part of the time learning more about printing and the other part on finishing photos, i.e.mounting, retouching blemishes, getting photos ready to frame, etc. If this is of interest to you I would try to find 2 companions. Also is your lake district course suitable for old men with vertigo and younger men who only take digital photos? My son and I could be interested. Once again thank you for yesterday. I will now go on your website and print off the printing notes. Best wishes." CB, Bradford, 8 November 2009

"Hi Dave and Jan, just wanted to say thanks again for a superb day. The company was superb, locations inspiring and the level of support exactly what I was looking for. Have I said superb day? I think Dave was right, I do need some new kit; a carbon fibre tripod and a medium format film camera.  I will be down at my local camera shop next week for a few rolls of FP4 and dusting off my Canon EOS 300 for my next outing.  Might need to ask your recommendation though for somewhere that can process the film and provide me with high-res scans as I have no such facilities at the moment. Just about to check the memory card (and back the RAW files up - after losing 2 years worth of images last week I'm being ultra cautious!) and will hopefully find a couple fit for your blog! Thanks again, I shall definitely be recommending you to the "Flickr 21"! DW, Leeds, 9 October 2009

"At a homes show in Chester last year..the photographs brought me to tears! If possible can the image reach me for the 17th October as it is a present for my husband. Hopefully he'll find it a beautiful memory of our time living near the peaks; a view to enjoy everyday!" JJ, Leigh-on-Sea, 1 October 2009

"Thank you for a great day last week in the darkroom. I really enjoyed it and learnt a lot. I loved seeing your photographs on the walls and now have 'Sandwood Bay' on mine! An inspiration. Thanks also to Jan for looking after us. You both make a great team and I can't recommend you highly enough. If you are ever in Sutherland please give a call. P.S. I love reading your blog about the Munro's and photos." CM, Bonar Bridge, 22 September 2009

"I just wanted to thank you both for an excellent day yesterday. My wife and daughter were blown away by the print of the Venice mask, not a normal reaction to my prints and I am now sold on the split grade technique. I hope to see you again sometime in the future." MB, Chilbolton, 13 March 2009

"The pictures arrived safely today. We are very impressed with the packaging but more importantly we think that the photos are fantastic! Thank you very much for turning them around so quickly. We are looking forward to meeting you when you come to Henley upon Thames in May. Please could you send us details of this event when you know." TC & GC, Purley, 17 February 2009

"Thank you so much for coming to York and giving us your presentation on Wednesday. I think I can speak for all our members when I say how much we enjoyed seeing your super pictures - even the colour workers (me included) found them stunning. I hope you also felt our appreciation." PR, York PS, 17 October 2008

"Thank you for letting us use your magnificent photographs in our magazine story. I also include your web site address to give readers further education on black and white photography. Your web pages are exceptionally informative." MM, Finland, 11 September 2008

"Love the pictures, and the website. Many of the places you have covered are special to us. As I said, New York, San Francisco and Yosemite are particularly familiar, but we lived in Paris for a year and actually went to a wedding at The Breakers! It was a pleasure chatting to you on Saturday. Best wishes for continued success with your venture." BK, Harpenden, 1 September 2008

 "I just wanted to say thank you for getting the picture to me so quickly last week. The photo looks great, I'm very pleased with it. Many thanks." SR, London, 11 August 2008

"Good to meet you both last Saturday. Enjoyed the exhibition and now enjoying the book. Good luck with this project." TE, Derby, 7 June 2008

"Thanks so much for coming to Cambridge Camera Club on Monday and sharing your 'Magnificent Monochrome' with us. The Members obviously greatly enjoyed your presentation - it was great to have the places that you photographed identified for one thing and to have such a wide range of places. There was definitely something for everyone and, as we have a fair smattering of monochrome workers and mountain lovers, some Members were particularly happy." AM, Cambridge, 13 April 2008

"Received your book a while ago - should have thanked you for it then. Better late than never, so many thanks. Just seen your exhibition at Buxton Museum which is great. Seeing those images at a much bigger size really brings them out. Particularly impressed with the printing too, superb." PT, Matlock, 8 March 2008

"It's so inspiring to see how much you have developed in the 3 years since we met! Lovely work, sensitive and evocative. Great stuff David - got your Peak Light today - great thank you." IKK & JKK, Earl Sterndale, March 2008

"Really enjoyed the exhibition, great to see quality work!" AC, Colne, March 2008

"Dramatic views of the Peaks, excellent." CS, Newcastle, March 2008

"Good show. Not John Blakemore, not Paul Hill but a style of your own." RN, Belper, March 2008

"I wish I could buy them all! They're beautiful." VM, Edinburgh, February 2008

"Breathtaking views." GM, USA, February 2008

"Wonderful, dramatic landscapes." AO, Matlock, February 2008

"Brooding drama in a lot of my favourite places." BN, Edale, February 2008

"Excellent. Well worth the drive from the south." MM, Overseal, February 2008

"Great trees - very imaginative! Derwent Torrent is brilliant. I really enjoyed this lovely exhibition. Thanks." AD & SD, Chesterfield, February 2008

"Lone Tree 1 is Best in Show! Fab B&W images." DG, Buxton, February 2008

"You have captured Derbyshire at its best." MC, Richmond, February 2008

"Stunning compositions, love Lone Tree, great photos, very evocative - black and white is so effective." SH, Liss, February 2008

"Well printed and excellent exhibition, well done." MH, Macclesfield, January 2008

"I was inspired and uplifted by some of these photographs, reminding me of Ansel Adams. Too bad there were no technical details." BB, Lambourn, January 2008

"Thanks for the B&W images of our beautiful surroundings and all the moments captured." JA, Biddulph, January 2008

"Beautiful photos - the tree series is stunning! Love it." KN, Rugby, January 2008

"Love the shot of Stanton Moor - one of my favourite spots!" EH, Cardiff, January 2008

"Beautiful, particularly Lone Trees." AH, Matlock, January 2008

"Your work inspired me to take up photography again after a break of many years. Now I am thinking of going pro. Many thanks." IP, Buxton, January 2008

"Wonderful exhibition. Stunning." LH, Leek, January 2008

"Some phenomenal work!" SB, Buxton, January 2008

"Excellent exhibition - some stunning scenery." SC, Sheffield, January 2008

"Stunning, a good example of traditional B&W photography by an expert." BB, Nottingham, January 2008

"Just great to come and view such wonderful work expertly produced in the traditional way." TF, Ashbourne, january 2008

"First class composition and technical ability - gives others a view as to how good photography and processing can be if done by an expert. Maybe one day digital could be this good? I'd be happy to be half as good." JG, Edale, January 2008

"Outstanding shots of scenes." RJ, Derby, January 2008

"Superb." HL, Buxton, January 2008

"Stunning photos." JH, Aylesbury, January 2008

"Wonderful photos. Textures are amazing." GF, Prestbury, January 2008

"The stamps of winter passage are very suggestive." NT, Naples. January 2008

"Brilliant - hope to see much more in years to come." KS, Buxton, January 2008

"Tres belle! Surtout les arbres!" KH, Manchester, January 2008

"Beautiful photos - just my scenes! Now own the book - great!" SC, Buxton, January 2008

"Inspirational!" SR, Buxton, January 2008

"Great exhibiiton of stunning landscapes." EW, Longnor, January 2008

"Continue to inspire." RW, Alsager, January 2008

"What a talent. Love Snowy Trees and the Lone Trees series. Wonderful Dave." PT & NT, Buxton, January 2008

"Wonderful exhibition. Very well presented." CN & PN, South Darley, January 2008

"Nice to see the large prints! Great stuff." MH, Sheffield, January 2008

"Emotive work, well done." RD, West Bromwich, January 2008

"A brilliant exhibition. An inspiration to us all." JE, Sheffield, January 2008

"A magnificent collection." VJ, Sheffield, January 2008

"Wonderful inspiring work." GH, Cheadle Hulme, January 2008

"Just to let you know that my print arrived safe and sound this week, in plenty of time for me to find a frame before my mother's ordination. It looks great and I am sure Mum will be thrilled with it. Next time we are back in the area we will no doubt pop in to see your gallery." RD, Kendal, 13 June 2007

"I have just recently visited your Black and White Fine Art page and I must say that I am thoroughly impressed. Your landscape photos are simply breathtaking." MK, USA, 7 June 2007

"Dave, Many thanks for the thoroughly enjoyable and motivating course that you and Jan did for us." NG, Wigan, 30 April 2007

"Would just like to say I have been looking at your landscape photography and found it to be a fantastic web site. I myself prefer black and white photography and in the last 6 months have really got back into it. Very nice to see your black and white landscape photography. Keep up the good work." JH, London, 24 April 2007

"Having spent a very inspiring lunch break in the exhibition in the crescent (Buxton), I decided to look at your web-site. Wonderful. I could sit and look at the pictures all night." NM, Buxton, 19 April 2007

"Your work is truly beautiful, Dave. Thank you for seeing the world the way that you do, and making these images available." JD email, 13 April 2007

"Hi, Dave -- Your work is exquisite! Thank you for getting out there and seeing what you have, in the way you have!" JD email, 3 April 2007

"I just took a look at your website. I am deeply impressed!! Beautiful. I am a little bit jealous I must admit for I would love to be able to make such beautiful and powerful pictures. I recently joined a little photoclub myself to improve my skills but I see now…..I have a long way to go!!" JB, Netherlands, 7 February 2007

"Thank you very much for coming and giving my group such an interesting Masterclass this afternoon. They all really enjoyed it and were obviously pleased with their results." AF, Sheffield, 15 November 2006

"Please let me say how taken I was by the artwork which you had displayed at the Newmarket Art and Craft Fair at the weekend. I am a fan of black and white photography, but absolutely fell in love with a couple of your shots.", OC, Cambridge, 6 November 2006

"The B&W print of Chelmorton Fields arrived this morning in the post. It is absolutely beautiful, an even more exquisite image than I'd remembered from your stand at the NEC. I am very much looking forward to having it framed and mounted over here in Brussels. It is a beautiful slice of English countryside which I hope to treasure for a very long time." MF, Brussels, 30 October 2006

"Thanks for the photo Dave. It arrived safely a few days ago. Very ingenious packaging. I had a look at your website. It's impressive; I like the photo from Snowdon looking south, with all the cloud." DE, London, 21 August 2006

"Many thanks - pictures received and I am very pleased with them." GQ, Sussex, 14 June 2006

"Many thanks for two tree pics. They are, both lovely - naturally! - and very atmospheric. I particularly like the snowy trees, as it invites me in to walk through the trees. I actually moved in the chair!! Remote control by suggestion!" LM, Croydon, 1 June 2006

"I came across your photographs last weekend in a gallery in Buxton. I was blown away by them and ended up coming home with a framed 'Solomons Temple'. Such a stunning image. I have since looked at your web site and have been very impressed by your work - it is something to aspire to." - DP, Stockport, 17 May 2006

"I saw your stand at Buxton Pavilion some weeks ago and fell in love with one of your images but couldn't get back to the stand to talk with you again. I was remarking about your images being the first I'd seen which had a certain Ansel Adams-ish feel about them. ....most of all THANKS for such wonderful work. I found it so enjoyable to see such quality images and the Derbyshire images have finally confirmed what I always suspected. That given high resolution, the right time and place in Derbyshire, in the right hands, and the results can match the power of Ansels' USA work. I love telling people to check you out." AR, Derbyshire, 10 April 2006

"Just received the photo. My friend and I are very pleased with it. Thank you." - SC, Northampton, 6 April 2006

"I would just like to say that I strongly admire your images and the way you apply your knowledge and skills in the darkroom to great effect. Your visit [to my University] has had a big effect on me and straight after I wanted to jump right back into the traditional black and white process. ....again thank you for having such an influence on me." - DL, Stoke-on-Trent, 27 March 2006

"Good news - the pictures eventually arrived on Saturday. I don't know why it took so long (French postal system!! Ed.). Anyway, they are great and will still be used as a Xmas present even if a bit late..." - BR, France, 2 January 2006

"Your photo arrived safely. Its great." - KS, Reading, 1 December 2005

"I would like to thank you for the very nice book. I have to say that there are very nice pictures in it. You are really a high sophisticated photographer, a virtuoso." - TL, Germany, 2 November 2005

"They (6 large prints - Ed.) are all hung and they look superb. Many thanks again." - AH, USA, 24 October 2005

"Just a note to say how delighted I was to meet you again last night at Lytham, and I hope that your return journey was OK. Your images, as always, are brilliant - and it is lovely to see them all - all skillfully presented and you have had many an enjoyable day actually taking them I suspect - even if it means running across heavy snow! Good luck with all your endeavours." HG, Lytham St Annes, 21 Oct 2005

"I came across your site almost by accident. But I have to say, I am most impressed by it. I have always had a fondness for two things: B&W photography and Ski-mountaineering. Your pics are great! Its great to see work of this type in the digital age. I still maintain, there is a certain "something" about a classic B&W print- digital doesn't come close IMO! Ansel Adams showed this - I think it is great that people like yourself are continuing in this vein." - JW, Scotland, 22 September 2005

"I have been looking at your great website and I can say that it's one of the best landscape photography websites I have seen so far! Truly inspiring landscape work." - PP, Ireland, 17 August 2005

"Just to confirm that we received the print on Saturday - it's beautiful. Thank you so much." - HG, Birmingham, 15 August 2005

"Thank you very much for your gift to the Library of your book 'High Light'. It is a magnificent work in its field, and a most helpful guide to me personally as I travel to Switzerland next week for a holiday and hope to ascend the peaks around Chamonix! This will be by cable car I'm afraid to admit, but with camera in hand. Thank you for thinking of College in this way, and may 'High Light' become an essential addition to every photographers reference collection." - TB, Churchill College, Cambridge, 28 July 2005

"My printing 'style' was inspired by Alec Perlman and, later and inevitably, Ansel Adams. After 50 years of black and white photography, your genuinely inspirational book has made me reevaluate my printing preferences! I shall certainly explore the wonders of grades 4 and 5!!" - HK, Cornwall, 21 July 2005

I have been inspired by the wonderful photos you have produced and for the technical details and other techniques you have given (in 'High Light')." - GH, North Yorkshire, 9 July 2005

"Can you please pass my thanks on to Dave for the book, it's brilliant." - VM, Huddersfield, 6 June 2005

"I am delighted with your book of landscapes. A very fine selection of shots which reflect your love of mountains. Your printers have done you proud too!" - FP, London, 25 May 2005

"Very many thanks for the book. It is absolutely fantastic and the photos are stunning." - PJ, St Lucia, 28 May 2005

"Received the book - thank you very much it is filled with great photos. I used to be a Mountain guide up in Scotland and wish I had used b/w while I was out, am certainly inspired to do more in future. Thanks again." - DR, Cornwall, 25 May 2005

"I know today your web-site....very interesting and impressive works! I am architect in Lisbon and the photography is also a passion. Best regards from Portugal." - OG, Portugal, 18 April 2005

"The photos are fantastic thanks very much. We had a great week in Saas Fee, 4 days sunshine and then some fresh snow. I shall get them framed this weekend." - PB, The Netherlands, 12 April 2005

If you would like a comment included here just send an email to: mono@davebutcher.co.uk