Hi, I’m Grey O’Dwyer
I’m an adventure photographer, fell running addict, and bang average rock climber based in Kendal, on the edge of the English Lake District.
Over the years, I’ve focused much of my photography on the lives and landscapes of this wonderfully rugged part of the world; building a comprehensive collection of photographs covering all 214 Wainwright ‘fells’, the term used to describe the Lake District’s small mountains. Some of these images are featured throughout this website, while others have appeared in, guidebooks, other publications, or as fine-art prints.
Beyond the fells, I’m drawn to the European Alps of Austria and Slovenia alongside street photography across cities such as Vienna, Playa del Carmen, and Ljubljana.
I am also a member of the Outdoor Writer and Photographers Guild. You can view my profile here.
Life
At heart my primary photographic interests blend adventure, landscape, and street photography, whereby I use human subjects to give scale, provide a focal point in an image, and introduce a vain of narrative into my work. Where are they going? What have they overcome to be there at that point in time? Are they nearing the top or beginning the descent? My Life gallery is home to some of these images.
My secondary interests centre around more conventional landscape images of the Lake District, with local artists often using these to draw from. Away from the Lake District I find great joy in street photography, primarily in Austria and Mexico where I often travel to visit family. I also enjoy recording the wonderful street art across Mexico whenever I’m in this wonderful country.
Photographic Approach
Coming from a fell running and rock climbing background, I naturally blend these passions into how I approach photography. Most of the time, I head out for a few hours when the light looks promising, carrying just one camera, a single zoom or a couple of small primes, a lightweight fell running pack, and a few snacks. I don’t move quite as quickly as I would without a camera, but the setup lets me travel from valley to summit at a good pace — and with modern image stabilisation, I can happily shoot handheld at what are, frankly, ridiculous shutter speeds. Now and then, I’ll plan a longer day out and switch to a more traditional landscape or hiking setup, with two cameras and a selection of lenses. But truth be told, I much prefer the simplicity and freedom of my fast-and-light approach.
Camera Gear
When it comes to gear, I have no brand loyalty and I switch between different setups depending on what I’m shooting. Cameras are, ultimately, tools for a job. On days when image quality takes priority, I carry a full-frame Nikon Z7 or Z6. For more technical terrain, the rock faces, gullies, and ridges of the Lake District, I use an OM System OM-5. It’s compact, but the ridiculously sharp OM lenses never fail to impress. When I’m out fell running or rock climbing, I’ll often reach for a tiny Fujifilm XF10. It somehow fits an APS-C sensor inside, has a fantastic prime lens attached, and is barely bigger than a pack of cards. I also keep some older Canon EF-M gear in the van (M6ii, M200). It’s nothing fancy, but it means I’m always ready to shoot, even on days when I didn’t set out with photography in mind. And yes, I probably have too much gear.
Current Projects
Alongside the images that find their way into my portfolios there are three broad projects that I’m currently working on.
One: the shooting of 120 fells across the Lake District for a new edition of Great Mountain Days. Mark Richards is the original author of this highly popular guide book, but in my capacity as a photographer, I am presently working with Mark and Cicerone Press as part of a major update to the work, and as co-author of this second edition.
Second: a longer term project is a collection of images of all 214 Wainwright fells which I’m shooting over the course of 2023-2026. I aim to publish this collection soon afterwards.
Third: a set of images that offer an extensive photographic tour of the Bob Graham Round, a classic Lake District fell running challenge of 66 miles, taking in 42 summits across the National Park, that has a time limit of 24 hours.
Collaboration and Prints
Although I’m based in the Lake District, I don’t tend to sell many prints directly through my website.
Most of my work finds its way to local artists, guidebook writers, and publishers who use my images for their projects. If you’re interested in collaborating or licensing photography, please feel free to get in touch, or drop me a message on Instagram. I’m always happy to chat about potential projects and would genuinely love to hear from you.
If you’d like to purchase a print of any image, I can arrange this on a low-volume basis. I’ve sold plenty of prints over the years, but the admin side, sorting emails and print orders, tends to keep me behind a desk rather than out on the crags and fells. And honestly, I know which I’d rather be doing, see you on the fells!
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