R. W. Billington is a self taught (and proud of it) photographer from the Manchester area who began Photography. To prove his individuality or own identity in the world. A goal everyone seeks from childhood I that can only guess. My childhood was plagued with illness.very bad asthma and associated skin problems which made me a target for tormentors and my only defence was the gift of invisibility and that became my safeguard throughout my childhood years . the years passed and after leaving school I began to get into fitness as a release valve for all the anger and fears grown in child hood and Fitness made me stand out to my peers because of my latent strength .I basically married my first girlfriend because she had given me attention at a sensitive time. After being starved of the affection a young child needs because of my illness. Stunned away, hidden away to save their shame of this sickly child, further more having to live in the shadow of a so called good looking brother which my parents kept making a point of it. But the marriage was ill fated and I soon became a single parent and lost my identity yet again to become only "Phillip’s Dad". i drifted from one marrrage to the next only for all to end with some drama 14 years later the death of Rachel my 4 day old daugther . But I did have the only constant thing to keep me sane , the fitness my release valve. But that to was to be cut short as when reached the age of 40 and was then bad news about a back injury then the doctor then banned me from the fitness as I could end up with a peramant disability. I started to feel lost again ,like the little child so many years ago and in a cloud of depression I looked inwards to new ways of developing an identity, so began the photography.A way of expressing emotion without showing it to the world. It's Ironic I try to capture a person individuality through photography while still trying to discover my own identity . The journey began one day while going to photograph a church in Manchester i did the strangest thing i asked a complete stranger "excuse me can i take your picture".then it rollercoasted . now i specialize in location portraits including fashion, glamour and personal portfolios. I have never looked back.It seems my life is full of these little turns of fate.

A former member and commitee member of the A.D.A.P.S. Camera club in Atherton, he has been involved in several club competitions, winning notoriety for his digital skills and montaging. He became A.D.A.P.S. Digital group winner first time out for best digital image 2003.

In 2004 I've been getting more and more involved with street photography,using people's own themes and dreams.Also covered fashion show events(Massive UK)in the Manchester area.

 

A.D.A.P.S Best digital images winner 2003 - 2004

A.D.A.P.S Double trophy winner best portraits and best prints 2004-2005

A.D.A.P.S Les Law portrait trophy winner 2005-2006

A.D.A.P.S Annual creative colour trophy winner 2005-2006

A.D.A.P.S Annual original image trophy winner 2005-2006