Photographs by Stuart Clarke

Before I started The Moorlander nearly two years ago I spent most of my life as a news photographer for national newspapers and magazines covering events around the world. I would be on a plane somewhere most weeks covering a wide range of varied stories and features.

When I started The Moorlander the newspaper trade magazine UK Press Gazette said ‘Former war photographer starts Dartmoor newspaper.’

‘War photographer’ is a term that never sits comfortably with me; I am just a newspaper photographer. I would cover everything; portraits of politicians, actors, businessmen and women, trials at the Old Bailey or the Law Courts, a film premier, a strike or demo, elections, Royal visits and conflicts from time to time. But most Fleet Street photographers do.

I remember being sent to Martinique in the Caribbean for a week to cover a story. It was an easy lovely job to do, the company was good, the five star hotel was on a beautiful beach with a deep blue warm sea, wonderful French food and I was then upgraded to first class on the flight back to London.

I arrived back in the office the following morning with a slight tan to be told “I hope you enjoyed your trip because you are on a flight to Sarajevo in the morning.” The war was raging in the former Yugoslavia. From paradise to hell in days.

Over the last forty years I have worked for most national newspapers and my pictures still get syndicated around the world. I receive royalties from pictures that were taken years ago which has helped to put food on the table while starting this newspaper.

The one thing I enjoy doing is taking pictures of people – portraits. I am not very good at wandering round taking pictures of beautiful views; there has to be more, a story or an interesting or beautiful face.

The Moorlander always features photographs by Dartmoor photographers so I thought you may like to see a few of mine taken over the years before starting this mad venture.