Gavin Howarth is a part-time professional photographer whose passing interest in the medium turned serious five years ago when he bought a more versatile, modern camera and became fascinated with digital photography.

"The challenging side is what drew me in and has kept me intrigued," he says. "Unlike most other art forms, it requires a good understanding of technical information. Maths and physics play a huge part in using a camera deliberately."

And the artistic side? Well, that is "something which happens much more subtly and naturally".

Combining the two is what Mr. Howarth describes as "a perfect fit" for him, and while he shoots a variety of subjects, including weddings, he readily admits that seascapes are his "babies".

"I think every photographer has their niche – something very personal to them that they really enjoy taking pictures of. For me it is my seascapes," he says.

"I am continually drawn to the coastline and its natural beauty. They are somewhat of an outlet. I can look at any of them and immediately recall not only the details of capturing the image, but how I felt at the time. They are a piece of me, something very personal, and are not random or by chance."

Also personal is the way Mr. Howarth goes about capturing his images. Not for him busy locales and the presence of others; instead, he enjoys the peacefulness which total solitude brings, and will move to another location if people intrude on that privacy.

Thus, his images seldom include any sort of human element – something he readily admits is not easy in an increasingly crowded Bermuda.

Equally, in his quest for unique images, the photographer is also hard-pressed to outrun the constant reduction in open spaces and unspoiled coastlines.

"New and unique locations are almost a thing of the past," he says. "Instead, I have been revisiting locations under different conditions, and trying different vantage points, techniques, and so forth. While challenging, it is a very good exercise to help further develop my style and skill."

As successful as he is – he has prints of his work for sale, and includes updating the Department of Tourism's aerial images of the Island and fulfilling similar assignments for other clients among his successes – Mr. Haworth does not carry a camera with him at all times. Rather, his photographic forays are as meticulously planned as the images themselves.

"My photography is very deliberate, and when I am out to take pictures, then I have my gear and am in that mode. I set aside time for it, and I ensure that I am 100 percent focused when I walk out the door. All of my photography is almost exclusively in either the last hour or the first hour of the day. It is a special treat for me to get out and capture images. It is a chance to do what I want, and how I want, with no kind of deadline or pressure."

In fact, so meticulous is Mr. Howarth's approach to photography in his otherwise busy life that he actually spends the early evening observing cloud patterns, wind direction and weather factors "in order to try and predict whether or not the evening will produce anything special".

"From these, I then decide where and when I am headed. Certain times of the year have a completely different look and feel to others, so year-round there is always an opportunity to be had," he says.

Photographers are, of course, as varied as the images they capture. When it comes to taking risks, some are completely fearless while others prefer to have their feet on terra firma, rather like Mr. Haworth.

"I am very calculating, and most of the time do not put myself in harm's way," he says. "There have been some close calls though. More than once I have found myself at the base of a cliff in near darkness, on slippery rocks with two bags of gear, and all alone with the waves crashing down."

So, after months of preparation, what can viewers expect to find at tonight's opening of this self-taught photographer's first solo exhibition in the Bermuda Society of Arts' big Onions Gallery?

"Seascapes, aerials, and beautiful images of local flora and fauna, all of which were taken in Bermuda," Mr. Howarth says. "The seascapes are my babies, my signature pieces, and what I want to showcase the most. I am repeatedly told that they are fresh and new."

While confessing he is both "excited and anxious" about his first solo exhibition, Mr. Howarth is also delighted that his last-minute decision to opt for the main gallery over the smaller Edinburgh Gallery provides a greater opportunity to display more of his work, and he invites everyone to attend tonight's opening from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on the upper level of City Hall.

'Bermuda Seascapes, Ariel, Flora and Fauna' continues through October 14.