The Photo Times: The incredible landscape photographs taken by boy photographer, six

By

Damien Gayle

PUBLISHED:

03:30, 14 November 2013

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UPDATED:

09:04, 14 November 2013

By any standards these photographs of the British countryside at dawn and at dusk are incredible.

The sun can be seen rising and setting over colourful fields of sunflowers and mist-shrouded landscapes. Others capture the action by the coastline as waves crash against sea walls and lights shine from dwellings seen from across a flooded causeway.

But they are perhaps all the more remarkable because the photographer who took them is just six years old.

Remarkable: A field of sunflowers at dawn as captured in vivid colour by six-year-old photographer Oliver Andreas Jones

Dynamic: This long-exposure photo of The Cobb in Lyme Regis captures the turbulent movement of waves crashing against the sea wall

Ethereal: The distinctive Colmers Hill rises above the morning mist shrouding the landscape near Symondsbury, Dorset

Peaceful: A night-time shot of Knightstone Island in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset. Oliver first got into taking pictures after watching his father, a professional photographer

Oliver Andreas Jones travels rises as early as 2am to travel all over the UK with his father Mark to capture these amazing images.

The youngster’s passion for photography began almost as soon as he could talk after seeing his father, a professional snapper, at work. He told his parents he wanted a camera for himself, and they bought him a toy one for his third birthday.

But when he got his hands on his mother’s point-and-click at the age of five, his parents realised the boy had a talent for the art.

They bought him a second-hand Nikon digital SLR camera, the same one he has used to capture these stunning landscapes.

Talented: Six-year-old Oliver strikes a pose with the second-hand Nikon digital SLR camera that his parents bought for him with he was five

Mr Andreas Jones, 42, from Gosport, Hampshire, said: ‘Oliver has been taking photos since he was three years old. He started to use his mum’s point and shoot camera at the age of five and started asking if he could come to work with me.

‘I was so pleased when he asked to come and to see how excited he was on his first proper landscape shoot. I thought “What a great way to spend father and son time”.

‘I first realised Oliver had a talent at the age of 5 after I took him to a lavender field. I was amazed how good his composition was.

‘After seeing the results of his efforts I bought him a second hand camera and kit lens and, by five-and-a-half, he was producing amazing work, even by adult standards.’

Oliver, who attends Peel Common Infant School in Gosport added: ‘I like to take photos with my dad because I like to go to these places and see the sunrise and sunsets.

‘I like to look at them on the computer and show my mum and friends where I’ve been and what I’ve seen.

‘It’s exciting getting up really early and driving to places I haven’t been before.’

Mr Andreas Jones, who runs his own professional wedding and landscape photography business, is an expert at photographing sunrises and sunsets.

‘His son clearly has an eye for taking similar photographs – which is why the proud father is so impressed when he takes him on shoots around the UK.

Mr Andreas Jones said: ‘Oliver can only really come with me on school holidays or the odd Saturday as I get up very early and I don’t want it to interfere with his schooling.

‘Sometimes we get up as early as 2am to get to the location in time for sunrise, which he finds very exciting.

‘Other times it’s not possible for Oliver to come due to the dangerous cliffs, beaches and terrain of some locations – at least not until he’s older.

‘We mainly travel a lot around the south coast of Britain – from the Jurassic coast in Dorset to Devon and Somerset.’

Vivid: Another shot taken in Weston-super-Mare captures the town

Vivid: Another shot taken in Weston-super-Mare captures the town’s Grand Pier illuminated by the first light of dawn

Detailed: This photo captures the stillness of Berrow Beach, Somerset, early in the morning

Beautiful: Another view of the incredible mist-shrouded landscape around Colmers Hill, Symondsbury

At work: Oliver is seen setting up a shot in a field of lavender. He wants to be a professional photographer when he grows up

Looks chilly: But Oliver

Looks chilly: But Oliver’s father Mark, 42, says they enjoy great father and son time when they travel across England for their shoots

Oliver is already planning a career as a professional photographer even though he’s still at primary school. In fact, his father has already lined up a few jobs for him at his own photography business – including shooting at weddings with him.

‘Oliver says he wants to be a pro photographer when he grows up and I would be very proud to have him take over my business,’ he said. ‘It won’t be too long before he is my second shooter at weddings.

‘To say I’m proud of my son is an understatement. It’s wonderful to have him with me when I’m on location. He’s great company and his enthusiasm inspires me. There’s nothing better than sitting at a beautiful location having a chat with Oliver, waiting for the sun to rise.

‘Those are moments we will always remember and treasure. I just hope when I’m old and fragile he returns the favour by taking me out and carrying my bag.’