By Brady Haran BBC News Online

Mr Evans feels 'insignificant'

Everything is perfect and a great photo is assured - until the cloud rolls in.

Unforeseen by forecasters, the swirling fog never clears and Mr Evans does not capture a single frame in the Lake District.

The dejected photographer packs up his equipment, trudges down the mountain and drives home to Scotland.

"It's just another day in the life of a mountain photographer," he says.

Mr Evans, 56, has been photographing mountains since 1972 and has made a successful business out of it.

High altitude A fascination with K2, the world's second highest mountain, drew Ian Evans to the Himalayas Click here for a gallery of Mr Evans' best photos

He has photographed Britain's most spectacular ranges, and often travels to the world's highest peaks in the Himalayas.

He has sold thousands of photos around the world.

"Mountains have had a profound effect on me... how I see life, value life, how I have come to respect and understand other peoples' way of life.

"Furthermore, being in the mountains makes one realise how insignificant we as individuals really are.

"We are just 'passing through' - the mountains are there forever.

"I also believe that nature is the best builder - nothing that man has created is as beautiful as the natural world."

Mr Evans says his time in the mountains has also given him a greater appreciation for environmental issues.

Home sweet home It's such a delight to come home to our green and pleasant land after the harsh, dry, arid and cold regions of the Himalaya Ian Evans Click here for Mr Evans' photography tips

"I am passionate about conservation - the protection of the natural world.

"We do have to develop to survive, but we need to be more sympathetic and care more about our environment.

"We cannot go on the way we are doing, slowly but surely we are destroying our world."

Despite his regular travels to the world's most famous peaks, such as Everest and K2, he still has a soft spot for the somewhat smaller mountains of the UK.

"The Himalayas have had a huge influence on me... but at the same time, I have come to love the mountains of the UK more and more.

"It's such a delight to come home to our green and pleasant land after the harsh, dry, arid and cold regions of the Himalaya.

"I am passionate about Scotland - I love the Highlands and the traditional Highland ways.

"As so many mountaineers have been heard to say, 'If only Scotland had reliable weather, we'd never ever want to travel anywhere else'.

"But, I suppose it's the changeable weather that makes Scotland what it is... and what makes us appreciate the good days."

Born in Liverpool, Mr Evans and his wife Shiela live in Lochmaben in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.

1. Research and prepare your subject well. Get to know when, and from where the mountain looks at its best. Check the weather reports and conditions. Shots at midday do not usually show mountains at their best... think about catching them early and late in the day.

Ian Evans advises using plenty of film

2. There is no substitute for a good camera, lenses and film. You do not need to spend a fortune on equipment to get good material, but poor equipment is never going to give you decent results.

3. Think before you finally press the shutter. What is the purpose of the shot? What am I trying to convey to the viewer? Have I chosen my location well? Am I working in the best conditions? Have I composed it well, and set the correct exposure?

4. Use plenty of film. Make sure that you have covered the possible variations in exposure and composition. What is the point in travelling hundreds or thousands of miles to get a shot and then be miserly with a few rolls of film? You cannot re-create the image again if the single shot you took fails to come up to expectations.