The Bowaters first became interested in photography when they went to Papua, New Guinea, on an agricultural advisory contract. Peter Bowater has a degree in economics from London University. He also has a background in agriculture.

"We went to a remote part of the Highlands, taking our first Nikon with us, with the intention of photographing bird life," they said. "The people were far more numerous, accessible and interesting. After three years in Papua, New Guinea, we were addicted to photography and have made our living from a combination of assignment and stock ever since."

The Bowaters, who tend to speak with one voice, opened an advertising studio in Edinburgh, Scotland, but preferred to shoot on location. They did much shooting during the North Sea oil construction boom and spent 15 years traveling the world, on corporate, industrial and stock photography assignments.

"We have never wanted to specialize," they said. "It was originally the variety that photography offered that was the greatest appeal and it still is."

The Bowaters client list includes names like Glenlivet Distillers, Mobil, Phillips Petroleum, General Electric, Bechtel, Lummus, Chevron, and British Aerospace.

The couple currently lives in France where they do fewer assignments, choosing instead to concentrate on their stock photography. Their stock photos can be found at Alamy, Mira and The Image Pro Shop (TIPS).