Brightmeter

Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Auto Focus - my first SLR had none of these. The trick was to keep a needle in the middle of the viewfinder for exposure and to make sure the image was sharp, all by manually winding and twisting. And then the challenge of developing film... This is how long I have been taking photographs. It was intricate and technical.

I am still nostalgic for the days of Kodachrome and darkrooms - but I also love the broadened horizons of Photoshop and digital. The ultimate convenience.

Fascinated by the evolution of the medium I bought one of the very first digital cameras and felt smug and validated when it didn't approach the quality of film. Now it's very different.

I am a hobbyist - recently returned to the medium with added enthusiasm. My ambition is to differentiate my images. I love some of the work here on PurplePort which is out of the ordinary. Startling. Intriguing. It humbles me when I see what is possible with talent.

In time I hope my photography skills will move away from recording images and into the world of art. That's my ultimate aspiration.