Why Photography?

When I was a young child I remember my nan's camera and how she would take it with her wherever she went. One day (after my constant pleading) she let me hold the camera and take my first picture. Ever since then I have had a fascination for photography, but never thought of the creative possibilities that surrounded it. Unfortunately when I was still young my nan became ill and couldn't use the camera so it was put into storage where it stayed forgotten for many years.

As I grew older I had an interest in art but not through the teachings at school but through my mum and the craft club that she now runs. There was more freedom in what I could create rather than have a school teacher tell me what to make. I wanted to carry on studying art but didn't know what specialist area to study in so I started at the beginning on the First Diploma at the Plymouth College of Art to help me decide. Once I passed my interview my nan gave me my first small compact digital camera. I brought that camera with me everywhere but it wasn't till I was shown how much creativity and emotion that can be expressed through a single image by one of the tutors, till I thought of it as a possible career. As the course was nearing its end my nan passed away and with the money that she left me I got my first Digital SLR (Canon 350D) ready for my next course the National Diploma in Photography. The National Diploma course helped to develop my skills and see where my strengths lie in photography which led me to carry onto the degree course which I am currently now studying. 

It wasn't until I got my nan's camera out of storage when she passed away did I realise that it was her that first sparked my interest in photography all those years ago. This gentle guidance led me down the path not just to photography, but also my whole life and where it has gotten me so far.