Happy anniversary to me!

3 years ago today I picked up my very first camera and started on the path of trying to become a photographer. When I first started, I had no real dream or goal as to where I wanted to go with it, I just wanted to try something I had never done before. I remember very vividly the whole process of how I came about getting into the photography game like it was yesterday.

I remember going into my local supermarket and seeing a magazine on the shelf which said 50 DIY photography projects you can do at home. I flicked through the magazine and was instantly shocked at how simple some of these images looked at being able to do. A couple days later I went to my parents house and spoke to my dad, himself being a hobbiest photographer of 40 + years, on how much it would cost to get a camera like the sort he used. 

After a short conversation and being told that a 2nd hand camera would set me back a few hundred pounds, we left it at that. 3 days later my dad rang me at work and informed me that he had just spoken to his guy at the local camera store and said there was a good deal going on a few cameras they had in stock. I agreed to go meet my family the following weekend for lunch and to just go and look at some of these deals the camera shop had. 

Now I'm quite a reserved person who normally takes a lot of time to make certain decisions in life, including any type of large valued purchases. So when I came out of the camera shop after about 10 minutes of first arriving, with a newly purchased expensive camera in tow, I was highly shocked in myself. It was a fairly expensive bit of equipment that I had just brought, with no idea on how to use it or what I was gonna do with it. Thankfully thats where all the fun lied in trying to figure it all out. 

I sat around my parents house afterwards talking to my dad, who was kind enough to give me a quick breakdown of how a camera works, how to work my way round the camera and the basic knowledge on how to get started on making images. He was even so kind as to give me an old lens he had, to add to my newly purchased kit. I was over the moon with all of this and wanted to get out and about to get a start on using my new camera and to see what images I could capture on my own accord. 

The following day I packed my gear into a bag and headed out to see what I could do. I remember there being a local charity race being held near to where I lived and I thought it would make a good starting place. When I arrived there was quite a crowd of people and I thought it was gonna be difficult to get any decent shots. But I had my camera in my hand and thought I'd try any way. Well after a few minutes an official of the race came over to me and asked if I was there covering for any press outlets. I shook my head no and said that I was just there to test out my new camera. This lady then asked if I wanted to move to a better position in front of all the people and fences so I could get some better images. I was startled that I was being given some kind of vip treatment. I'd been given a prime spot to shoot from and managed to get some pretty cool action shots of the athletes taking part in the race. I had seen other people there with cameras, some of them looked as though they were just amateurs taking pictures of their friends and family, others looking a little bit more of enthusiasts and professionals. But even in the midst of these folks I still felt some what at home. None of them knew me and hadn't known I had brought my first camera less then 24 hours earlier. I was enjoying the freedom and the confidence the camera had given me. 

I then spent the rest of the day just walking around my hometown trying to find interesting and cool things to photograph. The awesome thing was, I started to see things in a new way. Tiny details that normally I would have looked over previously were starting to stand out to me. 
I had lived in Folkestone for 13 years at that point and hardly explored the area. In one day I visited and explored 3 different areas I never knew existed. 

Now 3 years have gone by since I first started, and I can honestly say it's been the best decision I ever made. It's afforded me the chance to grow as a person, meet new and interesting people. It's taking me traveling locally and internationally. It's given me a creative freedom to share my own visions and stories. Its given opportunities I never thought possible. The chance to better myself and work towards something greater. But the one thing it has given me most is the chance to be truly happy. 

Whenever I pick up my camera and start the process of making captive and interesting images, it gives me a huge buzz. I'm constantly smiling and the feeling when I get to capture something cool is second to none. Even though I work constantly and rarely manage to get a day off just for myself, I love every second I'm doing something related to making and capturing awesome images.

My first 3 years with a camera have been truly amazing, but I'm pretty sure the years to come are gonna be even better.