I always did like taking photos, and the first camera that i bought for myself was a secondhand canon A1, that i had an immense amount of fun with, especially on one memerable trip to Paris to try night-time photography and double exposures, and all the other fun things that you could try but but ne Read more...

I always did like taking photos, and the first camera that i bought for myself was a secondhand canon A1, that i had an immense amount of fun with, especially on one memerable trip to Paris to try night-time photography and double exposures, and all the other fun things that you could try but but never know how they turned out til the photos came back from processing!!( they turned out pretty good by the way). Carrying an A1 also got me within 5 feet of President Mitterand, as he arrived at the Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier on Armistice day, ( i think that a few security guards may have been fired for that, given the speed they moved me along when they realised their error!!!!). The A1 went to make way for an easy to carry compact when i went travelling, which in turn had to be traded in to help buy me something to eat when i had a major shortage of cash. Many years later, when i found myself with money in my pocket for toys, I felt I had to stay with Canon, and am slowly coming to terms with what it is capable of( still much more than me).
I was introduced to blip by MelT, whose skill with a camera, and willingness to help have been a real inspiration. I lived in the same village as Mel in Oxfordshire when i joined, but was travelling up to Aberdeenshire every few weeks. In July 2011, I made the full-time move and now live about a hundred metres from Alec Salmond!!!!!
I had intended being good and blipping everyday, but a few events made me scale back on this, and i now blip whenever i can, which seems to make it more enjoyable, with the pressure to take ANY pic, gone. Well done to those of you able to achieve daily pics and enjoyment.
I work for Aberdeenshire Council, and find it quite difficult to get shots during the day in the winter, as it is not really possible to take the camera out whilst at work, and even with short hours, it's dark when i start and finish. I am hoping to get a studio set up, to use particularly during the winter, so hopefully the blipping will increase again!
I hope to keep improving and hope that my journal may be enjoyable to some, I certainly enjoy reading other journals and feel that i've made a lot of friends>