My journey in photography has probably been just like anybody else, starting with a Kodak Instamatic. I then purchased a secondhand Canon Demi half frame camera, shooting mostly in B&W because colour was too expensive. I graduated to a secondhand Pentax Spotmatic F, with semi-auto exposure and manual focussing, and the world of SLR opened up to me. Didn't make me a better photographer, but gave me more opportunities to make better images. Demanded more of me. Set a higher standard.

From the beginning I tried to find the different angle, the obscure perspective and (later) that special mix of colour and shape. Opportunities to be creative were somewhat limited by the cost to develop and print commercially - around $1 per shutter press in the 1990s.

Then along came digital compact cameras and the freedom to take picture after picture after "not another one, dear, surely!" Fun, and a lot, lot cheaper! But sooner or later I had to get back to an SLR and I was eventually able to afford (or perhaps rationalise, justify, beg...) a Canon 7D and some nice glass to go with it, and then to a 5D III. The bar was raised very high this time.

Now my 5D has gone to my daughter for her photography journey and I use a Leica Q almost exclusively. Hasn't made me a better photographer in itself, but I would like to think that the images are getting better.

And, rather obviously, I love B&W.

Enjoy!
Adrian K.