My interest in photography started around my Grade 12 Graduation. All previous experience I had with cameras stemmed from point-and-shoots like the Vivitar my parents got me for Christmas as I entered Junior High. Not satisfied with the quality of images coming out of the Vivitar, it quickly learned how to collect dust.

A few days before the Grade 12 Grad Night, my parents handed me my first SLR: a Canon AE-1 with a 50mm lens and SB-17 (or something similar) for a flash. After my first roll of film, I was captivated, but lacking the funds to support the purchase and development of film, my shooting was still sparse. I'd go months without finishing a roll.

Then I did a couple photoshoots with a female model and a nature shoot with a friend of mine down in the Edmonton River Valley. The shots that came out of those two shoots convinced me: I either needed to get a better paying job, or invest in a digital camera which would allow me to pick and choose the shots I get to develop. A $1200 investment now in a DSLR, or a $2000 investment over a year purely to develop film? The choice was easy, the financing was not.

But it happened. After scouting the various consumer-level DSLR's, I discovered that I didn't have the amount of money ($1500+) to drop on the Canon 30D and not convinced that the Canon Rebel XT would suffice my shooting needs, I looked towards Nikon and discovered not only superior consumer-level lenses, but a great starting DSLR in the D50 that seemed to offer everything I needed in an SLR. Done.

It's been five years since I first held the Canon AE-1. With photojournalism on the horizon, I have the drive to succeed. Now I just need to break into the business.