ABOUT THE CAM

A brief history

Photography has been a passion with me ever since I received my first camera -- a Kodak Fiesta -- on my 15th birthday, and after years of working with 35 mm, my step into digital photography enabled me to emulate some of the websites I had been admiring for a while. And so Ray's Cam was born...

Having such a basic camera did wonders for the process of learning photography in those early days. There were severe limits to what one could do, and pushing my own and the camera's  abilities was a challenge to be relished. Later, while I was serving in the South African Defence Force, I bought a Yashica Minister D viewfinder camera from a fellow soldier who was in need of cash. It was my first 35 mm camera, and for the first time I could start experimenting with exposure, aperture and films, shooting in black and white, colour and colour transparencies. When I started working at a newspaper in Cape Town, it was as reporter, but I worked with the paper's photographers, and one of them in particular encouraged and inspired me. I am deeply indebted to Jéan du Plessis for what he did for me as photographer.

Many years later, after a long absence from any serious photography, I purchased a second-hand Pentax K1000 and started adding lenses. When a friend decided to set up his own studio I lent a hand and was soon doing weddings, studio portraits and aerial photography, as well as promotional still life work. I came close to giving up my teaching position in order to go into photography full-time, but had too many commitments. I added another K1000 body to my equipment, as well as a range of lenses, all of which was stolen from the boot of my car one night...

It was a while before I bought another camera, a Ricoh XR7, which travelled to the Azores and Japan with me. I still have it, but it is now badly in need of a good overhaul!

It was when I first ventured into the digital format that the idea of sharing my views of the world came to me. A Kodak CX4200 served me well for a while, but then I saw, and was conquered by, my next camera, the delightful Fuji Finepix S5000. I have since upgraded to a digital SLR, a Pentax *istDL, and am extremely happy with it. The added flexibility provided by more features and lens interchangeability means I can give freer rein to my creative urges!

Photography - a philosophy

The world we live in is a wonderful place, full of beauty and interest, we just need to look carefully. A photographer needs to develop his "eye" if he wants to succeed, and that is why we often look at the world slightly differently. Sharing this "different" view is essential for me, because I firmly believe that we need to look more closely at our surroundings. There is so much to see, and so much joy and fulfilment to be had from photographing what we see as best as we can, that I encourage as many people as possible to do just that. There is discipline and thought that must go into making every successful image, yes, but there is a great deal of reward to be had as well!

Although I am not a professional photographer, I approach every image as professionally as I can. Photography has taught me many virtues and has rewarded me immensely. Sharing the rewards is my way of repaying the debt I incur every time I make an image. If I bring enjoyment through these images, I am amply recompensed.

Melbourne, Australia 2006