My interest in photography started after a visit to Goodwood's Festival of Speed in 2005. I had arranged to meet up with one of my best friends Rick, who like myself and my husband is a fan of motor sports and photography.
At this time I only had a little point and shoot camera which we used for taking photos and uploading them onto our business web site. Rick was taking photo after photo of the cars going up the hill with his Canon DSLR but unlike me with my point and shoot was managing to get the cars in the photo, this was the point that I realised that I needed to purchase a better camera and more importantly learn how to use it if I wanted to get some decent photos of motor sports especially F1 and Jenson Button.
With Silverstone just over an hour away from my home it was quite easy to pop along to the F1 testing sessions and try and get some photos, unfortunately since the changes to the rules with F1 and no testing I don't get this opportunity any more, however I do take full advantage of some of the other events that take place through out the year.
So I purchased a decent camera (complete with instruction book that I knew I would never read!) and then made the decision that I would attended a few courses that were being run at my local college (can honestly say I didn't learn a thing). The only good thing about this course was I met Ed there, he invited me to go along to a local camera club.
Although a bit reluctant to go to along to the club, I went and can honestly say I have met some fantastic people there who have offered support and advice and more importantly are now true friends who I go out and about with taking photos.
On the 9th June 2011 I was granted the distinction of Licentiateship of The Royal Photographic Society. (My portfolio is located on the home page). A Licentiateship is awarded either for competence in practical photography, or by passing an appropriate examination in photography recognised by The Society.
To gain my L distinction with the RPS I submitted a portfolio of 10 images to a panel of judges, my panel thankfully went through quite early and listening to the comments from the judges regarding other panels did not really help the nerves especially as 55% of panels before my assessment had failed to make the required standard.
There are a few people that I would like to thank for their support and encouragement firstly my lovely husband Derek, my friends Nigel Wade. Nigel and I embarked on this journey together and I am please to advise that he also gained his LRPS.