Afer 45 years I still have my first camera, a second hand Zeiss Contaflex IV with an inbuilt gallium arsenide light meter. This proved to be an excellent tool to learn about the manual setting of light values and relative aperture / speed combinations.

It has done sterling service over the intervening years recording the family album. But it was not until I purchased a Minolta 7000 that I became interested in Natural History photography.

Two years ago I was awarded DPAGB status for a submission of 15 nature slides all of which were taken in my garden and somewhat disproves the belief that worldwide travel is essential to gain decent photographic awards.