My early years were spent in Kenya. Dad was a game warden and took some amazing pictures of wildlife and landscapes in East Africa/Central Africa (Tsavo, with Kilimanjaro as a backdrop, Meru and Nairobi National parks were my early home; South Africa; Zimbabwe. Some really, remote locations within these country’s).
My pre-teen years I spent many hours sitting quietly (or not so) with Dad trying to get the best shot of a leopard or elephant. I guess he along with my great grandfather and great great, grandfather (who owned a photography studio in London in the 1800's) have been the catalyst that have inspired me to pick up a camera and use my talents.
Landscape and low light photography are what floats my boat, and modern digital cameras and software programs provide such great technology to inspire - immediately. Take your best shot, review, make an adjustment and take another - it's that quick. My grandfathers would not believe how far the tools of their trade have advanced over the ensuing 120/150 years. So many people today carry this technology around as part of their identity, not giving it a 2nd thought.
I think knowing that I share a passion with previous generations who used similar tools, inspires my interest in low light photography, particularly light painting, because to be able to walk in front of the lens with the shutter open and not be "captured" on the media, I find fascinating. To be able to carry the technology with me that allows me to capture and then “develop” the image in a way that provokes thought and emotion and still grasp the essence of what I saw through the lens, and be able to share that almost immediately, is motivating.