I've always been a fan of Photography - ever since I was a kid when I had my first plastic instamatic camera and a fresh roll of black and white film. I still have a few photos taken in the mid sixties.
 
But my real interest came around in the late seventies when I gave up my (un)trusty Polaroid and grabbed myself a Pentax K1000. State of the art in those days, or at least it was to me!
 
At the same time I took up developing film at home, setting up a make-shift darkroom in my bedroom and the bathroom. My parents though we had woodworm until I confessed to using drawing pins in the window frames to hitch up the thick blankets against the window to cut out the light,
 
As recently as ten years ago, I was all set on passing on my skills and equipment to my son (who was showing an interest in photography) when BAM! along came digital...no one ever looked back.
 
Today finds me a keen hobbyist and the proud owner of a Nikon D80. I also use a JVC HD digital camcorder for video work and push and pull and squeeze the whole kit and kaboodle into Photoshop and PowerDirector 8 to get my results.
 
I don't pretend to be an expert, nor someone with exceptional talent. I don't own a whole army of cameras and equipment and I promised my wife and bank manager I never would. But it's all good fun and it keeps me off the streets!
 
Please feel free to email me at phil@phil-cowan.co.uk if you want to be in my virtual gang. Nice things only though please....I can be easily hurt !