I have been a life long fan of photography, starting in my early teens when I was the proud owner of a Kodak Brownie camera using 120 roll film. 35mm film was not for the likes of children without cash. Unfortunately I have just one image of that time and that is a picture of my paternal grandmother at her usual spot looking out of the window, I am particularly proud because it was taken with just the light coming through the window.

For the next few years having left school and working I had money and tried to pursue my photography and I still have images of my teen years, however it was in my twenties that I got stuck into photography and joined a club and improved in my picture taking, and learnt some darkroom skills to produce my own prints in black and white only as colour was a relatively new thing.

But having chosen a career as a truck driver it left me little time for darkroom work so relied on shop processing.

When I was put out to graze having lost my HGV licence and unable to obtain gainful employment due to health problems, and getting under my wife's feet with a slight push I enrolled in adult education and took eight courses to C&Gs level. My next step was A Level photographic course in Caterham where I met up with the friends who were to make up T16. Looking for more I enrolled at Nescot (North East Surrey College of Technology) but was unable to take it up. It was a year later I enrolled in ND photography at East Surrey College on a two year course, which led on to the HND which alas after the first year I had to finish. But every cloud has a silver lining and continued taking pictures with T16 and with their encouragement improved my photography and the enjoyment that taking decent pictures gives you.

David Fry