What separates a pretty picture from a photograph that truly matters? This piece explores intention, emotion, memory, and why the images we live with often say far more than the ones we simply scroll past.

Why do we pick up a camera? Photography isn’t just about images — it’s about noticing, creating, connecting, and remembering. This is a look at what draws us to the craft and why it matters, even if no one else sees our work.

Picking up the Sony A350 again has been like reopening an old chapter I didn’t realise I’d missed. My first digital DSLR after my film days, it brings back the joy of using a simple, stills-only camera — chunky, tactile, with a CCD sensor that gives black-and-white images real character. Slower walks, everyday routes, and a quiet rhythm of photography suit it perfectly. No expectations, no pressure — just a camera that lets me enjoy shooting again.

Can you really do photography on a budget and still get good images? I put that idea to the test with a £110 Sony A-350 from 2008 — proof that you don’t need the latest gear to capture something worth keeping.

A slower space for black and white photography, countryside walks, and quiet moments from everyday England — where the focus is on the picture, not the platform.

Why I choose to shoot black-and-white JPEGs straight out of camera — minimal editing, a simple approach focused on how each scene feels and unfolds.