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.