Marion Rapier

ARPS DPAGB BPE5 EFIAP/g

My first camera, which I was given to record a school holiday abroad, was a totally manual film camera – an IHAGEE Exa. The camera had no metering, no focus aids and a waist level viewfinder that gave a reversed image. Those were the days! I later swapped to a 110-format compact camera before acquiring my first SLR in 1980. I embraced digital photography when Canon introduced their first DSLR to the UK market in 2003.

I joined Edmonton Camera Club, along with my husband in 1981. Our home became a hive of photographic activity as we experimented with monochrome and colour processing in our darkroom. We joined the Royal Photographic Society and subsequently gained their LRPS and ARPS distinctions.

Following retirement, we looked for another photographic challenge. We commenced with the CPAGB award. This was followed by submitting entries to the British Photographic Exhibition circuit, where acceptances lead to their ‘Star’ awards. It was not long before we began to enter international exhibitions and salons, under the FIAP banner.

My husband I have always encouraged each other’s photographic pursuits with, it has to be said, a hint of rivalry. On occasions there has been no greater critic than the one back at home.