My first post and how it all started...

This is my first blog, ever, and it's a daunting thing to do. Putting myself out there for all to know and read about.

I am Graham, a photographer and do so under the name of CPI Photography. I have always seen photography as a way to capture a moment in time and have always wanted to be more involved in photography, but my life took another direction.

My background is as a mechanic, I was in the British Army (REME) for almost 25 years and it wasn't until my last few years that I started to nurture my interest in photography.

In 2014 I realised and admitted to myself that I have mental health issues and needed help, some of these were reasonably recent and some had their roots back from my younger years in the Army. I have come to terms with this and learnt how to understand myself a lot more. Photography has been one aspect of what I term my treatment and how I deal with each day.

In 2016, I purchased my first 'proper' camera - a Canon DSLR and a couple of accessories. Since then I have purchased several more accessories (cue the wife's eye roll) and become more involved in my art. Having left the Army (2020) I'm now travelling the world (when it reopens that is) in my self-build camper van and using my photography skills to share my experiences with others.

I enjoy walking and being in nature, the peace and serenity calms me. So I figured that I could couple daily walks with my dogs and my photography. This provides plenty of opportunity to explore landscape and architectural photography, and more recently I've developed a growing interest in astrophotography and time lapse.

I particularly enjoy how time lapse photography shows the passing of time, and how things change in a way that is often imperceivable to the human eye. I have found the passing of time in an accelerated format and the process of developing and producing time lapses to be therapeutic. I've learnt a lot and I'm working on integrating it into other areas of my photography - such as astrophotography.

I have no actual formal training, I did a one day introduction with Devon Photography School and have been part of a camera club - Dorset Light Photographic Club. Everything I know is self-taught from reading books, watching YouTube videos, trial and error, and from others in the club.

I find every day is an opportunity to learn a little more...

I hope you enjoy reading my future blogs, seeing pictures of my travel, and my endeavours at time lapse and astrophotography.

Thank you for reading and please follow and share my adventure with your friends and family via all the usual social media platforms.

Graham