When I was a kid, I knew exactly what I wanted to do when I grew up. There was never any doubt. I would be a pilot in the Defence Forces, like my hero, my Dad.
But marginal eyesight and grades, that although respectable, didn’t set the world on fire meant that I failed the selection process… twice.
While dealing with this rejection, my failure to fulfill long cherished hopes and dreams, and trying to work out “What will I do now?” I made one commitment to myself:
“I’m not going to spend my life working behind a desk.”
I still wanted a life of outdoors, adventure and comradeship.
Not having a plan and not knowing what I wanted to do anymore, I adopted the sensible policy of “keeping my options open”. I went to Uni, and with an interest in understanding how the Universe and technology work, enrolled in a Science degree with the thought of transferring to Engineering. One of the first year electives was Computer Programming (COMP101); and I was good at it. I ended up graduating with a major in Computer Science.
The observant will have noticed that being a professional computer geek is the antithesis of “I’m not going to spend my life working behind a desk”.
But software development is an immensely rewarding intellectual challenge. To build applications, which solve real world, complex problems in as efficient and elegant way that you can, is a fundamentally creative endeavour. And when you consider the wider context of frenetic, darwinian, evolution of new technologies, ideas and tools maybe you can understand how I got side tracked for so long. There is a real personal satisfaction that comes from being a master of a craft and building things that others appreciate and use.
Autumn Dawn, National Museum of Australia, Canberra [Pentax K-1; Pentax-D FA 24-70 2.8; ISO 100, 68 mm, f-10, 0.6 sec]
“The world is not in your books and maps, it’s out there” – Gandalf
My profession was providing a comfortable living for my family; a responsible, low risk, climate controlled, high paying, safe, sensible existence. But I felt abstracted away from really living a life. I needed a change, to get out from behind that desk.
My hope is that landscape photography, a hobby for many years, can be the vehicle for change; and, thanks to my unbelievably supportive wife, we are doing it.
Last year we kitted our self out for touring the Outback of Australia and headed off for a three week road trip… and loved it.
My Girls on Haligan Bay – Kati Thanda – Lake Eyre – South Australia; Pentax K-1, Rokinon 14mm 1:2.8 ED AS IF UMC [ISO 800, 14mm, f / 4.0, 0.3 sec]
I will document the process of building the business, from scratch, here on this blog. I hope you can all stick around for the journey.