I started photography in my teens. It was through my brother Ismail إسماعيل - he had an OM1 & OM2 with a series of lenses that I could not comprehend at such a young age.

There were the occasional moments while in the Arts that I took photography a little more seriously - realising that a fixer is not a job or a supa glue derivative. Now it's more of a moment of solace from the rigours of work - the silence is very soothing away from the daily gaggles of people and inquisitive minds.

I acquired my 1st digital a couple of years ago - a D80 Nikon while in Tokyo with an 18-200mm + SB600. The plan was to get just the camera but it never ever works out that way.

With that began a slow but progressive acquisition of a 50mm, 80-400mm, 10.5mm fisheye, a 12-24mm, a lensbaby, 18-135mm. I recommend having one of each - an 18-200mm now replaces the dodgy 18-135mm. These form part of my gear with my D300 as my constant companion in 2010.

I carry an extra D300 and a D2Xs for those awkward moments of walking into a puddle plus my faithful Nikon 70-200mm f2.8; a glass just to die for! A worthy investment indeed.

What's next? Just finding the time to actually use all of them.