If you came to me in January last year and told me that I would spend 12 months working my ass off as a volunteer for motorsport and that I would grow my talent (I don’t know if I would call it a talent, or just a good eye for details?) as a photographer – I would have asked you what drugs you were on and if they were legal, and would you share.

I believe I’ve found my stride in life. While my lot is always a happy one – a job where I get crap daily – I have thrown myself personally into my private endeavours. Originally my plan was to go back to tech to get a qualification to earn more money at work etc, but I always wanted that perfect work-life balance.

A change in roles in Motorsport saw me step up from being a timid player behind the scenes, scared to speak out because I felt like I was always getting myself in the crap, to the realisation that it was more that other people were holding me back because of their insecurities, or that they felt threatened by what I could achieve. I no longer see myself as a grunt on the ground so to speak, but like the proverbial phoenix, I’ve risen as a leader from the ashes of my discontent with the sport. That sounds really crap, but its true. I was at a point where I was already to walk away from all the time and energy, and I feel totally different.

Never thought I would consider myself a leader!

And then, I never thought I’d consider myself a winner either. I don’t think I have a talent for photography, I just think I look at things differently and the way of communicating that is through the camera. I think allowing myself more time behind the camera has improved my technique and I can’t wait to see what the next few months bring. I’ve already got people asking for prints of my work and it is still taking some time to sink in that other people like what I’m doing.

For once, I’m excited about where these things will lead me. I’m already getting a new and improved reputation in motorsport and making a name for myself, albeit a small name for myself, in photography, so I say: Life – BRING IT!