Colin Andersson-Hamill

I shoot instinctively. I create based entirely on how I feel, and I am not a lover of rules. I have never had a single lesson.In my past, I was a self-taught knitwear designer and had my patterns published four times. Later, I successfully bred and showed Lhasa Apso dogs.

However, I have lived with a neurological disease all my adult life. Over time, it became severe enough that I could no longer walk or knit. Devastated, I fell into a deep depression, completely isolated at home. My husband, who is nearly 80 now, remains ever faithful, loving, and kind as my primary carer.

Seeing my need for artistic expression, a long-term friend urged me to pick up my camera. She is a professional who travels the world shooting, gets paid for her work, and was even commended in Parliament. When she saw my photos, she insisted they were fine-art shots, not mere snaps, and that my serious work was on par with her own.

I seriously doubted her, but I picked up the camera anyway. Instantly, my gut told me this was my path. I didn't need to study composition or lighting—it was already built into my brain—though I did need help learning software. I have always learned stuff on my own. Instruction books just seem like a foreign language to me. PS though defeated me. Today, I use PhotoLab for most of my processing. But can now use PS, not all of it but I know enough to do what I want with it.

I shoot from a wheelchair, though I still take a few stupid risks for a shot! This craft has completely saved me. I am happy, content, and I know my worth. Most importantly, I have found my legacy. I print all of my best work into physical albums. I am creating something tangible to leave behind—proof that I was here.

Nothing excites me the way photography does. I go to bed eager for the next day to begin. My physical disabilities completely inform my perspective. Someone once asked me why my photos were always taken from such a low angle. Since she already knew my situation, I simply replied: "Because I am always sitting down when I shoot!"