James Wat Country: USA It was the year I become a teenager that I have acquired my first Kodak 127 camera from my mom.  Kodak called it the "Box". This little juke box effects so much of my life  Its is made out of plastic, shielded with a shinning Silver Grey body. At the time, picture taken are only in BW, which is still expensive and consider a luxury.  Presenting as a photographer, I am able to gain lot of friends in high school.   And IT was my senior years that I acquired my new 135 cameras, which include the "Asahi Pentax" - Spotmatic and "Petri"from Japan . In follow years, I become another proud owner of the Nikon's Classics.  From its line FM to its electronic metered FTn body. While my interest in color photography grows, instead of buying myself a BMW 2002, I break the budget , bought a Ford Escort instead while using  the money saved in making purchase of the Hasselblad 500 CM body along with the superb 50mm,80mm and 125mm lens , all at one time.  It mentally made me feel .... My portrait photos technique is enhanced.   But my social life is hindered by my work,  Im only able to take pictures of my kids.   My career in apparel manufacturing   required of me to travel extensively overseas, transiting in Europe including the Eastern Block of countries that I find it impossible to carry with me the set of gears.      I tried in the beginning when I was travelling extensively to work with countries including most behind the Berlin wall.

Digital picture technology was brought to light by the Japanese that I get myself the first SONY DSC-S707 with giant Zeiss lens. I locked the NIKON and HASSELBLAD in their beautifully customed cases, pursue my business venture 6-7 months a years on the road with my new digital partner.  It helps me to record and present so much of my work. Almost another 30 years gone by, I take out my Hasselblad and have the camera and lens serviced.  The quality withhold and maintained. 
Retired from work, it was in the end of 2008 that I was introduced to DSLR Nikon's D300.  I begin to travel to all parts of the world, visiting or revisiting the places I have set memories left behind, with images haven't physically captured. Long story short, I also acquired the D3S, begins to go shooting on wild life including birds ,  butterflies and Lotus flowers 5 day a week for ten consecutive years. Learning photography with classes from camera clubs and through teachers and or mentors.     
Somehow, I met with new friends, I have become a Leica user two years after their introduction of M9.   Lingered by the Kodak BW pictures from the  "Box"  I Fall in love with BW picture all over again.  I have also acquired the Leica Monochrome camera(s) expanding into another new horizon and dimension.   With this category, it made me feel reborned.  
Lately, re-entered the mid format pictures that I acquired digital back for my Hasselblad 500 CM and SWC cameras along with my Asahi 645D. (I continue to shoot film pictures with my Hasselblad and RolleiFlex cameras)   
I am back in heaven  .... would it/whether this  be my virtual heaven or physical my life span ending heaven,  I will continue to strive for my interest in photography till the end of my time.  Got to catch up .......  Thank you for sharing, and I hope you enjoy photography as much as you should advocate yourself.   Good luck and enjoy.