I haven't gone all the way back to 1955, but over the last couple of weeks I have got out my Nikon F4 camera.

This was a top of the range, very expensive camera when it was launched; it cost over £2000 in the nineties, withou a lens. It is auto focus and uses 35mm film.

I cleaned it and found a manual online so I knew what the dozens of buttons did, charged the batteries, obtained a replacement focussing screen and bought a couple of rolls of Kodak Tri-X film.

Opening the film canister took me back in time, the aroma of the film hit my nostrils and that was what took me back in time. I loaded the film and then took it out with me while walking the dog.

I pressed the shutter for the first time and heard the mechanical sound as the film wound on to the next frame. I then looked at the back of the camera and of course there wasn't an image to see - I felt such an idiot! I have to wait to see the results, until the film is finished and it is processed.

Took some more images and then realised that in a few minutes most of the film had gone. This could be expensive.

I then realise that I had to be careful and think more about the process of taking the image; only press the shutter when you are absolutely sure. This is good training and I am going to continue to use this camera, it will help me to maintain my skills as a photographer. In the old days of film a photographer had to know what they were doing, they could not take a hundred images and hope a few are ok, so many of the modern photographers do just that. It is aiding my creative thoughts as no electronic camera can do.

My trip "back to the future" has done me the world of good; back to the days of film and photographers were creative, using the limits of the process creatively, rather than press the shutter and hope.

I still use the techniques of film that I learned in college, we were taught to use tha camera and film creatively. So glad I didn't sell that camera. Now I have just obtained the maens to process the films, back into a darkroom for the first time since 1995.

Now I need a couple who want their wedding photographed on film, any takers?