About Skyman
Hello all, my name is Simon Dolle. My journey into the world of images has been a series of coincidences. The first decent photo I took was on what we Australians refer to as schoolies week. The period after final high school exams but before uni starts. It was a silhouette of a tree with the most glorious sunset behind it. The lab that printed it commented on how nice a shot it was and told me my exposure was all wrong showing me the reprints they had to make to get it right. This was the first time I thought about the technical aspects of image capturing.

Enrolling in psychology at uni I decided after my first year that it wasn�t for me. So I took a year off to evaluate my position. I had been working weekends in my local department store and they moved me to their photo lab section at this time and also having a separate full time job I had more money than I new what to do with so I bought a camera. Realising that I knew nothing of the technical aspects of photography I enrolled in a basic course at the local community college. So I was learning the craft from both behind the camera and in the lab at the same time. Adding to this my memory of those reprints from my poorly exposed sunset I soon picked up the basics. By this time I was ready to go back to uni but switched from psych to communications media arts.

Hoping to major in photography (something I could only do as a fine arts student I took up video production as a major and subbed in photography) about that time one of the staff at my local camera shop suggested that there might be a job and I should apply. On spec I took a cv in with me whilst waiting for a mate to pick up some film (I was doing a portfolio for him) The manager read it on the spot and asked me for an interview. Before my mate showed I had a job! The store proved to be a better learning tool than uni. I have never seen anyone with a better grasp of all aspects of photography and video and anything remotely photographic in nature than the boss. Because of this the best local photographers and videographers frequented the store. I listened and learnt. 4 years later graduating from uni with the most expensive piece of paper I will ever earn.

Since then I have worked in several photographic retail stores most of which considered me the resident expert. I have taught photography and video with several youth and community groups (no Johnny don�t steal the video camera!) and am currently working as an editor / designer where I get to do equal amounts of both (but never quite enough) oh and photo John has been on my back for about 6 years to be a video moderator and finally I have both the time and a reliable internet connection!

My equipment list doesn�t exactly reflect the fact that I specialise in video first. This is probably due to the fact that video is much more expensive and time consuming to do on a recreational level.

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