After a few years she upgraded and handed me the Nikon D3100 (the camera I still use today) and for some reason, being able to manually control and move even just the zoom lens and focus gave me such a childlike sense of wonder and curiosity. I had to test everything. 

My photos evolved from quick 'proof of sighting' photos to sitting with an impala for 30 minutes, seeing what one button after the next would do. It was these experiences that actually made me appreciate and treasure moments with wild animals even more. The longer I sat, the more of the animals' personalities would come out and I soon became obsessed with capturing images that would convey both my emotions and attempt to convey the mood I felt from the animal.