Describe a hobby that you enjoy doing in your free time

I'd like to talk about photography, which I took up about three years ago and have been hooked on ever since. It started quite by accident. My uncle lent me his old camera for a family trip, and I found that I enjoyed looking for interesting scenes far more than I expected.

Nowadays I usually go out on Saturday mornings, when the light is soft and the streets are quiet. I like to walk around the old part of my city, where there are lots of narrow lanes, colourful doors and market stalls. Sometimes I travel a little further, to the hills outside town, to photograph the sunrise. Most of the time I go alone, because I can take my time and stop whenever something catches my eye, but now and then I go with a friend from my university photography club, and we compare our pictures over a cup of tea afterwards.

There are several reasons why I enjoy it so much. First of all, it makes me notice details that I would normally walk past, like the pattern of shadows on a wall or the expression on an old man's face. It has really changed the way I look at my own city. Secondly, it is a great way to switch off. When I'm concentrating on a shot, I lose track of time and forget about my deadlines. And finally, there is a real sense of achievement when one of my photos turns out well. A few of them are even hanging on my bedroom wall now, which makes me very proud.