I still vividly remember that warm bright morning of 9th June 1984. I was struggling to keep pace with my father heading in the direction of Midland Studio, on Kotugodella Veediya (street), Kandy. I was kept in the dark as to why we were going there. There I soon learnt and pleasantly surprised when my father told the proprietor, Mr Malwenna that he wanted to see a camera. Subsequently, I was elated when my father added that he would like to procure the best camera available there. He gladly (and obligingly) picked up a black camera from the glass-fronted display cabinet and offered to him. My father took one close look and handed it to me. Wow! It was quite heavy and I nearly dropped it. My father made some basic enquiries about the camera and opted to buy it along with a big Metz brand flash. That was how I became the proud owner of a Canon AE 1.