After a short time I began work at an agency in Southampton. The work was excruciatingly dull, l as we picked up all the commissions that the Nationals in London did not want to waste photographers on. Although we were expected to sit in the office until a job came in – something I have always been told to avoid - I routinely went out to look for stories and pictures. Even though I had a couple of successes, it felt obvious that they could not cope with a pro-active photographer. Day after day of not having any jobs was simply de-spiriting, and in the end, I was fired for being too ‘maverick’.

Pictured is Nick Rodway of Laurenceton Farm, at an Organic food festival at Cawdor Castle - Nairn - with some of his organic cheese and fruit.

My confidence had taken a blow because it wasn’t clear to me what had gone wrong, even though I hadn’t planned to stay long with the agency, as it was so far from the jobs I wanted to do. As I began to dig out the contacts book again, I took on a freelance job for a London-based magazine that spanned a few weeks, set up an interview for another agency in Edinburgh, and promptly took a job as a cruise-ship photographer to pass the time. I managed one cruise before heading back to Scotland for my interview. It was for a job I had been offered a year earlier when working for a rival agency, and even though it didn’t work out, another job had become available at a daily newspaper, also in Scotland and I was offered the position, which is where I currently work. As a staff photographer I have a little more flexibility to try and develop an individual style. It is also a useful opportunity to fully understand the workings of a newspaper from an inner perspective, rather than from a freelance or agency point of view. This will stand me in good stead if as I hope, I move on to more extensive coverage.

A 'Stop the War Coalition' campaingner protests in Edinburgh against the Iraq war.

Having regained a sense of control over my future career options, I’m glad that any persistence and determination that I have maintained so far, has paid off.

U.S Hip-Hop star Kanye West performs at the Birmingham NEC arena, on the night when two event security officers were shot by two youths, over a dispute about tickets.

At 25, I have survived on jobs that paid under minimum wage, I’ve had to fight to get paid at all, I’ve been accused of being too maverick, I’ve worked for nothing, I’ve had my hopes dashed at the last second, and I was once was turned down for a job for being ‘too keen’. The trade off is that I am closer to gaining access to the type of career that I want, and that despite some testing times, I have enjoyed the ride so far. Taking photographs is not something I do between 9 and 5. I constantly take pictures outside of work and experiment as I did when I first started, because I am passionate about photography and fortunate to be paid to do something with which I have become engrained. Any bad jobs or experiences I’ve had can be put down as unavoidable; the usual ups and downs.

A Viking watches as the his Galley burns, during the annual 'Up-Helly-A' celebrations, in Lerwick, Shetland.

I am also extremely grateful for the contacts I have made, namely Laurent Rebours at Associated Press in Paris, who has so kindly made time to critique my work in the past and whose advice is most certainly a sacred resource, and Wilf James, who asked me to write this article and whose words of support have been extremely valuable in keeping me motivated.

I hope to reach a point in my career where I am covering international news/conflicts and where I can play a hand at conveying these events to a global audience.

To see more of Ed Jones excellent portfolio of images and make contact a visit to his website is well worthwhile www.ejej.co.uk