Who knew that picking up a camera could be such a personal journey?
Not me.
At least in the beginning.
Now I know better.
Each time I take a picture, be it with my big expensive cameras or with the camera on my iphone, I travel a little further down my own road and learn a lot more about how to MAKE a picture.
My kids are why I got a point and shoot to begin with. Because every moment of every day from the moment you get them, they are changing and growing and moving and with a camera I could “keep time in a bottle”, at least a little bit.
A year after getting my first ”grown up” digital camera, I was back at the store talking to the man who had sold it to me. I thrust it at him over the glass counter top and said “show me how to make it take pictures in low light without a flash and to make it shoot fast enough so I don’t keep missing shots!”.
He laughed a little at me, in a nice way and sold me my first digital single lens reflex, a canon rebel xti and a 18 – 55 mm kit lens.
I walked out of the store, a little stunned, not sure what most of those words even meant.
At first I left it in it’s box, because it was too expensive to touch. Then, spurred on by the idea that it was too expensive not to use, I began reading everything I could on how to use it and then I started carrying it everywhere with me.
The cameras have changed again since then, but I still try and carry one with me everywhere I go.
I like taking pictures.
Of anything. Of everything.
Most of all, I like taking pictures of people.
“When I ask to photograph someone, it is because I love the way they look and I think I make that clear. I’m paying them a tremendous compliment. What I’m saying is, I want to take you home with me and look at you for the rest of my life.” – Amy Arbus
I feel the same way when someone asks me to take pictures for them.
What else does anyone need to know about me?
I have a good eye. I am proud of the work I do.
I am fierce. I am compassionate.
I do not bend light to my will, I bend to the will of light.
I love being who I am right now.
I think I am lucky in love and family and work hard to stay that way.
I believe in goodness and taking responsibility.
I am trying to learn to relax into groundlessness.
