Even as a young child I found photography interesting. I am, afterall, a lover of most things creative. As a child I wrote stories, made up entire worlds, and took an interest in capturing these places and moments. I also have a huge love of nature and the world all around us. Wether a concrete jungle or a tropical one, I am always marvelled but what makes the world us. With endless possibilities like this, how can I not be inspired to capture a little sliver of life on Earth.
When it comes to photography you could probably consider it a genetic destiny for me. My grandfather was an avid birdwatcher, always taking wildlife shots and capturing his favorite species on film. His daughter and my aunt has followed in his same passion; proving the apple, indeed, does not fall from the tree. She is often accompanied by her camera, almost daily uploading her bird and wildlife shots to facebook.
But perhaps my biggest influence was my own father. He was always a fan of capturing moments and images on film. Not just as a photographer but as a videographer too. He was always the person behind the lens, waiting for that exact moment to snap the shutter.
He had a way of taking photos that inspired me to beg for a camera of my own at a young age. Which I got at the age of 10 and used with great satisfaction. Of course the pictures of a young child werent the best, as I am no prodigy, but that didnt change my enjoymrnt. Sadly the rising cost of film and the lacking ability of a literal "point-and-shoot" camera quieted my passions and skills for a while. During my film hiatus, I focused on my writing. Afterall a pen and paper is much cheaper than film and a camera.
As the digital age swooped in and made photography both easier and cheaper, I got my first digital camera. It was the greatest gift I had recieved since my laptop and my love of photography came flooding back. I took my camera everywhere capturing anything that caught my eye, using my computer to edit and store the images. Without the limitations of a roll of film and waiting for hours or even days for the results, I felt a freedom. My creativity went wild and I took shots of sports, birds and people. I took macro shots and landscape shots, getting creative and playing without any rules. It was the best feeling to be behind that lens capturing anything that caught my eye.
I didnt (and still dont) specialize in any one type of photography. Perhaps that is my personality at work. I never stuck to a particular genre of writing either. While I may prefer a mysterious thriller, im not above childrens stories, poetry, romance or sci-fi stories. In fact I enjoy any good story...much like how a good picture is also a good story. My passions arent all that far apart and since recieving my brand new DSLR I cant wait to share my stories with you.
Although never a career for our family, photography (and for me at least) storytelling is in our blood. Nothing makes me feel more complete than sharing a tale with people. I hope that my images can inspire you or others to take a journey in your mind. A journey with no right or wrong interpretations, no plot or moral...just whatever comes to mind.
