Its a common story in photography. Picking up your first camera at an early age and being taken in by the process and the magic of capturing images and creating prints.
A walk in the reflected light
For myself I first saw the process of a photogram being developed in a darkroom and that drew me in, I was amazed at how the print developed right in front of me in the tray, it felt and looked like actual magic. From that point on I wanted to know how to do everything, develop film, make prints and create images. I have never viewed the camera or the equipment used to develop film or make prints as just tools. All of the pieces involved served as inspiration to try new things and get better at the process and enjoy the wonderment of everything involved.
I always saw the camera as an amazing machine and marvelled at the small parts and the precision at which everything worked. Even when I wasn’t taking pictures I was always holding the camera and seeing how everything worked. As I grew with photography the need to create images grew. Trying new films or lenses, using different filters to change how colours were represented when printed. Experimentation always kept the desire high for me to keep shooting.
The mix of old and new
Expression is one of the greatest reasons that I have found to pick up the camera. It took time for me to realize that you could say something with a camera. Create images that could send a message or relay an emotion. Always on the lookout for the image that shows what I see in my head. The way you see the world and what you see in it is unique and is worth sharing with people. There is so much visual content in the world today and so many photographers, there is no end to what you can see. Sharing how you see things adds to that conversation and to the community of creators and keeps you picking up the camera.
Behind the mask
Photography evolves and so does the camera. It is more accessible than ever before. Smaller cameras, even the camera in your phone can provide a professional level image, there are very few reasons to not pick one up.