This particular photo of the green and orange glider hovering mere inches on the oceans waves has always inspired me to live boldly. One of my favorite photos I’ve photographed.
Recently, I picked up a book of one of my favorite photographer/ authors Chris Orwig, Visual Poetry. Through his book I am rediscovering once again my passion for photography. I am a firm believer that every writer, artist, and creative beings need to be reminded why they are creating and what they do.
Go back, if you will nearly 10 years. I would have been twelve then. A quiet observant twelve year old who if allowed would have surprised you with spunk. Otherwise you just saw a small petite blond girl who was very quiet. I was interested in photography then but didn’t know that it was going to grow into a passion. I’d take my moms old Nikon camera and fiddle around it taking some awful photos that shall never again see the light of day, but very now and then a diamond would appear. You know something I didn’t care how good I was I just took photographs.
Unfortunately, my camera- my favorite camera of all times disappeared into the abbess cave of a light roller coaster ride. Don’t ever take a camera on a ride on a second thought leave your phone behind as well, but that’s a story for a different day. My first SLR film camera came along in my senior high-school year. I think I flooded my teacher with photographs. I remember taking in at least two rolls of film every week. My passion had grown. My teacher wanted see my photographs and she got her wish.
In my first year in college everyone had a digital camera but I still had my good ole N80 Nikon she is still my friend to this day. I worked with positive film and fell in love. It was then when I started to care about how good my photographs were an how technically correct they were. I struggled in my class that year and spent loads of money on film. Often I went to bed frustrated and determined.
My professor stretched me and I often stayed after class to get his advice. He relished fact I was one of the few who still did film. He pushed me harder than my other classmates because he saw how badly I wanted this and he didn’t sugar coat his words for which I am grateful. Three years later I graduated with an associates degree in photography. I was grateful to my professors who never minded my questions and flat out told me when my photographs needed work. Painful to be sure but well worth it.
My favorites quote that Chris Orwig said inspired me to try this for myself
Limitations activate the creative mind. They require that you ask, How can I make the best of what I have?
Limitations are plentiful, especially with my mind’s thinking and my camera equipment. I have only one camera and two film lens. My flash malfunction about six months ago and ever since I have creatively done without. I am going to purchase a second camera with a macro lens along with a flash. But if I don’t buy anything else for a long time, then it will stretch me to become even more creative. The I forced to be creative the more risk I take. The more risk I take the more I can see of the world to share with others. How exciting!
As years gone by, I’ve learned to work with what I have not waiting for the newest best thing. Time does not stand still and I don’t want to miss out because I am too busy going if only if I had…
No. I pull out my camera and photograph anyways. After all some of the best photographs came from a brownie camera such as the ones that Ansel Adams made.