Thinking about Amy’s comment Whether you are a pro, semi-pro or hobbyist with an SLR, I am so, so excited to hear your story!”. I hang on to the story and the hobbyist part taking it to heart. Hobbyist combines with aspirations to some day be able to afford an SLR camera, the secret silver lining in every cloud. My older model Sony shoots a 6 megapixel shot. No cropping allowed. When I see the perfect shot, whip out the camera, I cross my fingers I’ve framed it just right to print. Sometimes inspiring and aspiring link together for me. I may aspire to be a better photographer. At the same time I’m inspired by the short comings of my own camera. The vestiges to become a photographer trace a little further back then the age of my camera though.
Vague memories of the dark room under the stairs in our family house in Virginia laid the groundwork for a love of photography. Funny smells, the red light, my Dad tucked away in the dark developing film right under my brother and my noses. Stacks of albums, loose pictures spilling out of drawers connected to stories all hold the key to shared memories. Remembering the shots growing up as my Dad set us up for a family picture on top of a mountain after a 7 mile hike during which we whined and complained the whole way. Then at the top, like a breath of fresh clean clear air, the surly faces captured at the half way point shine with smiles.
In high school I attempted to follow in his footsteps taking a black and white photography class. Wandering up and down the suburban neighborhood streets I looked, surveyed, knelt, crawled, leaned, every way possible while playing with light and perspective for each assignment. I found little encouragement in the class at the end of the semester. I feel the class hampered my little photographer dream more than I ever realized. Turning away from the camera, life passed me by.
Life just happens. So many intervening good and bad times from marriage, divorce, moving across the country, new friendships to blind dates, traveling abroad, deaths and births all fed back into the dream of being a photographer. Even if just a little one. My family now provides me the safety and the security to build on that little dream. I feel inspired most by their love and support that I can be what I want to be, sometimes it just takes a little time to get there. My old Sony helps paint the way more than I ever thought it would.
Photography means more to me than my 40 hour a week job. Hidden from the world in a basement office, photography offers an escape, a chance to view life with a new perspective outside the constraints of a day job fighting to make sure the mortgage and the truck payments get made. Moving to New Mexico, choosing a rural lifestyle, having a family of my own provides me with overwhelming inspiration to become a better photographer. Motivation to capture those same memories witnessed in my childhood for some one else to share forever with their family and friends inspires now more than ever. I feel inspiration comes from the inside then viewed through the lens and printed on glossy paper to cherish forever.
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