Discovering Photography

When I was small, people find it hard to shoot me good photos. Labeled being snob and not-so-friendly by people who don't really know me as I'm so stingy with smile. Seemingly like the infamous mysterious smile of Mona Lisa, the smile that will keep you wondering, what was she thinking?

Then one elementary recognition day change it all. Prior to that day, my Mom told me she can't come because my father needs her more at the hospital and my Aunt will represents her instead. I wholeheartedly accepted but admittedly saddened by the situation as my proud parents won't be around to see me reap the fruit of my labor. When I was called to go up the stage with my parents, my Aunt looked at me happily pointing her finger at another direction realizing my Mom was there waiting for me. I was jumping high, hurriedly walked towards her direction to reach her hand. That instantly became one of my happiest moments. Photographers are clicking their huge manual cameras left and right, just anywhere near you. That is just one of the momentous events they are waiting to earn big time. I didn't really care; I was drowned by my own happiness. Later on, I was taken by surprise with what I saw, a candid shot of me smiling joyfully with my Mom; it portrayed pure happiness and contentment of a child in the hand of her loving mom.

From there on, I started to play my Dad's camera. That time, I always looked forward to pleasant weather Saturdays as my dad consistently bring us to the beaches and islets near our hometown just to play with the sand and sea all day long with my siblings while he takes photographs of us. He often caught me carefully looking at him, at every flick of his fingers and every aims to his subject. I grew with great aspiration. I’ve been indecisive in this diversion at some point because that was the era of manuals and films; it's also the time when developing centers would ask you to pick up your photos two days later.

Now, I’m taking short course to fully understand the underlined Photography. As you know, taking pictures is easy, as long as you can put the subject in the frame, you can call it good pictures. What I really want to develop is the sense of really seeing my subject through my lens, to frame their feelings and to confine their emotions in a piece of paper.

I know it will take me loads of film rolls before I could step the next stage. Nevertheless, this modern technology minimized or should I say eliminated the heavy burden of enthusiasts like me; it’s now the era of shoot and delete. As the old adage goes, practice makes perfect.