In the few years I've had a camera in hand, I've learned many things: how the camera works, how light reacts in different environments, how colors interact, how the brain processes what it sees, human posture, bird names, and the history of art.
There’s no denying that photography is a very deep field.
But today, I want to talk about how photography taught me to be present in my environment and to appreciate everything around me.
When you start photography, you pay attention to events and objects: a majestic tree in a large field, a child going down a slide, a Ferrari rolling down Main Street, a bride kissing the groom, the Eiffel Tower. These are all things worth capturing that would create wonderful images. But over time, your perception changes, and you begin noticing deeper details in your environment: the sunlight kissing the leaves of the majestic tree, the smile and expression of the child on the slide, the motion of the Ferrari, the wind blowing the bride's hair as she kisses the groom, the beautiful angles of the Eiffel Tower.
This is similar to a wine connoisseur who can taste the subtleties of wine. Photographers become connoisseurs of their environment. What a gift that is.
Not a sunset goes unnoticed. No shadow is ignored. Every reflection is discerned. Moving clouds are perceived, birds pinpointed, insects spotted, flowers observed. The list goes on.
As you go about your day, dear photographers, pay attention to everything you notice. Because you've held a camera in your hand so often, you see the world differently.
What a gift!