My Journey through the World of Photography!!!

This was me being a girl at middle school right through to my college days and then into adulthood, living in the dreams of photography for years and years, dreaming of taking photographs of nature and my family, funnily enough, I also have to mention dark rooms, developing films, printing photos, etc. I still remember the little book that I bought off the school fair when at middle school, that had information on dark room techniques. I used to spend time reading it over and over only to fantasise myself owning a printing lab, alongside the other folk tale books that I read during those times. This carried on to high school, all through my college days, as dreams although I quit reading the book when in college. It all seems funny now, but that is how desperately I dreamt, wishing and hoping that it just turned true. I did have my own doubts if I would ever be able to own a camera, and was sometimes saddened if my dreams would always remain dreams forever!!! Little did I know or have any idea that we would roll out into a world of digital technology, where the longer complicated and longer dark room processing and printing jobs would shut down to such easier jobs that can be carried out in the light and finished off in minutes!

So this is how the experience began, while I was at high school when mum for real, did buy a film camera, which she still loves and uses. I was allowed to use it once when I went for a school trip, and I remember the camera not loading the film correctly (probably my mistake), which in the end had me deeply upset. After that it was during my first year at college, I remember having the camera again for a trip out from college, and that was my first photography experience (The film did load properly then! :-)). I know I still have those photos somewhere in Mum’s house.

With life changing after my first year at college, I had to say GOODBYE to my passions that kept me going. My life changed for the worst I should say! I could feel that my dreams were falling apart and I was being pushed into a different world which did not fantasise me any more. How very haunting and frightening experience it seemed, I had to survive through it all; I was forced to. Not living the life of my dream, the roads towards my dream had taken a complete turn or should I say blocked, and gone through a horrible twist. Strongly enough, my fear for the future led me into being stubborn with going to college and qualifying as to what I am now, but my creative world crumbled.

Years passed by and I got to lay my hands on a friend’s digital camera in mid 2004. It was a basic 1.3 MP camera (Wish I had remembered it's name), had me in smiles of excitement and I spent some time clicking pictures of my family, some outdoor photos and the bits and bobs lying around the house. Hardly two months and the camera was off my hands, as my friend needed it back. Although sad, I got over it. I wanted a camera so desperately that I had desires to buy at least a mobile with camera something that had recently hit the markets. My desire was turned down and so, I lived with it, and with my dreams.

One day, it all happened just like that; I was out of the cage towards the end of 2005. I took blind courage and left for a far away land in search of life, in search of security, in search of provisions and in search of my dreams. I was starting to believe that I could live my dreams again. Nothing is free or easy in this world and keeping that in mind, I worked through a lot of obstacles, some even worse than before, used, abused, surviving the pains, heartbreaks, but still making sure that no one was hurt in that journey.

Let me not drift away and come to the point now; I laid hands on my first mobile that actually had a camera!!! Yes it had a 3 MP camera, and was in my hands in 2007. Excited like a little kid I was over the moon. I was still not sure what I was going to be photographing, and how I was going to photograph. I have shared a few pictures that I shot with that mobile. I did not stop my dream which was to own a digital camera.

Finally in October 2008, there I had as my own, my first digital camera. I really did. A point and shoot camera, a good one with all features a beginner in photography would ever need. Although I had the camera, I was held back with much in life which were not letting me go ahead with my passion. I was still in a healing process, trying to mend my heart and broken wings. The camera stayed in its case for more than a year when finally towards the end of 2010, I got to see the photographs of two of my friends who were kind of inspiring me with their simple but beautiful photographs. But the fact that they owned DSLR cameras made me believe that I could do something like that only if I owned a DSLR too, but it wasn't true. I started to use my camera with the basic features first, took it out for a few occasions and events, shot photos, but did not bother much, as I thought I could never take good photos.

Early 2011, I was around with the camera during a 2 days travel. Not much luck with my motivation or self confidence, I traveled aimlessly, all for a friend, to places where I did not want to go. Nothing entertained me personally or with capturing any pictures. Shattered and upset towards the end, sitting on a coach heading home, that was when it all happened for me. A photo, shot from the bus, was all that triggered this flaming passion for photography inside me. It was just a simple photo but it triggered my dying passion. I have written my experience in this hub, the experience and how I shot it, and what it did to me.

The Photograph that kindled my passion for Photography!!!

Ever since then, I have been trying my best amidst the difficult times; taking photos with my camera and mobiles. It is an exciting journey for an amateur photographer like me, and I learn a lot everyday. I have a few friends who are into photography who provide me with feedback on my pictures; I am now not frightened to show my pictures to people, like I initially did but still a bit nervous. I am building my confidence little by little, all thanks to my friends and other people who have motivated me and helped me build my confidence.

You can have a look at my albums on my Facebook page, Livingsta's Art Gallery, and Google plus page (Will include my website / webpage when I have confidently done one).

Thank you for stopping by and taking time to read.

Livingsta.