I clutch my camera in my hand, and wait for the hummingbird to hover in front of the stream of water. I focus the lens, and push the button. The eyes of the hummingbird are frozen, and the beak stands still, a centimeter from the water. The water laid silent in mid air, as the layer of hydro-molecules touch the water’s surface. That moment of serenity, or beauty, is now permanently encased in a glass frame and sitting on a windowsill, or hanging on a plastered wall. One second in the rapid current of a non-stop clock can be captured and kept forever. It is the most clever and extraordinary invention. The world likes to call it photography.
Photography is all about capturing the moment. It’s about exploring a new area or new idea, and having the ability to capture whatever stands in the way. And in order to keep that image or memory, we use a camera. When I walk around the neighborhood, or photograph children running freely through a meadow, I feel nothing can compare to the ability of keeping this moment forever. Capturing the smile off the kid who always seems to cause trouble, seeing the hint of blue in her eyes, when in reality, you just see that green haze.
Recognition of such an inspiring piece, like a child’s wide smile, is also an amazing feeling. When I hand in a black and white version of the widest smile from the 6 year-old boy, the lights reflection through his blue eyes illuminate the center of the photo. The parents hold it, smile, and congratulate my art.
If civilization becomes extinct, or the human race disappears, what will be there in order to educate others on what life was like? What could be there in memory of a formal event, or the big day? What could there be hanging on the wall, so every time a husband went down to make coffee in the morning, he would smile to the picture of his son on their swing set.
Photography is a lost art, but to people like me, it’s a lifestyle. Photography is my motivation. After my daily workout, I’ll think about a camera in my hands. Photography is a shortcut to opportunity. The drive I have when I think about the camera, can lead me to experiences I would have never been on, just because I develop that high with a camera in my hands.