Photographer, this is your life!

I am a photographer, and more often than not I think about the past four months that I have spent clicking that shutter or dragging that slider in Photoshop. Since I bought my first dslr last August I never looked back. Shooting anything and everything that captures my eye. It's funny I have never knew this thirst in photos until the arrival of Nikky (my D60). But don't misunderstood me, before Nikky there was Casio Exilim Compact Digital Camera and I was already shooting a lot back then. Actually, I was so disappointed when the Casio camera broke last February that I have to buy a new one again. If there was something to be thankful about it, I was only 7 days away from going back home in the country and not much left to photograph in London. March until July passed without a camera because of some concerns I needed to attend to financially. I even went to Bohol with my family but still no camera. Good thing my mom and elder sister got one on this trip. But she doesn't know where the backup cd is! Arrrgggh!

Finally, last August, I made it a point to buy a DSLR as an early birthday gift for myself in September! Wow! I got really excited! I chose Nikon for the reason that my friend Jo, (please pray for her, she's in the hospital as of this writing. Miss you Jo! Get well soon!) has inspired me with her stunning captures here. She's a D40x user and her dad is superb shooter too with his D3! See here. (The zenfolio page, I forgot). Wow D3! I should have that someday too! That was the story behind my D60. I never knew any multiply group or a good photographer's blog back then.

Today and for the past four months I never stopped shooting. Accumulating 40Gigabytes of photos with a stunning 10k shutter actuations count to date. My multiply website does not really show how much photos I got. I still have hundreds left to post process. A huge backlog it may be it does not matter, it doesn't bother me rather it exhilirates me. Every photo comes an equivalent emotion, a feeling that comes from deep within. A photo that brings in a smile, even a laughter or a smirk or even sadness and perhaps a teary eye or a shed of it. It is simply life unfolding. We photographers capture life, but how and when can we capture such when our life unfolds with every moment spent in capturing and processing? I doubt if it can be done. Nevertheless, it is really not essential. What is essential is in every photograph, it is full of emotions. For many, the lovely scenes worth remembering. Funny thing is for candid and paparrazi shots, the moments left unnoticed are emphasized and brought to immortality. For some, it brings back memories of old times. For a few, dreams that came true and dreams that are nearing our reach and even the dreams that can't be reached. Who wouldn't say that what you capture is who you are and what defines you? Beauty captured, perhaps you admire beauty and longs to be with one. For tourist attractions, you are an adventurer and longing for more. For nudity, an artist thristing for more or the desire to bring out your fiery passions. For nature, the love of it and intimate protection of mother earth. For Religion, to honor God for His marvelous creations. In fact, it is a medium of glorifying Him, to thank Him for every shot that you take, for without Him there is nothing to capture. For with Him, there is life worth remeniscing, worth the second to the nth thought, worth another thank you Lord. 

I understand we differ on perspective in photography, but for me, every image has a piece of me. Figuratively and literally. 

Literally, I don't look so good shooting. Toinks!

I go down and dirty. But yeah, if dirt or water can be avoided, the oddest position that it can be!

Taking deep breathes and going in pools of emotions and thinking.

Taking the shot on the position you learned or by instinct.

Going to the best position that you think to capture the moment.

In whatever part of the world that you may be. Either a pro or a hobbyist. A DSLR or a compact digicam user, your photo is you. Speaking in first person, my photos is what defines me. It is what makes me happy. So the next time your friend tells you, "Lahat nalang pinipicture mo!" (You're photographing everything!) or your mom tells you, "Pati ba naman yan pinipicturan mo!?" (Why are you photographing even that?!)..tell them, this is my life and who I am. I express myself thru photos, I make the pretty even prettier, the beautiful to exemplary, the mundane..extraordinary..the ugly perhaps acceptable (lol!), the unnoticed..immortalized.

 

It is a passion that brings out life, that brings back the past life and the present. Photography is life. An extraordinary passion. For you, what is photography? Why do you shoot?

Whatever it is, keep on shooting!

Photographer, this is your life!

Always passionate,

Jay

All photos are courtesy of IJ Molina, my fellow shooter friend. Thanks Ayj for always shooting me.