{Photography} Inspired by Life & Light

I never considered myself an artist....ever...in my entire life. There may have been hope when I was a just a little one and my kindergarten teacher complained to my mom that I spent too much time drawing and coloring. That may have been where my artistic efforts began and ended. Until I discovered photography, of course.

But for the first time in my life I just may be an artist, after all. One, a lot of nice people tell me I am artistic. Two, I am my own worst critic and agonize over image editing and production (definitely the definition of an artist, right?). Three, I see everything through the eyes of my camera view finder, CONSTANTLY. I'm constantly thinking in my head what would make a good image when I am viewing the world. For example, I will be teaching in my classroom and notice the light streaming through the back window creating a halo around a student of mine....and I'll think, "that would make such a beautiful portrait." It's constant, seriously.

I chase sunsets. And I would chase sunrises too...if I could only rise that early. I'm obsessed with sun flare. I see it everywhere! I love reflections. And repeating patterns. I look at beautiful scenery and I want to freeze it in my mind...just like a photograph. I see laughing children, couples, and elderly....and want to take their picture and give it to them...so they too will remember this moment for eternity. I feel life in all it's joy and pain...and I feel incredibly blessed to capture it with my camera. And when my camera is not with me...I'm just happy that I've learned to actually see it. I see so much more...now that I am a photographer.