Why I love photography

Mar 28, 20167 min read

Deviation Actions

Published: Mar 28, 2016

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I can't say I'm the best writer, but this is something that I want to share. I hope my words can be found relatable, or at least inspire someone. So here it goes:

People think that modern day photography is as simple as clicking a button, but it's far beyond that. Photography has helped me to see the world in a different way.

The evil eye is watching you by LawrenceCornellPhoto

When I go on walks, I take the time to notice the little things in nature, weeds, small flowers, insects, frost patterns, that most wouldn't take notice of. In a world focused on technology, photography has allowed me to slow down, pause, and just appreciate the natural world for an extra moment. It allowed me to appreciate the true beauty of the world we live in. Sometimes, I'll point to a beautiful sunset to a non-photographer friend, and they'll look at it and say, "Oh, okay, cool." and go on about their life. This is not to say that all non-photographers are careless about their surroundings and I'm sure that many do appreciate it, but it saddens me that there are some who just don't notice or appreciate the little things in nature that bring a smile to my face. I can be certain that if I had not bought a camera 6 years ago, I would be less appreciative of such things. I mean, dandelions... Who would've seen the beauty in those annoying weeds?

However, I can say that one downside of seeing a beautiful sunset is that it takes my eyes off the road when driving. And then I have to remind myself to keep my eyes on the road! :wink:

Multiple Streams Of Fire Sunset by wolfwings1

Photography lets people see the details of common household items that nobody would have thought would make a good photo subject. It streches one's creativity. Take the example of a toothbrush below:

Photography has deepened my passion for worldwide travel. I often look at pictures across the globe, and think to myself, "I would love to visit there, experience the culture and take lots of pictures!". (Now unfortunately, I'm still a student so I cannot travel too often). And by travel worldwide, I do not just mean the luxurious vacation destinations. Photography has inspired me to want to travel to ALL places, rich and poor communities, cold and warm places, calm rural and busy urban places. Not just stay at a comfy resort, but to go out and EXPLORE. Also, as an aspiring engineer, I hope to join an organization in the future to assist in infrastructure development in the poor communities in the world. To approach new cultures open-mindedly, to learn about their lifestyle, and of course to eat new foods!

My biggest regret from my recent family trip to the Cayman Islands is that I didn't capture the lifestyle of the people there. Such a small island and small population, but there is such a rich culture. The friendliness and smiles of the people were captivating. Street photography is something that I want to try for my next trip, whenever that will be.

Photography has helped me see the beauty of people. Facial expressions, features, smiles, freckles, laugh lines. I noticed these things much more as a photographer. People are beautiful, young and old. When a new baby was born, I even took note of their facial features to see which parent the baby resembled more!