One of my favourite things to do in the summer is walk. Not only is it good exercise, but it's a good time to think, and unwind. In the past, I've needed a purpose to my walks. I found that I would tend to give up if I didn't have to be somewhere.
Something's changed though. I've started enjoying looking out at my city, and seeing all the beauty that's out there. Even in the scruffiest of neighbourhoods, there's beauty to be found. To that end, I started making sure that I never leave the house without my camera and video camera. Too many times I'd see something that I'd really like and wish I had my camera. That doesn't happen now.
At first, it was a little difficult. I'd spend so much time "looking" for a good shot that I often missed the most interesting things. I thought that I had to take my photos based on what I thought others would like, when all along, the only person I had to please was me. So, I started taking pictures of what interested me, and soon enough, I found that it was second nature.
These days, when I go on my camera walks, I let the camera decide where we're going. I know that sounds like a really odd thing to say, but it's pretty much what happens. I don't plan, really, other than deciding on a direction to start out in. I do what feels right. That really works for me. I take a lot of photos that look interesting to me, and people seem to like them as well. At first I worried that they were only humouring me, but as I get more comfortable with it, my confidence has soared.
Today, I had some child free time, and my cameras and I went out for a walk. And soon enough, I was in my zone, taking my photos and feeling good. As I walked, I got an idea for a painting I wanted to do, and an idea for another project I had been planning, and I started thinking about how awesome life is. Sure, there are troubles that come up sometimes, and it's not always easy, but it's definitely worth it to be alive, and to get out there and experience the world. It's so easy to get trapped in a negative mindset, but I just can't do it. There's just so much to be happy for.
I walked through a park, and was looking at this piece that had all these sayings on it, and while I was snapping off pictures I realized how happy I am that this creative side of me was unleashed. I love creating, and the more I create, the more I want to create, and the more I feel I have to create. Taking pictures is definitely what I feel drawn to, it's like a living, breathing being that needs to come out, or it'll eat me from the inside out. You know, nothing dramatic, or anything. Hehehe.
I think that, when I grow up, I want to be a photographer. I think I've got a pretty good eye, and, while I don't know much about the finer points of photography, I can certainly learn, can't I? It feels right, so I'm definitely going to see what I can do to further this goal, and in the meantime, I'm going to keep snapping away.
