Photography has been an interest of mine for as long as I have been competent enough to hold a camera. I loved to document the world around me, even if that world was simply my own backyard. When my pictures were developed, I would gingerly hold each blurry photograph of leaves by the tips of my fingers, each a treasure, each my own. This is a hobby that I have carried my whole life, evolving and growing alongside me. I have shot with film cameras, cell phone cameras, digital point-and-shoots, and, recently, a digital single-lens reflex. However, despite the change in format and process, the heart of the activity remains the same: I simply love to take pictures.
I am not living life through my lens, I assure you. Rather, having a camera in my hands augments the world around me. I become hyper-aware of everything that has the potential to be beautiful. My life has become enriched because I have learned to appreciate the earth around me.
The rise in popularity of picture-based social media platforms such as Instagram has provided a wonderful, informal outlet for people to share their photos with others around the world. That being said, your content does not have to appease the masses. Embrace your art with open arms because it is your own. You have created these unique representations of your own world viewpoint. Don't stage photographs of broken mirrors and eroded statues simply because you want to be taken seriously. In the world of creativity, you come first. Being selfless will only produce disingenuous art.
I have had an Instagram account for a little over five years, and a Flickr account for over eight. Though I enjoy interacting with other people through these platforms, my accounts are primarily for me. I love to look back on my older pictures because they offer an accurate representation of my frame of mind and perspective at the time. Though the dramatic, over-saturated photos of roses that I took when I was twelve are not quite to my taste today, I certainly was proud when I posted them.
Do not feel guilty for finding beauty in this world, generic as it may seem. If you want to stop and take a picture of an especially dramatic sunset in a parking lot, do it. Too often are mundane things not acknowledged. Flowers are inherently beautiful things. Of course, they have been photographed millions of times. That does not make your photograph any less striking or any less unique.
Some "inexperienced" photographers have either the funds or the drive to start with professional grade equipment. Do not listen to the war-cries of those that still hold onto the artistic angst of their adolescence. "Having a DSLR doesn't mean that you're a photographer." You know what? It is okay to have a nice camera, even if you just shoot in automatic mode. Just go out and take pictures. Catalog cute cats or cracks in the sidewalk that you find particularly thought-provoking. There is no magical line you have to cross to become a photographer. You do not need to have nice equipment or years of experience. Every master started out as a beginner in their craft.
Photography has never been more accessible. This has caused the simultaneous rise of photography as an art, and downfall of photography as a career (the age of user-submitted photos is upon us). Take advantage of this creatively nurturing time. Wear your camera around your neck and be proud of your chic tourist look. Post your photos to Instagram. Share them with your sister who lives 600 miles away. Have fun making art that is uniquely your own.
