As an AV Tech student, I've been using cameras for about three years now. It's been a really long and expensive journey, but it has all been wonderful. And so, as I played around taking some pictures, I realized that while learning to use a camera I have also learned quite a bit about how on can look at life in a way that is more artistic, and in a way that really makes life a lot more enjoyable to me.
The first and also the most important thing that you learn is that focus is key.
There are a lot of messy things in life, that are important for sure. But you really need to find the things that matter the most and focus on them. Be it your family, your job, your friends, whatever you decide make the journey smooth and worth the expenses. Focus on that.
You also learn that Contrast makes things interesting.
Pure light is blinding and you can't see in the dark. One of the things most of us forget is that having contrast in our life is what really makes good parts of life stand out. Now, that doesn't mean go base jumping (unless you want to); but what you can do is going out and try something different, crazy different, fun different, awkward different like going to a new food place, or a park that you've never gone to before, or watching a movie, that kind you've never seen before.
When in doubt, zoom it in.
Some of the things that people forget about is that life is filled with beautiful little things, taking a step closer to things that you see every day and never pay attention to, that may just be a great learning opportunity, you never know what you are going to find in a closer look, noticing those little details. Go ahead and talk to that person that has been in your company forever and a half and discover the color of her/him, go ahead and find out who the park bench you sit on waiting for the bus is named after, go ahead and ask your parents about the hobbies that they had before you were born. The point is to find the little things and makes them that big that you couldn't possibly forget them ever again.
But most of all you really need to learn to Never miss the chance to take a picture.
Really. it's fun and good to compare photography to life itself but there is one comparison that really shines. Never miss a chance. Going back to photography, you can technically say that "no photo is a bad photo," but that's a lie. There are a lot of bad photos that are still worth taking because, when you are trying every shot, there are more chances of a having a good photo. Anyway, that is what life is also about. There will be a lot of chances that will not cost anything to try. Take them. At least a few of them are bound to be good. Worse case scenario you end up with a cool story of the time you went to that weird food place.
