Ever since I was little, I have had this love of taking pictures. It started with the old disposable cameras. Whenever there was one just lying around the house with only a few pictures left on it, I would go through and make sure that they were full. I was being helpful really - no need for there to be half a dozen partially used cameras lying around, right?
I even remember my first real camera, and honestly, I really wish that I still had it. It looked like a toy, but it was one of those old character film cameras. And let me tell you, it was the greatest thing in the world to me. It was big and pink and had Barbie on it. I don't know that it took the greatest pictures, but it was mine and I loved it. Several years later, on my sixth grade trip to Washington D.C., I was back to the disposable cameras. I left for the trip with two cameras and came home with six full cameras.
My love of photography only grew from there. Once I got into high school, my dad finally bought me my first digital camera. It was the biggest piece of crap you could imagine. It took horrible pictures, but again, it was mine and I loved it. I went through a second crappy camera before my parents got me a halfway decent camera for my 16th birthday. It was just a little red Samsung camera; it didn't look like it would take very good pictures, but it did. All of a sudden I had stepped up my photography game. Not by much, but it was a step in the right direction.
This was from one of the first crappy cameras. A view of the Chicago skyline from the top of the Sears Tower. Photo taken April 10, 2009.
This was taken on the Samsung camera. This is a view of Central Park from The Top of The Rock in New York City, New York. Photo taken April 8, 2010.
There is not a whole lot of difference at first glance. Both are city skylines and were taken from a high point. Both cameras were set on the auto setting, but in the first picture there was not a whole lot of depth in the photograph. Overall it was a very flat, boring image to look at, but man was I proud of the picture when I took it! The second picture, on the other hand, is much more interesting to look at. There is a sense of focus that is missing in the first image. Not only is it a slightly more recognizable view than the first, but there is something about it that just gets your attention. Sadly though, that little red camera did not survive me being a klutz. It had a good life though, and it took thousands of great pictures for me.
But that was only the beginning. The following year, for my 17th birthday, I got my first Nikon DSLR. My life was changed. My dad actually told me about it months before my birthday, and when I was home alone I would get it out and play with it. I was learning how to take long exposure pictures and having a blast! I still put on the surprised face when I opened it though. It was a Nikon D40. It was several years old when I got it, but it was and still is a great beginner's DSLR camera. My photography game was taking leaps now.
This was one of my first attempts at taking a long exposure photo. Taken December 16, 2010.
This was taken after my brother's wedding in 2011 at Mexico Beach, Florida. It is still one of my favorite pictures I took on that trip. Photo taken April 16, 2011.
While I have not tried to take a long exposure photo recently, they are still some of my favorite shots to take. One of my favorite things to do on night car rides, when I am not driving, is to pull out my camera and take pictures of the highway lights as we drive. You can get some really cool effects from the lights.
This was taken on my way home from something; I couldn't tell you where from. Photo taken February 26, 2011.
This is only the start to my story about my love of photography. It is one story that will probably never end. I fell in love with it at an early age and it has only grown stronger throughout the years. I feel as though I have rambled on enough for one post. Keep an eye out for part two to this story soon!
