I was grade six when i first hold camera, i remember back then that you need to buy 12, 24 or 36 film shoot and you have to be very good so you can maximize your shoot and you wont burn your photo. The joy of waiting how does the photo looks was always been very exciting for me. A dopamine to my soul, i remember my childhood!
Back in high school i do bring our old fuji film camera and take shoot on special occasion. After college i had a chance to become USAID intern, work at Congress of the Philippines and study at University of the Philippines Diliman which never comes into my wildest imaginations. We visit so many places and Offices including Senate of the Philippines. What a wonderful experience that was freeze through photograph, and its always a wonderful feeling to look back in happy days, the feeling of gratitude increase. Beautiful experience that was forever engrave in my heart.
Moving on to Qatar, may first camera was Fujifilm and since then my love for photography was develop. I own few digital camera after that, taking photo become a habit and i also use my phone. But then i stopped, i stopped because i need to do medications and i dont want to photograph my hospital days, it makes me sad.
Here i am coming back to my love after deciding to buy myself Canon M50 Mark II in August 2021. I know that few people who know me taking photo for long time told me why not Nikon, ect, but really i cannot answer you too! perhaps its very expensive and Canon M50 Mark II is within my budget it is compact and will fit my bag and would give me powerful shoot as long as i have the correct lens for what i intend to shoot.
Being minimalist myself i don't fancy carrying huge and bulky items, i want light hand carry camera, and currently am using 55-200mm lens which is very good telephoto lens ideal for portraits, sports, and wildlife photography.
If in the future i will have more budget i would wanted to get Macro lense Canon 28mm f/3.5 for my products in e-shop and Canon EF-M 32mm F1.4 STM which can give me the bokeh effect that i always wanted. Although i am happy with 55-200mm i really want Canon 18-150 f/3.5 coz its the best overall lens!
Ahhh i have long list to fulfill and i will have them one day at a time, for now i am happy with what i have. And i am just so excited as to what and where does photography might bring me and give me. For now let me share to you my personal thought about photography and what i get from it.
1. See people smiles
I do photograph as enthusiast, and not for money although i am receiving some photography works that give me back money or certain give backs and privilege. But for me their is more important thing than money and that is the joy i see in people whenever they get their photo, if they are happy, i am definitely happy for them too. It give me joy when i see people posting the photo i took in their social media, i feel proud of myself because i know somehow i made their day, they may forgot me in the future once am gone, but i hope they dont forget how happy they are when they look back to their photos.
2. Found and Re-connect with Friends
During my trip to Dubai last October 2021 because i am holding camera few people are asking me if i am a professional and i always answer them i am enthusiast. Some of them keep in touch through Instagram and its really feel good to know other people who has same interest as you are, you have so many things to talk about. I also re-connect with people i know before and asked them for some tips and advice as am really back to zero and navigating new camera which is kinda difficult for me.
3. New found joy
Photography is an addiction, once you start, it becomes your blood, that runs within your body. For those who don't know photography or doesn't like photography they may thing that you are just capturing same place, same subject and its boring. But for me, everyday is a new shoot, and freezing the moment through photograph is all you can, because no experience is exactly the same, it will always be different from what you experience the previous day. It is a wonderful experience that makes me smile whenever i look back at those photographs specially if i can see that they are laughing or smiling, my heart is smiling too!
4. Stress reliever
Corporate world is honesty very stressful. Many of us work like a slave where in its too difficult to say no, or i don't want to do it, rather you can only reply yes sir or okey i will do it.
Having something to do and look forward too after a very long and tiring day is always exciting. I forgot my worries and stress when i photograph, rather i focus on my subject and try my best to improve my shoot each and every day.
5. Earn Money
Photography give you money, freebies and privilege. I photograph few establishments and my Camera has receive good amount of ROI (return of investment) sometimes in a form of coupon, free stuff or monetary specially if they really like my shoot and wanted to use it for marketing purposes. I also receive work from a ladies who wanted to have portrait photograph and wanted to be photograph by lady, although i cannot share their photos on my page its amazing feeling when i see them very happy with the result.
6. See places
Now that i started photography i again, i intend to wake up early and go to place so i can shoot it with no to very less people. It is amazing how it made me drive to the destination at 6am just to shoot. Not just it made me see place but it also make me more healthier because i don't just stay in my room and do nothing. I feel so energetic and excited. There are so many places that i wanted to visit and shoot and for me that is exciting!
7. Understanding beyond photo
There are so many subject that a photographer can capture but most of those who love to photograph wanted to say or express something. If it is your great intention to connect and understand them in a deeper manner you need to pay attention to their photo it tell alo't about what matter to them, what they value and what they feel.
Professional and enthusiast don't just captured photo, they express themselves through photo they capture the best those that they love or value the most. Photography is the expression of un-spoken words and a form of love.
