I first got involved in photography this past summer when my Aunt gave my other Aunt a replacement camera. Before that, I've never really had adequate opportunities to take photos. She let me borrow it and I was off taking photos of plants, trees, and the light that ran through them. I loved the macro settings and how you could make something so small appear large and entirely different than it really is.
Looking through a camera lets me get a better view of something. I've always had this idea that the human eye sees things better and more detailed, but we really don’t. When I look through a lens, I see the world up-close and personal. There are textures and objects I normally wouldn't have noticed.
I enjoy showing those around me who don’t care what they see, what they’re missing out on. I tend to photograph plants because there are so many details and colors that people miss out on with a quick glance. People see the big picture, but without macro shots they don’t see the tiny aspects of that picture.
I love to use a shallow depth of field and odd angles because they let you see those small parts, along with the other ones. I've once told my friends and family, “Strange angles are the best!” because they truly are; you can’t capture what you’re trying to get head on, because it looks the same as anyone else who would attempt to get it. Odd angles show a different perspective and side of the story. A shallow depth of field allows you to capture the essence of the background without letting you focus on it for too long.
The thing I love the most about taking photos is what other people get out of it. Some people get exactly what I was shooting at, and others see it differently. Besides my odd angles and subject matter, that’s the most important. It’s not what I’m trying to show people, but what they see that matters.
