Passion on a Whim

Many of you would be surprised to learn that photography wasn't something I always aspired to do.  To be truthful I had never had any interest in the visual arts.  All throughout my life I have spent time learning different musical instruments but I also felt I wasn't creative enough to enter into the world of visual arts.  So if I had no interest in visual arts how did I get started in photography you may ask? 

Taking up photography for me was something of a last resort.  As we spoke about recently in my sense of self post,
when I got out of the hospital I was lost.  Everything I had spent the last few years focusing on were no longer.  It was despressing being stuck at home everyday while everyone else started to pick back up their regular lives and I was slowly getting into a deep funk.  I knew I needed something to fill the void and give me back a sense of self.

I had always dreamed of learning to sail so I signed up for some lessons in late April eager to learn. My plan was to get my boating license, get a small sailboat to dock at the marina across the street from me and spend my summer days sailing.  What a dream!! 

My Original Dream

Unfortunately, our first lessons were met with stormy weather and 15 foot waves on the lake.  I quickly learnt how much energy and strength were taken from me in the chemotherapy process and I was not my old self anymore.  I got home from the first class cold and tired and informed Amy that I decided I wasn't going to continue with the lessons.  I knew not only did I not have the strength but it posed an incredible health risk to me as well. 

As you can imagine this didn't help with the sense of depression that was setting in.  To try and fight it off I would go out for small walks each day.  These were to serve dual purpose.  First, they allowed me to get much needed exercise and slowly build back my strength but they also got me out of the apartment and into the world.  The funny thing with the walks is I found myself enjoying them quite a bit.  I found myself more attune to sounds, nature, and often would see things that I would have in the past walked right by.  When I got back that night I informed Amy that I was going to try photography.  This is one of the things she is so good with me, and said if you still want to do it in two weeks go ahead... We had to make a little 2 week rule because I always want to try so many diffferent things. 

1.5 weeks went by and I ordered my camera (I cheated a little so it would arrive at the 2 week mark :) ).  My first day out was splendid.  I had no idea what I was doing but I was just shooting everything.  Surprisingly looking back now I actually did have an eye for composition because without any training or research there are some compositional elements in my earliest photos.  More or less it was just snapshots but I caught the bug.  I spent the rest of the year just photographing nature as I saw it. 

It still wasn't an overwhelming passion of mine but with each passing month I fell a little more in love with it.  I slowly because to start reading a little bit about making better photos and then would go out and try and practice what I learnt. 

Just as photography was starting to take more of a front stage as a passion, my transplant came about and I was heading back into the hospital.  I figured when I got back out of the hospital I would pick right back up where I left off, little did I know my inspiration would be gone and a new passion would form.......
Check back for the continuation of this story in "A Photo That Changed Everything"

 

Did You Enjoy This Blog? Get all my posts delivered FREE to your email!