I have been called a "photomaniac" before. This was in reference of my love for photos, not a love for light as could be the meaning of the word. It is true, I do love a camera in my hands. Although I have not delved too far into the manual use of cameras or the professional side of photography, something about being behind the lens makes me feel at peace. I prefer my digital SLR, but always have my point and shoot in my purse.
I just purchased a new camera. I am partial to Nikon's for some reason. I believe in the pictures the Nikon lens produces and the quality of the brand. My new point and shoot is a 16 megapixel (which I really don't believe makes much of a difference in everyday use above 8 mp or so, but it sounds impressive), 7X zoom camera with a touch screen. I'm not sure how I will like the touch screen, but it is difficult to find many small point and shoots with more than a 3X zoom, and I was convinced this was the newest and best of the point and shoot Nikons. I am excited to learn this new camera and what all it is capable of. My old one worked perfectly fine, but I was feeling the urge to get something new, like somehow I was lagging behind in the world of cameras! Now I have the itch to get a new digital SLR as well. Cameras are just exciting to me I guess, even though I'm nowhere near an expert on them.
I like to think I have a good eye for photos. I enjoy trying to capture images that are unique to my perspective. I think it is intriguing to see the difference in a picture based on a perspective. We all have a different view of life, and we get to see a glimpse of each other's views through photography. I'm not incredibly knowledgable technically, but I understand the basics. I want to get out and click the shutter. I want to capture what is around me. There is beauty and intrique everywhere we go, and sometimes it doesn't feel like enough to just soak it all in with my eyes. One interesting thing to me is that it seems to feel like a personal thing to me, as if I just want to be alone behind my camera capturing whatever it is I am capturing. This is why I have never been much interested in trying to do portriats. I'm not very vocal, I don't know how to tell someone what I want them to do or be in a picture. I am more interested in the candid shots, the unplanned moments.
I would say photography is my one real hobby, even though I don't know a whole lot, even though I don't go out to shoot photos that often, even though I don't share it with many others. I love it, it puts me at peace, makes me feel completely vulnerable and open to the world, and gives me something that is completely mine. I like to think I get one absolutely incredible picture for ever 1,000 I take! Now I feel the need to get out and take some pictures...
