Why I Became a Photographer.

I was asked a little while ago what inspired me to become a photographer, even if it is a hobby now. In 2008, when I was 18, I was in Harper's Ferry WV, had a little 3-megapixel camera that I loved dearly that my sis got me. 

Anyways, there are the old factory ruins there and I love that place. 

While running around and being stupid on one visit, there was a photography session going on, I didn't notice it at first, just the Viking Man in the old factory ruins. They all stopped to look at me, I apologized for disturbing them when the Viking Model called out to me if I wanted a picture. I nodded and he posed. 

To this day, I love this pic, besides the model being cute, especially to 18-year-old me LOL and he isn't too bad on the eyes now at 27-years-old either! I then needed space on my computer and unfortunately resized this pic smaller. 

I had always loved taking photos, I traveled so much growing up that when I told my "friends" where I've been, they didn't believe me, so I always was taking photos to show where I've been and what I've seen.

This day for the model and photographer (and a wife and baby on site too) may have been interrupted by a teenage girl, but they don't know that at that moment, they changed my mind and swayed my heart. This made a teenage girl feel passion for something that wasn't just a video game, but for living life. And that is something this 18-year-old needed at the time. 

I remember being angry and being alone, having just broken up with my boyfriend, my dad who just got out of prison due to drugs, my parents divorcing, teenage me contemplating suicide, also shutting myself in my bedroom because I had no friends and because I was afraid. I was also homeschooled growing up and had just gotten my GED. I was trying to right wrongs but felt no passion, I wanted something so much I wasn't finding it. I realize now at 27 years old, that I was 18 and when you are 18, don't rush it. Things happen that you can't control, just stay in the negative and stay afraid. 

Later after this, I started to go to Academy of Art University Online for photography, I did one semester and  I am grateful for the knowledge and know how I got from them, but I couldn't finish it. Mainly because they told me that everything I did was on the lowest photographer food chain so to speak. That I was more journalist quality and I need to make photos other than "take" them. I felt insulted. By the time my 2nd semester came around, the first subject was Fear and I could not do it. 7 years later and I am able to pick up my camera and take photos again and feel free like I did before. Before I lost sight of that passion I felt at the time with the Viking Man in the Factory Ruins.

But to this day when someone asks me why I love photography, other than capturing memories and interesting/inspiring things, I think back to the Viking in the factory ruins each time.