There’s A Creator In All Of Us

Hello, creative world!

I have never done a blog before. I have never made a website before. This is all new to me (and moving at the pace one would expect from a person in this position). Along the way, I’m hoping to help other people who were (and maybe still are) in the same position as me, so here’s a little bit of my story:

Photography is something I get really excited about and has always been something I wanted to do better. I initially started in high school. I borrowed by grandad’s awesome SLR (film!) camera and spent several months trying to figure out how to work it and how to make images that would lead to a passing grade. I took photos of my friends, I took photos of inanimate objects, and just about everything else I could find. I took the camera when we went mountain biking and hiking and camping. I learned how to develop film in a darkroom. I have good memories of those days, but didn’t continue to put a lot of energy into getting better once my class was over.

Fast forward to college graduation. My dad gave me my first point-and-shoot digital camera, a Canon (I think it was 5 or 6 megapixels!) but I had no idea what digital was about or how it was the different (or the same) from that old SLR. I’d seen a friend in Europe with one, but it went through batteries in about 20 minutes and just seemed too big. Instead, while I was living in Europe, I’d gotten another film camera, but all you did was drop in the film cartridge. No winding. I don’t even remember what they were called now, but they were the next big thing for those of us who couldn’t drop a couple grand on a digital camera, which was very new technology in in 1999-2000. I got some great photos, but they were really what most people would consider snapshots. Not that there’s anything wrong with that…but here’s an example of how I didn’t really know where or how to focus my efforts in the right places. Even with that first digital camera. I had no idea how to use it, aside from, quite literally, point-and-shoot. That digital camera my dad gave me went to Japan with me. We did some cool stuff together. It also took good photos and its capacity, almost certainly, exceeded my ability.

Over the next few years, when I had a little bit of money, I replaced that original digital camera, but with another point-and-shoot. An Olympus this time! I was investing in the wrong equipment because I didn’t have any knowledge to back-up what I was trying to do. I took it on some awesome trips: back to Europe, Costa Rica, New Zealand, and the Cook Islands. I look at some of my photos from those trips and REALLY wish I’d had a more versatile camera (and, more importantly, knew how to use it)!

Fast forward a few more years and, after talking to my wife for a long time about wanting to get into photography, and seeing some friends go that direction, she finally got me a DSLR. If you spend any time reading photography articles/blogs/etc. you’ll hear over and over again…it’s not about the gear! Very true. I’m still shooting on the same DSLR from Costco that my wife gave me our first year in Hawaii, 2010. It’s a Canon T3. It’s basic, but it’s been great for learning. I have upgraded the lenses (which made a HUGE difference), and I’ve rented some VERY nice gear, but the biggest change came from actually putting time (and some money) into learning HOW to use the camera. I took a few online classes (which have become quite additive) and found some great folks who have offered some guidance and mentorship when it comes to this stuff. And you know what, it’s fun! I’m enjoying myself a whole lot more now simply because I’m getting the reward of seeing some pretty cool images that I’ve taken.

I also put some time and money into learning Photoshop and Lightroom. It makes a huge difference. If I had only known! In addition, now that I have very little free time, I’ve been putting in more time at the RIGHT time. I go out and shoot early in the morning. I sacrifice a little sleep and get up for sunrise, at least once, almost every weekend. My friends and family are super supportive, which is very cool. It’s crazy to think that it’s only been about 12 months since I first finally decided to take that initial online class…that DSLR sat on a closet shelf for several years before it started to get some regular use!

So, here’s my next step. I’ve decided it’s time to put a little time and a little money into making a website and starting a blog. With any luck, in a few months, maybe I’ll list this as the next helpful step.

Thanks for reading my story. I’m sure there will be much more to come.

Aloha,
Todd