What I want to be when I grow up

I wanted to be a photographer when I grew up

Maybe not definitely, but subconsciously, I knew. My parents were at a social function with me when I was about 3 years old and I had a camera in my hand. If you are about my age, you may remember this camera… it was thin, long, and had the 4 sided flash cube on top. My parents still have that first photo in their photo album. It may not have won awards but it was the beginning to many memories I captured along my lifetime.

In high school, I was on the newspaper (yes, printed newspaper) and also my photography teachers teachers aide. I hated high school. I never felt I belonged there. But I did have three teachers in school that inspired me. I didn’t realize it at the time, but as a teenager, what did I know (oh yea, everything)

Mr. Walker, I had him as a teacher two different years. He wasn’t a photography teacher or an English teacher for the Newspaper.. He was a history teacher. Honestly, again, hated school, I could zone out in every class if given the chance. Luckily cell phones weren’t a thing, yet. But Mr. Walker brought to life these amazing places. Places I began to dream of visiting. Seeing the cliffs of Mohr, Berlin Wall, Lochness, Normandy Beaches, Stonehenge, Jerusalem were just a few incredible places I dreamed of visiting. If you would have told me back then, I would be visiting these places, I’d think you were crazy. Coming from a small town where the majority of people never leave, I never thought this would be my reality. I would love to thank him for bringing these places to life. I wish I could sit and have coffee with him and show him the images from my visits.

Then there was Mr Mason, the things I remember best was how tall he was and always talking about how much he loved his wife, a testament to his character. Though I did write articles, my passion to capture motion on the sports fields developed. Friday nights under the lights, capturing plays on the football fields sidelines. I still don’t know all the rules of football, but I loved the anticipation of developing my film in the darkroom and seeing what I captured. I would choose the image that would go into print and that moment opening up that paper to see the image I captured and developed in print, was exhilarating. It was my very own high.

Then there was the third teacher, Mr Hutchinson. I have to admit I had a bit of a childhood crush on him. But he taught me how to edit in the darkroom and use it to its full advantage. I wish I could remember how to use those techniques again. I loved the smell of the chemicals and the thrill to see the negatives turn to art. I have sadly lost this skill over the years.

I would leave school and drive around the county capturing what I saw beauty in. It could be the woods with a stream running through, a flower field or even an abandoned church. Don’t judge… I told you I hated school. Creating art was what made me happy .

I sold my first photo a few years later. It was a magnolia that I capture and was hanging at the college. I sold it for $25. What was I thinking? ONLY $25. I guess I was just excited someone wanted to buy my art.