Snapshots

I have a terrible memory. I can’t remember names, birthdays, dates of anything important, or numbers of any kind really. There is also a history of Alzheimers in my family. Perhaps I am showing genetic traits of it already or perhaps I just have a visual learning style. My brain takes pictures of everything and that’s how I remember things.

My brain takes a snapshot of words, and then I read them. I read full sentences by looking at only a few words. I don’t read letter by letter, therefore I can be a terrible speller, unless I write the word with a pen and paper and sometimes I miss the details.

My brain takes a snapshot of people when I meet them. I recall where I met them, the background, people around us, their posture, their clothes, their hair. Once that changes, I have no clue I might have met them and their name. Their face will be familiar but unless I can recall that initial picture, I have a very difficult time remembering them.

My brain takes a snapshot of events in my life. I can recall in great detail different situations such as my heart surgery I had when I was only two because I see it all in pictures. But I have to think for a second to tell you how old I am.

My brain takes a snapshot of where I last put my keys but if I move them in haste before my brain snaps the shutter, they’re lost for days.

Perhaps it is for all these reasons that I want to physically take pictures of things in my life with a camera. Perhaps I want to preserve all that I see and feel in print before Alzhimers really sets in and I can’t remember my own name or before I lose touch with things that mean my Life. But it wouldn’t be the only reasons.

There is a passion underlying my need for pictures, my need to capture every moment, every rush of energy. I knew it existed even long before I ever entered these DLS workshops. I remember seeing my Uncle take pictures; my father and his camera equipment. I remember getting my own camera and getting my first roll of film developed. I remember being told to stop taking so many pictures because people would get tired of looking at them. Who cares? I thought. I liked them. It’s the same reason I have thousands of digital images stored and I can’t hit the delete button. I like them.

Taking these workshops at a time when I am fully supported by my best friend, has made my passion spark after being hidden deep down in my toes. Not only do I now want to take pictures more than ever, I want to take good ones. So that perhaps my albums won’t be so boring to other people and they’ll see what I feel in each image.

What do I want to take pictures of?

Anything. Everything. Of you. Of my children. Your children. Of people. Places. Fascinating things. Boring things. Moments. I want to take pictures when my brain takes a snapshot and says, I want to remember that.

On the practical end of things, sure, it would be great if I could turn this into a business venture or an extra income to help out with providing things for my children and helping ease the burden of one income off of my husband’s shoulders. Photography would have a lot more drive behind it than being a nurse has ever had for me. But I’m only new at learning the techniques for a good photograph and wish to build up to that. But I know I have it in me. I know I can take a picture that someone will want to frame, and even if they don’t, I’ll frame it.

Awards and recognition don’t mean much to me at this point and I don’t know if it ever will. Perhaps one day, I might want to enter a contest just to see what becomes of it. I do get a little giddy thinking that I could set up a studio and have people want me to take their pictures. Or better yet, being able to go somewhere, anywhere, and know that I can capture someone’s memories for them and leave them with a beautiful image they’ll always have. How cool is that?

I have dreams as to where I want this photography to take me and it isn’t a New York fashion shoot. My dreams? I’m with people that really care that there is more substance behind an image than if there are shadows under someone’s eyes when there “shouldn’t” be any. To me, photography is about people, whether there are any in the image or not. It is the feeling you get when you see a photograph, good quality or not, and you get a little goosebump or two because something deep down in your toes says you like it. And I like it too. That’s enough for me. ~click, click~