it occurred to me today as i climbed a path to see what i could see that because of photography, there are a LOT of things i have learned about that have, on their own, very little to do with photography...
i have learned about the paths travelled by the moon and the sun... and the angle light needs to hit a surface in order to generate a reflection... i can see scale and perspective in a way i don't think would otherwise have occurred to me... i have discovered many a trail within the city, as well as rediscovered my love of hiking in the bush... and i am sure there are many other things that aren't occurring to me right now...
I have learned it is really a small world because of my connections to so many people from so many different continents and I have learned about their countries and their cultures and the similarities we all share as human beings
As Leonard Choen said..there is a cracking in everything, that's how the light gets in. you just have to keep looking, you know that feeling when the most obvious of subjects presents it self as worthy of observation. that's what photography has taught me . Everyone's vision is unique and worth celebrating, it's why we are on here, we capture light and want to share it with like minded people. God I'm exhausted after all that thinking.
@jack4john :-) I totally agree with what you said, though it's taking every ounce of energy I have left to do so. Should have just said "ditto" and left it there. But since I've decided to write a novel -- I've learned I can find beauty, or interest, or whimsy in almost anything if I look at it from multiple angles and open eyes (and open mind, as your thoughts above imply).
I have learned that if you work at this long enough you eventually get better, that people are inherently friendly and a camera opens them up to share with you, that I love being outdoors even though I don't consider myself a landscape photographer but I make that my excuse to go out there, that there is always someone in this photog community willing to help or support and that friends aren't always people we meet face to face : ) !
So many nice comments and all so true! I find photography really opens your eyes to the beauty around you, you notice things that before you wouldn't have looked twice at. Also, the 365 community of like-minded people is so rewarding - people who have the same interest and want to share their photos, good and bad, and receive the support and encouragement that makes our hobby worthwhile. It is also good to see the different cultures and countries of fellow 365ers - showing the pretty places all over this planet! Thank you to my 365 friends for taking the time and as Jackie says, we may not meet but I feel I know you so well.
How perfectly said, Northy, to explain why this isn't just "another social media"! As the next Super Moon approaches,, like so may of us, I've studied far more than I would EVER have sought out about the heavens without a camera in my hand! WITH my camera ALWAYS at the ready I've learned that people acknowledge me as a photographer and give me some worth assignments that set me in places I would have missed otherwise. Where once I saw myself as "the family historian" with camera and a desire to keep good records, I've garnered a place as "a town historian" albeit a small town, it's on a scale I can tackle. It may take me the rest of my life, but, only because I now care, I'm reading about technical issues and trying to utilize them in my camera. And finally, had I ever regretted that I wasn't fully utilizing the skills I'd learned as an artist, I have a new "computer full of tools" that allow for photo manipulation to satisfy the artist in me that wishes to add my own finishing touches to the scene I've captured. I have to wonder what would have captured my interest so intelligently & artistically had 365 not set me on this photo journey!
My first thought is to agree with @grammyn . One of my favorite things about our community is how it spans the globe and brings it all closer together. Its amazing to watch the seasons change and "trends" brought by them wash through. Like, when dandelions were all over outside they were all over here too. Its fascinating how such simple things can connect us. Not to mention all the learning about other places, cultures, and communities all over the world.
Pretty much everything else applies too, but what's gotten me the most is that 365 taught me to write again. I had severely crippling writer's block for around eight years. Thanks to the kindness and encouragement of our amazing community, I've finally tackled it. I tried for years to do it on my own and failed endlessly. But 365 brought the spark is back. I don't understand exactly how it happened but I couldn't be happier.
I've noticed that I am a lot more present, do not bore like I used to as so much of what we see holds photographic possibilities, learnt to appreciate so many things I took for granted, developed a taste for processing in a way I never had before , and photographed many things I would never have eben considered doing so in the past.
Not to mention all the new skills I've developed and feeling that I've found my calling.
Ross has touched more lives than he could ever know!
@jackies365 well said @clay cameras kudos to you for getting past the writer's block. @cottiac you couldn't be more correct about the lives @scrivna has touched with this site.
I couldn't agree with all of the wonderful comments above.....
I've only just discovered a love of photography and I think that one of the reasons I love it so much is that it has opened my eyes to the beautiful world around us.
I've learnt that it's not so terrible to get out of bed before the sun rises when you get to witness the glorious changes that take place.
It's not too bad to stand out in the rain, when you get to see all of the wonderful reflections on the ground.
I've learnt that Light is magical and that the Supermoon is actually called perigee-syzygn.
Oh and most importantly, I've learnt not to drink too much wine when editing.... LOL....
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Pretty much everything else applies too, but what's gotten me the most is that 365 taught me to write again. I had severely crippling writer's block for around eight years. Thanks to the kindness and encouragement of our amazing community, I've finally tackled it. I tried for years to do it on my own and failed endlessly. But 365 brought the spark is back. I don't understand exactly how it happened but I couldn't be happier.
I've noticed that I am a lot more present, do not bore like I used to as so much of what we see holds photographic possibilities, learnt to appreciate so many things I took for granted, developed a taste for processing in a way I never had before , and photographed many things I would never have eben considered doing so in the past.
Not to mention all the new skills I've developed and feeling that I've found my calling.
Ross has touched more lives than he could ever know!
@clay cameras kudos to you for getting past the writer's block.
@cottiac you couldn't be more correct about the lives @scrivna has touched with this site.
I've only just discovered a love of photography and I think that one of the reasons I love it so much is that it has opened my eyes to the beautiful world around us.
I've learnt that it's not so terrible to get out of bed before the sun rises when you get to witness the glorious changes that take place.
It's not too bad to stand out in the rain, when you get to see all of the wonderful reflections on the ground.
I've learnt that Light is magical and that the Supermoon is actually called perigee-syzygn.
Oh and most importantly, I've learnt not to drink too much wine when editing.... LOL....