by Leigh
“Summer: Hair gets lighter. Skin gets darker. Water gets warmer. Drinks get colder. Music gets louder. Nights get longer. Life gets better.” – Unknown
Happy summer everyone! Since yesterday was the first official day of summer I thought to myself....why not do a summertime post...seems easy enough. I began to go through my archives on Flickr (I miss Flicker...don't you?) I came across images that just screamed summer....like the cool frosty cerveza and lime in the shot above. I remember the day I shot that...sitting on my back porch enjoying that beer. I had just recently gotten a macro lens and was having fun shooting...not really knowing what I was doing....just shooting. And that frosty cold one was a perfect first subject. As I scrolled through my photostream memories began to flood back. Every photo told a story. And that's when it hit me....I recognized these images but I didn't recognize the photographer who took them. I don't...can't take shots like these anymore.
I didn't expect emotions like this. This was supposed to be a fun in the sun kind of post. Instead I got sad. Looking at these photos makes me long to be that photographer again..to know her again. The one who told stories and didn't worry so much about technical aspects of the photo. When I clicked the shutter it was out of pure joy and feeling and emotion and connection. I still feel that sometimes when I take photos with my phone, but when I pick up my camera it feels contrived...forced. I want to feel that connection again with my camera. How do I go back?
No really....that wasn't a rhetorical question. How do I get back to the place I once was? Does anyone else feel this way? I know that we continually grow in our craft and things change. It's inevitable. Maybe it's about more than just photography....maybe it's self discovery. But how can I move forward when all I want to do is go back?
I guess in the meantime this will become my new mantra.
"You will recognize your own path when you come upon it, because you will suddenly have all the energy and imagination you will ever need." ~Jerry Gillies