During that time I would typically take pictures of nature, sunsets, water, anything that I thought was pretty. When I edited, I would just play around with different settings, ignorant to what any of them really did. Two years later, in 2019, I got my first camera. I started learning a bit about shutter speed, aperture, and ISO. Though, most of the time my camera would be in auto, I used that bit of information, and continued my hobby of photography, posting my pictures on my instagram. Did I take some good shots? Yes, but the majority were on a whim, and I was not completely comfortable with all the settings on my own camera.

This completely changed when I had my first semester of the Guitars Over Guns Photography Program in late 2022. In just that first semester, I feel as though I have grown immensely as a photographer, and even as a person. My mentor’s (Zeeniith.Photography) lessons allowed me to learn about the different components of photography, and encouraged me to put what I learned into practice. With our first couple of sessions, the in-depth information I had absorbed gave me the ability to go through some of my old photos, or someone else’s work, and deconstruct them. I would see what was done first, and understand what I would do differently now. When taking pictures now, I take much more into account, and it allows me to fully put my own touch on my shots. I typically prefer colors to pop, and exposure to be on the darker side.

“The world is my brush, and my camera is the canvas.” This is a quote I’d like to say I came up with not too long ago. To me it means that there is no shackle, or wall to impede on someone expressing themselves through their photography. You are painting what you want people to see. Nothing is ever too big or too small, too dull or too bright. With a camera, the world is in your hands, and you should use it to the fullest.