My earliest memory was handling a 1960s Nikon SLR which belonged to my father.
I was 9 at the time.
I discovered that I enjoyed seeing the world through a lens.
I also discovered the difficulties and heart aches handling such a camera.
The film being stuck and over exposed.
The disappointment of knowing those memories were gone and never to be seen again.
Since then, I have handled a great many cameras and with mixed blessings switched from film to digital photography.
In 2000, I was given a digital Canon SLR as a gift with a series of lenses.With all the manual features at hand, I knew I needed guidance.
With the help of a wonderful instructor, I discovered my camera and the world that awaited to be captured.
I developed my style and noticed I had a natural gift to capture faces and most importantly to capture feelings.
My sons were great subjects with whom to practice this new interest and hobby.
The use of various lenses enabled me to get as close or as far as I wished.
Having dated for the past 5 years, I have had the pleasure of photographing men and capturing a moment in time, shared by both. A certain look, a certain stance, a certain reflective moment, perhaps a smile, or maybe even a smirk. I often wondered what would become of these pictures once the relation dwindled.
Well, most often than not, those same photographs haunted me for years as I saw them being posted on dating sites and social networking sites. I often wondered if the new catch would notice that she was staring at a reflection of an intimate moment shared by two.
Most recently, I photographed a close friend.
I have immense affinity for this individual.
We have shared some great times and have seen each other through some tough times.
He was looking to have some outdoor shots taken of himself.
Tremblant as a backdrop, I took a series of 50 images.
He was beaming with the result and was grateful for the experience.
He liked how he was perceived through my lens.
I was able to capture a side of him he barely knew.
As his good friend, I was able to closely watch the reaction from the single women who roamed his social network site. Sure enough, my questions were answered.
Single women do watch for nuances in photographs.
Single women are sensitive and CRAZY enough to create a story board behind each image in their MINDS.
Single women are not at ease with those intimate images.
I think single women would prefer to see self-portraits of their suitor at "ARM" distant lens angles.
One single woman, in particular, wrote to him " you must have some special lady in your life"!
I am happy to capture faces and places.
I am proud to offer them as gifts to lovers, friends and family.
Often times, a photograph is a slice of time to be cherished for a lifetime.
The memorable ones often are those taken intimately...perhaps by surprise or by orchestration.
Ultimately, those are the ones we cherish the most!
