Sketchbook to Snapshots: How I Fell In Love With Photography
In a world where everyone has a phone in their pocket, photography is effortless, but back when I was a kid, good smartphones were a rarity, and decent cameras cost a small fortune.
A Creative Kid
I mentioned in my other blog post “The Start of EmMelody: How It All Began” that I had a very creative childhood. I grew up around The New Forest National Park in England, and I spent hours outside building dens, turning sticks into staffs, and creating daisy chains. I’d always carry a notepad with me, sketching leaves, animals, and woodland scenes.
I’ll admit, I was a little jealous when my family all started getting point-and-shoot cameras, and I didn’t, but everything changed when I unwrapped my very own camera on my 10th birthday. Although it was cheap (not that I cared in the slightest); it was a new tool I could use to preserve the moments that fuelled my imagination.
Early Memories
One of my earliest photographic adventures took place in my Grandma’s lovingly tended garden. I would spend hours wandering around the flower beds, smelling the beautiful roses. Then, I would get out my camera and chase the bees and butterflies around the garden as they landed on different flowers. I had no clue about camera settings back then; all that mattered was that I could keep a moment that I’d seen with my very own eyes.
As I skim back through those early snaps, I realise that my camera was my constant companion. Busy bonfire nights, rainy woodland walks, little birds I’d spot on our bird feeder, family gatherings. So many precious memories, and so many I'm glad I've kept.
Fast-forward a few years, and my kit had grown too. By 13, I'd upgraded to the FujiFilm FinePix AX280 point-and-shoot, and on my 14th birthday, I unwrapped the bridge camera FujiFilm FinePix HS20 EXR with an unthinkable 720x zoom. I was over the moon, but little did I know how far this camera would take me. Those early snapshots had become the first frames of an obsession that would follow me everywhere.
Mastering the Basics
Thanks to family road-trips and woodland adventures, I amassed so many photos that I needed more hard drives just to store them. As an amateur, I still wasn't perfect; the auto-function on my camera was my safety net, but I did dip my toes into manual mode. Instead of firing random shots, I learned to frame deliberately; thinking more about composition, light, and the story behind each scene.
My evenings vanished watching YouTube tutorials, and I treated myself to some upgrades; filters and a cheap tripod. I even experimented with free editing software, which at the time felt like cheating. By the age of 18, I was entering competitions, and posting my work online on DeviantART, where a community of supportive critics and fellow enthusiasts showered me with feedback that I quickly absorbed; improving my technique.
At this time, I took a gap year so I could pursue my passions. I wanted get better, however I could.
Improving, Quickly
A photography competition popped up at a local country fair we went to every year, I figured; "Why not?". I hit jackpot and ended up placing 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in every single category I entered. I was really happy with how I'd done that day; I knew photography was something I needed to pursue further, and it was more than just a hobby.
Curious to learn more, I joined the camera club that ran the competition. Meeting people there vastly improved my work, and I was even invited around to a member's house to practice my photography in a home-studio. The club also had its own year-round competitions (judged by visiting experts from around the country) which allowed me to learn techniques used by professionals. Hearing this feedback on other people's work, as well as my own, accelerated my growth faster than any tutorial did. I am so thankful for their help.
By the end of that first year, I had entered pretty much all of the club's competitions, and to my delight, won in most categories, and ended up carrying a box of trophies home. One of photography prints ("Isolation"; a black-and-white photo of a sad-looking Gibbon) did so well, it ended up being shown around the country, in different camera clubs. I also upgraded my camera to the DSLR Nikon D5600 during this time to improve the quality of each photo.
Armed with new skills, I showcased my work at a local art exhibition, where I ended up selling my first photography piece (I will delve more into in a future blog post). I also won 2 Daily Deviations on my DeviantArt, and was asked to photograph a wedding (I will also talk about in another upcoming blog post).
Years Later
So, where am I now? Photography has gone a bit quieter, but I still make an effort to go and take photos on my spare days off. However, I still use my photography skills to compose my products to sell in my Shop.
I also have a love of making YouTube videos, which I delve into on my other blog post "My Video Went Viral, But Life Had Other Plans...". I recently started uploading a photography-inspired videos on my YouTube channel, and I aim to make a lot more of these in the future. My most recent one is called "A Snowy Walk in the North of England" and was taken in West Yorkshire in England.
I often create a lot of work behind the scenes, but I find it difficult to share my work with the world. I'm an overthinker, and even posting this is a bit overwhelming. I find excuses not to create, like leaving my camera at home because it's too heavy (but I've bought a new camera bag now, so no more excuses). 😊
If you'd like to see more, you can explore other Blogs, follow me on my Socials, or pop over to my Shop. Have a lovely day! 😊
- Emma ❤️
