Reviewing My Archive

I was thinking deeply about my expression as a photographer.

Why?

What’s my purpose in this?

While going through my Archive, I felt the stirring of an answer.

Life is Beautiful - La Vita Bella.

I coined a phrase a while back called the expression of life. If life is really beautiful, then it’s full of expression, no pretence just unbridled joy.

For life is magic, life is joy, life is creative expression.

With my camera in hand, I feel I have carte blanche, full permission to document everything I see.

The joy of life, the drama, the tragedy, the dark moments of the human constructive narrative and most importantly, the light.

In reviewing my Archive, I feel very happy because over the last 10 years, I can see an extraordinary journey in terms of travel and the journey in my photographic maturity.

As I look at my images, I’m present to the fact that I’m a different person compared to the novice who created these images. I feel quite happy and proud because I can see a level of competency emerging.

My expression as a photographer is in direct harmony with the expression of life.

It doesn’t get any simpler than that.

For what I see, the expression that moves me, inspires me to create the image.

If I am moved by what I see, before I know it, the image has been stored on my memory card, it’s that quick.

These moments I treasure.

The happiest moments of my life have been when my camera was pointed at a person, a situation where joy was present.

Also, the expression of life where joy was suppressed.

The pandemic suppressed my joy a little.

No point pretending otherwise.

I’m grateful for one thing, my camera forced me out of the house, if only for a short walk. Every walk I took reminded me that life is still beautiful no matter what they tell us.

Every image I create is a self-portrait.

Photography means painting with light.

Jesus is the light of the world.

So painting with light is an opportunity to commune with my Heavenly Father. In every moment I create an image, Jesus reveals his presence to me, in all of his amazing disguises.

I look towards 2022 with some semblance of hope and faith.

I place my faith in Jesus and love.

Thanks for reading.

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