Recently, a photography forum I participate in had a discussion about stories. I have so many stories about photography, and how I got my start. But I found myself revisiting the very first time I knew photography was what I wanted to do:
I never wanted to be a photographer. I wanted to be a writer. I graduated with a degree in English, not wanting to teach, and started working for the local newspaper. I needed to sign up for journalism classes, so I signed up for photojournalism since it was the only night class that semester.
My first photo I shot for the newspaper was so awful they had to crop it to a mug shot, and even then it was barely usable. But then, I went to a house fire and shot a photo of the owner of the house being comforted by her neighbors. It won a state journalism award. I had been a photographer for six weeks.
What I saw, when that happened, is that photography was just not about pretty pictures. It was about stories, relationships, even society and how we come together to help or support each other. I realized I could tell stories so much better and more quickly with my camera. I was hooked.
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