History

So we've been studying the history of photography and for each lecture we look at a whole bunch of photographs, and one of them looked pretty familiar. Forgive the amateur framing and the 138 year difference between the two, but check this out:

Self Portrait, Panama, 1870 [by Timothy O'Sullivan]

Kuna Girl, Isle de Carti, Panama, 2008 [by me]

I'm so into this history of photography section. I think that I'd really like to keep studying this. I've been thinking a lot about applying to grad school lately. So far its just a thought.

Let's call this the 9-5...

I was first attracted to photography by photos in an art magazine. After that, I found myself spending most of my free time trying to learn more about photography and looking at pictures on the Internet. I can’t even count the number of times I sat cross-legged on the floor at McNally Robinson for hours looking at book after book on photography. Throughout working on my degree in Commerce I continuously contemplated switching to a more creative program. Once I had graduated, I found myself so bored with my career, that I took night classes after work in Graphic Design. I have explored multiple traditional career paths, and I still find myself being drawn to photography. Now I have decided to commit myself to it.

During the next year, I would really like to learn better composition. I usually end up shooting simple, close up shots because I am always disappointed with how my longer shots turn out. I also cannot wait to learn how to translate what my eye sees to what I end up producing with my camera. I am really looking forward to learning from my classmates’ styles and interests.

I haven’t really had any bad photo experiences, but I have had a few close calls. I become unaware of what is going on around me when I am taking pictures, and on more than one occasion I have wandered into unsafe areas of cities while traveling. A few weeks ago I was in Panama and I was shooting these amazing old buildings that were destroyed when Noriega was removed as the dictator. After they were destroyed, the neighbourhoods became the ghetto areas of the city. I was taking a photo of a hallway that was destroyed by a bomb, and all of the sudden, five boys ran out and were yelling at us for money in Spanish. Luckily I was with a friend who knew which areas were safer and we ran a few blocks over before anything bad could happen. I quickly learned my lesson about being more aware of what is going on around me.

welcome to panama city