The Thing About Photography Is

A while ago I was at my old church sitting at one of the tables in the commons area. As I was people watching those around me, one of my favorite hobbies, I noticed two old men sitting near enough for me to hear their conversation. One was looking at the bulletin sitting on their table which read "We now have Wi-fi!" As he sat with a puzzled look on his face, he says to the man next to him, "Hey. Do you know what Wi-fi is?" The second gentleman squinted down at the words, sat up to look off into the distance, looked at his friend and said, "Nope." Neither caring too much, both went on to think and discuss other things, never finding out what Wi-fi was.

Although this may seem like a completely irrelevant moment to some, I took sustaining amusement in it! I just can't get over how funny it is. See, the way the future is looking, we will probably have internet anywhere we want it in a few short years. Life is changing so dramatically compared to all the generations in the past and we are on the cutting edge of it. Many of us think of how to profit off of new technology, while others only care how it affects their daily lives. Yet, for these two men, they were completely content with not knowing the vast movements in the world around them. I loved it.

I think many people believe photography is meant for the outstanding, beautiful, pillars and milestones of life. Weddings. Parades. Graduations. These are the moments in life when everyone knows to bring the camera. For me, the beauty of photography is not in these moments however. It's in the quiet, mundane, ordinary moments of life that my passion for photography flares. The ability to take something that everyone overlooks due to it being so common, and capture it like no one has ever seen it is the greatest thing about taking pictures.

The moment above is not an amazing moment. In fact, it could have very well gone overlooked. Two men having a conversation, just like any other two men on the planet. Yet, with the proper eye and an attentive mind, the moment could be appreciated. Same goes for taking pictures. Next time you have to run some errands, pay some bills, or walk the dog, grab your camera. See if you can't find something beautiful in the ordinary.


Here's some of my favorites that I've taken: