George's Photos

A friend introduced me to photography as an art in sixth grade. I began taking photographs with an old point-and-shoot Canon that my parents no longer used, but progressed to a battered Canon AE-1 in mid-seventh grade. In eighth grade I began shooting roll after roll, yet I considered myself frugal with my film. I didn't take repeat shots with different settings to make sure I got a good photo; I simply accepted whatever resulted from my initial settings. I continue to do this in order allow the inspiration that made me want to take a picture give me the feeling for what F-stop and shutterspeed I should use. I shot many rolls of film because as I walked around outside my house in rural North Carolina, I saw many intriguing scenes that urged me to photograph them. Photography appeals to both my creative and mechanical mindsets, which is why I enjoy it so much. I enjoy the visualization needed to simplify a complex, real-world scene into black and white in my mind's eye, and then to apply my sense of aesthetics to determine whether or not a picture is worth taking. Meanwhile, I have to frame, maintain focus, and choose a shutterspeed and F-stop. It is a relaxing and methodical exercise in concentration that is rewarding. At least this is the process I believe takes place; I'm generally too focused on the subject to be aware of it. Developing film and making prints are a similar mix of creativity and mechanics. Method and mindfulness are crucial parts of photography that make it enjoyable for me.