Recently, I am sure we have all been looking for new hobbies and developing skills since we spent a lot of the last 2 years in quarantine. Photography is a major hobby that I took up last year; I have always had a passion for photography, but I started taking it more seriously since I realised the opportunities it can open for me in the future and how it can improve one’s artistry and creativity. It gets you to go outside and admire different elements of nature and reality. I have interviewed my friend Eleonora who also has an eye for photography in order to spread the art of this skill and to get you inspired to possibly try it out for yourself.
Personally, I adore photography because it’s so much more than just a photo, it creates an atmosphere, it tells story and to different people a different story can be told. It makes you mindful of the little things in life and the elements of life that we might not notice as we go about our day, but with photography, it’s exactly those elements that hold a significant meaning and that can open someone’s eye to what they might be missing out in life. When asked what she specifically likes taking photos of, Eleonora says “I like taking photo of nature, portraits and anything realistic or ancient because it is interesting to take a photo and see how you can change something old into a beautiful new outcome.” Multiple people can take a photo of the same thing, but it’s interesting to see how much they vary; people mold their photos into something accustomed to their personal taste and the perspective can change drastically according to even a small change in the colour, the angle, or the lighting of the photo. Within learning this hobby, you acquire skills that can assist you throughout your life, I already used the example of mindfulness and concentration, but it also helps you with empathy and perspective; being able to see how others view certain things can help you understand more about the person and their outlook on life. For beginner photographers, Eleonora advises you “to have fun and use your creativity. Then when using your imagination, you can take amazing photos. Try it with friends so you can share and learn new ideas.” It’s a great hobby to do with friends as you can take photos of each other or just walk around and takes photos of whatever draws you in. So, give it a go and remember that with practice and time you can develop this skill into more than just taking a photo, it becomes an art form.
“You don’t take a photograph, you make it” -Ansel Adams
