Plano is a fairly ordinary town just north of Dallas, Texas. If you visited, you probably wouldn’t think it was anything special as there isn’t much to see. However, throughout my childhood there was nothing I loved more than taking pictures of my mundane, suburban, Plano neighborhood. To me the camera represented my endless curiosity and zest for life. My disposable Fujifilms symbolized my desire for adventure. I wanted to explore every crack in the side walk and every rollie pollie in the blades of grass. I lived for the thrill I felt from peering behind the tiny, clear square that served as the lens. It’s funny how the world seemed to look different, more exciting through that small piece of plastic.
As I’ve grown older my love of cameras has remained. However, instead of taking pictures simply for the fun of it without the intent of ever getting them developed, cameras and the pictures they produce hold a far deeper meaning in my life. Cameras to me now symbolize priceless moments and inexplicable emotions. They are a way to preserve and cherish the most meaningful things in my life; the relationships I share with others.
A decade later I still get excited when I feel the weight of a camera in my hands, but instead of using the lens to look outwards and capture the world around me, I now look inwards and capture the world within me.