Personal Narrative: How Photography Changed My Life

749 Words2 Pages

Focus, Capture, Develop, and Take another shot are hard concepts to grasp while growing up and maturing. Throughout every obstacle that I have faced whether personally, academically or socially I have had to remember to apply these qualities to my life daily. As a child the one person a girl naturally gravitates toward to be her protector and supporter is her father. I, on the other hand, did not have that experience with mine. My transition from childhood to adulthood began at the age of seven, when I was placed into an unfamiliar and chaotic situation. I had to learn how to capture the essence of life’s gifts in order to cope and thrive. My mom had decided that we would be moving to Texas from California, for a job opportunity she received …show more content…

Whenever I turn on my camera and place it in front of my eye, I am instantly able to change my perspective. I had to learn how to protect myself from the frightening actions and negative words spewed from my father. I chose to use my photography and journalism as my coping mechanisms while not realizing until now, how much writing and photography saved my life and kept me sane. Every time that I boarded a plane headed to California for my visits, I cringed because I never knew what to expect and I feared the unknown and known but my camera was always constant. As I discovered my passion for writing and photography, it became more than just a stress reliever or a way to escape into a place far beyond the courts or my dad, it became my way of life. The recognition and validation of my gifts, talents, niche, and abilities came by way of opposition and obstacles that helped me to realize my worth, purpose, and capabilities. My experiences during my visits took away a sense of innocence and taught me to not rely on the validation of others; to know my self- worth. My father often belittled me and whenever I felt less than, I would pick up a pen and reflect or take a photo and I was then reminded of my capability, worth and …show more content…

A major life altering shift occurred for me and I just like the settings on my camera I had to readjust and change my life perspectives while realigning my focus. I chose to capture the positives. I have grown wiser from these situations and have realized that I am tenacious and I have what it takes to adjust and maximize my talents and stretch my capabilities. I chose to be an asset to the world, rather than continuously looking back at my

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