Why I Still Take Photographs

Photography has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.

My love for photography began when I was young, when I received my first camera as a gift from my father. He was a professional photographer, and some of my earliest memories involve watching him work and seeing the equipment he used. At the time, I could not have known how much that simple gift would influence the rest of my life.

My father owned his own photography studio, which was attached to the front of our house. It gave me plenty of opportunities to quietly sneak in and see what was happening. I remember the darkroom where photographs were developed, the paper cutter used to trim the finished prints, and the display cases filled with different cameras. One wall of the studio was covered with photographs, and I would often stand there looking at them. I remember the large studio lights, the Yashica camera, and the posing bench where customers sat for their portraits. Looking back, those memories were probably the beginning of my lifelong fascination with photography.

From the beginning, I was curious. I wanted to experiment with different angles and discover new ways of looking at the world around me.

As technology evolved and digital photography became available, my interest only grew stronger. Digital photography opened up new creative possibilities. I even registered for a photography course at one point, but life had other plans, and I never ended up taking it. Instead, I preferred to learn on my own. I enjoyed experimenting with techniques that interested me, regardless of whether they followed traditional rules. Some people might say I take too many photographs from the same angle, but if something captures my attention, I enjoy exploring it.

I rarely photograph major events or famous landmarks. Instead, I find myself drawn to things that many people might overlook. A reflection in a window. The delicate pattern of a flower petal. A bird perched quietly on a branch. A rainbow appearing unexpectedly across a room or drifting through the clouds. The texture of an everyday object illuminated by sunlight.

I have always been fascinated by details.

When I photograph flowers, I am often less interested in the flower as a whole than in the intricate patterns, curves, textures, and colours hidden within it. Looking closely often reveals details that would otherwise go unnoticed.

Colour has always played an important role in my photography. I am naturally drawn to vibrant colours, rainbows, reflections, prisms, and anything that captures light in unusual ways. Colour can transform an ordinary moment into something memorable. Even as a child, I was fascinated by colours, and that fascination has never really gone away.

Today, most of my photographs are taken with my phone rather than a traditional camera. The equipment has changed, but the curiosity remains the same. Photography has become a way for me to slow down and pay attention. In a world that often feels rushed and noisy, it encourages me to notice things I might otherwise miss. It reminds me that beauty is often found in small moments rather than grand occasions.

Many of the images in my collection come from everyday life. They are simply moments that caught my attention and made me stop for a second look.

For me, photography is more than a hobby. It is a way of seeing. It nurtures the curious child who was fascinated by colours, cameras, and creativity many years ago. It helps me appreciate details that many people walk past without noticing.

Perhaps that is why I still take photographs. Not because I am searching for something extraordinary, but because I have learned that extraordinary things are often hiding in the details of ordinary life.