A few notes on Self

A few weeks ago I reached my 50th birthday.  My husband has asked me what I would like as a present – a new handbag perhaps, or maybe some jewellery.  I replied that the  only thing I  wanted was  a new camera.  Not the most obvious choice you might think for a woman turning 50, but it was what my heart desired the most.

It’s a lovely new shiny piece of kit, as you would expect.  But it’s much more than that.  You see, the camera came with a prime lens and as a result enables me to get a little closer to the type of photography I want to achieve.  And why does that matter ? Well, it matters because deep deep down somewhere a little part of me thinks I might have some potential and I might like to explore that potential a little further.

Are my photographs as good as the best you see on Instagram? Heck, no.

But are they better now than a few years ago? Absolutely !

Could they be better still ? Well, I sure hope so but I won’t know if I don’t try, if I don’t invest in myself.

And that’s what my new camera really means to me – it’s an investment in myself, my potential, my creativity. And, for me, you just can’t put a price on that.

And, spurred on by new camera, I thought I should invest a little further, because I’d really like to know more about how to use it. So I’ve booked myself on a ‘ Get more from your camera’ day where I’ll (finally) get the chance to talk to an expert. Am I a little nervous about going ? Yes, I am….but as the experts tell us, I should feel the fear and do it anyway ! Oh, and did I mention, I also bought two new photo books – to inspire, learn from and inform my perspective.

The internet is overflowing with quotes about self investment and personal growth.  None of them really struck a cord with me until I read these words by the poet Rupi Kaur…

‘You do not just wake up and become the butterfly

– growth is a process’

Even at the grand ‘young’ age of 50, I think I have scope to grow a little more.  I’m sure you do too.

Have a lovely Sunday x

In case you are interested in the details…

1. The camera I got was  a Canon EOS 200d (kit only) with a 50mm prime lens. I chose this after doing a lot of research and from reading a blog post by the fabulous photographer Christina Greve which you can find here
2.  The course I am attending is run by a local photographer called Paul Crawford and you can find more information here
3.  The books I bought are published by Hoxton Mini Press, specifically ‘Botanical’ by Samuel Zeller and ‘Columbia Road’ by Johanna Neurath. As a side note, if you ever get the chance, a trip to Columbia Road in east London is well worth it for the gorgeous flower market which takes place there every Sunday. It was in fact the subject of my one earliest blog posts which you can read here.