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An accidental Photographer by Ruth Read
I never started out to be a photographer, however, I was the one in the family that had to take the photos of family and trips and you know, well… someone has to do it. Mine always turned out pretty good so I was the one to take the photos.
Anyway, when I started painting I needed a camera to take good enough photos to be able to use them for reference material. The photos were pretty good so my husband bought me a really nice Nikon for mother’s day one year. That was before we went to Hawaii the year that I photographed the swan.
Wow, I really liked this camera and I took it everywhere. Most artists carry a camera for the same reason; reference material. When I joined an art group that also included photography in the shows, I was told that I should enter a few. I won a few ribbons and was hooked. Nothing like a good competition for me.
However, my husband is not as patient as I would like.
Back in Hawaii; he would refuse to stop very often so I could get a photo. Sometimes he would, but most of the time; no! Well, I did not let that stop me! I continued taking photos through the window while he was driving all over Hawaii.
When I came home I was told that I should enter a few, and one in particular. I did, and I won the Sylvia Lippe Award. I really had the last laugh; the photo I won the award with was taken while my husband was driving down the highway. It was one of my favorite photos, even before I won. Now that I have won a few ribbons and sold more than a few cards with my images on them, my husband will stop a little more often.
Sometimes I get together with my friend Ira and we go the wild animal park. He is deep into photography, and I have learned most everything from him (Or my trial and error).
So I have accidentally became a photographer, and I hope that I have not disappointed anyone with how my life became involved in photography. The more I learn the more I feel I need to learn. Just like oil painting. There is always something to learn and I am always searching for more to learn. It helps to have a friend that is a professional photographer to take field trips with.
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It’s so great when a person find the one hobby that is really his destiny. Working on it and constantly developing the skills for it. I suppose when people appreciate your photos the satisfaction is double.
I like Ruth’s story about becoming an accidental photographer, it makes me ponder my possibility of becoming an accidental artist of some sort. I also really loved the pictures of the Swan. They were really beautiful and it was like a little story being told. Also, I’m glad her husband started to stop a little more so she could take more beautiful pictures!
Like Ruth I’m the one who always take pictures of the family and I prefer to take pictures than be on it. This little story is the proof that when we like something we must keep doing it even for fun and sometimes something beautiful happened.
It’s really great to become someone or something which we don’t expected. Like Ruth, I always take photos of my family also, as a souvenir. I’m glad you became an accidental photographer, an unexpected success!
A very inspiring article.All of us must learn a lesson from Ruth that nothing should get in the way of our passion or work.Thanks a lot Ruth for sharing your story with us.