Hobbies are great for any person to have. It helps develop who we are as people, provides us something to look forward to when we need to relax and helps connect us with other people at times. Being able to take part in a hobby gives us the opportunity to share your passion with others and develop relationships. By sharing your hobby with others, you can develop a great support staff with those who will stand by you the entire way.
Outside of work, one of my favorite hobbies is photography and the passion started with the support of others while I was in college. As a college freshman at Otterbein, I started taking my small point and shoot digital camera to some of our campus radio station events and took lots of different pictures. I hadn't really given much thought to getting involved with photography prior to that but I noticed I had a lot of fun taking pictures of the events and sharing them later on.
As I started taking more and more pictures, some of the other students who worked at the campus radio station started to take notice and encouraged me to take more photos. At every event I could be at, I had my small digital camera and took as many shots as I could with that. I even started taking shots of the band my one friend was in (and my friend's boyfriend) and it was on the night of one of their gigs my friend said something that inspired me to pursue the hobby further:
"Jeff, you ought to be a photographer."
Not too long after she said that, I decided it was time to get a bigger camera! Months later, as a birthday gift, I ended up with my Nikon D50 semi-professional camera and with the help of a photography class I took not too long after, the hobby took off!
During the rest of my college years, I took pictures for local sporting events, charity events on campus and even Greek Life activities. Many people appreciated my photos and those who had an opportunity to see my work often enjoyed looking at my pictures. Even my friends who inspired me as a freshman still took time to look at my pictures and offered me encouragement.
As my college years came to an end, I had new goals in mind for my photography hobby and the support system was still there. I got involved with my alma mater, Solon High School, and began taking pictures of their sporting events and often post the pictures on Facebook. The head football coach's son began to take notice of my work and has been one of my biggest supporters since I started taking pictures for the school. Several parents, coaches and a couple of school employees took notice and have served as a great support staff as well.
Whenever I go out and take my pictures, whether it is a local sporting event, a wedding, a stroll around the park or a car show, I always think back to the support I was given from the early start. My friends who inspired me while I was working for the campus radio station gave me the support I needed to get started and I am grateful for their guidance and friendships. Their support helped pave the path for one of my favorite hobbies and their guidance and the other support I have gotten along the way have helped inspire to keep taking more shots.
No comments:
Post a Comment