On My Way

I know my photography class is going to consist of a love-hate relationship, one that tests my patience but pushes me to be a better me....a little mellow dramatic, I know. For our first assignment, my teacher asked us to photograph one of our days. Basically just bring our camera around with us and shoot what interested us. Since coming to Florence it has been pouring. So the minute the sun came out--for a lovely totally of 3 hours--I grabbed my camera and photographed my neighborhood walk. Now, I personally love photographing people especially when it's candid or if they talk to me while I photograph them. However, after taking my black and white photo class and having an instructor who liked things her way, I decided to switch things up and photograph organic shapes, and repeating patterns.

I went around my neighborhood getting low to the ground, climbing on things to try to distort and manipulate how the image appeared on my lens. Overall I was content with this new type of photography I was trying out. I mean I'm in a new country why not do new things.

Next class, I was excited to show my work. When my turn finally came, my teacher liked some of the pictures I took but, did not give me the reaction I wanted. I mean heck I thought I was being the next Ansel Adams but clearly only in my mind. She asked to see my portfolio and before I showed it to her, I automatically went into the spiel about how I didn't think it was strong enough and how it was only of people etc. To my surprise she preferred my portfolio more than my first assignment. "You have a sensitivity to people" she said to me. I of course have no idea what that means but the way she said it made it seem like it was a good thing. She challenged me for my next project to shoot only people and find their vulnerability.

This weekend, I finally went out to explore the center of Florence, camera in hand. I took photos of a butcher who proudly displayed a side of beef to the vegetarian photographer who visited his shop. I had a lovely conversation, practicing my Italian, with the fish shop owner who said I reminded him of his Figlia (daughter). I spent my day talking and photographing the people I encountered. My Italian almost non existent but they understood that I was their to photograph them. "Naturale", I begged my new friends I did not want them too posed. I wanted to capture our conversations and our new friendships. After a day of shooting, I think I finally understood what my teacher meant.

I went abroad to try to discover who I am as a photographer and artist. I think I am on my way to doing so.