My first memories of photography as a child were of using a Kodak Pocket Instamatic 110 film camera. When I now look back on those old prints, they were all of animals, wildlife from the zoo, and pets. There were no humans in my photos.
Fast forward to the year 2000. I was working on completion of my Diploma in Fine Art and Design, yet I had severe allergies to dark room chemicals, so could not take photography courses. I had to wait for digital to come along full force, and jumped right in, by purchasing my first DSLR, a used Fuji from a local camera shop.
Why do I love photography now?
Photography gives me a sense of peace and joy. It makes me happy, plain and simple.
As a photographer I enjoy the perfect mix of creativity, high level skill, being outdoors and in nature, and I get to play with my love of color, while demanding thinking, feeling and intuition all at the same time. It also makes use of my training as a designer and fine artist. Photography is a complex art form that I believe, one can never master in one lifetime. I am proud to label myself as an emerging photographer, as learning forever is a good and humbling thing.
I enjoy the abstract, experimental and intentional camera movement. Nature and the great outdoors is a common theme. Animals and pets will always show up as chosen subject matter that I seek out. (or maybe, they find me?)
Trained as a visual artist and painter; my camera is now my paintbrush, the camera lens is my voice; life and the world around me is a canvas on which to play.
/brenda johima
