My Photography Journey That Started with the Sky

When I look through note, I feel that the reasons everyone started photography are truly diverse.
Records of beloved family or pets, scenes from travels, or snapshots capturing a fleeting moment of daily life.

“So, how was it for me?” I suddenly found myself looking back on my journey so far.

The opening of my photography life was surprisingly simple.
I just wanted to take pictures of the “sky”.
That was all.

Clutching a “Utsurundesu” (disposable camera), it wasn't once or twice that all 27 shots returned from development were of the “sky”.
I was practically a “sky collector”.
The white of shredded clouds, the colors of a blending sunset.
I would develop them, decorate my room with them, and gaze at them with satisfaction. For me at the time, the world was complete with just the sky above my head.

What greatly expanded my field of vision was an incident during my middle school field trip.

Later, at the photo sales corner posted at school.
While my friends were excited looking for photos of themselves, I was glued to a landscape photo of “Oirase Stream in Aomori” displayed in the corner of the bulletin board.

“What is this...!”

The water was flowing white and soft like clouds.
To me, who didn't even know the concept of a slow shutter, it looked like magic.
I remember the pure curiosity of “How can I take a picture like this?” burning quietly, yet intensely, in my chest.
Of course, what I bought wasn't a photo of myself, but that photo of Oirase.
(I was probably the only student who did that)

Tracing the longing, to the mountains, to wild birds

From then on, I was captivated by the world of photographer Michiko Yone, and I kept pressing the shutter, using her photo books as my bible and thinking, “I want to take pictures just like this.”
It was also around this time that I decided to “start with the look” and carried a Canon without hesitation.
The hills of Biei, the sunflowers of Furano, the burning autumn leaves... I immersed myself in the joy of taking landscape photos.

What awaited me after I learned the joy of taking landscape photos was meeting animals.

At first, I was satisfied with the zoo, but gradually I wanted to see them in their "wild state," and before I knew it, I was heading into the mountains.

Unlike landscapes, they don't wait for you at all.
It is truly a once-in-a-lifetime encounter.
For some reason, the adversity of not knowing if I would even see them if I went there ignited my spirit. I still haven't figured out if I'm the "type that thrives on adversity" or "just a masochist," but the excitement of locking eyes with a wild squirrel for the first time in the mountains was irreplaceable.

From there, I discovered the adorableness of small birds and dove into the depths of wild bird photography.
The joy of filling in my own personal "wild bird field guide" and the exhilaration of encountering a rare bird. My skills are still immature, but the time spent absorbed in pointing my lens at them was irreplaceable.
My technique doesn't catch up easily, but I spent my days pouring all my energy into "whether I could encounter them" rather than "whether I was good at it."

In the end, "fun" has always been by my side

Looking back like this, even though the subjects I photograph have changed, one thing remains the same. That is, "the moment of taking the photo itself is just incredibly fun."

Since nature is the opponent, there are times when I have to endure freezing cold or heat that makes it hard to even stand.
The reason I still can't quit is that the feeling of "fun" always easily outweighs the hardships.

What made you pick up a camera? And what moments do you feel "fun" in right now?

See you later

Afterword

Thank you for reading until the end. I've been talking about my photography history as if I'm some expert, but in reality, I still panic and press the shutter saying "Oh! A bird!" and end up mass-producing photos with nothing in them.

My technique is a lifelong work in progress, but if there is anyone who thinks my photos are "a little nice," there is no greater joy than that.
Please do share your "reasons for starting photography" or "what got you hooked" in the comments.