nicolaschae
Dec 23, 2016
Undergraduate / The photography breaks linguistic and cultural barriers [3]
Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. (650)
Candice is her name. A little bulkier than most but has all the curves in the right places. Anywhere I go, she's right there with me, hand in hand. I was in the eighth grade when I met her, and oh boy, it was like love at first sight. As I walked into that vintage camera store and set eyes on the dusty Canon AE-1 film camera on the middle shelf just above eye level, I knew we would be best friends for a long time to come. Ever since then, Candice has been my partner in crime as we work together to find a balanced exposure, compose the frame, and snap the perfect shot.
Photography has always been more than just taking a quick pic on my phone, slapping on a filter, and posting it on Instagram in hopes of likes and comments. Still images are intensely personal; anyone viewing the photo will have a different interpretation shaped by his or her experiences, but only the photographer knows what was going on in their head when that single moment in time was frozen forever. It took me a long time to flip the switch between photography as a hobby and photography as a platform to share my experiences with the world around me but now it's almost even turned into a metaphor for my life. Are certain aspects the subject of my shot when my focus should be elsewhere? Am I finding the right balance between shadows and highlights or am I too focused on the darkness that I completely forget about the light? Should I be looking at this in black and white or taking all colors into account?
Over the years, Candice served as the lens through which my perspective was constantly challenged. Through thick and thin, she stood by my side and eventually helped me earn an all-expenses paid scholarship to Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands with National Geographic Student Expeditions. During our second week, after playing an arranged game of fútbol with some children of the village, I leaned over to a spectating young boy and asked, "Hola, żcómo estás?" He looked up at me with pleasant surprise and replied, "żTú hablas espańol?" I'm sure it wasn't often the boy met a young Asian who could speak his language in a small village off the tourist path of Ecuador. After striking up a conversation and capturing an image of the boy, he came around to glance at my LCD screen and the joy immediately illuminated his wide grin as if this may have been the first time he had seen a portrait of himself. Through a simple photograph, all perceived linguistic and cultural barriers had been torn down and a meaningful connection had been formed. When I look back at this photo years from now, I may not remember who won the game, but I'll always remember the power of that child's smile and its lasting effect on me.
They say you never forget your first love. Despite the fact that Candice remains retired in a drawer after years of demanding work, the experiences that I have captured with her and the impact that photography has had on my outlook of life will last forever. It's little memories like this exchange with the young boy that have accumulated to shape the person I am today. When I look back at all the adventures of my short 17-year span lifetime, I've come to the realization that my journey with Candice has allowed me to capture the most meaningful moments, shine light on new perspectives, and live my life through a different lens.
Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. (650)
Love and Photography
Candice is her name. A little bulkier than most but has all the curves in the right places. Anywhere I go, she's right there with me, hand in hand. I was in the eighth grade when I met her, and oh boy, it was like love at first sight. As I walked into that vintage camera store and set eyes on the dusty Canon AE-1 film camera on the middle shelf just above eye level, I knew we would be best friends for a long time to come. Ever since then, Candice has been my partner in crime as we work together to find a balanced exposure, compose the frame, and snap the perfect shot.
Photography has always been more than just taking a quick pic on my phone, slapping on a filter, and posting it on Instagram in hopes of likes and comments. Still images are intensely personal; anyone viewing the photo will have a different interpretation shaped by his or her experiences, but only the photographer knows what was going on in their head when that single moment in time was frozen forever. It took me a long time to flip the switch between photography as a hobby and photography as a platform to share my experiences with the world around me but now it's almost even turned into a metaphor for my life. Are certain aspects the subject of my shot when my focus should be elsewhere? Am I finding the right balance between shadows and highlights or am I too focused on the darkness that I completely forget about the light? Should I be looking at this in black and white or taking all colors into account?
Over the years, Candice served as the lens through which my perspective was constantly challenged. Through thick and thin, she stood by my side and eventually helped me earn an all-expenses paid scholarship to Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands with National Geographic Student Expeditions. During our second week, after playing an arranged game of fútbol with some children of the village, I leaned over to a spectating young boy and asked, "Hola, żcómo estás?" He looked up at me with pleasant surprise and replied, "żTú hablas espańol?" I'm sure it wasn't often the boy met a young Asian who could speak his language in a small village off the tourist path of Ecuador. After striking up a conversation and capturing an image of the boy, he came around to glance at my LCD screen and the joy immediately illuminated his wide grin as if this may have been the first time he had seen a portrait of himself. Through a simple photograph, all perceived linguistic and cultural barriers had been torn down and a meaningful connection had been formed. When I look back at this photo years from now, I may not remember who won the game, but I'll always remember the power of that child's smile and its lasting effect on me.
They say you never forget your first love. Despite the fact that Candice remains retired in a drawer after years of demanding work, the experiences that I have captured with her and the impact that photography has had on my outlook of life will last forever. It's little memories like this exchange with the young boy that have accumulated to shape the person I am today. When I look back at all the adventures of my short 17-year span lifetime, I've come to the realization that my journey with Candice has allowed me to capture the most meaningful moments, shine light on new perspectives, and live my life through a different lens.