A year with my camera: what I’ve learned from photography and what I want to explore next
For a long time, I believed photography was all about control—controlling light, composition, and those moments that never seem to pause.
Back then, I obsessed over gear, studied every spec sheet, and kept taking the same safe photos. I didn’t notice that photography was quietly teaching me to pay attention.
The Years of Chasing “Good Enough”
In my early years with photography, I just wanted to prove myself. Every shoot felt like a test, and every photo either made me feel good or let me down.
I chased technical perfection so much that I nearly forgot why I started taking photos. I was scared of blur, noise, mistakes, and showing work that didn’t feel finished.
At some point, photography became more about getting approval than being curious. But over time, that started to change, and I’m grateful it did.
The change wasn’t dramatic. There was no big moment or viral post. It was just a quiet afternoon, taking photos for myself and noticing how the light moved across a wall. The world felt different when I stopped trying to capture everything perfectly.
I began taking photos that weren’t impressive, but they were honest. Those pictures taught me something important:
The best work doesn’t come from trying to impress — it comes from paying attention.
What Photography Has Taught Me So Far
Over time, photography has become less about the camera and more about who I am.
It taught me patience, since real moments don’t happen on demand.
It taught me confidence, reminding me that my perspective matters even if others don’t see it right away.
It taught me to slow down, because beauty doesn’t show up on a schedule.
Most of all, I learned that creativity grows best when there’s no pressure.
My Photography Resolutions for the New Year
This year, I’m not aiming for perfection. I want to be present, and I’m making a few commitments:
1. Shoot more for myself.
Not for algorithms or trends, but for the quiet joy of noticing something and honouring it.
2. Create before I consume.
Before I scroll, compare, or doubt myself, I’ll make something first.
3. Share work that feels unfinished but real.
Growth doesn’t happen in private. It happens out in the open, in all its messy and honest ways.
4. Follow curiosity instead of validation.
If something excites me, I’ll photograph it. I don’t need to explain why.
5. Trust my eye. Finally.
I won’t wait for permission to trust my own vision anymore.
Stepping Into the Year Differently
This year, I won’t use photography to measure my success. Instead, it’s my companion, my teacher, and my way of staying present in the world.
That is the resolution that might actually last.
Here’s to new frames.
New light.
New mistakes.
New stories.
And here’s to all of us learning, one photo at a time, how to see the world more clearly.
