When I was in the Marines I had a couple computer guys around me taking on photography. This is strange? You might ask why photography if you solely focus on computers. Can a programmer also have a creative eye as well? I often questioned myself on this. These are all very good questions. Luckily for me, the amateur photographer at that time taught me some basics and it really made me intrigued. He actually got me in touch with combat camera using the Cannon Mark cameras (the photographers that take pictures of the action).

I ended up buying a Nikon D3100 camera (I actually recommend at least a Rebel for beginners wanting to get serious) and taking some basic classes from combat camera. They preferred to shoot in 35mm and walk around and get into the action. I was actually uncomfortable with that and I was pretty shy. They must think, why is this random dude taking pictures of me while I try to eat? I felt it was important to learn a lot about the camera and how to use it. I learned mainly about ISO, shutter speed, and aperture. I don’t exactly believe in automatic since it doesn’t let you get creative with your pictures especially when you want things like bokehs. At that point in photography, I knew I could never have a creative eye since I was a programmer an inept to human life form, but I can at least make the picture look good in quality in whatever I am shooting.

I traveled a lot in the Marines and I would bring my Nikon with me. I took pictures and started mastering the settings on the camera, even just by being aware of my surroundings. I started taking some really nice pictures and I was impressed with them. Even though camera phones have come along way, you cannot take pictures to such degree as you can on a DSLR (or cameras as such). Even though they are considered amateur pictures, I was starting to get a lot of good feedback for them since most people just rely on whatever their phones produce and my pictures generally looked better and was able to capture more.

I eventually was stationed in San Diego and what really got me inspired in photography was when I started taking pictures of the Coronado bridge. I was still perfecting my exposure, but something very magical happened to me this time. When I was taking pictures, everything around me vanished, everything bad had escaped my body, and it was just my camera, the scenery I was shooting, and myself. It was a way for me to escape reality and start getting in touch with my creative side I had.

Then something bad happened. I was getting off of ship and had my camera locked in a pelican case, locked in my seabag, and when I got my gear back, my camera was stolen! I was very disappointed and I was accused of not locking up my stuff, even though it was locked up to the point it would survive a helicopter crash.

Later down the road I felt that I was missing something. I needed to get back in to photography. I ended up getting a Cannon Rebel T4i. Let me tell you, this was a much better camera vs the Nikon D3100. The camera felt a bit more professional (even though it’s still considered beginner). The stock lens were so much better as well. I ended up meeting with another professional photographer and he even taught me more things. One early morning we went to take pictures of the surfers in Long Beach, CA. I clearly didn’t have the right type of lens for this type of shooting, but I still learned quite a few things that added on my overall experience.

I eventually started taking pictures of my food (just the plain camera phones). The pictures were decent, but as years went by I noticed a very noticeable difference in how I took pictures at the beginning vs how I took pictures then. I started getting a lot of followers, a lot of likes, and a lot of great feedback. I started enjoying it a lot and realized that I might actually be a creative person.

You might ask, why after all your experiences, everyone telling you including your family that you are creative; why do you still have a strong belief that you are not creative at all and can’t be successful in creativity? This is also a really great question, but the real question is, how can a programmer be an “artist” when they are so locked up in programmers can’t be great “artists”. Not to mention I cannot draw or do anything creative.

Months kept going on, I had friends and family that liked my pictures and they wanted me to take pictures of their children/family for them. I even was the person that did group photos and the family events. I always warned them that even though I can use a camera well, I don’t exactly have that eye. They helped guide me. I kept learning and learning from artistic minds, many different concepts as if I was a robot and had to learn every possible combination of everything.

Then a few years back I was going through personal things and it was very hard for me. To summarize, I lost interest in everything and forgot about everything. Not until a few months ago I realized that I actually did photography as a passion. I forgot the way it made me feel and those magical times I experienced when I was out shooting. So I picked up my Rebel and started taking pictures. I took pictures of night lights and wandered around like I was a little child again. And it just something special. It allows me mind to wander around in ways that I can’t ever imagined when I am locked up in my head. My work let me take pictures of events, I learned additionally more. I also was able to shoot an interview which also taught me more.

I realized what I was missing out on and I decided to get even more serious with photography. I decided to take the plunge and buy a Cannon 80D along with some fixed lens. Now this was a really nice upgrade! I started taking macro-like pictures and they were starting to come out really nice and I was impressed with my work. In short, as of right now I believe I am really into macro photography and taking closeups that allow you to see your object in very high level of detail, but also having a beautiful bokeh behind the subject.

Now one of my family member’s wants me to shoot at their wedding! I know I can take great pictures, but I am a bit nervous because I am considered amateur and weddings are fast paced at times. But for me, I have months to practice and perfect my technique. Wedding photographers say weddings are quite stressful and I bet they are! My family does know that I am not a professional or anything, but they did like my work a lot and wants me to shoot! For me, although it might be stressful or whatever one may think, but honestly I cannot have that mindset. When I am out and about taking pictures by myself, I know I do good work (good enough that my family will accept) and I am not stressed about it. So aside from keeping my distance (shutter noise) and where I should be angled, I shouldn’t have the mindset of being stressed out. If my work is already good enough and I can maintain that type of mindset, then there should be minimal stress allowing me to live the moment and capture the incredible memories and emotions floating around.

So why photography?

Photography is a great way for me to escape reality and capture incredible moments by unleashing my creative side. It allows me to express my creativity in ways that I never thought I had in me. It allows for a programmer like myself to realize that you can be both a great programmer and great at being creative at the same time, since you already have a creative mindset when programming.