A few days ago, I took the opportunity to go on a photo walk with my beautiful teenage daughter. She has a natural eye, a sincere love for nature, and a growing passion for learning to see through a lens. Getting the chance to teach her and be her cheerleader is an amazing gift! This day was extra special, however, because it was the day that my very first DSLR went to a new home in her creative hands.
I've been waiting for the right time to give her this camera and I knew that this was the day that she was ready. We went to our favorite park and headed down the most inspiring trail full of trees, wild flowers, and life all around.
Watching her stare up at the tall trees with camera in hand, I could see her heart and soul flourish.
I did some teaching and guiding along the way, but mostly this day I just watched her and was so excited to be on the sidelines to see what she saw. It was thrilling!
There is something very powerful about looking through a lens and learning to see. It transforms our perspective and creates a new appreciation for the world around us. It helps us focus on the beauty that could easily go unnoticed in our busy, hurry-to-the-next-thing lives. It teaches us to slow down, be aware, and find joy in simplicity...a butterfly's wings, the petal of a flower, or even the great big awe inspiring sky!
To hold a camera is not just a medium to create images, but it's a powerful tool for a happy life. What an awesome thing it is to give that tool to a kid. After watching my daughter on this day, I'm pretty sure she will never see the world the same way again.
