Meet SAM:
The Woman Behind The Camera…
…Part Seven!
Left - One of My Favorite Traditions is going to The County Fair! So much so...That even in The Four Years I was away at College I still came home just to go! My Favorite Ride is The Wave Swinger and I always have to have Fried Oreos!
Middle - I completed My First Half Marathon in Wilmington, North Carolina in November 2019! To this day...It is still The Accomplishment that I am most proud of in My Life so far!
Right - This Photo was taken at Fort Fisher (MY FAVORITE SPOT IN THE ENTIRE WORLD) on Valentine's Weekend in 2020. I had a Galentine's Weekend with Two Sweet Friends! I had no idea how different life would look just One Year Later. A Year Ago...I was working Full Time at a Doctor's Office, Part Time at a Grocery Store, and Training for My Second Half Marathon. In the past year since This Photo was taken I quit Working Full Time to Babysit for a Friend who is a Nurse and I continued working Part Time at a Grocery Store. I wasn't able to complete the Second Half Marathon that I trained for since it got Cancelled (so I deferred My Entry to February of this year but for now it is Postponed until April). I got Diagnosed with Anxiety & Depression. I experienced Grief for The First Time. Two Friends lost a Father, A Friend lost a Sister, and I lost My Grandpa. All in the middle of a Pandemic. However, In the midst of Struggle and Heartache...It led me here.
* Photo Taken By: Emily DiBrito - https://emilydibrito.myportfolio.com/ *
Left - In September 2020 I was asked by A Friend if I would be interested in learning Film Photography. My Response was: 1. Does anyone still do that?! 2. OF COURSE!" That was when I met who I call 'My Photography Mentor' who has now become Family. Neil took this Photo of me The Second Time we met. This is My "Focused Face." He brought a Tripod and A Digital Camera so I could practice. Since then I have bought a Film Camera and Neil is slowly but surely teaching me about Photography. This was EXACTLY The Bright Light I needed during a Dark Time in My Life.
* Photo Taken By: Neil Talley *
Middle - In October 2020 I decided I was going to FINALLY & OFFICIALLY pursue Photography. In November 2020 I reached out to A Friend and asked if she would let me take Photos of her so I could get some practice. During The Photo Session she wore this hat. I jokingly asked her to take photos of me while wearing it afterwards. & They actually weren't half bad. She told me: "I'm totally getting you a Hat for Christmas!" I thought she was kidding. Sure enough...Christmas rolls around and she tells me she has a gift for me. Wouldn't you know it...I now have My Own Hat to wear. I've had a few people reach out to me and ask if I would take Photos for them and I've also reached out of people asking if they would be interested in allowing me to practice taking Photos of them. I ended up receiving Three Christmas Cards with Photos on them that I took. Talk about surreal. I have no idea what This New Journey will hold...But for now I want to enjoy this Hobby. I don't have many plans this year. I just want to take one day at a time and learn as I go!
Right - In January 2021 I FINALLY cleaned out A Building that is going to be My Dark Room! This is me with The Enlarger that My Photography Mentor helped me get and set up! I will still take Digital Photos....But I am really looking forward to learning about Film Photography!
* Photo Taken By: Neil Talley *
