Tag: spiritual journey

I Love…

As a consequence of my continuing spiritual journey, I feel compelled to question my love for things. Hopefully, this series will unearth some of the mysteries of my love affairs with a few simple questions. 

Part Two: Photography

Why do you Love Photography? 

For over 20 years, I’ve been deeply infatuated with the art of visual storytelling. The creating of images that tells a story along with being appealing and interesting. Since I started this love affair, I’ve been trying to capture such a set of images. A unique portfolio that would be ridiculously hard, extremely expensive, or impossible to duplicate. As pretentious as that sounds, it’s something that I feel compelled to work towards. But unfortunately, I can not say all of my images fall into that precise definition. I have come to accept it’s about enjoying the photographic journey and not its destination

When and why did it start? 

It started back in the mid nineties after seeing a striking sunset image that my sister took. I remember the vibrant colors contrasted by the dark silhouettes of trees drawing my eye deeper and deeper into the image. This not only sparked my curiosity but also inspired me to pursue my own photographic passion. But it wasn’t until years later when I was somewhat financially stable before I started my love affair with photography. It was 2004 when I got my first DSLR and was so enthusiastic, taking pictures of anything and everything. I remember being so eager to learn as much as I could. I would hang out in the photography section of bookstores, being a sponge soaking up as much information as I could. Along with spending countless hours online browsing various photography websites and forums. Searching through pages and posts for any knowledge I thought was relevant and helpful to my development as a photographer.

How does it make you feel? 

Like with anything that I love, photography brings me an abundance of joy and adds a considerable amount of meaning to my life. It hits differently than my love of aviation but it’s in the same emotional space. There’s a childish level of excitement I get every time I peek through my viewfinder. I’ve never had a bad experience behind my camera. That’s not to say I don’t bitch up shots. (Which I still do 🙂). But there’s a powerful attraction to photography that pulls me in. There have been many times, out of nowhere that I’ve felt the urge to do some photography. And without hesitation, I’ll get my gear and head out. I’ve come to realize that capturing photos is just a part of who I am.

What do you do to maintain and nurture your love for Photography?

After 20 years, I’m still willing and open to learning something new about my passion. If it is new processing software, shooting techniques or even a new camera system, the drive is still there. Along with my daily routine of scrolling through Flickr to see what other photographers are shooting. Doing so keeps my creative vision fresh and flexible to help me envision new images. Moreover, I’ve developed a shooting routine that keeps me disciplined and focused so I can “Shoot with intent” and not just aimlessly wonder around and take pictures. Nurturing and growing my passion for photography is a lifelong journey.

What do you love about photography most? And why

I love the rhythm of envisioning an idea for a photo, chasing after it for days and some cases years, then actually capturing it and then sharing it with others. Some ideas are crystal clear, where I know exactly what the final image will look like. Others are more abstract, and the outcomes are unknown until the moment I press the shutter. Its creating images (for my blog, posting on social media, or photos of my models) that deeply resonate with people that makes the challenge worth it.

To see my growing collection of photos, follow the link below

My Photography

Thanks for stopping by,

S.Lewis

A Canon EOS digital camera mounted on a tripod, featuring a zoom lens, set against a white background.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT PART ONE

I Love Aviation

A scenic image capturing the essence of photography, featuring a beautiful landscape or striking composition that showcases the art of visual storytelling.

I Love…

As a consequence of my continuing spiritual journey, I feel compelled to question the things I love. Hopefully, this series will unearth some of the mysteries of my love affairs with a few simple questions. 

Part One: Aviation

Why Do You Love Aviation?

The saying “You can’t explain what’ love is. But you feel it clearly, completely and deeply when you are”, best describes my feelings for aviation. I maintain a child-like enthusiasm and passionate desire for all things aviation-related. It is one of a few things that fulfill me intellectually, emotionally, spiritually, and lovingly. Asking me to give up Aviation would be no different than asking me to cut off an appendage. Aviation is a part of who I am and my love for it has never wavered. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t love it. And am always delighted by new aspects of aviation that I have never experienced. Such as my current infatuation with seaplanes and helicopters. 

When and why did it start? 

My first memory of my love for aviation started when I was very young, I was maybe 6 or 7. My dad was in the Navy, and we were stationed at Roosevelt Roads Naval Station in Puerto Rico. One day, my dad took me to an area where he works and there was a room that the ceiling was covered with model airplanes. Which was something I’d never seen before, but I remember being absolutely fascinated by all the different types and wanted to know each of their names. It was about that time I also noticed that our house was parallel to the flight path to the air base. There were no ships based in Roosevelt Roads but when a aircraft carrier was in the area, its air wing would visit the base. It was the coolest place to grow up, seeing Tomcats, Intruders, A-7s, and S-3s enter the pattern, break information, and then drop gear on the downwind leg. It is the cause of me being easily distracted by flying airplanes. I remember it came to a point where could tell what type of plane it was just by its sound. After 3 or 4 years, we moved to the Tidewater area of Virginia. And being in the vicinity of numerous airbases, there was no shortage of military aircraft flying overhead for me to identify. 

How does aviation make you feel? 

Aviation has always been a constant source of wonder and thrill in my life, and it has never once let me down. The passion I felt when I first fell in love with aviation is still just as vigorous today, filling me with the same level of uninhibited joy and excitement. Over the years, my connection to various aspects of aviation has deepened, evoking a variety of emotions depending on the context. For instance, vintage warbirds often stir up a sense of nostalgia, of a time when these iconic aircraft were built and flown by hand and not by a computer. Helicopters, on the other hand, ignite my adventurous spirit, with their unique ability to hover and access remote locations. Meanwhile, a window seat of an airliner brings me an unequal sense of peace and calm, as I gaze out over the endless expanse of sky and watch the world pass below.

What do you do to maintain and nurture your Love for Aviation?

Like with anything I love, the maintenance and nurturing are done effortlessly and enthusiastically. From attending aviation events, visiting museums, plane spotting, and watching spotting channels on YouTube (yes, it’s a thing) to planning trips to explore and experience various new aviation events. (Cough) My trip to England 🙂 Yeah, my aviation checklist from that trip. Got to fly on an Airbus A330-200, did my first air-to-air photoshoot with WWII Warbirds over the English countryside, countless spotting trips to London-Heathrow drove 2 and a half hours to see TSR.2, did a helicopter flight over London, then spent 5 days at the world’s largest military airshow. I will shoehorn aviation into any conversation whenever possible along with spending countless hours on Flightradar 24. Driving around any airport with airplanes taking off or landing in view is troublesome for me. The need to see and identify what’s taxing to the runway, taking off, or landing is way too distracting.

What do you love about it most? And why

Whether it is in an airliner, helicopter, or hanging out the back of a Skyvan, for me going flying is by far the most enjoyable way to experience aviation. The thrill and power of takeoff always gives me chill bumps. There is something not only liberating and peaceful about glaring out the window, watching the world and clouds pass by.

Until next post,

S.Lewis