On a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean about seven miles south of Half Moon Bay was a parking area where my parents stopped to look at the vast expanse of blue.
At 10 years old and with a tiny Kodak Instamatic in hand the first picture was not of the scenic view. It was little Scottish Terrier that was wandering around with its owner. I was able to get my subject centered in the viewfinder, pressed the button, and it felt good to feel the click of the shutter.
There was a Polaroid in the '70s during high school which were fun for capturing moments but did little else for a sense of creative photography.
Magic occurred with the Olympus OM10 FC, a 75-200 MM lens, and learning how to develop black and white film for the newspaper stories that I was writing. Concert photography was the most fun one could possibly have.
By the 1990's I moved to video, briefly found work at a local television station, and found editing with voice overs to be a great way to tell stories.
In the 21 st Century the digital camera has been a joy. Technology allowed for challenges such as hummingbird photography, which has proven to delight the person holding the camera as well as the people who see the picture.
It would be fair to say that photography is enjoyable because of the results but it is also great to meet nature on its own terms. Whether it is harsh winter conditions and oppressive hot summer days, it is as important to feel the picture as it is to see the image.