How I Started Photography

Photography didn't just click into my head. Ever since I was young I loved taking photographs. I was the picture taker for the family events. As I grew up and started high school, I had to do 40 hours of community service and decided to do my hours at LAMP Community Center. This center brought youth together to help with suggestions and volunteering around the community. Then they started mentioning a photography program they offer for youths to try out the dark room. As soon as they mentioned it i signed up, and sure enough every Thursday night 6-9 PM I was in the dark room at Gallery 44 (Spadina & Queen). I learned how to mix the chemicals to properly develop my photos, the right amount of light to add to the photograph so it doesn't turn black, how to boarder the photographs, and by the end of it I was teaching people. At the end of it they set up a gallery to sell our photographs and sell 2 photos, I sold both. Then the next year came and I decided to do it again, even though I got over my 40 hours of community service I was motivated by this program. So I did it again and mostly this time helped the teachers and developed a few nice photographs for the gallery. I did sell both of them again and it was a lot of fun helping people around the darkroom. Word got to the gallery and put me in a list of 40 people and I won  with another guy the David Maltby Award which game me $100 of photography supplies (Chemicals, Paper) and 4, 4 hour sessions. I took a lot of advantage of that and created great photographs. Word got across that I won that and then I was asked to help with Project Zine which got me taking photographs of downtown Toronto and the city.

The next year in grade 12 photography class was an option so I took it, and helped most of the class. I got a 93% in the class with was 1% lower then the highest grade in the class,which I helped the through the class. At the end of it all I applied for a few photography schools and didn't get accepted, but I think I just didn't give enough variety. I ended up getting into Advertising and am really enjoying it! I defiantly will keep up with photography and attempt to get back into it eventually but right now it is a hobby.