Learning How to See with New Eyes

When I finish my degree next year, you might find me behind the camera or in front of it.
Either way, I think it’s important to understand the camera, because every frame teaches us something about who we are and how we see the world.

I’ve probably taken a million pictures in my life, and I’m not exaggerating. Before digital cameras, film was expensive. You’d buy a roll, take twenty shots, and hope one turned out. The rest were proof that learning takes time and vision develops slowly.

Then digital arrived, and everything changed. Suddenly, I could take hundreds of pictures at every football game, every football family’s new baby, every team event, every family vacation. Each click taught me something about light, timing, and emotion. It wasn’t just about taking pictures anymore; it was about learning how to see.

Since 2007, my iPhone has been my camera. It’s traveled with me through airports, classrooms, beaches, and long coffee-fueled nights. It’s seen bad hair days, good sunsets, and more selfies than I’ll ever admit. But it taught me the beauty of everyday life, the kind that hides in plain sight when you’re paying attention.

And now, I’m stepping into a new chapter. I bought a Canon R6 with two incredible lenses. It feels like both a celebration and a challenge. The iPhone gave me convenience. This camera gives me intention. It’s heavier, yes, but so is awareness.

Life is like that. We start with limits, we adapt with tools, and then we grow into depth.
And now, as we enter the age of artificial intelligence, I feel that same spark I once felt when digital photography began. Not fear, but curiosity. What will I be able to do tomorrow that I couldn’t do today?

Every stage of life teaches us to see differently.
To adjust the focus.
To reframe the moment.
To learn, again and again, how to see with new eyes.