I had this crazy dream more than 10 years ago. Ha, you wish it were a crazy one. It wasn't crazy in anyway though it was a big deal for a schooling lass from an average incomed (is that even a word? I have no clue. For those who feel I'm killing the language its time to stop reading ;)) family. I wanted badly to take up professional photography!! Alas, it turned out to be such an expensive dream to be made reality. The equipment cost a fortune and there was no way my dream was gonna be sponsored from my household.
Eventually I learnt to live with reality of the world and stored this dream away in the attic. (not as if we ever had an attic in our house). Finally after getting out of school, getting my self into a job or 2, working myself up to a certain point, I started to remember my hidden away dreams one by one. Alas, this dream was still an expensive one. But the difference was I could take the decision and I did.
2011 May, I enrolled myself for a 3 month course conducted by the Photographic Society of Sri Lanka thanks to few of my colleagues from office. Mind you this was the most affordable first step as the equipment cost a small fortune (yes, which means I joined the class, without even having the equipment). Learnt a few things, while researching the best option to go for with regard to equipment.
As a part of the course, we had 2 field trips where we got to test our skills and equipment under the guidance of our lecturers. Now, I couldn't delay this any longer. I knew I had to purchase the pro camera and I did. Exactly one day prior to the field trip, purchased it, read the catalog only to realise that this was the most complicated thing to grasp over a night. Any how, I managed to use my new EOS 60D at the field trip with a few glitches hear and there and yet got a few amazing shots. (I know something is wrong with the tense I've used, but I really don't care as long as the point is noted)
The course ended in August and my journey began. Travelled to many a locations with my new baby and made the maximum possible use of it. Oh, btw if you are thinking of this as a hobby, just remember one thing. Not only finding the dough to purchase the camera you need to then invest in a proper storing box, have proper cleaning gear, have a proper carrying bag, accessories etc etc. The list just never ends.
Finally my pay off day came today. I managed to submit a few of my photographs to the 56th Annual International Exhibition held by the PSSL which is open to the world at large. Out of 2000 submissions from 12 odd countries, my landscape shot of a Jaffna beach got selected for the exhibition. I'm back after the inauguration event holding the booklet which carries my photograph and I know that I've made the right decision. Now its back to getting the most essential accessories and saddling back on the horse coz I've a lot more to learn and damn don't I love it.
Hallo world here I come. Don't bother to hold your poses coz my baby has a shutter speed of a fraction of a second and continues shooting upto 50 odd shots. I feel invincible, or rather not. In short I'm just proud to say, I had a dream 10 years ago and today it has become my reality. I will continue to dream, but hopefully less costly dreams ;)))
It's never too late to pursue your dreams and don't ever stop dreaming coz you need to feel what I'm feeling right now.
