With a Camera in my hand, I learned all about my life

“I learned all about life with a ball at my feet” — Ronaldinho

As a documentary-style photographer, I’ve learned to appreciate the small things in life. We often get so caught up in chasing goals and money that we overlook what truly matters. If you pay attention to your surroundings, you’ll see the stories in people’s lives. Live, learn, and always learn from one another.

I took a picture in London two years ago titled “Tech-NO-logy.”

Sometimes, we get so glued to our mobile devices that we forget to notice what’s happening around us. In today’s world, the digital age is so powerful that even little kids have their own Instagram or Facebook accounts. I grew up in the 80s, and the most “digital” thing I had was a pager. Back then, there weren’t many distractions — we played with sticks and stones, kicked empty bottles around, wrote love letters, and folded them into paper planes. We saw the world with our eyes wide open. Sadly, this kind of simple living is becoming a rare sight.

I took a photo in Santorini two years ago titled “Transatlanticism.”

In case you’re wondering, Transatlanticism is a song by the band Death Cab for Cutie. As the lead singer and songwriter Ben Gibbard said, “The incomprehensible emotional gap between two lovers separated by comprehensible distances.” Every time I look at this picture, I feel the ache of missing someone far away.

I’ve been in long-distance relationships before, and sometimes, I’d sit by my bedroom window, staring out, hoping she’d somehow appear before me. Man, I can still feel that longing deep in my bones.

Here’s another picture I took, titled “Distractions.”

I was walking the streets of Taipei with my client when we decided to check out a night market. The place buzzed with pop-up stores, food carts, and unique handmade crafts. I put my camera aside to take in the scene fully. As I looked around, I saw a family in front of me, all busy taking selfies. Meanwhile, a little boy was being tugged around by his dad. I moved closer and snapped the picture. It made me sad. Everyone was so focused on Instagram stories, selfies, and videos, but no one was paying attention to the experiences around them. We could all learn something from this little guy.

I used to think photography was a hobby for the rich, kind of like golf. Whenever I attended an event, I saw photographers carrying huge cameras and equipment. I’d look at their photos and think, These look so ordinary. I could take these with my phone.

The turning point came when a professional photographer friend told me I had an eye for photography and encouraged me to try it. I didn’t act on her advice immediately, but I did a few years later. That’s when I started to understand the true power of images that tell stories.

Anyone can take a photo, but can you tell a story through it?

Photography — my beautiful mistake.

Thanks for reading!