How a Photo on Pinterest Changed My Life
and led to one of my favorite hobbies
Have you ever seen something that stopped you dead in your tracks by how striking it was?
For most I would assume it happens in person, but it happened to me on Pinterest of all places. Eager to make art as a heartbroken high-school freshman, I had recently downloaded the app and was making my boards with all kinds of artsy photos when I scrolled and saw this:
Admittedly I tend to be forgetful, but the wonder that struck me after seeing this photo has never left me. It’s an understatement to say how beautiful it is; from the model, the rose background and pastel pink highlights.
Besides all that, something more stood out. This photo in particular carried a specific feeling. There was a quality to the photo that I hadn’t seen up to that point. It had this candid, intimate ambience while also looking a bit dreamlike; it wasn’t sharp or super detailed. I instantly looked for the origin of the photo and fell into the rabbit hole of a what would be my new hobby: film photography.
Discovering the works of Chloe Sheppard was a revelation. Intimate portraits and colorful photos taken in a format that I was vaguely aware of. I ached to capture my youth and be able to look back at it in a similar manner; or generally just chase the magic I witnessed in Chloe’s photo. I bothered my dad constantly to see if he had a film point and shoot laying around somewhere that I could borrow; and he later decided to give me a Nikon point and shoot he found at a Goodwill. And as they say, the rest is history.
I think I will speak more in a future article how film photography has impacted me; but what I’m entranced by is how a single photo I saw (by chance) led me to adopt one of my favorite hobbies ever. With the little money I had, I was eager to buy rolls of film and take my camera everywhere I could. I’ve recently started focus more on shooting film and it’s brought me back to my curious and passionate 16 year old self. It’s created such beautiful memories and moments that I can tangibly hold and look at. I’m eternally grateful.
I still strive to achieve the magic that Chloe’s photo(s) had and still carry. Though I don’t think I’ve gotten close; it is something that I constantly chase and hope to spark in someone else as well.