The power of glass and mirrors

I love photography. I have a love for the art of it. It is a form of art that speaks to me but I have neither an artistic eye or talent for it…yet. I read a lot of blogs by photographers and I love looking at their galleries.  Today I came across a blog entry on a website that struck a cord with me. For some reason I cried reading it….although I cry pretty easily so that’s no major feat.  Anyway, just wanted to share it:

The Power of Glass and Mirrors

There is a belief shared by some cultures that photography has the power to steal a soul… imprisoning it within its amalgam of polyester, celluloid, salts and gelatin.

What do you believe?

For me, what used to be camera shy, still is. But I’m finding over the years it has evolved from the worry of soul stealing into the peace of soul searching. The more I put myself in front of my own lens, the more I see the layers peeling away to reveal something I had long forgotten. It’s me. The less I realize it’s being stolen, the more I realize I am giving it freely. There is beauty in that.

Are we really the projections we put out into the world? Sometimes I joke that people might not recognize me in real life if they only know me through images or words. There might be truth to that. Can photography catch those collective bits of me to make me whole? I only know that I hope to become the person I can {sometimes} catch on film.

Tell me, how do you see yourself? Is it hard for you to step in front of the camera? Be brave and show your self. In truthiness, in art, in mystique… whatever your comfort. The self you put out there might be the one you most want to be. Today you might be the peace before the storm or the rage after the rain. You might be humbled, blessed, joyous, tired, overwhelmed, or bored beyond belief. Discover something about yourself by peering into your own lens. Have a peek… and know this:

We are powerful, those of us who wield a camera. We can pull emotion through glass and mirrors.