It’s a lucky thing that photography was invented, because my strong propensity for being a quiet observer, coupled with a complete inability to draw or paint, would make it really challenging for me to otherwise get a job I like. And since I’m most interested in observing faces, having a camera in hand keeps me from appearing just plain weird as I stare at the people around me. Most of the time anyway.

Sometimes I wonder why it is I’m so content to simply take things in visually without needing to participate myself. It’d be easy to attribute this to shyness, but since I like observing even those people I’m very comfortable with I don’t believe this is it at all. I think more than anything it has to do with the fact that I trust the impressions I get from observation over those made in conversation. While we may intentionally try to sway others’ opinions of us with our words, the subtle gestures made with our eyes, hands, or a tilt of our head, often convey something more true and telling.

Perhaps all this is purely indicative of my own inner dysfunction--which makes it all the more fortunate that photography was invented. Ü



~Cynthia