We did "date" on and off for a little bit (refer to all posts labeled with "Mango"), but alas, it was not meant to be. We realized this at about the same time we discussed our life goals: Brian wanted a PhD in engineering and a family in the suburbs who would go to church every Sunday, and I wanted to finally be recognized as a world beer pong champion.
The parting was pretty amicable.
Anyway, we'd been talking about photography for some time, ever since I had to trail a photographer around for half a day at work while he did some publicity shots for us. It was, without a doubt, the most thrilling half a day of work I've had since I started that job. To fully comprehend how sad that is, let me describe what I did for that half day -- I held up his reflector, opened doors when his hands were full, and tried to convince subjects they were photogenic. I didn't even get to touch the camera. And it was still light miles better than whatever I was doing at my desk job.
The thing about Brian is that he gets passionate about things in a split second. A few months back, he worked with a fellow intern who owned a bike shop. Brian then developed an intense and unwavering passion for folding bikes. Not even regular bicycles, but bicycles that you can fold up and carry around with you. It was a very specific passion, and by association throughout the following months I got to hear about every bike forum, bike shop and bike nonprofit (yes, they exist) Brian came across during his research. And he did a lot of research.
So when we started talking about photography -- me meanderingly and distractedly as I think about everything -- he dove right in. We went to camera shops, looked up camera deals, and debated between Canon and Nikon. It was just like the bikes, except this time I wasn't bored and didn't have to exercise. It was still very abstract for me though. I mostly said things like "wouldn't it be cool if I had a camera?" and, "if I had a camera I could take a picture of that weird guy over there." Brian, on the other hand, started talking to me about aperture and shutter speed and a bunch of other things that sounded suspiciously like science.
As much as my fascination with photography was genuine, I secretly thought that it would go the way of my other interests -- karate (I never got past white belt, because my parents didn't have the money to buy me the uniform for the next level -- come to think of it that one wasn't really my fault), painting (my art teacher mentioned at every lesson that I need more patience, until finally I quit -- that'll show him), drinking (you have to go all the way to the fridge, pour the shot, get a chaser, repeat several times, then go get a burrito when you get the alkie-munchies -- it was all too much to deal with). This was especially true because photography is a difficult hobby to be involved with when you don't actually have a camera. Trying to get the perfect shot just isn't as thrilling when you're framing the subject by forming a square with your hands. And it's harder to convince your friends to model for you.
But yesterday Brian remedied all that. I've read every article on beginner photography Google could find for me. I've researched camera bags and accessories until I had to physically put my credit card out of reach. I've looked at examples of good photographs, examples of great photographs, and examples of photographs I suspected had too much help from Photoshop. I learned about the the triangle of exposure -- I'm using aperture and ISO and shutter speed, for God's sakes. And I think I might even know what they mean.
And I'm starting to feel like I have .. an interest in something. And I mean an interest in something besides what I'm having for lunch (fries sound good). So for that, I definitely need to say: thank you, Brian. Also, you are off the hook for the next five Christmases.
Yesterday, when I opened the package -- after I finished shrieking with joy and Brian uncovered his ears -- he looked at me very seriously and said, "This is going to change your life. You should write about it." So I am.
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