jb

Not long after my return, I stumbled across a local photography group that was organizing a shoot in the next town over. I figured, why not. It was a chance to ease back into the scene and maybe meet some people along the way.

I’m still settling in, so I didn’t end up shooting much that day. instead, I leaned more into networking. Chatting with some of the other photographers, asking about their work, sharing a bit about mine. It felt good to be in that kind of environment again, surrounded by people who geek out over the same things I do.

One conversation stood out. I met a woman who had just finished a photography course and was there to sharpen her skills. And she was pretty sharp, and already had a solid grasp on the fundamentals. What surprised me most was her gear. It was top of the line. Especially for someone who’s just starting out. I’ll admit, a little envy crept in. But it was the good kind. the kind that pushes you to want to up your own game.

We exchanged contact info and called it a day. By the time I got home and went through my memory card, I realized I had only take one photo worth keeping. Just one. But sometimes, that’s enough. The photo as proof I was there, the conversations as the real takeaway.