9 Years on Facebook.
Time flies, this page is now 9 years old. I created this page simply to have a place to post, so I wouldn't annoy people on my personal account with images that I knew not many of my friends would appreciate at the time, and even now as they've matured. When I created this page, I had just turned 14. My interest in photography had started a few years prior.
My photography journey began as a small hobby, and I enjoyed posting, even if no one saw my work. My main "camera" was an iPod Touch 4 and, at times, an iPad Mini with the iPod having modest 6-megapixel camera. Photography remains a hobby of mine, even though I've invested approximately 15k over the years. You might be thinking, "Stuart, is it still a hobby when you've invested so much money into it?" Let me explain.
Photography is a place I escape to, where I can forget all my issues and concerns. It has helped me cope with rough patches in my life, especially in 2019-2020. It allows me to focus on something I love doing for myself, my close ones, and even strangers. It has also connected me with some world-class photographers. I feel privileged to have connected with Dale Sharp of DK Photography (Rest in peace). That connection stands out to me the most. I literally screamed internally when I received a notification on Instagram saying DK Photography liked my photo and followed me. It didn't stop there, as it led to meeting other photographers.
As I've matured, my style, shooting techniques, and editing skills have evolved. Consequently, people started approaching me to ask if I would sell my photos as early as 2017-2018. My photography journey has led me capturing a variety of occasions that might otherwise have been captured solely on mobile phones and then forgotten. Some of these memorable events include:
50th birthdays
25th wedding anniversaries
Photos to represent new life chapters for some.
individuals Engagement parties
School formals
Portraits
I've amassed a following across Instagram, Facebook, and Youpic. I achieved this without paying for ads, and I didn't even have a website or brand name until 2019 when I thought of "Stuart Macka Photography." My online presence is much larger than it used to be.
Photography is a form of art, and art is a subjective matter since it's based on personal taste and perspective. I appreciate those who find me and enjoy what I create the most. I still have a lot of life to live and experiences to gain, so who knows what the future holds. For now, I am content with photography serving as my escape from the real world. If one day it turns into my job, I guess that's a bonus. Earning money from my passion and hobby is just an added bonus at this stage.
To conclude this lengthy post, I do have the drive, passion, and motivation to turn this into something bigger. But for now, it can remain as it is. If photography hadn't entered my life as it did, I probably would have eventually ventured into music as music much like photography, Tells a story.
It still shocks me that people are constantly blown away with my work, even when sometimes I think my work is average, I am my own worst self-critic.
Wow I just started typing to mention something about this page being 9 years old and now look at it,
Stuart,
