I can still feel the weight of that old film camera in my hands, its edges worn smooth from years of use. It belonged to my grandfather, a man who had a quiet love for capturing life’s little moments. I had no idea how to use it properly—I barely knew what aperture or shutter speed meant—but I was eager to learn.

It was a family trip to the beach. The air smelled of salt, the waves hummed a calming rhythm, and my cousins ran around laughing as the sun began to dip into the horizon. Something about that scene felt special, like it needed to be preserved. I raised the camera, adjusted the focus (or so I thought), and snapped my first photo.

When we developed the film a week later, I was mesmerized. The photos weren’t perfect, but they felt alive. The way the sunlight danced on the water, the joy frozen in my cousin’s face mid-laughter—it all felt like magic. That’s when it hit me: photography wasn’t just about capturing an image; it was about bottling emotions, telling stories, and creating something timeless.

Over the years, that love has only grown deeper. From those early, clumsy attempts with film to the precision of modern digital photography, the thrill of capturing a moment never fades. Every time I hold a camera, I feel that same spark I felt on the beach all those years ago—a mix of curiosity, excitement, and gratitude for the ability to freeze time.