Article and photos by Jen Salvevold
Owner, PhotoJENic Photography
What is life? The experience of being alive.
What is photography? The art and process of taking pictures with a camera.
Why is photography life?
Do you ever feel so restless, like you always seem to be on the hunt for something? That has always been me. I have always been looking for something to make me feel alive. And I believe within that is the reason that during my years of “growing up,” I was told many times that I was too emotional. But it is partially true; I just feel too much and when I’m not feeling enough, I’m not satisfied with just existing.
But I was never sure how to channel that feeling of restlessness. My camera and intrigue with photography eased that anxiousness for me. Photography taught me that when I was bored or needed to fill my soul, I could do more than just look at or feel things… I could capture them. I could look at something, feel it, and then photograph it in my own creative way. It was this additional step I needed.
It all started with nature photography, mostly. Within walks in the park, I could stop and take a picture of a wildflower or prairie grass in the wind, ducks in a stream or a butterfly in flight. I could feel at peace and replenished. These beautiful, small moments made me feel alive. So soft, so innocent and so pure. Or days of stormy dark clouds and lightning, I could capture those intense moments and feel its power, rage and darkness. Growing up I had a Sucrets tin of keepsakes. Now it’s my camera.
I still absolutely love getting lost out in nature. I try to get out there every chance I get. But the last several years I have learned to let people in. I’m not as shy and to myself as I used to be. And people have always intrigued me. I loving photographing that beautiful newborn child with their parents’ tired eyes and their soft voice. Or that high school senior who loves to twirl in her new skirt and put flowers in her hair. The baseball player that’s so proud of his jersey and number; the little girl and her newly pierced ears and new shoes. People are amazing, and I like learning from them and of them. In a world where right now so much wrong doing that is plastered on the news, I appreciate these moments so much.
So I’m going to keep feeling too much, looking beyond what empty eyes don’t see and reaching out for more than to just survive. And I’m going to do it all with a click of the shutter. Life is the experience of being alive and I’m here to capture those moments for you and for my own restless soul.
Owner, PhotoJENic Photography
What is life? The experience of being alive.
What is photography? The art and process of taking pictures with a camera.
Why is photography life?
Do you ever feel so restless, like you always seem to be on the hunt for something? That has always been me. I have always been looking for something to make me feel alive. And I believe within that is the reason that during my years of “growing up,” I was told many times that I was too emotional. But it is partially true; I just feel too much and when I’m not feeling enough, I’m not satisfied with just existing.
But I was never sure how to channel that feeling of restlessness. My camera and intrigue with photography eased that anxiousness for me. Photography taught me that when I was bored or needed to fill my soul, I could do more than just look at or feel things… I could capture them. I could look at something, feel it, and then photograph it in my own creative way. It was this additional step I needed.
It all started with nature photography, mostly. Within walks in the park, I could stop and take a picture of a wildflower or prairie grass in the wind, ducks in a stream or a butterfly in flight. I could feel at peace and replenished. These beautiful, small moments made me feel alive. So soft, so innocent and so pure. Or days of stormy dark clouds and lightning, I could capture those intense moments and feel its power, rage and darkness. Growing up I had a Sucrets tin of keepsakes. Now it’s my camera.
I still absolutely love getting lost out in nature. I try to get out there every chance I get. But the last several years I have learned to let people in. I’m not as shy and to myself as I used to be. And people have always intrigued me. I loving photographing that beautiful newborn child with their parents’ tired eyes and their soft voice. Or that high school senior who loves to twirl in her new skirt and put flowers in her hair. The baseball player that’s so proud of his jersey and number; the little girl and her newly pierced ears and new shoes. People are amazing, and I like learning from them and of them. In a world where right now so much wrong doing that is plastered on the news, I appreciate these moments so much.
So I’m going to keep feeling too much, looking beyond what empty eyes don’t see and reaching out for more than to just survive. And I’m going to do it all with a click of the shutter. Life is the experience of being alive and I’m here to capture those moments for you and for my own restless soul.
