Maya - Sk8ter Girl
I was 18 years old when I first picked up a camera. A rebel t5 gifted to me from my parents. I took that hunk of plastic out into the world and clicked that release button until the shutter got so worn it stuck in place and had to be repaired. I was the young ,hungry , eager to photograph everything kid who looked up to photographers like Walter Iooss and Ben Watts hoping that one day I'd shoot the SI Swim issue.
Now we'll my feelings on that particular publication have somewhat soured the sentiment remains. I want to take beautiful images, play with styles and meet cool people along the way. What has changed is that I'm no longer the inexperienced kid, now I'm the 18 year veteran with stories and wisdom to share , what I have loving dubbed my "Obi-Wan Kenobi " years.
And so when new young people enter the scene with that hunger that got me behind the lens I feel a sort of responsibility to offer advice, hopefully steer them away from bad elements and reignite my own creativity through their energy and drive. And I knew there was gonna be this in spades when I first noticed Maya.
I was introduced to Maya through a local photographers and models group I was part of online and could definitely sense something special. The dark eyes and hair, the sharp features and presence beyond her young years. The process of getting to work with Maya was a long one that involved chance real world encounters and numerous endorsements from my fellow local creatives.
Maya, bless her was very guarded about working with a new photographer especially a male one, since up until this point her main collaborator had been a female photographer her own age. But that same photographer, whom I had collaborated with in the past vouched for me and my integrity and plans were made.
While the warmth held we met up at a local skate park, and we decided on a cool vintage vibe shot on my 20 dollar fish eye lens which produced the exact vibe I was hoping for . Out conversation during the shoot quickly became that of a mentor and student ( like i said , Obi-wan years) and I got to know the charming young woman that Maya is. I quickly came to admire her ambition and discipline in how she takes care of herself and it inspired me to want to bring more of that into my life.
So now I wait for another opportunity to work with Maya, but hilariously we see each other all the time usually passing each other on our way into or out of the gym. Her progress has been much better than mine but we cheer for each other all the same.
Comments