VENI ETIAM PHOTOGRAPHY
  • Home
  • SHOP
  • SEASONAL DECOR
  • Blog
  • About me
  • About my shots
  • Français
    • MON ESPRIT
    • MON REGARD
    • CONTACTEZ-MOI

Nine years ago

28/8/2016

0 Comments

 
Nine years ago, to the day, was the start of my first real travel adventure. Actually, it was my first whole bunch of things: my first time overseas for more than just a vacation, my first experience living independently in my own apartment, the first chapter of my scientific career and, what amuses me most, I was accompanied by my first camera.

Let’s be clear: this camera was my camera - not one I had borrowed from my parents that was the size of my shoe, with a leather case so weather-worn that I felt like an insignificant part of its journey. Not a camera I temporarily used and returned to them as soon as I developed my (many) rolls of film. No, this camera was new, it was digital, it was a gift to me for the start of this new chapter in my life and it was mine to carry around everywhere. The funny thing is that, while I was already passionate about travel nine years ago, I was not in the slightest passionate about photography. I was simply excited about documenting my experiences, and I barely chided myself if my thumb made a guest appearance in some of the photos.
​
Nine years ago, to the day, I moved to Milano – a city I had hated during an earlier, brief, admittedly über-touristic visit years before. What I did not expect was to find a home and my wings there. My life in Milano is a whole other story to tell, but what I can surely say is that it was the great beginning of many aspects of my life that define me now. It was the first anchor I dropped, and the first place that I would thereafter return to, again and again.
Picture
Duomo di Milano, Kristina Kasparian, pre-VeniEtiamPhotography
My life in Milano is a whole other story to tell, but what I can surely say is that it was the great beginning of many aspects of my life that define me now. It was the first anchor I dropped, and the first place that I would thereafter return to, again and again.
My silver Kodak was a great travel companion. After the first two weeks alone in a huge city with no other constant in my days, I noticed that I was ever so gradually becoming interested in photography. I hadn’t a clue what I was doing, of course. But I began practicing and experimenting, and eventually did start scolding myself for shots that did not convey what I wanted them to. Scenes began calling to me, making me stop in my tracks, making me wait, making me cross the street, making me come down on my knees, making me look back. It wasn’t about achieving technical perfection; it was about learning to capture what I felt about a place. With my notebook and my camera in my bag everywhere I went, I was at peace with my new surroundings and my newfound independence, in a life where at least one element of each day felt completely foreign and unknown.

Nine years ago, to the day, I took my first photograph of the Duomo in Milano with my trusty Kodak. It was a spontaneous decision to take it in black and white – the spires felt more intricate that way.
​
I’ve returned to Milano many times and have always found it impossible to resist snapping another photo of the Duomo, as if it were my way to say hello, I’m back, I’ve missed you. The seasons changed, I changed, my cameras changed. After a while, my Kodak retired. I tucked it into its weather-worn leather case, grateful that I had been a significant part of its journey – as it had been a significant part of mine.  

P.S. Thank you, Facebook, for reminding me of nine years ago today. What would we do without your (sometimes creepy) look-backs?
Stay in touch!
Follow me on Instagram or sign up to receive VIP newsletters!
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Kristina Kasparian

    Thanks for stopping by! #OnTheBlog are the stories behind my prints, posts about my travels, glimpses into my daily life, news about my shop, events in the Montreal community and tips on travel, home and photography. 

    Merci de visiter mon blogue! Vous y trouverez les histoires qui ont donné naissance à mes photographies, mes chroniques de voyage, un aperçu de ma vie quotidienne, des nouvelles sur ma boutique et mes conseils sur les voyages, sur la déco maison et sur la photographie. 

    Follow

    Categories

    All
    5 Photos
    Artisan Fairs
    Beginning
    Birthday Blog Series
    Boutiques
    Cards For A Cause
    Community
    Contests
    En Français
    En Français
    Feature Friday
    Fundraising
    Home Decor Tips
    Inspiration
    In The Community
    In The Maker Studio Series
    Last Weekend Series
    Made Me Look Series
    Mindfulness Monday
    Musings Series
    My Brand Story
    New In Shop Series
    News
    Nostalgia
    Photo Tips
    Press
    Products
    Promotions
    Rediscoveries
    Shopping
    Social Media
    This Is Me
    Tips
    Travel
    Travel Reviews
    Travel Tips
    What's In A Name Series
    Your Favorites Series

    Previous posts

    March 2023
    November 2022
    November 2021
    September 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015

    Picture
    Follow on Instagram!

    Upcoming events

    Marché des Fêtes / Collectif Créatif Montréal
    26-27 Nov
    3-4 Dec, 2022
    Locoshop Angus, Montreal

    ​

    Marché des Fêtes Verdun / Collectif Créatif Montréal
    ​17-18 Dec, 2022
    Verdun Auditorium, Montreal



    ​
    Shop on Etsy!

    Special offers

    Don't miss out on any special offers.
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    RSS Feed

© Kristina Kasparian | Veni Etiam Photography
​Montreal (QC), Canada
Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Disclaimer
About | VIP List | Reviews | FAQ | Contact & Wholesale | Products at a Glance | Etsy | Instagram