"Battle-hardened" (C) 2021, Miachelle Breese
I first took an interest in drawing about the age of 4, maybe 5. My mom was a fabulous artist, and there were periods of her life when she worked as a graphic artist, especially when the fists of my biological father prevented her from going to work at Penrose Hospital in Colorado Springs. I frequently would watch her draw, and eventually began to try to emulate her.
I was an okay artist. In high school, my art teacher had plans to help me get into art school, but I shifted and changed life plans and joined the US Army right after my 17th birthday. He was angry, wouldn't talk to me, and mysteriously, my art class grades dropped. I was hurt, but knew my destiny lay elsewhere. Meanwhile in high school, I was also on the yearbook and newspaper staffs...the introduction to photography. I loved the dark room. I could hide from the world, and the magic of chemistry bringing my poor quality images to life was a whole new joy.
Fast forward...I'm in the Army. I'd quit drawing completely, but managed to buy a Pentax K-1000 from a sergeant in my company. It was in pristine condition, and and I loved it. It reminded me of yearbook and newspaper in school, and being stationed in Germany was a fantastic opportunity to play with the camera. Meanwhile, I dabbled in fiber arts of various sorts, but nothing hard core.
The next artistic evolution was my jewelry business years after I got out of the Army. That was exciting...having my own business, being involved in local fashion shows, getting into publications with my designs...Sometimes I didn't know how I was going to keep up. Oh and I was attending ASU to get my degree in technical writing and taking care of our kids while my then-husband traveled for his work. Life was busy, and sometimes just downright overwhelming. When the economy tanked, my business tanked, and I shut it all down.
BUT...my husband bought me my first DSLR camera, a Canon 50D. He'd watched me struggling to photograph my own jewelry and get quality images with my Kodak Easyshare point-and-shoot camera, and unknowingly ignited a life-long love.
Before I knew it, I was shooting and writing for local newspapers and magazines. Once again, I was monetizing a hobby...that will be another post another day.
Jump to now. I had my photo business 10 years. Had some wonderful experiences that would never have happened had it not been for my camera. But I needed a break. I also needed to get ready for an upcoming change in my life with my new husband and family.
Meanwhile...the artist in me, the photographer in me, is stewing and percolating. I have an amazing catalog of work. I still have my creative urges. I don't consider shutting down my photography business "quitting." I consider it evolving. Sometimes we need to give ourselves space to grow, and reflect, and learn. And I am doing all of those things. Sometimes I revisit old photos, and sometimes edit them again, because I have a different vision. Or I find an old photo that for some reason I overlooked. And meanwhile, I am teaching myself new things, and in one case relearning. And eventually, all of it will mesh and meld with my original love, the photograph.