MARIA A. MICHEL
65
I have loved photography since I was very young. I always dreamed about being able to go to school for photography and own a really good camera but that wasn’t possible when I was growing up. I still attended every exhibition I could.
Living in the South Bronx, I would often walk by the Bronx Documentary Center and stop to look at everything they were doing—I wanted to go in and ask them all about their work, but I never had the courage to. Then I found out about the classes at Borinquen Court Mitchel Senior Center and I signed up. I was able to see that childhood dream become a reality.
I love taking pictures that speak for me and my personal vision. My photos talk about time, happiness, sadness, and everything that I can feel, touch, and dream.
I’ve learned more about myself with photo techniques that are so important for taking good pictures: how to compose with angles, shadows, reflections, symmetry, and emotion. All of these aspects made me love photography even more, and even though I haven’t done it for too long, I already feel capable of doing what I always dreamed about… TO TAKE GOOD PICTURES. Lastly, I learned things I never imagined, like street photography, portraiture, and capturing programs straight from the TV. Oh my goodness, that was amazing for me!