Gradual obsession is the clearest way of sharing my story. As a kid in Arkansas, my family packed up the car and traveled across the west for many of our vacations. While the roads were long, adventures always outweighed our hours in the back seat.
My love of nature, the outdoors inspired many attempts at drawing, sketching. I tried so hard in art classes! My lack of eye to hand talent was a hard pill to swallow. Especially after my art teacher encouraged me not to pursue art.
Shifting my creative side, I relished in writing, played the piano before moving away from these art areas into marketing and business.
My subsequent adult career trajectory carried me far away from my potentially artistically creative side.
Throughout my childhood and adult life, constants emerged. My happy zones. The outdoors. Travel. Hiking in the woods, high mountains and local forests. Riding horses. Listening and observing birds darting in the trees and feeders. Embracing adventure shushing down white, glistening mountains in the west. Leaning in to the warm Texas breeze as it pulls the sailboat across the reds and blues at sunset.
Later in Michigan? Early morning long runs with the crew across all seasons.
All of these starting as gradual obsessions with my toe barely in the water before diving in full force. If the adventure is outdoors, bring it.
Truthfully, after receiving negative feedback about my art skills (or lack thereof), I stashed that possibility away. Years ago. Or did I?
Gradual Obsession Leads to Photography
Always a birding enthusiast, birding as a significant hobby soon became part of our family lifestyle. After watching birds through binoculars, I jokingly shared my wish for a camera. When my husband surprised me in 2012 with a Nikon and two lenses, my approach? Gradual. The camera came out of the box one time in the first four months!
Then, the shift. On a 16 hour roadtrip, I pulled out the camera, manual and nature photography guide. I navigated every button, menu, settings listed in the guides. Arriving in Arkansas for Easter, I photographed just about everything that moved. Birds, skinks, lizards, flowers, turtles, squirrels and more.
Then, I loaded up my work onto my computer. While waiting for those first images to load, I was nervous. Nervous of my ability to execute what I learned. Was the learning going to translate into images that I felt good about?
Well, I guess the answer is yes.
The gradual dive switched to a full-on never leave my house without the camera mindset. Every night I immersed into learning. Photography techniques, post processing, time in the field consumed my free time. A full-on obsession for honing skills, playing with compositions and artistry.
I knew then, that some day, this hobby would evolve into a lifestyle.
An Evolving Circle
Today, I’m a full time photographer, content creator, writer and offer individual/group workshops. I developed Aperture and Light, originally designed as photography site dedicated to photographers on the go.
That too evolved to a photography lifestyle blog. For many of us behind the lens, we’re not one dimensional. We travel, we’re on the go, we embrace careers. Add in the events of 2020, and many of our travel lifestyles took on a different approach. An RV!
The open road is a perfect pairing for our love of adventure, nature and photography.
My blog continues tackle more topics around the lifestyle related to our photography craft.
Gradual Obsession Lands Here
As a photographer, there are times where it feels like we’re spinning our wheels. But when looking backwards, you realize milestones along the way.
Today, I merge my photography and business worlds with client projects and content services. Working with individuals and small businesses, it’s privilege to problem solve, develop messaging and support others.
I enjoy helping others grow in their photography journey through group and individual workshops. Maybe even inspire their gradual interest to their own definition of obsession.
Audubon Society’s newsletters and award features my work across chapters and social sites. Over the past few years and today, my work appears in The Leelanau Conservancy, travel magazines, art galleries, numerous articles and a news story on Fox 2 News in Detroit, Michigan. I was on the global photography & writing team for Light Stalking for a few years and contribute on occasion. Articles and photography are also on Loaded Landscapes.
I serve as a Director on the board for Northport Arts Association, a past board member for Saving Birds Thru Habitat and a sustaining member of the Leelanau Conservancy. As a photo Ambassador for Michigan State Parks since 2022, it’s a privilege to share Michigan’s amazing parks, forests, lands and campgrounds.
My work is available through my Etsy shop Sheen Watkin’s Studio . I continue to engage in social media with Instagram: Swnaturephoto and on her Facebook page: Sheen’s Nature Photography.
If you have questions, please email me at sheensnaturephotography@gmail.com.