𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲 // 𝘉𝘢𝘹𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘙𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘤

𝟎𝟏

✿.*+ blind

Photographs are a glimpse into the photographer's mind. They're heart. It's how they see the world. The beauty they find in it.

I want someone to look at my photos and say "Wow, I never saw it that way." I want to inspire people to see the beauty in the mundane.

- August Murphy, Victorian State Team Media Intern Application.

My leg began to slip out of the weird position I had put it in. I was sitting on the ground, my arms pressing against my knee, my camera held in between my hands.

My knee had almost fully fallen by the time I gave myself time to reposition, moving to sit cross. Pulling my attention from my camera, my surroundings automatically came to focus, and the awareness of where I was came crashing back into the front of my mind.

It was as if the volume had been muted to completely full volume in one single motion. The wave pool in front of me and the voices crowded behind me.

I had a little time while the boys and girls of Heat One switched places, I was attempting to take a good amount of every person trying out because I had no way of telling which would make the team.

Being present and working when I don't start till practice does, having tryout photos of the competing state team, was sure to give me a few extra points with the media team.

A boy with pink hair was the second of the boys to go and he immediately caught my eye. He was comfortable on the water, technical, creative, and it showed on camera.

And by the time he was done with his wave, he still had my full attention, I almost missed the next surfer.

"They didn't accept me!" Heat One had just finished and I was flipping through some of the photos I took to see if the angle was working, when Summer Torres stormed up beside me, her arms flailing at her sides and she looked at me expectantly.

"What? Sum I thought you said you were accepted!" I looked up at her, shielding my eyes from the sun.

"I thought I would be! Come on we have to fix this." She pulled my arm dragging me up beside her and starting across the yard.

"Summer I can't miss the next heat, I need photos! Besides, there is nothing I can do, and I definitely can't do anything to get myself fired."  I tried to reason with her but I knew before I started it was a losing battle.

Summer has been my best friend since third grade, and she's been getting me into trouble ever since. We balance each other out most days, she helps me let go and live, and I pull her from going off the deep end completely. At least I try to.

It's hard to do that when she's halfway across the world all summer though.

"Relax, you'll be back in time. Besides they would never let such a talent like you go." She smirks over her shoulder at me before walking faster and pulling me along behind her.

When we reach the entrance to the men's locker rooms I plant my feet in the doorway, crossing my arms over my chest, my camera in hand.

"Nuh-uh. I'm not going in there. I need my eyes to take photos, and I happen to like my sense of smell."

"Don't be so dramatic, besides I'm not going in alone!"

Before I can stop her she moves behind me and pushes me through the door, and I put my hand over my eyes, and squeeze them shut.