Sky High

When I first started getting into photography, I took a photograph here at home in Seattle of a man in a funny suit who was selling balloons on the side of the street. I had seen him before at different fairs and events downtown, and it was the first real spontaneous photograph of a stranger I had ever taken. It was one of those little art pieces you make when you're young that your family was so proud of, even though it wasn't anywhere near professional.

During my six week stay in Poland, my photography improved so much. I had never been very good with landscape photographs or capturing scenery prior to spending nearly every single day in European cities unlike anything I had ever seen before with a camera in my hand. The only subjects I was good with were other people, to be honest.

I didn't think much of this picture when I snapped it until I had some time to stare at it while editing in Lightroom, which reminded me of the balloon man photo I took when I was younger. I suppose this photo just means a lot to me because not only is it essentially a re-creation of one of the first photos that got me started in this artform, but it also represents chasing my childhood dreams. Traveling to Europe solely to to solely take pictures was one of my biggest dreams and my main goal in life.

I also feel that the enormous bulk of balloons being so large and sky high in comparison to the balloons in my original "Balloon Man" photograph represent growing up and seeing new and bigger things, as well as coming to the realization how truly large the world is.

To have this opportunity to live this dream and take beautiful photographs for six weeks straight is more than I could ask for at such a young age.

Stare Miasto (Old Town)
Warszawa, Polska