Flight of the Bumblebee

Modern psychology champions the idea that a person’s childhood is the single most important contributing factor to who they will be as an adult. I like to disagree simply because I hate the idea of condemning fatherless daughters to bad relationships with men or abused sons to violence and alcoholism. But I do see some truth to the idea. Children are impressionable, malleable even, and the memories and experiences they acquire stick with them as they grow older. The dreams you had and the loves you developed as a child serve as a reminder of the person you once were before you gave up that “wide-eyed wonder” to become a grown-up.

One of my secret childhood dreams was to become a photographer for National Geographic. My parents got me my first subscription to National Geographic when I was in the 3rd grade and I immediately fell in love. The glossy pages. The gorgeous scenery. The monthly magazine served as a magic carpet that threw me into the mosques of Ankara, swept me through the Himalayas, and landed me in the stars of some faraway galaxy. My enthusiasm for history, travel, nature, and wildlife was greatly spawned from these early encounters.

Over the years, this early love gave way to other interests and endeavors; instead of finding peace in the vast landscapes of the world, I became introspective and increasingly focused on the details of humanity itself.  Last year, however, I was given my first camera as a going-to-college present, and suddenly my old ambitions reawakened in me. Who needs National Geographic anyways? I’ll just take lots of pretty pictures and post them on Facebook (like every other narcissistic teenager).

Unfortunately, photography appears to be harder than I thought. (Silly Sophia, naivete is for kids.)

Witness Attempt #1 to photograph a bumblebee:

Attempt #2:

Attempt #3:

Oh, the blur! Perhaps I shall do a series of photos called The World in the Eyes of the Far-Sighted. Or simply learn to use my macro function better.

Ah, there you are, mon petit bumblebee! Too bad he has his back towards the camera. Grr.. I must take a perfect picture of a bumblebee! I suppose I shall have to stalk more bees at UCLA and report back. Wish me luck! 🙂