By Terrie VanCuren
When I moved away from my family in south eastern Ohio, and came here to Tennessee I found this area to be the most beautiful and enchanting place. I wanted to share it with my friends and family back home, so I went out with my little camera and did my best to capture some of that beauty and send it back to them so they could see just why I fell in love with this area. I shared my photos with anyone and everyone. Over time folks started telling me that I had an eye for it or that I was able to show them something in a way they hadn’t seen before. It made me feel proud and I loved it so I just kept on.
I have always loved being out in the woods and feeling a part of nature. I am most comfortable there. I wonder who might have been the last person to be there or to see something amazing I had found. Was it hundreds of years ago or just yesterday? I love to find seemingly forgotten places and photograph them.
Several years ago I met one of my biggest supporters, Bill Fahey. He encouraged me regarding my photography. He challenged me to try new things and took me to see places I could only imagine. He seemed to enjoy my excitement when I managed to get what I thought was a great shot. Because let me tell you, I do get excited. He will move branches out of the way, help me cross a slippery stream and point out things he thinks I should shoot. He helped me discover a new found confidence. He even surprised me with a very nice Canon T2I Camera for my birthday. After that it, was truly on!
Bill and I both like to go out into the woods on the side by side and spend the day exploring. We find streams and waterfalls, my personal favorite. Unusual plants and trees. We find remnants of old homes, barns and cemeteries that appear to be long forgotten. Beautiful rock houses and rock formations and amazing mountain top views. We get to see the beauty of nature and history that most folks don’t ever get to see. I also work at Hurricane Marina on Center Hill Lake. What a photo op that is in itself! I am truly blessed that I get to photograph it all and share it with my friends and family. The photos aren’t perfect, although I’m working on that. And I can see for my self that over time I have gotten better and have developed my own sort of style. I take my camera everywhere and make everyone suffer my addiction. I feel like I am sharing a piece of who I truly am as a person when I share photographs of things I find amazing or beautiful.
Just like life, photography is a learning experience. I want to learn how to take better photographs. I read everything I can get my hands I also joined the Cookeville Camera Club a couple of years ago. They have been a tremendous source of information and support. I enjoy seeing the different types of photography styles that everyone uses. All different, but they all have the same passion for photography. It’s a very diverse, yet enjoyable group and I look forward to the seeing what the future holds for all of us.