Val Blakely Photography

When I was in my teen years, my mother bought me a 35mm SLR camera from Sears as a gift. The camera had no name and was fairly inexpensive. It started me on a journey that I'd never thought would be so rewarding.

Several years later I upgraded to a Pentax ZX-5 SLR. I didn't have my first DSLR, a Canon 20D until about 20 years later. I became a Canon shooter and was extremely committed to it. I should have been a rep for Canon because I was recommending their cameras to anyone looking to get into photography. LOL!

For over three decades I was photographing in various genres (i.e. architecture, events, food, landscapes, macro, nature, portraits sports and travel). My interest constantly changes and I adapt to current passions.

Then in the Fall of 2014 in Los Angeles, I discovered a genre I had never considered shooting and had never heard of -- Street Photography. I was hooked. Quickly I realized that my Canon gear was not going to work for me anymore. I sold them all. I bought my first Leica camera - an M2 made in 1965. I was returning to 35mm film. A big 360 life change.

After shooting street photography for three years, I moved to return to my birthplace, San Francisco Bay Area. I pushed myself to continue my photography skills by transitioning into wildlife and landscape photography. Something new to me, but has peaked my interested.

Yet, I will continue to move forward with my own street, wildlife and landscape photography, and aim to find my own photography voice.

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