AJ's Doc Talk

AJ: An Autobiography

This following four images are intended to make up a short autobiographical photo essay. I was never a person who really jumped at the change to be in front of the camera. Even as a toddler my parents tell me it was difficult to catch me smiling for a picture. I find much more comfort behind the camera capturing other people moments, becoming a part of the moment by association. Lucky for me, my parents are the kind of people who have to capture every moment they can, whether it be in photographs or video. So I am usually subjected to standing for photographs minimally at every holiday. Which I can handle. However, there are always special occasions where photos are deemed absolutely necessary. These can include graduations, awards, accomplishments, or just everyday living. As a toddler I remember growing up and becoming so obsessed with the simplest of things. I grew up very humble so I guess that came with the environment. Growing into my first double digit years by parents did the conventional thing and put me into tee-ball. This then evolved into little league. These pictures I couldn’t help, they were beyond my control. Baseball had a certain effect on me and once I stopped playing, high school came and the first trials of life started to emerge. Moving into high school I was a run of the mill anti-establishment, punk rock listening, skateboarder. To this day I still skateboard, and although I may not agree with authority all the time, I do respect it. High school was a very strange time as it is for most people I imagine. I learned to accept what was thrown at me and move on from it. I learned what I did and did not want to tolerate. A lot of the lessons I learned in these years translated into a very fruitful college experience. The picture itself is of me holding my guitar. I protested this picture to the time the shutter released. I thought it was just not me. My parents painted this picture of me holding one of my guitars and posing. Even the clothes had input from my parents. Looking back now, I don’t mind it as much. It represents a good memory. The final picture represents the me today. The last minute college student. The I’ll get it done tomorrow, and it can wait until later person. The person that I am now and hope to improve upon as I grow. I just turned 22 years old yesterday. I accept that now life is starting, officially. Jobs and careers are looming and student loans are not too far away. Autobiography represents a lot of things in the world of documentary. In order for a piece like this to become successful and believable the documentarian must let down their guard and become vulnerable to the viewing audience. Nichols even states that autobiographies has a reflexive quality to them because filmmakers are exploring their own sensibilities in life. Autobiography is something Nichols says explores our path in life and our own journey which include previously unknown information and our relationships to everything outside of our own world. Through these pictures I hope a small peek into my journey growing up is seen and I hope that in the future I can report on another 22 years of stories, memories, and positive vibes.