My first attempt to photograph

A friend has asked me to attend her event, she was opening a gym in March 2009, I just bought my camera on the 7th February 2009 for my Birthday as a gift to myself, so my first camera was SLR camera Nikon D90 and I bought it with the intention to use it just during my leisure time as a hobby! I decided to take my new camera at the event of my friend and try to do some photography at the opening of her new gym. My new toy looked so unfamiliar at that time I had no idea how to set it up and how to use it, it was so different to point and shoot cameras I have used before. Although I was in front of the camera for many years modelling for various photographers internationally the feeling of being behind the camera was totally different and here you go I was hooked up from the first moment. Then it struck me the idea of taking the photography on more serious level and start practising a lot and perhaps attend few workshops as well. Being model for so many years I have the advantage of knowing many photographers in the industry as well as models so I thought it would be a great opportunity to start learning more about photography and use my contacts to pursue my new passion. Let me note I consider myself as an artist. At the age of 15 I enrolled in an Art school and have studied for 7 years various subjects from drawing to sculpture. I have graduated with an Art degree in 1989 and for some reason I left my arts passion to pursue a career in the fitness industry which I don’t regret. My Fitness profession of 20+ years has brought me an amazing experience and opportunity and thought me some valuable lessons and it is my lifestyle as today. I am today what I am because of my fitness lifestyle and profession. The combination between being fitness professional as trainer-model-competitor on stage and being an artist has contributed to my life even more. I always have admired beautiful bodies and being in the “body” industry teaches me how to admire people who are building their bodies like a sculpture day by day. Photography is a great tool to capture and promote the hard work of any body whose aim is to strive for perfect body and presentation!
So in March 2009 I have started a new hobby, new passion, new start of my life behind the camera and although I don’t like talking about myself a lot I will leave this to my photographs to express myself and my view of the world as I am seeing it!!

by Mariya Mova