Neil Mehta
ENG 101 – Spring 2019
5 February 2019
Essay #1
My First LOVE
I was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA, a constellation of microclimates and microcosms, a place where crossing an intersection can feel like crossing a border between two countries and a place where cameras are always rolling. I’ll be honest. It’s been a while since I picked up a camera. I know… I know we all have cameras built into our phones, but that’s not what I’m talking about. I am talking about professional DSLR cameras, the type the pros use. But this isn’t a story about being a pro. This story is about a boy and his first love. Her name was Niki, cute right. Well, at the time, she was not your average gal. She was first in her class, with features that would make any man rapturous. She complemented me well, we were both young, beginners, new to the game. I looked her in the eyes, while she shuttered ever so smoothly.
She’s slimmer than most but has all the curves in the right places. Anywhere I go, she is right there with me, hand in hand. I was in sixth grade when I met her, and oh boy, it was love at first sight. Niki has always been my partner in crime, as we work together to find a balanced exposure, compose the frame, and snap the perfect shot.
Film and Photography has always been more than just pointing the camera, slapping on a filter, and posting it on Instagram in hopes of getting likes and comments. Sometimes even the best memories tend to fade away from us, film lets us cherish those moments forever. It took me a long time to realize that I didn’t need to be an exact pro at film to make great movies. I learned that movies come from within, they hold a deeper meaning about one’s experiences and emotions that cannot be capture in any other form.
I slowly realized that film became a metaphor for my life. Am I finding the right balance between shutter speed and exposure, or am I too focused on the darkness to notice the light in my life? This question introduced different emotions and feelings for me, which in turn helped me convey that in my film. The truth is, not many people have seen my movies, they’re short, sometimes without meaning, but deep down they showcase raw emotion, and hopefully that resonates with the viewer. I’ll give you an example, it was senior year and I was tasked with creating a cliché recap video, but I decided to do something different. I made of recap video…but it was EPIC! Something that would relate to high schoolers, I used amazing music and visuals to encapsulate the viewer into life at our school. Another great story was when my Friends and I decided to make a rap battle video (Hamilton v. Shakespeare) for our final English project. We spend hours in the freezing winters of Saint Louis to film near the Art Museum, capturing the rich and vivid history. In turn, we received a 100% for the project and an A in the class.
Over the years, Niki has served as the lens that through which my prospective constantly changes. She’s helped me capture the meaningful moments in my life, the type that stays with you forever. From, moving across the country, to graduation, and even moments with my friends.
So, how does this connect to community service? Well, it’s simple. Why not volunteer for the Saint Louis Film Society? I’ve always loved how film creates different emotions for different people. So why not spread this joy to others? By volunteering at this organization, I’ll be able to do just that, help out with the process of showing a film as well as allow others to enjoy the same feeling I have for the past 10 years of my life.
They say you never forget your first love. Despite the fact that Niki remains retired sitting on a shelf collecting dust after years of demanding work, the experiences I captured with her and the impact film has had on my life, will last for eternity. It’s the little memories like this that have shaped the young boy into the man I am today. When I look back at my life so far, I’ve come to the realization that my journey with Niki, has allowed me to capture the most meaningful moments, shine light on a new perspective, and live my life through a different lens.