We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Cheyanna Swisher. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Cheyanna below.
Cheyanna, appreciate you joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
Photography has always been an enjoying hobby and release for me, but I never thought of taking it more seriously until I met the love of my life and he encouraged me to do more.
This love story isn’t a typical one, we met online through a Facebook psychology group where I replied to one of his posts he made in the group, and from there we continued the conversation through messages. Our conversations turned into friendship, which then grew into love. However he was half way around the world in Iraq while I was in Alaska. I never left the country before and his passport wouldn’t allow him to travel here without some form of a visa. So, I applied for a passport and made my plans. We met in Lebanon and began our k1 visa journey from there. We knew right away we wanted to spend our lives together. We met each others families and friends and committed long distance while we waiting for the approval. Today we are happily married and living in Alaska together. We plan, when we are more financially stable, to live back and forth in both countries. In the meantime we are building life here and enjoying this journey of life together. It was a big risk to travel countries to meet someone we met only online, but with trust in God and eachother we took the leap and never looked back.
He always took note of photos online and how it had a unique taste to it, but when we met in person and he saw how I took photos in person he encouraged me right away to begin a social media page for it, and see where it goes from there. He saw my love and passion for photos and how I am able to see things others often walk by without a second glance. At first I was hesitant, as I always took photos for my own enjoyment at first. But after I was convinced my love for it only grew, and my confidence and skills have gotten better.
I took a class in highschool using film cameras, developing photos in a dark room. But since then I only used standard digital cameras or now my phone. I do not have expensive or fancy equipment, but my joy still thrives within it. My photography is simply of God’s creation, I just take certain angles and enhance what’s there to see what the naked eye can’t always see. God’s blessings are all around us, I just want to help it be seen.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
My photography captures the every day nature in life, bringing light onto things many overlook or pass by, and recognizing favorite spots as well. I may not have high quality equipment, but this also allows me to have a more artistic take on things at the same time. Many nature or wildlife photographers capture the same objects, each beautifully capturing a take others do not, but not in the same viewpoint or style as my own. We each have our own take, and the photos speak for themselves.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
Being able to express what I cannot express in words.
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
Comparing ourselves to other maybe more well known artists, thinking we are not good enough or that no one would care to see what you have to offer. But know that if God out the passion in your heart, you were meant to pursue it even if it only affects one person. You never know the ripple affects until you try.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/37bluebell
- Facebook: Discovering Bluebell Photography
Image Credits
Cheyanna Swisher