So many unexpected, beautiful moments come from simply carrying a camera.  The perfect light.  A wonderful scene.  An unexpected expression on a face.  A funny moment with your dog or cat.  An all-too-rare intersection of place and time.

Doesn't matter, at all, if you take pictures with a cell phone, a hand-me-down old camera, a simple point-and-shoot or you've stepped into the world of high-end equipment.  It all works great!  Some of my most cherished photos are with old 110 cameras and now-defunct flip phones.

Someone once said something along the lines of "Beauty is fleeting, but misery sticks around for awhile!".  I'm not sure, but I'll sure agree with the former -- beauty is often a split-second happening that sneaks up on you.  Our aim is to sense its approach and to be ready to capture the fleeting moment. 

I encourage everyone to carry a camera and pull it out as often as practical.  Photograph your world.  Your home, family, friends, pets, vacations and special events, of course, but also the everyday, backstage, moments.  Those moments are far more beautiful than most of us regularly appreciate. Your pictures will be wonderful and will, over time, tell the story of your life.