Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Devin Langer | 180314-N-LI768-1008 SAN DIEGO (March 14, 2018) Hull Maintenance Technician 2nd Class...... read more read more
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A loud crackle filled the air and then silence followed it. The crackle was heard once more, followed by more silence. Sparks flew. A bright light illuminated the room and quickly disappeared. Two pieces of metal that were once separate have now become one.
Life as a hull maintenance technician in the Navy means working with your hands and getting dirty. Raymond Gorospe, who's been in the Navy for nearly four years, is able to contrast his work life by capturing beautiful moments through photography in his personal life.
Gorospe said he wouldn’t have discovered his full potential for photography if he didn’t join the Navy.
“While boxing in the hangar bay with a friend of mine, a gust of wind surged through the hangar bay the due to an Osprey landing,” said Gorospe, recalling a memory from his deployment aboard Makin Island in 2017. “It ended up throwing my phone violently across the hangar bay, but I didn’t think too much about it since it had a case. The morning after, I tried taking a picture of a valve label but my phone camera wouldn’t open. It was broken.”
Gorospe said he had to rely on other Sailor’s phones for deployment photos. When the ship pulled into Hong Kong for its fourth port visit, he bought a Nikon digital single-lens reflex camera (DSLR).
“Ever since I bought my first camera, I’ve almost never used my phone for photos,” explained Gorospe.
After two deployments and a promotion to petty officer second class, Gorospe has truly found a passion that he can carry with him in the future.
“I think it’s important to keep yourself occupied outside of your day-to-day job,” said Gorospe. “It helps when I can focus on work when I’m at work, and progress as a person in my free time. Taking photos is the perfect activity for me to pursue and have a passion for.”
For instance, on a night last December, just after sunset at a beach, Gorospe prepared a photo shoot. He checked the settings of his camera and looked at his subjects. Looking through the viewfinder of the camera, he visualized the exact moment to capture. At the snap of the shutter, a grin spanned his face from ear to ear. Trying to contain his excitement, he chuckled, put his camera down and said, “We’re done here,” signaling he had accomplished exactly what he had envisioned.
Photography is one of the many forms of art that can be very subjective. For Gorospe, the essence of photography is deeper than simply creating a snapshot.
“I once heard a quote that said ‘If you want to learn what someone fears losing, look at what they photograph,’” said Gorospe. “For me, that really hits home. I am a nostalgic type of person who fears losing a moment in time that’s worth remembering. Taking photos is a way for me to steal that moment and make it mine forever.”
When taking photos, Gorospe is able to foresee the exact scene he wants to capture.
“When it comes to learning and getting better with photography, I’m the type of person who wants to pick apart the minds of people who have been involved with it far longer than me,” said Gorospe. “Ever since I first picked up my DSLR, I’ve always been asking questions, watching videos and getting new ideas.”
Practice makes perfect. While believing that no one can achieve true perfection, Gorospe strives for greatness and is constantly trying to master his craft. Simply going out and shooting has been the biggest factor in his progression as a photographer, learning through trial and error.
With many experiences as a Makin Island Sailor, Gorospe finds that he can translate lessons learned from work and apply them to his passion as a photographer.
“In damage control, getting the process done right the first time is very important,” explained Gorospe. “I take an extreme amount of pride of being a part of Repair Division because we are the first responders to any casualty that occurs aboard the ship. Executing the correct steps will save lives and prevent further damage in order to keep Makin Island mission-ready.”
Gorospe believes that if you take pride in what you love to do, your work will speak for itself.
Simon Torres, a professional boxer and close friend who Gorospe met at a boxing gym, said his photography skills are a strong reflection of his own personality.
“He has the gift of visualizing the beauty of something or someone beforehand and manifesting it through a photo,” said Torres. “He is also very professional, focused and positive during a photo shoot, making it comfortable for the person involved. When I saw his photography for the first time, I thought he had been doing it his whole life.”
Positive feedback is another big motivator for Gorospe, who said it helps him a lot with his progression as a photographer.
“When people tell me they can’t believe I’m a fairly new photographer, it inspires me to keep shooting,” said Gorospe. “Progress is everything to me and as long as I’m moving forward, no matter what situation I’m faced with in life, then I know I’m doing something right.”
Andrew Hayes, a damage controlman third class aboard Makin Island, coworker and close friend of Gorospe’s, has been with him since his creative journey started in Hong Kong.
“From the second he is behind the camera to editing, you can see his love for photography,” said Hayes. “The excitement that you see when he finds new locations or new ideas to shoot and then seeing the finished pieces really brings vibrant feelings to all. I’ve really enjoyed being able to see him grow into an amazing photographer and an amazing friend.”
Knowing where his journey began, Gorospe said he hopes to become better everyday as a photographer and constantly grow as a person.
“I am passionate about capturing some of the best moments that life has to offer,” said Gorospe. “I want to keep doing this in order to better express myself as a person and I want my experiences and photographs to inspire others to find something that they are passionate about and just run with it. It means a great deal to me when someone notices the love I have for this when they come across one of my photographs.”
Taking his appreciation for photography with him, Gorospe plans to go to college and major in communications with an emphasis on public affairs, media and journalism.
“My ultimate goal is to land a position as a public relations and communications assistant for Major League Baseball or any one of its 30 teams,” said Gorospe. “From there, I want to move up as a director of public relations and communications.”
To become a successful individual in public affairs, Gorospe believes photography is the first thing for him to master, as it is one of the many mediums used in mass communication. He will be able to reflect on his time in the Navy and use the experience gained and lessons learned, never forgetting how he was able to reach his full potential as a Sailor and ultimately as a photographer.
| Date Taken: | 03.29.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 03.30.2018 19:09 |
| Story ID: | 271332 |
| Location: | SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 42 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Stepping into the Future with the Click of each Shutter, by PO1 Devin Langer, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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