With a camera around my neck, a keyboard in my hands.

Hey,

Do you know that happiness is a complex concept that varies from one person to another?

For Matthys for example, happiness is sleeping in a nice house, having a nice car and a filled bank account.

Few months back I met Yana and Rebecca in a village from eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. An old couple with 14 children and more than 100 grandchildren. they live together for 65 years now. I asked them what does happiness represents to them. They replied that happiness for them is summed up on:

- Meeting the love of your life,

-Have a white hair next to your husband or wife,

- lose teeth in your mouth and walk with a stick (getting old)

- being surrounded by your children ,grandchildren and your music

- share your past experiences .

To prove that happiness is a complex concept, Rebecca spoke again by saying to me, “my daughter, this is our own concept of happiness. We are part of an old school where several things were not within our reach. For us, biological conditions, social, religious and ethnic affiliation limited our concept of the word happiness. Children were the only wealth and happiness people like us could have. I'm glad that's no longer the case. Now there are several ways at your fingertips to enjoy true happiness such as this opportunity of being women and have responsibilities out of homes. For us it was not the case. That It is also happiness my daughter»

From then on, I tried to understand what made me happy. Little by little I discovered that I feel enjoyable being in front of and behind projector lights. For me happiness is capturing unforgettable moments, be in front of a camera pleading marginalized rights and writing to the world as am doing now.

At first glance, mentioning photography, many people immediately think of learning a new technique, knowing your camera, adapting to digital technology, mastering image processing software and all the complexity that this type of photography generates.

Besides being technical, capturing an image has several benefits that could change the world’s perception. Looking through my camera’s lens has allowed me discover the world and see it differently.

I often walk wearing my camera around the neck. One day I was walking in a village located 500 km from Bukavu / east of DRC. A group of children followed me, I did not understand why. I said hello to them, they asked me what the hell was going on. I told them it was a camera. The children seemed completely lost.

I spoke again, explaining to them that the device captures images of everything around us; the images can be printed and be watched even in 100 years, the devise makes you feel close to your environment. I told them that everyday problems, without being monstrous, sometimes ruin my morale. A photo trip is a simple and effective way I reduce my daily stress. My camera’s lens captures attention and makes me quickly forget my problems

. They asked me to take them pictures and come back to them after they become teachers (their big dream is to go to school and speak French language).

With my camera, we found beautiful children to whom poverty robbed their childhood, Poverty prevented them from having a normal life like other children, but today my photography has brought them to the world.

While looking at these children through my camera lens, I did not see the needy children. Rather I saw children full of hope and goals (they told me to come back later when they are already teachers).

I like the bond between writing, photography and digital technology. These 3 friends help me to expand. They connect me with nature, environment and the whole world. It is because of them that you are reading me, it is because of them that Yona, Rebecca, and children are displayed on your screen

MY PHOTOGRAPHY, MY KEYBOARD AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY FOREVER