Farewell, Steve…
I’m not an Apple employee. Nor am I involved with them in any official capacity. I’ve never met Steve. I’ve never attended an Apple event and have never experienced Steve’s presentations first hand…
But he has changed my life.
So much of who and what I am today has been the result of finding the technological haven that Apple has provided me. Using and working with Apple products has shaped my persona and given me the exposure to the world of creativity and art that I’ve been relishing for so long. Steve Jobs was a visionary, he was an inspiration, he made things possible that others could only dream of. But to me, he was something more than that…
I’ve always been different, and for most of my life have struggled immensely ‘fitting in’ and ‘being normal’. It wasn’t until I was 16 that I found something in life that I was truly passionate about. Something that you immediately latch onto and becomes your bread and butter. For me, that passion was Apple. I was able to identify with Apple’s core philosophy in a way that I’d never experienced before… I quickly became obsessed with the company and its structure, and soon found myself idolizing Steve jobs and all that he created. The more I learned the history of Apple and more importantly how Steve had been involved, the more I was able to draw parallels to myself and my experience in life.
This association gave me hope that perhaps I wasn’t as different as I though I was… Perhaps there were more people out there like me, who felt out of place in the world and had found common ground with a technological lifestyle and a core set of beliefs that gave them focus and something to be passionate about… I was right.
The people I have met and the relationships I have formed since early 2007 have been priceless. Identifying myself as a ‘Mac guy’ finally gave me a title that I could be proud of. My passion for Apple led me to meet one very good friend, Codie, who in turn introduced me to Photography, which has led me to a plethora of amazing social contacts, including many good friends all over the world.
This is something I would never have dreamed possible only a few years ago. And it is because of Steve Jobs, the company he founded and the products he helped create that I am here today. I’m able to identify with Apple, and base so much of my day to day interaction with the world around a core set of philosophies that keep me grounded.
When people ask why I love Apple so much, I tell them this:
“Because they have made me who I am today; a healthy, happy individual who cares for aesthetics and quality… A person who’s life didn’t end when there was little hope of fitting in. I love Apple because they stand for everything I believe in…”
I’m Eden Brackstone, and I’m a Mac.
I’ll miss you, Steve… You’ve made a massive difference in my life and countless others. The world won’t be the same without you, but I know I speak for many, many people when I say that the world is a better place because of you.
About this photo…
I’m a firm believer in the philosophy that it’s “Easier to seek forgiveness than seek permission..” — I apply this thought process to a fair deal of the activities I engage in, balancing it of course against risk and legality. But in most cases, I’ll jump a fence or cross a few lines to get a good photo. This has happened a fair few times, and I’m still here, unscathed and loving the results.
On this occasion, I needed to ‘trespass’ onto some farmland to get a photo that I saw coming a mile away… One of those situations where you can see time moving and know exactly where you need to be and when. The rather interesting thing about this photo was that it actually caused me to be well over 40 minutes late for an important study session regarding my pilots license. But I can partially put that down to poor navigation and planning on my part, completely underestimating the time it would take to drive to my destination…
Nice peaceful photo for the right occasion I’m always on Treys blog and would like to say that this pic you dedicated to Steve is nice of you I sent one but with few words to his family from ours and I don’t know him and only have a old apple . Its good that we all no matter who passes away, that we feel for those left behind.
Regards Louis
Thank you, Louis…
Very well said, Eden. I enjoy your photography.
Thanks Sharon.
Hi Eden,
I’ve been catching up on your blog since yesterday night, from the very first post till the most current one.
I truly admire your creativity and photographic talent. It’s especially cool to see the subtle improvements that occur over time (something which is often hard to notice when watching photos occasionally rather than in a single go.
I was not aware how big a Mac/Apple enthusiast you are and it’s nice to “meet” someone else like me. I have been deeply passionate about all things Apple since I “converted” to my first Mac back in the autumn of 2005, just before heading of to university. That passion, interest and knowledge has only grown further over the years.
Just wanted to share some thoughts. Time to read the next post :-)
Your story mirrors mine, Jack. I’ve been on the Apple train since around 2007 when my girlfriend and I purchased matching MacBook Pros while working in the retail sector. Prior to that experience, I had been 100% PC based, and knew only of Apple via products like the iPod. I viewed them at a distance, never seeing the potential for a creative and passionate engagement with the products.
Little did I know this creative potential and growth would be brought on by using a Mac! In many ways, as I’ve said above, Apple products have shaped who I am by virtue of the influence they have on my passions and experiences. I’d never have played with Photoshop, 3D modeling or video editing in a PC environment! Despite growing up on a Windows machine and bring a member of that camp until I was 17, the 5 years I’ve spent using Macs (I’m 22 now) vastly out weigh those spent on the opposite side of the coin…
Those who bash us ‘Apple Fanboys’ often have had no exposure to our world, and I frequently chuckle when they end up converting themselves and sheepishly admitting the error of their ways, hehe ;-)