It’s not often that people choose to go to college in a city smaller than their hometown, but Viv (vivisaur) is a master of the unexpected. The Los Angeles native is ready to head to college and she’s taking her Buzznet experience with her. Find out how Buzznet shaped her photography, why she’s going to New Mexico, and what inspires her to pick up a camera.

Buzznet: I read that you just recently graduated high school! Are you glad to be done? What are you doing next?

Viv: Oh man, I have such mixed feelings about graduating high school. Of course I'm excited to be going off to college, yet at the same time it's easy to miss my high school days. I'm starting a new chapter in my life by going to college to ultimately be able to do something I love. I'll be leaving my beloved California and going off to New Mexico, which of course is going to offer me a whole new experience

Buzznet: Whoa, why New Mexico?

Viv: Well in my research of hundreds of colleges, hoping to find one I would like, I came across this extremely small yet unique private college, St. John's College, which I became set on attending. Sure enough, I got accepted and will begin my quest for higher education!

Buzznet: What are you going to be studying there?

Viv: It's really difficult to explain, since it's a specialized liberal arts program where at the same time I can really do anything I'd like. My ultimate goal is to go to law school and become a lawyer, yet at the same time I'd like to keep my photography as a hobby.



Buzznet: Excellent! Are you worried about leaving the always-busy city of Los Angeles for something much smaller?

Viv: In all honesty, I always hated Los Angeles until just recently when I realized how much I really do like it here. Santa Fe is a tiny city compared to Los Angeles. Also, they have real seasons, unlike here, where it's pretty much warm all year. But I'm ready for change; it's a chance for me to grow into a better person and experience new things.

Buzznet: What changed about your perception of Los Angeles?

Viv: Well I live in the "ghetto" part of Los Angeles but I never really saw it like that. It's home to me, and I started realizing it when I visited Santa Fe and saw how different the rest of the world was. When I came back I noticed the small things about Los Angeles that I hadn't before, especially since I began hanging around downtown more towards the end of the school year.



Buzznet: So has Los Angeles helped fuel your love of photography?

Viv: Yes it has. I try to get as many photos as possible whenever I got out, mostly to try and show people the way I see things. Los Angeles is, in fact, a great city with so much to offer. I can photograph anything from the giant downtown buildings to simple objects in my home. So yes, I guess I can say Los Angeles has inspired me in its own way.

Buzznet: So what do you hope to change about your photography as you move to Santa Fe? I mean, just off the bat, you'll be much closer to "wilderness" than here in L.A.

Viv: Well I'm not particularly close to nature, since there isn't much wildlife here, but hopefully I get to see the true beauty of the world. Since L.A. is such a huge industrialized city, a lot of the natural beauty has been tampered with and I think in Santa Fe I'll be able to capture that true raw form that we rarely see of the world.



Buzznet: How has your "How Is Your Day" Project affected your life? Do you like having an almost-daily outlet like that?

Viv: Well it began as a 365 project that I totally failed at due to my infamous procrastination and I decided that instead of calling off the whole project I would share when the important things are going on. It's a project that has made me look for opportunities to post a new photo. It's exciting! Everyday I think, "What can I take a picture of today?" It's really just fulfilling to be able to share a photo I'm proud of and have people express their thoughts on it.

Buzznet: Do you think you'll be able to do that in college?

Viv: I think it'll be fun to share with others what college is really like. I'm looking forward to expanding my photography and just getting better at a hobby that I just picked up one day but hope to carry out for the rest of my life.



Buzznet: So, in that sense, Buzznet has been helping you move towards reaching these goals, right?

Viv: It is because of Buzznet that I began photography in the first place. My friend Kayla (a.k.a. pinksharpii) introduced me to the site 2 summers ago and when I started browsing through, I noticed so many talented people that just loved photography for the art. Buzznet is such a great community that it inspired me not only to share my photography with others, but to also share my thoughts with the many talented people that make up Buzznet.

Buzznet: Have you ever met anyone from Buzznet?

Viv: I wish I have but I haven't. Kayla is indeed on my list because we have been online friends for so long. There are so many wonderful people that I hope to meet. It's always exciting to make new friends and Buzznet makes it so easy.


Buzznet: Perhaps you could change that in college!

Viv: Yes of course! The freedom of college. I do indeed hope to meet all the people that keep me visiting Buzznet day to day. Buzznet has indeed changed my life. For the better of course.