A Journey Through My Lens

Introduction

My name is Joel, and this is my final report for the WP Credits program. During the program, I contributed to the WordPress Photos Team by submitting photographs to the WordPress Photo Directory while learning more about photography and the WordPress community.

Teams and Projects I contributed to

I contributed to the WordPress Photos Team. My project focused on submitting my own photographs to the WordPress Photo Directory.

Although I study Computer Systems Engineering and initially considered contributing to the Core team, I decided to choose something different. Photography has always interested me, and I wanted to challenge myself be exploring a new area while contributing to WordPress. My goal was not to improve drastically in photography, but to capture meaningful places and moments that others could also enjoy.

Learning Resources

Through the program I mainly relied on the WordPress Photo Directory submissions guideline to understand the requirements that my photos needed to meet before being submitted.

Beyond those guidelines, I intentionally chose to learn through my own experience. My goal was not to become a professional photographer, but to improve a little with each photo I took. This project was about exploring new places, capturing meaningful moments as I experience them, and gradually developing my own perspective trough photography.

Challenges and solutions

One of my biggest challenges was deciding which photos were worth submitting. Sometimes a photo captured a meaningful memory even if it wasn’t technically perfect. Over time, I learned to evaluate my photos more carefully while still focusing on telling a story through my images.

Another challenge was simple being prepared to take photos. There were times when I missed opportunities because I didn’t have my camera with me or because the battery ran out after a long day. These experiences taught me to prepare ahead of time whenever I planned to visit interesting places.

My Contributions

My First Photo – A Journey Through My Lens

From the ground – A Journey Through My Lens

Above the Skyline – A Journey Through My Lens

Seagull – A Journey Through My Lens

A Remnant of the Old Days – A Journey Through My Lens

Historic Beauty – A Journey Through My Lens

Statues in the Park – A Journey Through My Lens

Hudson River – A Journey Through My Lens

Photo Directory: https://wordpress.org/photos/author/jjperalta/

Key Learnings from the WP Credits Program

I learned that open-source contribution is not limited to writing code. There are many ways to contribute to WordPress, including photography, or helping the community in other creative ways.

Also learned that photographs become more meaningful when they tell a story. Combining images with written reflections allowed me to preserve memories while improving my writing skills.

I became much more comfortable using WordPress and now feel confident creating and managing my own website.

New Skills Gained

Soft Skills

Personal Reflections and Next Steps

Looking back, I’m really happy that I chose the Photos Team instead of selecting something directly related to my university studies. The experiences allowed me to develop a new hobby while making meaningful contributions to WordPress.

After the WP Credits program, I plan to continue contributing photographs to the WordPress Photo Directory. I hope to keep exploring new places, capturing meaningful moment, and sharing them with the WordPress community.

One of my favorite moments was traveling by boat on the Hudson River. This is a view of the Wurts Street Bridge.

During my walk through the park, I came across these statues surrounded by tall trees. It was a peaceful place to stop and take a few photos.

Vanderbilt Mansion in Hyde Park, New York. A beautiful historic home with stunning architecture and scenic views.

I chose WordPress.com because it provided an easy way to create and manage my website without having to worry about hosting or technical setup.

One of the first tasks in the WP Credits program was creating my own WordPress website. Since I enjoy taking photos whenever I travel or visit new places, I decided to create a photography blog. I thought it would be a good way to document my experiences while also having a place to share the stories behind the images I capture.

One of the biggest challenges was deciding how I wanted to organize my blog. At first, I wasn’t sure whether I should simply upload photos or write about the moments behind them. In the end, I decided to include both. I realized that a photograph could capture a moment, but the story behind it gives it even more meaning.

Building the blog also helped me become more familiar with WordPress. I learned how to create posts, organize them with categories, customize the site’s appearance, and publish content. I found WordPress easy to use once I became familiar with its interface.

Looking back, I’m glad I chose to create a photography blog. it has become more than just a requirement for the WP Credits program it’s a place where I can preserve memories, practice my writing, and continue sharing my photography even after the program ends.

Looking back at my first post, I’m glad I chose the Photos team instead of taking the path I was most familiar with. I wanted this experience to be something different from my university projects, and so far, it has been exactly that.

One of my main goals was to contribute my own photos to the WordPress Photo Directory while enjoying the process of exploring photography. Since then, I’ve spent more time paying attention to the world around me and looking for moments worth capturing. I wasn’t trying to take the most beautiful photos or become a better photographer overnight, instead, my goal was to preserve memories and tell stories through my images.

One challenge I’ve encountered has been deciding which photos are worth submitting. Sometimes a photo may not be technically perfect, but it still captures a meaningful moment, and I’ve learned that those moments can be just as valuable as a perfectly composed image.

Another challenge has been simply being ready with my camera. There were times when I missed a moment because I didn’t have it with me, and other times when the battery ran out after spending hours taking photos. those experiences have taught me to be better prepared and to tin ahead whenever I go somewhere I might want to photograph.

Overall, I’m happy with the progress I’ve made so far. While there’s still a lot for me to learn about photography. I’m enjoying the journey.

After finishing the WP Credits program. I hope to continue contributing to the WordPress Photo Directory. I want photography to remain a hobby that helps me preserve memories and share meaningful moments with the WordPress community ,

Sometimes we come across things that have been left behind-old tools, abandoned houses, or forgotten vehicles. I like to imagine the history behind them and the journey they’ve taken to end up where they are today. Whether it’s an old truck resting vineyard as decoration or a rusty crane standing beside a river, now home to birds building their nests, each one tells a story in its own way.

It makes me wonder where I’ll be one day, telling my own history.

Picture capturing a seagull posing with the city behind

One of my favorite moments in New York was watching the sunset from above the city. As the sky shifted from a warm orange glow into the deepening night, the skyline came alive with countless lights. It’s hard to put the feeling into words-there’s something nostalgic about seeing the sky fade from golden hues into darkness, while the city below begins to sparkle like a living constellation.

Walking through Central Park, I noticed a skyscraper rising above the trees in the distance. It took me a while to find the right spot, but I wanted the surrounding branches to frame the building naturally.

What I like most about this photo is the contrast between nature and the city. the trees almost hide the skyscraper, making it feel like it’s emerging from the forest rather than standing in the middle of one of the world’s busiest cities.