Share a photo that represents how you see the world

[Stevejack]

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I'm always fascinated when photographers talk about recurrent elements in their photographs which appear as a result of their foundational influences.

Some famous examples;
Salgado often photographs directly into the sun. When quizzed about this, he said he grew up in the rainforest always looking up through the trees and into the sun. He's used to seeing the world silhouetted against the light.
Contrast that with someone like Sam Abell, who constantly recites the mantra 'keep the sun at your back' which was drilled into him by his mentor father... It's rare to see a Sam Abell photograph with the sun in the frame. What you will see in almost all of his work is his signature 'horizon line', perhaps, he thinks, as result of his upbringing on the flat plains of Ohio with the distant horizon line ever visible.
Don McCullin talks about how many of his contemporary landscape photographs often look rather like warzones... supposing his experiences in conflict areas have subconsciously shaped how he sees the world around him. 

If you have identified a recurrent element in your photography, stemming from some core aspect of your upbringing or experiences, I'd love to see some example photos along with a brief explanation. When did you first identify this theme in your photos? Where do you think it comes from?

Edited January 9 by Stevejack