Why Photography ?

[michellepotter]

My answer is going to sound cheesy, but it's true. I've suffered from clinical depression for pretty much as long as I can remember. When I'm really bad, it's very difficult for me to remember that some parts of my life (actually, a lot of them) are good. I use photography to capture happy memories and store them on my computer. And if they are beautiful, too, all the better.

I spend a lot of time looking at my photos over and over, even the really bad ones. My worst nightmare is that I'd lose any of them, which is why I have so many backups that my husband -- who has at times backed up data for a living -- thinks I'm crazy. I don't think it's crazy to worry that my computer, my spare harddrive, and my remote server could all fail at once -- do you???

[slycat_blaze]

My interest in photography is a mix of a lot of different reasons.

At first, these were my reasons:

1) I have always needed a creative outlet for myself. I like drawing, but I stopped because I felt I wasn't able to draw what I want because I wasn't able to draw properly. I write as well, but lately I've lost some interest with it. Music is there, but I ended up loving photos, whether created by myself or other people.

2) I just love exploring different sides and perspectives, especially when they bring out the beauty in someone or something. I guess it's kinda like the "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" thing, because I love it when photography brings out the best in everything as long as taken at the right moment and the right time.

3) I love art, and I love nice sceneries. ♥



But I guess eventually, the next two reasons are the ones that weigh the most:

4) I grew up in a household where camera's weren't really prioritized. I feel sad that our memories with each other, as well as my childhood, has been lost in time. What's even more sad for me is that I don't know why but my memories easily fade away. Maybe some of them were repressed. I actually got the idea from my mother, because she mentioned a lot of things going on in the house that I wasn't even aware of until we talked about it. Even my brother says he doesn't remember much from when we were little.

I guess ever since, I wanted to take as much photos of my memories as I could, because I simply couldn't remember. The several photographs from before that i have are one of my most treasured things. This is one of the reasons why I wanted to have a camera of my own. I don't want to forget anymore.

5) A year and two months ago, when I went to the doctor, he said my eyes could eventually go blind if they get worse because I was already at risk for Glaucoma, a type of disease that affects the optic nerve. There isn't any cure for it, you could just delay the inevitable by putting eyedrops that would lessen the pressure inside. I am currently under monitoring for two years, but the risk is for life, as the doctor said. It was a serious wake-up call for me. I ended up appreciating my surroundings better, as well as the people around me. So far my eyes are okay, but now I appreciate my eyes in a whole new light.

[jojotherider]

Another reason I enjoy photography is that it gives me the opportunity to learn something. Every now and then, I feel like my brain is getting stale. I'll just read through some photography discussions and try to go shoot.

-joel

[charliere]

On my case I love the computers and gadgets, I started changing photos with Photoshop, after I learned everything about photoshop, but I need more, I need my own pictures and release my creative, I had the oportunity to know the digital photography so I started to read about it, now I'm learning and I have access to a DSLR, it's no mine but I can experiment with it, It's from my job but some weekends I borrow it, I need practice, but I love take pictures, Photography for me its passion for capture the moment, the colors, the time...

PS. When I don't have the DSLR I have my celphone for take pictures .... hahaha

[Haeretik]

I personally like it for a number of reasons... I love capturing moments in time, and I really enjoy the different perspectives I can get on "ordinary" things... since I got back into it with the DSLR, I've also found it to be a new way to express myself through the threesixtyfive self portrait project. And I think there will always be something new - technique or otherwise - to learn...

[Melinda]

Even as a child I loved photography. My dad gave me his old slr and I would take it outside and line up my horse statues as if they were playing outside and take pictures of them. Then I would get my cat and dog to pose. I couldn't wait until the pictures came back from developing. Then I left the camera outside...and it rained. It took a long time for my family to get me another camera. So I got into drawing...horses of course. LOL. I did a little painting but it seemed to take so long and I don't like to sit still. Photography came in and out of my life many times. It is back and here to stay. Digital photography has awakened my love. I get the instant gratification with every shot.
I get excited when others enjoy my photography and I love to share. I feel it is a very rewarding outlet. I am always thinking of what should be my next photo op.

Melinda

[Melinda]

Originally Posted by jojotherider

Another reason I enjoy photography is that it gives me the opportunity to learn something. Every now and then, I feel like my brain is getting stale. I'll just read through some photography discussions and try to go shoot.

-joel

I totally agree with this...especially being a stay at home mom...not used to that. LOL