Why Photography ?

[kunaldaswani]

Someone asked me this simple question recently, and it got me thinking, would love to hear what you guys have to say.

" Why Photography ? " as in what does photography mean to you, why did you pick photography as a hobby/profession, what was your calling, etc..

[Nicole]

You know, my answer to this one sounds silly, but it applies to the way I approach a lot of things: Why not photography?

I actually was having a bit of this conversation with a Flickr friend the other day when we met up to do some shooting. He was saying how someone told him that the reason why they take pictures is to take pictures. It rang true to him, and it rings quite true to me too. I take pictures to take pictures. It's fun, I enjoy it. So why not photography? If I didn't enjoy it, I wouldn't do it. Just like most things.

Sorry, it's almost a total lack of an answer, isn't it? But hey, why not?

[JazzaGirl]

The reason i've chosen photography is at this stage in my life it's a hobby and maybe later it will turn into a profession. But i love the world around me and i want to capture it. I love the sunsets and sunrises, the trees, animals, the people in this world. For me photography is a passion. And i love it!

[Pasq]

People have many ways of expressing their creative soul. I have been drawn to photography (as I think most of us here) from a very young age.

To me, photography captures truth. Though with today's technology, it's what we do with that truth that shows our soul even more.

A dear friend once said to me, "that's a lot of money for a hobby." Besides knowing people that spend more on other hobbies, photography is more than just a hobby, for all of us. It's an art form we are passionately grateful to be part of.

[chireau]

Please dont flame me on this one, I tought of that when I was 15...

I tought that since I didnt have any talent for painting, music, or any other art form for that matter... that photography was in fact a technical art form... that it didnt require any particular talent besides for technologies (at that time digital photography was around the corner, and I "knew" it, but most photographers didnt think so...). I tought, hey its not like you need to paint anything, just hit the trigger and you have a nice photography!

I changed my mind about it... I still like it but I've got everything to learn...

I know now that at the time I was looking for some way to express myself, I came from a family of hard working immigrants that didnt have art as a preocupation, its wasent down to earth enough (and it still isnt). I felt that (like someone posted above), it was a way to capture a nano second in time! You could just seize a feeling into matter!

But I dont quite agree with it being a way to represent truth... what truth? The one you want people to see? (fashion photography?). The one that needs to be shown? (photo journalism?). The one that's just obvious? I could represent realism, but with todays possibilities (photoshop and the like...), truth is just some kind of photography.

I guess that's the beauty of it, it can be personnal art form, but common to eveyone (since its very accessible nowadays).

[Pasq]

Originally Posted by chireau

Please dont flame me on this one, I tought of that when I was 15...

I tought that since I didnt have any talent for painting, music, or any other art form for that matter... that photography was in fact a technical art form... that it didnt require any particular talent besides for technologies (at that time digital photography was around the corner, and I "knew" it, but most photographers didnt think so...). I tought, hey its not like you need to paint anything, just hit the trigger and you have a nice photography!

I changed my mind about it... I still like it but I've got everything to learn...

Flame you? Nope!!!!! I "tought" da berry same thing!

You know what! that thinking opening a whole world to you and I!!! YAY!

[Laurence]

I found out years ago that it was much more enjoyable for me to be behind the camera instead of in front. Any one can poise for a photo but it takes a little thinking to be the one holding the camera. I have always been creative but not that great at painting or drawing so this is my way of expressing myself. I love looking at my photos and remembering the moment.

[Taallyn]

Photography, particularly digital photography, combines a lot of my interests in to one nice package. Graphic arts, optics, computers and gadgets all meshing together to let me do something creative. In short, it just fits with who I am.

[Saralonde]

I've always needed a creative outlet in my life. At various times I write, paint (watercolors mostly), decorate, garden, etc. I still do all those things off and on, but photography has pretty much been the only constant. There was a time a few years ago when I wasn't using a camera very much. Lack of time had my film darkroom gathering dust. Digital cameras were becoming more popular, but I didn't like the little point and shoots, I wanted the comfort and familiarity of my larger SLR. One day during a watercolor class, one of the students mentioned he was a pro photgrapher, but was taking the class to see things in a different way. I found I was far more interested in listening to what he was doing with his camera than what I was doing with paint and brushes. That was when I realized how much I missed it. DSLRs were coming down in price, so I bought a Canon XT and haven't looked back.

[PnwGuy]

After turning 45 I was looking for a new perspective on life and a new hobby. I'd thought about photography off and on for years and I was always the one shooting video or taking shots at family events.

Being more of a technical guy than an artsy one I decided to explore and try to tap into my artsy side through photography. The techincal part has been easy, it's been an effort to locate that artsy talent though.

It's amazing how I see things differently and notice things that I never noticed in all my years. Like the north sky is more blue than the southern sky. Well at least in my neck of the woods. I never really noticed cherry blossoms. The only time I would study someone's expression or emotion is when I was interacting with them. I see shapes and patterns and light color and contrast all day long.

I hope everyone else enjoys it as much as I.