Why are you a photographer?

[Vrinda]

Hi all! I've been thinking a lot today about preconceptions based around photography, and trying to work out when I knew photography is what I want to do, and why I want to go ahead with it, even though I know how hard it will be...

I didn't have answers for all these questions, and I wanted to ask more photographers at varying levels of pro-ness, who have come at photography from all different angles.. and where better to come than here?

So, may I ask why you want to do photography? What drew you to it? Has it been what you expected (and if you're only just starting, what do you expect it to be?) Are you professional? Hobbyest? something in between? Or any other answers you feel like adding to questions I didn't think to ask.

I'd love to hear some opinions!

Thanks in advance!!

[JFSanders]

First time I saw a actual print of Ansel Adams' Moonrise. I was doing charcoal and pencil drawings and when I saw that I quit drawing for a long time. Then I found Weston's work and it was all over. The forms and light and shadow were mesmerizing to me.

By the way, the young lady with the different color irises. Is it natural or contacts?

[Turd Ferguson]

Because.

-Turd

[richardsarazin]

to capture a feeling

[bhursey]

My mom was a photo journalist when I was kid I guess I just caught the bug.... I just always like seeing the world through a lens. Theres a unique aspect of it that feels totally different than just walking through the world.

[scootermcq]

Originally Posted by Turd Ferguson

Because.

-Turd

Because why?

[autofocus]

...frustrated musician, frustrated artist, the camera gave me the creative outlet to fill the void

[Bruce A]

Originally Posted by autofocus

...frustrated musician, frustrated artist, the camera gave me the creative outlet to fill the void

Hey, that's my story Vince. However, I got into photography in a minor way around the time I got married, devleoped my own black and white, but never studied it much. The family and time got the better of it and I eventually took it up more seriously a couple of years back. I've given up completely on drawing, but still hack away on the guitar occasionally.

[Vrinda]

Originally Posted by JFSanders

First time I saw a actual print of Ansel Adams' Moonrise. I was doing charcoal and pencil drawings and when I saw that I quit drawing for a long time. Then I found Weston's work and it was all over. The forms and light and shadow were mesmerizing to me.

By the way, the young lady with the different color irises. Is it natural or contacts?

Ah, the lovely Sophie. Her eyes are 100% natural. One is brown, the other is blue with a hint of brown at the top.

Thank you for your response! An interesting thing to me is that you were drawing and quit when you saw Moonrise. I've been using hard pastels for the first time in recent weeks and I'm finding it teaching me a lot about light and form, lessons I'm hoping I can carry across to my photography.

Light, form and shadow are things I think I've lost touch with since I've been shooting all digital, I was shooting only black & white film before and found it easier in that medium. I'd like to play with black & white a lot more to get that back again.

[denzii]

Have you seen Life? Once you do, you want to capture it.