Why do you take photographs?

JohnR · « **on:** 23 Jan 2010, 10:26 am »

Why do you take photographs?

Poll options as above, please feel free to suggest additional poll options.

jqp · « **Reply #1 on:** 23 Jan 2010, 11:59 am »

I love to document things that I see that I like or that are "unusual''. I think I have more of a photojournalist mindset as opposed to an artist mindset most of the time. Its probably a reflection of what I see of photography in the media of today - science/nature photography, human interest photography, etc.

There are things others would never see if I did not photograph them. From a practical perspective, showing family what you saw on vacations to places they will never go, or what I find interesting. Capturing beauty is also a fun challenge. I also want to go back and re-photograph things I didn't get right previously, whether in my backyard or across the ocean.

MaxCast · « **Reply #2 on:** 23 Jan 2010, 12:34 pm »

Non only for my kids so they don't have to listen to my BS but also for us parents to remember the young kids and family later in life.

Another interesting question to answer is, how often to you look at photographs that are say a year or older?

Wind Chaser · « **Reply #3 on:** 24 Jan 2010, 01:53 am »

Looking at what I shot so far... I really don't know why I have a camera. I picked up another lens, a fast 50 - 1.4 and I can see the difference it makes. But right now I'm like an aspiring musician who can't read music or play one note.

When the days get longer and the sun comes out of hibernation I plan to get out and take more pictures. In the meantime I've just picked up 2 books by Tom Ang, 'Digital Photography Master Class' and 'How To Photograph Absolutely Everything'.

Levi · « **Reply #4 on:** 24 Jan 2010, 02:05 am »

The reason I shoot is because I am a collector. For example: If I shoot people, their images becomes a part of my collection.

Wind Chaser · « **Reply #5 on:** 24 Jan 2010, 02:08 am »

Quote from: Levi on 24 Jan 2010, 02:05 am

I shoot people

I would too, but between the law and my conscious...

thunderbrick · « **Reply #6 on:** 24 Jan 2010, 02:41 am »

Are you, uh, conscious?

Go get 'em, Nathan!

thunderbrick · « **Reply #7 on:** 24 Jan 2010, 02:50 am »

At an early age I was always fascinated by how a mechanical device could be used to form an image, and over time it became my therapy, especially when things were tough. I just enjoyed the process of going out and looking to see what I could find and turning it into something tangible and creative, and for the most part I didn't share my work for many years; it was just for me.

As I got more into it I started shooting for income, or really, just to buy more photographic tools (toys?), and I even turned to collecting.

I was full-time pro for a few years, but then the hobby part became less fun. Now that the market has changed (every idiot with a cheap DSLR thinks they are a pro), I am quite content to pick and choose my assignments and customers. I am more than glad to go back to the hobby and collecting part, and I REALLY enjoy teaching photography.

thunderbrick · « **Reply #8 on:** 24 Jan 2010, 02:51 am »

Quote from: JohnR on 23 Jan 2010, 10:26 am

Why do you take photographs?

Poll options as above, please feel free to suggest additional poll options.

Great thread, by the way!

Thanks!

'Brick

mjosef · « **Reply #9 on:** 24 Jan 2010, 03:19 am »

In my early years I wanted to capture rare moments of remote scenes to share with those less fortunate or less inclined to wander to those spaces ( I hiked a lot to far away places back then).
Later on it was a challenge to capture the 'mood' of the moment, just the right light as seen by the eye, at unusual angles/point of view...somewhat of a more personal expression, art, if you will.

SET Man · « **Reply #10 on:** 25 Jan 2010, 05:17 am »

Hey!

Why? Well, short answer... because I like what I see and I'm with my camera.

And making a few bucks on the side with photography ain't bad too.

Take care,
Buddy

low.pfile · « **Reply #11 on:** 25 Jan 2010, 06:35 am »

None of the poll choices fit my reasons.

I like to capture moments and places in time. I like to capture emotions. These are not always art.

Wind Chaser · « **Reply #12 on:** 25 Jan 2010, 06:58 am »

Because I hope to become good enough to take pictures like this one by Sasha Yastremskyi...

or this by Brad Styron...

and this by Emmanuel Coupe...

ooheadsoo · « **Reply #13 on:** 25 Jan 2010, 08:37 am »

Quote from: low.pfile on 25 Jan 2010, 06:35 am

None of the poll choices fit my reasons.

I like to capture moments and places in time. I like to capture emotions. These are not always art.

Might call this photojournalism/recording moments in your own life. I'd like to see either as an option in the poll.

Hyfi · « **Reply #14 on:** 25 Jan 2010, 01:37 pm »

I got interested in photography at a pretty early age, around 12 I think. I had both a brother and a brother in law who did professional work, weddings - portraits - and a Philadelphia Zoo postcard of Lions.

My Brother in law had a darkroom setup in his place and I learned to develop and print Black and Whites. I still love the emotion of B&W and glad my new G11 has that ability, even though it's not the easiest mode, Quick Shot.

I like to document where I have been and things I have done more than take posed pictures of family and friends. I have several of my shots enlarged, framed and hanging on the walls including a poster size shot of an incredible sunrise at Mountain Top Vermont.

Jeff Ward · « **Reply #15 on:** 25 Jan 2010, 02:26 pm »

I think the best answer to that question comes from Gary Winogrand: "I photograph to see what things look like when photographed."

cujobob · « **Reply #16 on:** 25 Jan 2010, 02:33 pm »

I do it for the ladies.

nathanm · « **Reply #17 on:** 25 Jan 2010, 04:30 pm »

I voted "Because it's art" but it is often difficult for me to achieve an artsy photo. In retrospect, less and less of my photos meet my criteria over time.

That Gary Winogrand quote makes a lot of sense too. Photographs distort and filter the world, and we are eager to see things from a different angle.

Time will usually improve a photo too. The mundane snapshot of today, if it shows a sufficient amount of human culture in the frame, will be vastly more interesting in years to come. That lame shot you threw away today could be Nostalgia City in 100 years or less. If you can manage to not die you'll be able to see this happen in person. This of course begs the question: do immortal creatures experience nostalgia? Does the vampire or elf look at photos from 1000 years ago and experience a collossal rush of "Oh man, can you believe the clothes\glasses\cars I was using back then!?" the likes of which we mortals cannot imagine? Would ages of elf photo nostalgia overload a human mind's capacity if it were possible?

JohnR · « **Reply #18 on:** 26 Jan 2010, 07:51 am »

Thanks, great responses

I have added a few more options. You can go "remove vote" and revote if you like - you can vote for as many options as you like.

Some of the options are a bit tongue-in-cheek - I myself put "Because it attracts girls" as one of mine, because it can in fact be a good conversation-starter... But that's not the only or main reason, I also selected three other options.

Thanks

JackD201 · « **Reply #19 on:** 26 Jan 2010, 11:55 am »

Like listening to music which does the same thing with my hearing, it makes me use my faculty of sight in a different way. It's like meditation except I'm wide awake and active. Being from the Far East, metaphysical stuff is second nature. So for me it's the process, the resulting photographs are just the byproduct. Most of the time they aren't any good but it doesn't really matter. When I see the photo I remember what I saw in my mind that I tried to capture. Perhaps with practice I'll actually be able to take what I see and translate it properly. I'm afraid I'm a long way off still.