Why do you make photos?

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Jonathan Knight
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p.1 #1 · Why do you make photos?

Since I'm in some strange mood (and wanting to procrastinate even more on my Finals) I thought I would pose another question for my fellow FM'ers.

Why do YOU make photos? What drives you? Why is photography your passion/hobby/job?

For me:

One day a friend asked, "Why don't you do something more important with your life? Like join the Army or something."
Even though many people share his views, I for one, don't see myself "wasting" my life by becoming a photojournalist.
Photography is more than just taking photos and being “lazy” or being content with “just” making this amount of money, or “just” working this many hours a week. It is interacting with people, meeting new people/faces and doing extraordinary things while "working."
It's seeing brilliant places and people, things and capturing them for others to see.
It's about showing people a little bit of life they didn't see for themselves because they are too busy drinking their coffee and driving 20 miles over the speed limit to get to work.
It's about those photos that you made on campus that everyone just walked by and thought you were strange. However, you sat there marveling at such a beautiful sight and everyone else was too busy getting to class to notice it.
It's not about getting rich, it’s about doing something you love and that you’re passionate about. I enjoy showing people the world through my eye, and showing people what they couldn’t see for themselves.
I freeze moments of happiness, sadness, frustration in time for others to remember, to laugh about, to cry about, to marvel over.
It's about communicating with others about the world we all live in: Its triumphs, its downfalls, its moments of beauty, its moments of ugliness.
I communicate through my camera the world we live in. That is special to me and I am proud of being able to do that.

Your turn!

Edited on Dec 19, 2007 at 08:40 PM

Dec 09, 2007 at 04:11 AM

57suzi
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p.1 #2 · Why do you make photos?

I began as a portrait photographer because I wanted to show people how I see them--beautiful!

Edited on Dec 19, 2007 at 08:40 PM

Dec 09, 2007 at 05:17 AM

EOS20
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p.1 #3 · Why do you make photos?

My passion is landscape photography. I enjoy capturing the beauty of these locations and visiting new and exiting places, and capturing the beauty of these places!

Edited on Dec 19, 2007 at 08:40 PM

Dec 09, 2007 at 07:11 AM

Rocketball
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p.1 #4 · Why do you make photos?

Originally I got interested in photography as a senior in HS. Not too many people could process their own stuff, so that really interested me. The whole "creative process" thing sucked me in.

I went to college and learned the technical side of photography and loved it even more.

Later, I got into sports photography when my 2 girls started playing softball. The challange of "capturing the moment" is an ongoing challange even today. Being at the right place at the right time, and anticapating the action is a lot of fun for me. You either get it, or you don't. There's no "do-overs" in sports photography.

Edited on Dec 19, 2007 at 08:40 PM

Dec 09, 2007 at 04:08 PM

Alistair Watson
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p.1 #5 · Why do you make photos?

I am a professional sports and motorsports photographer. I guess what excites me is capturing the key events in the game or race, capturing the moment, the emotions. Given there are many other photographers shooting on the sidelines or the press areas on racetracks, the challenge is to capture something different, something that sounds out. Sure technical excellence is important but so is getting the shot.

Edited on Dec 19, 2007 at 08:40 PM

Dec 09, 2007 at 05:40 PM

Ryan McGehee
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p.1 #6 · Why do you make photos?

Why do you make photos?

Why not

?

Edited on Dec 19, 2007 at 08:40 PM

Dec 11, 2007 at 02:24 AM

firewireguy
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p.1 #7 · Why do you make photos?

I wanted a hobby that got me out of the house and was a bit creative. I used to spend far too much time in front of the PC (and still do), so I wanted to stop that and go out on my own and do something fun. All my friends are coupled up or often away at the weekend meaning I was usually left sat on my own, so having something that I could do on my own and was fun was what I was looking for. Photography seemed to fit the bill.

It's nice to have created some good pieces of art out of it too.

Edited on Dec 19, 2007 at 08:40 PM

Dec 11, 2007 at 02:15 PM

Mark Pelletier
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p.1 #8 · Why do you make photos?

Because I dont write well and became frustrated at not being able to express myself

mark

Edited on Dec 19, 2007 at 08:40 PM

Dec 11, 2007 at 05:39 PM

mkweaver
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p.1 #9 · Why do you make photos?

My mom was an art teacher. She had us kids painting in our high chairs - literally!
When I was pushing 40 I finally got enough money together to purchase a "good camera" to take pictures for studies in oil painting. Then I got hooked on photography. Haven't painted in years, but still snapping away. Anything that moves or doesn't!
Since money has always been in short supply in my family, I had to make the camera pay for itself. So I learned how to do it professionally!
I read once, early on, that there are more expensive hobbies: collecting Boeing 747's or entering your Rolls Royce in the demolition derby. But the best thing about photography is that you can make it pay!
Viva lay "pay!"

Edited on Dec 19, 2007 at 08:40 PM

Dec 11, 2007 at 06:14 PM

claudermilk
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p.1 #10 · Why do you make photos?

Because I cannot draw or paint to save my life. It's the only creative outlet I have. It also gives me something to do when my wife is indulging her passion--dance. Complementary hobbies works out well.

Edited on Dec 19, 2007 at 08:40 PM

Dec 11, 2007 at 06:57 PM

carlsbadbum
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p.1 #11 · Why do you make photos?

Why do you make photos?

It's easier to push a button and you have a photo, sure beats painting and drawing which takes hours or days.

Edited on Dec 19, 2007 at 08:40 PM

Dec 11, 2007 at 11:12 PM

nathanlake
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p.1 #12 · Why do you make photos?

I always felt artistic, but am completely devoid of talent when it comes to painting and drawing. Photography was the only outlet I could find.

Edited on Dec 19, 2007 at 08:40 PM

Dec 13, 2007 at 04:57 AM

David Churn
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p.1 #13 · Why do you make photos?

My passion/ hobby is in Nature and Landscape photography.I do this not for money, not for a job, but just so i can be outdoors where all the stress from working and paying bills will vanish. Of course that is not the only reason why, the main reason is passion. i'm an outdoorsman, therefore my photography lies in the outdoors. To me, when i press the shutter button down, i not only took a picture, i captured a moment in time that i can treasure for a life time.

David

Edited on Dec 19, 2007 at 08:40 PM

Dec 15, 2007 at 01:28 AM

paulhodson
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p.1 #14 · Why do you make photos?

It gives me something to use Photoshop on

Edited on Dec 19, 2007 at 08:40 PM

Dec 15, 2007 at 07:19 AM

EB-1
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p.1 #15 · Why do you make photos?

I take photos and make prints. I don't know about making photos.

EB

Edited on Dec 19, 2007 at 08:40 PM

Dec 15, 2007 at 01:34 PM

CGrindahl
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p.1 #16 · Why do you make photos?

I really got hooked on photography after encountering Trekearth a few years and meeting some lovely folks from around the world who were sharing their enthusiasm for photography as they introduced their corner of the world to the rest of us. After I got my own digital camera and began sharing what I encountered I discovered the joy both of taking photos and of working with images digitally. Of course, the more I learned about the technical elements of creating images the more captivated I became by the art of photography. That process continues as my eye improves and as I trust my own instincts as they lead toward newer ways of expressing myself. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area so I have wonderful opportunities for both landscape photography and street photography. I've also been doing quite a bit of portrait work and find it remarkably rewarding because of the intimacy inherent in working that closely with another person. I'm exploring the wonder of narrow depth of field, which has necessitated investment in faster lenses. It is wonderful to have found a hobby that so engages me. I'm very grateful.

Edited on Dec 19, 2007 at 08:40 PM

Dec 17, 2007 at 12:41 AM

Olnibrcn
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p.1 #17 · Why do you make photos?

I take photographs to help people remember faces and times that are, all to soon, gone.

Edited on Dec 19, 2007 at 08:40 PM

Dec 18, 2007 at 07:09 AM

Andi Dietrich
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p.1 #18 · Why do you make photos?

we have no TV

Dec 19, 2007 at 08:40 PM


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