Why do you take photos?

So I'm a little curious about what motivates many of the readers of this forum as to what they "get" out of photography. Sure there are the pros out there in the literal sense (maken money to make ends meet) but what about the rest of you? I mean, I get the whole hobby thing but what is it about the hobby that makes you do it...to plunk down a not-insignificant-amount-of-cash to take pictures. Is it spiritual or to fulfill a creative itch that can be scratched no other way? Or more banal...you are a gear collector (come on, you know who you are) but have little creativity (or desire to create) of your own (and there's nothing wrong with this BTW; if that's your thing, then more power to you). Or is it something else entirely? I'd love to hear your story.

For me, both my grand father and my dad were amateur photographers. My dad was actually good friends with Galen Rowell when they were in high school and in their early 20s. They drifted apart sometime in their mid to late 20s but my dad followed Galen's career off and on as he got older. I think he envied or perhaps admired the success Galen had achieved. My dad's profession was that of a technocrat (Urban Planer) for a big chunk of his life so it offered little outlet for his creativity. He always had a couple nice cameras (a Hasselblad of some sort and one point and Leica Ms and Rs). Looking back, I think he bought these thinking the better gear would make him a better photographer....though by this late 30s to retirement he rarely used them....mostly documenting the domesticity of his life and his family. For me growing up, the camera was something that was usually around but not well understood. It wasn't until after I graduated from college at the end of the 90s that my dad gave me my first SLR, my grand father's Leicaflex SL and 3 primes for it (a 35/2.8, 50/2, and 135/2.8). It was all manual except for the light meter. It was a great way to learn with but for someone starting their career, an expensive hobby (buying film was a bit of a luxury and in the age of auto-focus, a camera almost as old as I was was...frustrating to say the least). Anyway it wasn't until I got my first DSLR (a Canon 350D) that I really started to take the hobby more seriously. From a observer/viewer I had seen some amazing things done with light and film and wanted learn how to emulate it and then make it my own (namely, Sally Mann, whom I think is one of the greatest photographers in my lifetime). After my dad retied, he decided to get back into photography with a gusto so bought a ton of gear. Sadly, his health declined and dementia set in not long after. My wife and I took care of him over the last couple of years of his life. Now, I use most of his gear (Nikon and Leica) that he bought for his retirement and hope I can continuously improve my technique and reach inside myself to try to figure out what kind of images I want to make that I will find meaningful. I find that as much as I want my images to be appreciated by others, I really want to make them for me....Or for my dad, but that isn't really an option any more.

Thanks

--Brett

Photography is a two-fold thing for me. It helps to satisfy that creative pang I have from time to time - that's probably the main thing. I used to write poetry and short stories but don't these days. Creating a pleasing image of a place or a pleasing likeness of a person or animal gives me some sort of inner satisfaction. I rarely show my stuff to other people so it has to be fulfilling something on a personal level. The other thing it does is satisfy my urge to gather, collect and admire bits of gear. There is something about collecting stuff and getting new "toys" that gets a guy's juices flowing. Yes, I know I said "guy's" - but that's how it is. I don't know any women who have hobbies that include getting lots of gear in the pursuit of that hobby (although I'm sure there must be some), but I know plenty of men who do. But I have to say I have more respect for someone who can take or has taken a great photograph than someone who has a ton of gear.

--
Mike McEnaney. (emem)
www.veritasmea.com

Probably too many reason to answer, but I'll give it a try.

I think a camera was on of the first "big boy" things I ever wanted and purchased, or had my Dad buy for me, can't remember. It was an Kodak instamatic and I remember my first day "shooting" at the Cleveland Zoo like it was yesterday, and it was in the early 60's. I never could afford to have the film developed so a rolld of 24 would last me a year or two.

I took pictures at first like everyone else, to capture history or a moment in time. Then I took pictures of special occasions not necessarily to capture history as much as remember a good time, great people.

Then people kept telling me my photos were better than what they were paying for at friends weddings, so I had more requests than I actually wanted, but they were friends so I obliged, by never charging but giving them my work as a gift. Still cost a lot for developing then.

I remember shooting a car at a car show, I was 15 then, and the guy wanted to buy the photo I just took. So I met him later that week with an enlargement ( my first ever enlargement ). I don't remember the amount but all I knew is he loved it, and I must admit it was a great shot.

Ahhhhh now came digital. I was free to shoot to my hearts content.

Someone told me once if I even charged $1.00 for my work I could use my gear as a tax deduction. WOW, actually charge for something I like doing, what a concept.

The rest, as they say, is history.

I fall into the cateqory, as many probably do, that has ADD and a bit of OCD. So I'm not so great at many things in life but that all goes away when I'm out shooting.

Because I.m good at it don.t be so boring

Getting a break, doing something to relax from work.

That's why I also gave up on the idea to do paid shoots like weddings, as it becomes another job again with clients, stress, pressure etc.

I just like to take photos of the things that are interesting for me. I'm a musician and I also repair musical instruments. So I take photos mostly of concerts of others (usually friends) when I'm not playing and also of musical instruments, parts, etc.

The voices in my head say, "MUST TAKE PHOTOS, MUST TAKE PHOTOS."

Please see DPR profile.

Because it captures a moment, an emotion and a time. In short, it captures memories. And that, above all, is the reason I shoot photographs.

Diswantsho said:

Getting a break, doing something to relax from work.

That's why I also gave up on the idea to do paid shoots like weddings, as it becomes another job again with clients, stress, pressure etc.

Click to expand...

Make ' just another job ' different that gets my drive to perform better, that I like

having a reason to use my equipment is much more compelling than trying to force a creation.

On the other hand.. If you're holidaying in a fabulous place.. Ideas just keep coming

There are other reasons but those remain constant.
--
There is a very fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness.' :'!':

I decided to learn photography to be able to take decent pictures of my watch collection. Watches are another passion of mine.

But in all honesty, while I have taken pictures of lots and lots of random things, I have only taken a few of my watches....lol Oh well.

It's one creative outlet for me. I also make music and make / restore furniture. In all cases it's either about creating something, or taking something that already exists and 'improving' it.

Why? I dunno. It's not something I've ever seriously questioned, nor am I inclined to do so. I gain pleasure from doing these things and that's enough.

My mum was a painter (landscapes, flowers) and my dad a dilettante multi-instrumentalist, so the formative origins lie there.

Things I enjoy specifically about photography include:

• Travelling to places to photograph. The places themselves (even if only elsewhere in my suburb or city) have to be something I respond to in a way that makes me want to capture them. Again, this is something I'm disinclined to attempt to explain, but the exercise by definition puts me in environments I find interesting. This makes for a more interesting life.
• I like the fact that the process has taught me to observe scenes and objects more consciously - to look for form and colour and light and detail. That is more absorbing than more cursory observation.
• I like post processing. I like seeing a flat RAW image emerge into (hopefully) something more engaging. If I were less lazy and liked cleaning brushes I would probably paint.
• I like learning things, so learning how to operate a particular camera, lens, software, lighting etc is satisfying in itself.
• I like owning things, so the acquisition of equipment - even second-hand equipment - is satisfying.
• I like the occasional 'pat on the back' I receive from others when I produce something that merits it.
• I'm not particularly at-ease in social situations, so having 'something to do' can make those situations more enjoyable for me.
• I enjoy the back-and-forth on these threads.

I could probably think of more reasons, but that's enough.

--
BartyL
www.facebook.com/barty.lobethal/photos_albums

because it would be really stupid to have so much gear and not take photos. :-D

Because it's a fun hobby.

Because it sets one apart from the shuffling obese polyester-clad masses who think photography is a cell phone pic on facebook.

Because it's a dying art form and those of us who are left should try to keep it alive as long as possible.

Because it was the second thing in my life that I discovered I was very good at. Age 15, no formal education in photography, just incredible images purely from instinct. One can't ignore a gift like that.

Because we just went through a digital revolution in photography, on the same order as the adoption of the 35mm format or the widespread use of color film. It's tremendously exciting and rewarding to be part of a paradigm shift in any discipline.

Because the best picture ever has not been taken yet, and I am still working on it.

Warmest regards to all that are in the same boat or not, Je, je.

Oscar

I'm a computer engineer by day and that is a completely different type of "creativity" than something like photography. Honestly when I started with my first DSLR, I bought it because I thought I "needed" a "good camera" so I could take pictures of my family. I also remember thinking, "I have no desire to be a photographer (whatever that was)." Fast forward to now and I still like geeking out over a bit of gear, but at some point it also changed to actually trying to learn something about photography and to challenge myself. I'm not really the artistic type in many ways, so photography is a challenge because it makes me try to be something more than I am. I don't think it drives "meaning" in my life or anything so profound, but I (usually) enjoy the challenge. And I think that's probably the biggest motivating factor. Many of the other things that I do/enjoy (including work) are because they challenge me in some way.

I do also enjoy being good at something that many others around me are not, and that they appreciate when I take photos of/for them. I'm certainly no awesome photographer, but I've done portraits (maternity, kids, baby, etc) for family and friends all for free and they loved them. Being able to do something for them and having them appreciate it so much in return is just a good all around feeling.

BTW, thanks for starting this thread. I've thought of posting this question before myself, and I'm enjoying reading other people's stories.

It is strange, I have been following dpreview for a couple of months, but never really found the urge to participate until this question arose.

To answer it, the initial reason for being a photographer was that I was responding to a need from the family, albeit very imperfectly (been often berated for not knowing how to shoot with a film camera - yes I date back to that time). Obviously, I never did progress much. We didn't have much money for film and developments at the time, but anyway, I got my first rubbing with a real camera (Canon EOS 600).

Thereafter, with my first digital camera (A canon EOS 40D, which I still have), I started having a go at shooting for pleasure. With my transfer from Europe to Asia, the occasion for outlandish pictures came also through. At heart still, I longed, not for family photos or pics of travels...

As a day job, I am a lawyer (so as boring as it gets). Photography is a way to express creativity and this deeper urge for reporting.

I 'covered' last year the protests against the coup d'état in Thailand, sometimes being at the very heart of the protests. These were peaceful, but could have been violent (and some arrests by the army were rough). My main channel at the time was on twitter, where I posted the pics, while giving an account of a situation changing by the minute.

After these exciting times, things settled down. My focus was then moved to testifying of my surroundings. I am aware that Thailand is going to change in the future, and at this moment in time, I can still testify as to what it looks like, and some of its nice or less nice sides.

In some way, "reporting" is still very much the focus of my passion, partly because I have been a freelance correspondent for written press in my early years. I still find the urge of telling a story, of letting things be known.

An example: in this shuttle bus that goes on the posh artery of Thonglor, in Bangkok, this little girl is the daughter of the driver and the ticket collector. They have no place to keep her, so she rides with them the whole day. It is not my best pic, technically speaking, but it tells a story and the little girl is smiling to the camera which makes its charm for me.




Bus driver daughter.

Somehow, I want to tell the story of these people who are leading a hard life and striving through their hardships to give a better life to their kids. Hence my passion for photo (although I probably can never make it my work).

I'm an amateur, taking pictures for myself and nobody else. Photography is the kind of creativity for me that doesn't need any words or conscious steps. Direct line from eye through brain to shutter release button. Constant challenge to keep the level and improve. Seeing my pictures from 2011 and asking myself, "did I really take that picture, and could I do that again today? Could I do that any better today?"

It's fun. It keeps my blood pressure up and body and brain on the move.

Thanks everyone, these are fantastic stories. I think it's these stories that truly bring us together here. Sometimes I think people forget that we are all here for the same reason: to learn from each other, to share a common love and feel a empathetic connection.


--Brett