Why do you like photography?

[Max Iso]

What do you like about it? Why do you like it (if you do)? If you want to get specific, why do you like your gear? What do you like shooting and why? I'll go first.

I like shooting bc it suits my temperament and lifestyle. I like a hobby that gives me freedom. I can shoot how and what i want, and when i want. There are no real "rules", it's a subjective endeavor, im only limited by my own will and imagination.

It's a perfect hobby for me and i have found gear that is affordable and gives me everything i want. As for the gear specifically, all the boxes i care about are checked. Battery life, DOF control, great color, i like heft, and didn't cost several thousand$.Im happy like a dog with a stick.

Feel free to share your reasons and preferences.







--
"We've come prepared
Suspending all benevolence
You've bathed in arrogance
Our retribution we will bring
She flies on unforgiving wings
Your children in Heaven shall weep and grieve
As holy gates open and nothing leaves
So down the cattle chute you will move
And die for him who's died for you...
Blinded by our pride we've missed the signs
We now beg of you, Lord, hear our cries.
The scars you've made altered the plan
Our end will never be ushered by man
So down the cattle chute you will move
And the burden of Earth will be removed
You are quarantined to the abyss
With all life forms deleterious
You have lost all that you will ever lose
Your request to be saved by God, refused !"
- The Subjugated

 

[Lu1Wang]

It's one of the least restricting hobby. You can do it anytime, anywhere, with or without companion. There is always a subject worth pressing the shutter for.

 

[Mark_A]

We just had a thread like this.

I like to have an outlet for my creativity.

It is a hobby, i.e. something I enjoy spending my time doing with none of the pressures that would exist if I were trying to make my living by it.

I have budget gear (by which I mean yesterday's greatest rather than todays) which is pretty good in fact and when I get it right I can create very special images.

I also like that it is a learning experience, I can improve every aspect of my photography and this is fun, it is enjoyable to be learning something especially as I can see the results pretty much immediately.

Mark_A

Thread for Sunrise & Sunset pictures (part 3!)

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/60273364

 

[Wheatfield7]

I can see but I can't draw.

 

[Brad Bohland]

[No message]

 

[jrtrent]

What do you like about it? Why do you like it (if you do)? If you want to get specific, why do you like your gear? What do you like shooting and why?

I take pictures because they give me a sort of visual diary of people, places, and events that I'd like to remember. I don't go out and shoot just for the fun of taking pictures; there needs to be something going on, something I'd be doing even if photography didn't exist. Common subjects for me include regular family stuff, like birthdays, holidays, and family trips, plus other extensions of life like company picnics, retirement parties, and local events (founders' day celebrations, salmon fests, county fairs, parades).

My favorite camera to use is the Samsung GX-1S (a 2006 model DSLR). It's a budget-oriented model, quite light and compact, and the only lens I've ever had on it is the 18-55 mm kit zoom that it came with. I like deep depth of field and a normal perspective, and that lens happens to have its sweet spot at 35mm (52.5mm equivalent) and f/8. I like its pentaprism viewfinder and versatile controls. In manual exposure mode, I have it set to give me an aperture-preferred automatic setting of the shutter speed by simply pressing and releasing the AE-L button, and focus is achieved by pressing and releasing the OK button. I don't like having any of my camera settings change just because I press the shutter release, so it's nice that those functions can be assigned to other buttons. I also like its top display so I can glance down while it hangs from its neckstrap and see all the setting information.

 

[D Cox]

It's faster than painting.

 

[IR1234]

I love creating a record. You don't have to capture a moment, or the spirit of something (better people than me do that), but I do like to capture a record of a moment.

I kick myself for not buying thousands of slides that a shop had 30 years ago when I was a kid, they were trains, trams and other forms of transport from years earlier, many years infact. They were just records of the day, but at the time they were worthless. Today, I've no idea of the value of them, maybe they are still worthless because there are so many photos like that around, but I doubt it.

One of the more interesting parts of my job is that we take our souvenir photographs of tourists on holiday. We have a huge back catalogue and every so often we get a sale, we ask the buyer why they bought the photo, and in many cases it's because we have the only photograph left of someone who has recently passed away. Despite the thousands of photographs taken by people, in your family, by your friends, you might not actually be in them. So they find a photo of themselves 5 years ago on our website. It's just a record of a happier time.

(And for the record if we discover that a person has passed away in a photograph we refund the money. We're not an undertaker, we don't make money from death.).

 

[Mark S Abeln]

It helps augment my memory, it records a moment, it is challenging, it’s artistic, it opens me up to new places and people, it makes me and others happy.

 

[Chris Wolfgram]

Because I have always just been a super visual kind of guy. I always look for things that make me say, "Wow" ! Beautiful things, color, contrast, beautiful creatures, and the most beautiful creatures of all, women

Oh, and I almost forgot.... I LOVE the challenge of "catching" the big one" ! Photography is SOOO much like fishing was for me for so much of my life. I was / am always looking for that one trophy catch !

--
Photos are my paintings. The camera is my brush.
DPreview gallery; http://www.dpreview.com/galleries/5075216809
No time or attention given for negativity or trolls.

 

[Chris Wolfgram]

Fair enough. And I'm sure I have been accused of this a few times myself But the fact is, I spend a LOT of time looking at other photographers work too. Maybe more than at my own ?

 

[Chaplain Mark]

I can see but I can't draw.

Exactly...!!

Very well said.

 

[tcg550]

Because my cats require I take photos of them.

And that squirrel living in the house I built him. Just came in off our balcony from visiting with him. I think he wants a bigger house so he can get married and have kids.

 

[fishy wishy]

It's a hobby where you can shoot what you like and then you can share when you've done something, with a lot of people. Whereas if you knit, your scarf is only good to one person.

People all over the world like to see pretty girls and saturated color landscapes.

Cameras are good toys too.

 

[Brad Bohland]

Fair enough. And I'm sure I have been accused of this a few times myself But the fact is, I spend a LOT of time looking at other photographers work too.

Me, too, but I choose the ones I like.


by Fishchris


by Fishchris

 

[Max Iso]

Because I have always just been a super visual kind of guy. I always look for things that make me say, "Wow" ! Beautiful things, color, contrast, beautiful creatures, and the most beautiful creatures of all, women

I think this is similar to my inspiration from the very beginning. There were plenty of times i saw something really cool, or even a sentimental moment like somebody's expression that was very unique. Since i can't go back in time, the next best thing is to bring the past with me forward.

Not in so many words but this was kinda the concept that made photography interesting for me, catching moments i thought were worth saving. Turns out it's not as easy as we hope but i do get lucky now and again.

 

[nicodimus22]

Because the girl across the street won't always be taking off her bra with the curtains open, and photography allows me to remember that FOREVER.

 

[contadorfan]

I'm neither artistic nor creative by nature, so photography is a challenge, something that uses my brain in ways it's not been used before. Learning how to use all the techno wizardry of the camera and learning ever-changing post processing software is also a good mental challenge. Then there's remembering what I've learned, which at my age is a bit of a challenge too. There's always something to learn. It's a good hobby to keep an aging brain fit.

I'm quiet and contemplative, a bit of a wallflower, to be honest. Since I don't talk about myself a lot or command attention, my photography has evolved into a means of self-expression: a record of what catches my eye. Not that I need a constant dose of " Meeee!!!" but it is kind of nice to look at old pictures and suddenly realize, "Hey, I took that shot!" and feel a rush of pride and amazement.

Currently shooting with a Sony a99ii and a panoply of lenses, a Minolta Maxxum 5 that shares lenses with the Sony, a Minolta SRT 101 for total manual fun, and an Autocord TLR for something completely different altogether.

 

[Ron Poelman]

I thought the banging of head against brick wall bit was more than enough.

 

[OpticsEngineer]

sometimes I just see something so cool I want to share it with my wife and kids.