Why do you take pictures?

[JasonMX]

I know this topic has posted before, but I wanted to ask the question. Why do you take photos?

For me, I feel like I am capturing something forever. I also would like someone else to be able to recreate my experience of something through a photo.

[MagicallyDelicious]

I got started on photography as i loved taking pictures of my son.

We moved when i was younger and all our belongings got lost in storage somewhere and due to that my my mum LOST every photo of me before that age.

I was determined to have millions and zillions of photographs of my son and it just progressed from there!

[MagicallyDelicious]

Plus i just LOVE it!

[Stavhp]

i enjoy it...
Simple really:D

[Miyagi-san]

it's a great way for me to express myself, i've always been pretty artistic...

to get a bit deeper: i like the idea that i'm not just passing through life not really paying attention to anything. it's easy to get caught up with work and whatever else...photography is a great way to slow it down, take a second look and appreciate things that normally go unnoticed.

[MagicallyDelicious]

it's a great way for me to express myself, i've always been pretty artistic...

to get a bit deeper: i like the idea that i'm not just passing through life not really paying attention to anything. it's easy to get caught up with work and whatever else...photography is a great way to slow it down, take a second look and appreciate things that normally go unnoticed.

I know what your saying. i feel like since i picked up a camera i see things differently. I notice how light falls on things how shadows accentuate something and i know other people who are not into photography/art dont notice these things and im so glad that i do :)

[Barb42]

I fell in love with pushing the button and hearing that sound ~L. Of course I was just a kid and it was magic. Now I take pictures because I have a need to! I have to capture all those little things that no one else seems to see and will soon vanish from the world forever.

[Eagle]

You mean there's something else I could be doing?

[liza]

At first it was just a creative outlet, but now it has evolved into a profession. I live, eat, sleep, and breathe photography at this point in my life.

[cdifoto]

Money.

[liza]

Money.

That, too. :)

[Blue Deuce]

To get out of the house and from having to do my endless list of wife given chores.

[Quad]

I can't draw worth a damn, can't sing or play an intrument.... don't really dance, so what is there left I ask you?

[c3p1]

Just for the fun of it. I learned how to get better because of my daughters. Those pictures are priceless to me. And I love capturing one moment in time.

[Don Powell]

How can I begin? At first I wanted to freeze the moment, I wanted to preserve for all time, what was happening at this moment. I wanted to stop time. I wanted to be able to preserve precious moments. I wanted to be able to observe people, friends, pets, things, and places as if they were alive today. I wanted a time machine. Later I wanted to learn how to see how the camera saw, because it was a bit different than the way that I saw. Things would be missing in the shadows that I plainly saw with my eyes, I had to learn that the camera (film ) was limited. It could not see all that I could see. I had to adapt what the camera saw to my inner vision so that it could record what I wanted to be recorded. Finally, the camera became and extension of my sight, my vision, my perception of all things, people, vistas, places, and life.

[Tandem]

I want to capture the human drama of athletic competition... the thrill of victory... and the agony of defeat.

Oh... and the money. :D

[cdifoto]

I want to capture the human drama of athletic competition... the thrill of victory... and the agony of defeat.

Oh... and the money. :D

I just want the money.

[AGENT 99]

I think, for me, its self worth.

I suppose they're many things I suck at in life. Photography, is something I know I can do and I know I have an eye for. I think its something I can be proud of, something I can show the family and get respect for.

[cannylad]

I cant draw,sing, paint, or write :) . It gives me a chance of a creative outlet, and the ability to freeze moments in time.

brian r.

[DocFrankenstein]

It's an excape for me. Instead of roasting on the beach I take the camera, a friend and do a shoot.

[SOE digital]

I'm a camera (motion) operator. That's what I do for a living and it pays extremely well. Being 19 years old means I naturally want to try and give everything a go. Film making has always stuck with me so photography was a hobby that was always going to get my attention. I did photography in school and loved it but never really took it to heart.

A few days ago I got myself a new SLR to 'replace' my countless consumer digicams and I havn't stopped taking photos since. I can't put the camera down. It's an addiction :)

Plus, what could be better than getting paid good money for doing something you love?

[nevilleb]

Why? For the same reason peole climb mountains...

Because its there!

nevilleb

[adavem]

memories.they are of special places ive been,wonderful things i've seen,people i know,people i love.they are pictures of everything that means something to me.i'm just an amatuer with 1 camera and nothing else but i love my pictures and look at them all the time

[ssim]

I've always had a keen interest in photography. Worked part time years ago in a studio and did my own freelancing for quite a few years. Along comes children and your priorities change. Didn't lose the interest but just didn't have time for the level of participation that I wanted. Always had a decent setup of 35 film gear and then bought a little point and shoot digital.

Due to a crisis in my family I found myself with more time on my hands and needed something to take my mind off of things. I bought the Canon 10D and haven't looked back since. I used to do it mostly for enjoyment but now I am doing it full time.

There is nothing more enjoyable (ok well I can think of maybe one or two) than throwing the gear in the car and heading out for a day with just me and the gear. I can literally lose myself in my photography. It can be a real escape from the world around me. It is not just the photograph themselves that interest me. I tend to follow "the business of photography" allot these days too. I like to research the manufacturers, trends in the business, new products, just about anything to do with it.

[rhys]

It's always been fun for me and people seem to like my photos. I don't know whether anybody would be willing to pay for them though.

[philbyuk]

it replaces my friends ..as i havent got any.lol

[liza]

Due to a crisis in my family I found myself with more time on my hands and needed something to take my mind off of things. I bought the Canon 10D and haven't looked back since. I used to do it mostly for enjoyment but now I am doing it full time.


Our paths seem to be parallel, Sheldon. And for the very same reason.

[JK]

I just want the money.But is there really a huge amount of money to be made in photography?

[liza]

Yep. But only if you are a master of marketing.

[peatoire]

I worked on some image retouching for a private project of Douglas Menuez and he totally inspired me to pick up an slr. I've never looked back.

[2Shiny]

At this point, it's mostly for my computer's desktop background and screen saver. :D
I can watch the screen saver scroll through my pictures, and critique the photos each time I see them. What could/should I have changed to make that picture better? What is great about that picture? What sucks about that picture?

Someday I'd love to be a professional nature photographer, but for now it's just a hobby that I really enjoy.

[Tandem]

I received an e-mail today that illustrates my motivation toward sports photography. So many people have medals and trophies from their high school days and very few photographs to go with them. Sadly, I had to tell him I didn't take photos of his team that year.

"I was wondering if you had any photos of the Fountain Fort Carson Varsity Football team from the 2003-2004 season. I was also wondering if you would know of anyone I could talk to about getting the adelphia dvd recordings of football games for the same team, same year. I was on the team and am trying to get some things together to remember the season."

[Mathiau]

memories.

[angryhampster]

Memories, relaxation, stress relief, time killing, experimentation.

[jcw122]

WHy do you guys say money? I've always been under the impression that being a professional photographer wasn't big $$$?


I myself do it for fun, and just general enjoyment, I really love photography because it's very inspirational, and a great getaway. That and the technical apspects are really fun too. And as a "major hobby", I call it major because of the high expenses :D

[angryhampster]

WHy do you guys say money? I've always been under the impression that being a professional photographer wasn't big $$$?


I myself do it for fun, and just general enjoyment, I really love photography because it's very inspirational, and a great getaway. That and the technical apspects are really fun too. And as a "major hobby", I call it major because of the high expenses :D



It depends on your clientel and the number of other photogs in the area. My girlfriend lives in a small town in southern Iowa. Her family is friends with the only pro photographer within about 30 miles. She gets clients from all over the area as well, and she is fairly well off :)

http://www.angelasportraits.com/

[Mathiau]

there is ALOT of $$$$$$$$$$ in photography, if your that good and get the right jobs.

Think of how much magzine like, playboy? pays it's photographers for an entire shoot?

or other top end magazines, who will often pay thousands for a single image...

[DocFrankenstein]

Think of how much magzine like, playboy? pays it's photographers for an entire shoot?
There's 11 guys who actually shoot for playboy. What are the chances of (hypothetical) "you" becoming one of them?

About .00000001 ;)

[Permagrin]

Hobby. My husband and I worked/raised our kids and now we've got a joint hobby that we entertain ourselves to the fullest with. Vacations/weekends are spent together hiking or traveling (short and long trips) "capturing the moment". No money...just fun and memories...and lots of BIG prints for everyone we can think of ;)

[Echo63]

i started taking photos when i was about 8 or 9 with a little kodak instamatic, i took pics of things that were important to me at the time
since then it has eveolved into something i really enjoy.
i dont really like my job (im a security guard) and takeing photos helps me relax (as does sitting in front of the computer with a beer in my hand)
i would like to take photos as a full time job and i am trying to find a local company who will take me on as an assistant.

oh and the last reason, if im behind the camera, im not in the picture, and i really hate having my photo taken

[Mathiau]

There's 11 guys who actually shoot for playboy. What are the chances of (hypothetical) "you" becoming one of them?

About .00000001 ;)

There is still a chance :), your style might be something that Hue prefer's over a current person, or you may just become an assistant.

If the other people who became playboy photographer's thought that, then they wouldn't have any ;) ;)

[RandyMN]

Because someone invented the camera and I bought one, then kept buying and buying... So now I figure I've invested so much money that I have to show good for it by using the stuff! Having fun is just a one of the benefits.

Actually, now that I think about it, I started studying photography two years before I finally could afford to buy a camera. I started out with the canon A-1 which at that time was the coolest thing around in my opinion. Had AE, PE digital readout in the view finder and a built in pretty sophisticated metering system.

I think I traded it in for peanuts when I purchased the F4 from Nikon and at that time I liked the Nikon lenses better.

Canon finally won me back when the Digital Rebel came out. Not many good SLR digitals were available at that time for an affordable price.

[usul_xti]

Memories, relaxation, stress relief, time killing, experimentation
sums it up nicely :)
also ...
to see plain things with a new eye
to discover new places

[Johan Groenewald]

Why do you take photos?
Because I can.

[saravrose]

I can't draw worth a damn, can't sing or play an intrument.... don't really dance, so what is there left I ask you?

ditto. I was suprised as heck the first time I picked up a camera and realized that I was pretty good at it.. What a neat feeling to be able to create something. I'd always been jealous of musicians, singers, painters, dancers etc... I think that we all want/need that outlet of being able to express yourself.. It doesn't have much to do with money, or making other people happy.. For the most part POTN sees ten times more of my work then anybody else.. I do it for me. It makes me feel good gives me a way to unwind relax and really discover places of beauty that you I would miss if it weren't for the camera... and ofcourse the challenge of learning how to take a photo.. and then the distraction of postprocessing.... in general I'm at a point where I just need to shoot. It gives me a base and taking the time to be by myself isn't something that I ever gave a lot of thought before photography..

sari

[saravrose]

I just want the money.

is that really truly all it is to you?.. I mean when you pick up the camera are you really only adding up the dollar bills in your head?.. and if so, how is that working out??...

sari

[freefallu]

the hope that one day ill take a good one. ok seriously because i enjoy being behind one more than in front.

[2Shiny]

Well now I have another reason--other people like my photos!
I sold my first print last night . I had some 8x10s in hand at school (meeting of UWSP Herpetology Society), and this girl said she wanted to buy one of the pics if I'd sell it. She asked how much I wanted for it...I said "I don't know. What's it worth to you?" So she pulls out $3.00 (lol). I took a dollar and told her that was plenty...because she had put a smile on my face and boosted my confidence. :D

It really helps when you know other people are impressed by your photography skills, even if those skills aren't all that spectacular (yet :) ).

[DanteCaspian]

Ultimately, relaxation-- "hobby for health" as I call it.

Keeps me way from the drugs too.

[DocFrankenstein]

I think this is one of the most important reasons. Photography gets you laid. :lol:
Well now I have another reason--other people like my photos!
I sold my first print last night . I had some 8x10s in hand at school (meeting of UWSP Herpetology Society), and this girl said she wanted to buy one of the pics if I'd sell it. She asked how much I wanted for it...I said "I don't know. What's it worth to you?" So she pulls out $3.00 (lol). I took a dollar and told her that was plenty...because she had put a smile on my face and boosted my confidence. :D

It really helps when you know other people are impressed by your photography skills, even if those skills aren't all that spectacular (yet :) ).

[FreshTapCoke]

For me it's a way to feel closer to my late grandfather. He pursued shooting all his life, from firearms, to SLRs and finally video cameras. I ended up picking up the former two hobbies. (hopefully I'll pick up his lack of male pattern baldness too)

The art of photography is also special to me because in Japanese the first character of my name and the second one for photo is the same. It is the word for truth, which is a major component of my life.

[Roach711]

I saw an article in one of the photo mags about the psychology of photography. Seems that about 80% of the people who are capable of taking pictures (have access to a camera) do. Looks like it's a basic human need or want.

[Ed Kanney]

Doing this for a living beats the hell out of working.

[JMAS]

Interesting topic. I suppose I take photos for two basic reasons:
To convey my artistic vision (or lack there of);
To capture the moment and be able to show others and remember myself of that;

[slicendice]

Plus i just LOVE it!

Damn, that's what I was going to say! Can't think of anything else now! :lol: