What is Photography to YOU

[CanonRex]

Hey guys.

I was thinking to myself today about my photography, i wondered what is it to me really, how far was i going with it, and I wanted to ask this question to the community as well as an opportunitty to share your thoughts as well.

Q: What is Photography to you, is it profession, an interesting hobby, an artform, a carreer goal, an addicting activity or something completely different. Please, why not share your thoughts

Note: Please mention avobe your post your level in the following choices
:cool:-Pro (getting paid/in the money)
;)-Advanced (i can teach if i wanted to)
:D-intermediate (mastered all the basics)
:)-begginner (Welcome to the world of photography)

I'll Post first as an example

[CanonRex]

Level- :D Intermediate

Well, I am very Art oriented and very interested in a Graphic Design Carreer, i find photography as a way to get closer to that goal as photoshop and photography kinda go the same way. Photography is an Artform, which i find extremely enjoyable (and a lil addicting), but i don't want a job in a studio or a carreer in complete photography..If i can sell my Photos to the nearest bookstore to be made into postcards and get some extra money for them, that's pro enough for me:D

Conclusion: Photography = An enjoyable (and addicting) Artform

[SWPhotoImaging]

Level - Intermediate (only 34 years practice, so far)

I prefer to shoot what I want to shoot, as opposed to what someone wants to hire me to shoot, so I don't take on many portraits or events, and I would never consider high stress shoots like weddings. I enjoy the art of light and shadow, and aspire to be better at B&W, urban, and abstract. I love architecture and antiquities and capturing it in images. I sell enough of my prints to keep me in mat-board, frames and supplies and to pay for the printing. I don't make enough to cover my travel and equipment, but travel and shooting is my hobby, so that's ok.
I'd like to operate or work in a frame shop when I retire, and maybe sell some of my work there, as well as through art shows (more traveling) and local display venues like cafes, which is my only current retail outlet.
To me, photography is my habit. I have to get a fix every so often, so when I get too busy to go shooting, I start to go through withdrawl, and when I have been on a satisfying shoot and am tinkering with images on my screen, I am better again.

[SuzyView]

I guess I'm intermediate too. I'm still learning, but have great stuff. :)

[PhotosGuy]

is it profession, an interesting hobby, an artform, a carreer goal, an addicting activity or something completely different. All of them, depending on the time of day that you ask? ;)

[CanonRex]

All of them, depending on the time of day that you ask? ;)

Well' isn't that the life

[Mike Reynolds]

I guess you can say I'm a pro because I get paid for my work. My photography has been published for over ten years in magazines BUT some of you guys that claim to be intermediate in this board are like mentors to me....Thank you! You have shared with me a wealth of knowledge. Wheather you are a beginner or pro this does not clasify tallent. I think there should be a "Master" classification. That's the guy that has the carnal knowledge of all things photography. He knows studio work all it's facits. He knows all lighting tricks, he knows every camera and it's settings and special functions. He knows all techniques from wedding to motorsports. He knows film and digital, lab work as well as post processing. He knows the complete business of photography exc.....Yes the master that's the guy I want to follow around and pick up some of his photography wisdom as it flows around him (or her) like an aura. Yep some day when I grow up I wanna be a Master Photographer!

[CanonRex]

Good point Mike, i should have put up Master, but if pro is above advanced, whose description is able to teach, then a pro is able to teach as well as make a living so you may have somethings to learn but, you are still a master

[Fireblade2K7]

Well I would have to say I am still very much in the following phase:-

:) - Begginner

I've been doing it for just over a year now and all stared when I bought a Canon A95 P&S. I enjoyed taking a few snaps here and there not of anything in particular, usually family pets, family members the usual.

Then I started looking into what all the other settings on the camera did, I also looked at Macro Photography and was amazed at what people were doing with these camera's and think that was when I became intersted in it. So I started reading up on it and started to take more photo's, my car became my main subject.

Time went on and I found that the A95 was becoming restrictive so I considered d-SLR but opted for a Canon S3-IS instead (both of which I still have) and really started to enjoy the results I was getting and pleased with a lot of my photos. Then after about 6 months with the S3 I decided to go d-SLR and bought a Canon EOS 400D and haven't looked back since.

I pretty much know now what all the settings do now, what effects they have and I can pretty much use a camera on manual and get semi-decent results most of the time, but I am still continualy learning and improving each time I take a shot.

Well this has turned into a bit of a rant but to the question that was asked thats my in-depth answer, I get enjoyment from being out in the country, quiet places, seeing wildlife, taking things at a slow steady pace and then seeing the results after and also love the fun processing RAW's provides as well :D

Thanks
Stu

[elTwitcho]

In your list I would call myself between Pro and Advanced I suppose

For me it's an artform, and that drive to create something beatiful and meaningful is the primary reason I get out of bed every day. I'm gradually turning it into a profession as well