Why do you take photos

[aam1234]

Saw this thread in DPR (sorry) and it sounds very interesting question.

So, why do you take photos.

I'll start. For me it's an art form.

[Ogrt48]

Well...
I just have always had fun taking photos ever since I tried out a Barbie digital camera many many years ago.. *runs* It's just.. fun. And I also have this thing where I'm trying to capture that "WOW" photo of mine.. I have no idea what that photo will be, or when it will comes.. I just can't wait. Ack I bet this isn't making any sense to anyone besides the voices in my head.

[ejwebb]

It's an addiction - I can't help myself!

[aam1234]

Ogrt48, sounds cool to me if you ask me.

ejwebb, but why it is an addiction (for me it's the same).

[aam1234]

It's an obsession, not an addiction (hmm, it rimes in a funny way).

[ejwebb]

You are correct - obsession fits better. I think it is the hunting instinct manifesting itself in our civilized life. I am on the hunt for the perfect picture, although I know full well that it does not exist. No matter how good a shot is I will never be satisfied because I will want to do better. It is a challenge for me to try to catch that look or that emotion or that awe-inspiring shot. It is a personal challenge and fulfilment issue - and it's a good excuse to get out and do things and go places and see people. Not to mention the fun!!

[rkoshy]

I love taking candid shots of people.. in different situations... and I love landscapes... WHY?

- To capture a moment... anger, happiness, sadness, elation, etc. It's very interesting
- To capture the mood of a winter scene, or the mellowing of a fall day when life itself starts to slow down from the long, hectic summer days.
- Because I have some sort of addiction to clicking the shutter release button... maybe it's really just like a twitch :-)

[timmyquest]

Some people dont understand this, i dont take photos for myself at all. A photo that i cant share is worthless to me. The reason i take photos is to make other peoples jaw drop. As my sig says, i capture life a fraction of a second at a time. The more photos i take the more i decide are not worthwhile. I like getting pictures that most people wont see in the course of a day. I think if you look at my website you'll see this progression, at least i hope so.

Thats why i do it, it's also a great way to relax. If i'm having a bad day, i grab my camera and i take a walk.

[robertwgross]

I think it is the hunting instinct manifesting itself in our civilized life.

Exactly. In a former incarnation, I probably carried a rifle to shoot game for a living. Now, I shoot wildlife with a long lens.

Instead of dragging a dead animal home, I bring home the photo of the living animal.

---Bob Gross---

[Jesper]

Because I like to *create* things, images in the case of photography.
Also, the combination of technical and artistic aspects is interesting.

[jylitalo]

At least for me it started as a way to share my vacation trip experiences with others as well as getting something to look up, when I am feeling down. From that it has extended to taking pictures about my hometown, especially on parts, which are supposed to go major changes in near future (and its good practise for those vacation trips :).
Its been interesting to notice that when I have camera with me, I keep on looking for nice details in buildings, nature, etc. for picture instead of just going from point A to point B. geocaching has similar kind of effect to me, but in geocaching its much more limited to areas near the cache.

[iwatkins]

For me I just enjoy taking photos full stop. But the fact that it gives me an "excuse" to go and visit places I've never been seems to becoming the biggest driver.

Oh, and I like gadgets. :)

Ian

[psk4363]

Yeah, obsessed just about sums up my reasoning too!

Barry

[photofinish]

I find I need to exercize my creative side, or I will find when I really want to take a photo that I am 'out of shape'. And yes, like Jesper said, I like and have a need to create. At the end of the day, I can look back at the photos I have taken and feel a sense of accomplishment...if it was a GOOD day. :wink:

[aam1234]

Comparing the opinions here vs. DPR responses, is kind of astonishing. There, most people, if not 99%, said photography for them is to capture moments, ie family and kids. Here it seems more artistic reasons. This is my kind of a forum. As somebody said in the contest (under "Share")...I vote Pekka as president! (he got to choose the country he wants to be president of).

[aam1234]

TQ Wrote Some people dont understand this, i dont take photos for myself at all

I think this very interesting observation. Myself I don't like to be in photos..go figure. Hmm, shall we start a thread/poll about that?

[cmM]

copied and pasted from my website:
Photography is art, a way to express feelings. It's about freezing the moment, capturing true beauty, or simply sending a message that speaks louder than a thousand words. A photo is not taken, a photo is made: a painting with light.
That's my opinion, and I mean that; it's not there only to impress people, as some may think.

[aam1234]

cmM:
Photography is art, a way to express feelings. It's about freezing the moment, capturing true beauty, or simply sending a message that speaks louder than a thousand words. A photo is not taken, a photo is made: a painting with light.

That's the very reason I like photography. Heck, I don't even print my photos. When I look at something nice I've captured...I just smile (and be happy within).

[billsh]

For me it's definetly the WOW factor. Whether it's me looking at the picture and saying WOW or showing it to someone else, its the WOW factor that keeps me coming back.

I have been a hunter and fisherman since I was young. This allowed me to enjoy many of the wonders of nature that some people never saw. Since I have taken up the camera, I find myself hunting and fishing less and capturing the WOW of nature with the camera. It's been amazing to show my photos to people who haven't been exposed to nature as much and see their reactions.

[aam1234]

Because I like to *create* things, images in the case of photography.


You are so right Jesper (at least to me).

[Vegas Poboy]

It's fun to capture moments that can't be repeated. ALso it's very relaxing for me.

[pradeep1]

Personal creativity and expression. Feeling of pride and satisfaction in a well made photograph. Make my personal Webshots screensaver.

[Andy_T]

I like to capture a beautiful moment, both for myself and to share with others.

Very often, I think 'That is just such a great picture, I wish I could see that again'. Most of the times when I'm playing with my little son :lol:

Best regards,
Andy

[Persian-Rice]

I use photography as another medium to communicate my thoughts, ideas and beliefs. I believe that doing it in an artistic fashion enhances the emotional effect, and in turn, it spreads my word across a much larger audience.

That is the exact answer I used at my university interview. Thats what I feel and well, it seems to impress people as a bonus hahahahha

[dicky109]

Saw this topic and it raised another interesting thought.

Humans have the need to be creative (artistic). While I play and enjoy an instrument, I'm not very good, and the only ones who get to hear me are my patient wife and dog. When it comes to drawing, painting, etc, I have trouble properly drawing stick figures.

For me photography, allows me to express myself artisticlly, since the scene is already formed, and I must just be able to visualize how I want to present it.

How may of you also suffer from a similar lack of artistic talent, but are able to use photography to satisfy that need?

[fslshooter]

I like to make things, I like to share things that I make with folks who appreciate them and I get the best seat in the house at sports events.

[stoneylonesome]

I enjoy the artistic freedom that it affords me, especially digital, I love to capture something that someone else looked at, but didn't see it in the same way that I did. I shot film for years, for just that reason but digital is so much better, you can really let yourself go, no fear of wasting a shot :lol: . And as Timmy said, the best part of it is to share those photos with others, and to get feed back on them. That, and where else can you dump so much money :cry: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[mblanton]

It gives me a chance to be artistic.

Mike

[Andy_T]

It's fun. :P

Best regards,
Andy

[Pekka]

Some thoughts:

- I have a strong need to create.
- I can see the world around me better.
- I can make extraordinary images from ordinary situations.
- I go out more.
- I get more communication, more people, more social life.
- I can be in places you would not normally be able to be.
- I make people happy.
- I make myself happy.
- researching photography equipment is much more fun than researching PC parts
- I love images.
- photography is good workout for other brain parts that I (sometimes) work out on my day job (music).
- I am never fully learned/qualified - shooting situations vary every time, I am different every time, the subject is different every time - I like the challenge and reward. I learn from my mistakes and it will show.
- I like the fact how unconscious mind affects conscious mind when shooting.

[chris.bailey]

Memories.

[Claire]

I got addicted to it. I went from hardly ever taking pictures during vacations to bringing the camera along everywhere. :)

I've always appreciated a nice image as I also draw a lot. Always said I'd take a photo course at some point, but when I got my digital camera I was stuck. I learnt so much in such short time! I'm addicted now.

/Claire

[MilesG]

i find it really enjoying! some of the things you see whilst out photographing are spectacular!

[Moppie]

The voices tell me to............

[blinking8s]

- to get me away from my computer
- broaden my imagination and creativity for my design work
- chicks dig it (not really)

:lol:

[JasonMX]

First, to evoke memories and the emotion the entail.

Second, I feel when I take a picture I am capturing that moment in time for ever. It's like having a visual piece of history you created.

[Andy_T]

The same question was asked again here: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=81119

[PhotosGuy]

'Cause I can't draw! :D

[Steve Parr]

I believe it's genetic.

My Mom was Hell-on-wheels with her Kodak Instamatic during the holidays.

My brother is the photographer I want to be. Just about everything he takes knocks my socks off.

As for "why" I do it, well, it's fun. It's fun to be able to go out, shoot, come home and print out some shots, frame them, and have the wife go "Oooohhh". So, from that perspective, I guess it would be for the art form. But it's fun.

I also shoot to make a few bucks on the side. I used to earn my "mad money" from playing gigs, but I'm not doing that anymore. I asked myself what I enjoyed doing that I might be able to make a few bucks at. I'm not paying the mortgage by any means, but it still makes me a few bucks on the side which, invariably, goes into more camera gear.

It's one of those things, honestly, that I don't really think about. Why do I do it? I dunno'. I just do...

Steve

[AjP]

I agree with all of you,

I can survice without food for a while, but not without my cam, only if I can shoot my dreams too I'll sleep with cam in my hands :)

Just LOVE to take pics, be creative, enjoy final product and its give me an incredible JOY

[mdclaros]

.... A photo is not taken, a photo is made:....


I am pretty sure that the person that saidi this phrase was Famous photographer Ansel Adams.

[StuartD]

I'm definitely obsessed, and not even all that good, but I can't help but stop and take a whole bunch of pictures all the time.... at anything and everything. Old barn on the side of the road? gotta stop and take a shot.

My friends and family think I'm nuts... but they let me do it because they know that every once in a while I'll get a picture that they really like and want me to print it for them.

[SidW]

I always wanted to play a musical instrument but never had the opportunity.
I loved painting with water colours and was reasonably good.
Photography makes me feel like an artist even though I know I'm not.
One day I might get a shot that I will think is perfect. This keeps me doing it.
Oh! and I love the equipment :) :) :) :)

Sid