The Addiction of Photography

Tom Reichner wrote in post #15113337
So, in the future, all your money will go towards better sunlight?

In effect, yes.

Hi,
My name is George and I am an Addict. Here is my story:

1. When did you get infected and how did it get to you?

Started about 2.5 years ago, started playing around with a Nikon 3100 DSLR and wanted to take the next step and get my own camera. Between the time playing with my uncle's camera I was reading non-stop, day and night about photography trying to learn everything.

2. Is it getting worst?

Not so much. I think it had either levelled off, or decreasing just a bit. Working as a semi-pro, I only really shoot when money is involved, or during events that relate to me field.

3. Is it flat out now? If yes, how long did it take before it flat out?

Took about 2 years to flat out I guess.

4. Are you into shooting everything as long as it involves photography?

Not EVERYTHING, but dabbling in most things from the start to see what I like to shoot has for sure helped me narrow down what I like to shoot.

5. What are you enjoying shooting most?

I enjoy shooting automotive and landscape the most.

6. What is other/s type of shooting do you want to get into?

Been trying out sports recently, but really challenging, and do not enjoy it that much.

7. Are you also a Gear Head beside loving photography?

Absolutely. Being a gear head is a reason why I still shoot. Always wanting more and better gear.

8. Are you just shooting as a hobby or as a Pro. (Accepting others money to shoot them)?

Im more so in the pro spectrum now, I rarely shoot as a hobby anymore, if at all. Where as before I started a 365 project last year, I quite 2/3 of the way through, and now my camera sits on the shelf or in the bag when not out on a job.

DC Fan wrote in post #15104682
..... Others are enraptured by gadgets and equipment and want the feeling of importance that photo equipment gives them.......

I love the mechanical and scientific aspects of photography, and the fact that it cannot be truly mastered. Like Fishing or music or any of my other hobbies. Being limited by gear is frustrating, frustration is a hobby killer for me.
I want to be challenged and able to meet my expectations for myself and it just wasn't happening with my limited film equipment and my left over from the eighties insistence on using primes only, so I have been buying and trading and selling lenses and other gear constantly for almost 5 years now.
As far as drawing a feeling of importance from owning nice equipment, I resent the implication. Most times when I am out and in public with a large piece of gear I am more self conscious of it's size and try to hide it and not draw attention.
Gross generalizations are dangerous. If you can't understand a technically oriented person wanting to own technically superior equipment for their own satisfaction, thats fine. But don't say that those of us that like the mechanical aspects of photography are only in it for ego feeding, thats just rude.
Besides, being an important person is far easier than spending money on gear, all you need is a better looking girlfriend for that, and clearly money spent on gear is money not spent on the ladies so as a married gear head my shot at importance is severely handicapped.

get it? 8)

DC Fan wrote in post #15104682
A small number of photographers are interested in the craft because they enjoy the challenge of creating images, and want to test their talents to create images that express their views of life and the world. Others are enraptured by gadgets and equipment and want the feeling of importance that photo equipment gives them. And, a fortunate (extreme) few have discovered how to make money from photographs.

just remarkable........;

SaS photography wrote in post #15125445
just remarkable........;

Remarkable that someone would think that way, yes. Misguided statement, definitely yes.
It seems that perhaps the person you quoted doesn't really understand most photographers; what is most important to them, and what "makes them tick", so far as their passion for photography is concerned.

I'm an addict, I say this because I take photographs every day of my life.
It started when I was given a Zenit E and started photographing landscapes and natural history subjects. Then I got married and bought a Pentax MX, and my wife a Canon AE1. We built a dark room and I made my own chemistry. The kids arrived and the darkroom was dismantled. years passed when I had neither the time or the money for real photography.
Then I bought a 2MP Toshiba digital and was entranced, then an Olympus E1 then a canon A95 then a canon superzoom, forget which model, then a Canon 30D then.......
And as the years have passed since that Tosh have loved the instant feedback, the improvement in the technology and the continual learning process. These trends show no sign of letting up ( thank goodness)

1. When did you get infected and how did it get to you?
When I was 14. My dad found his old 70s dslr in a box in the basement and enrolled me in a summer course in beginner's photography at a local college. The next fall at school I signed up for my hs's photography course that taught you how to develop your own film and make b/w prints. I got into it hardcore and for my 16th birthday my parents bought me a (film) canon rebel. Then for that christmas my dad added two small walls and a sink to a corner of the basement and made it into a darkroom for me.

2. Is it getting worst?
It comes and goes. I was into it a lot in high school and my first year of college. But, I wasn't majoring in photography or art and between a max course load and working -- blah blah blah. Then came law school. I never QUIT taking pictures, but there was definitely a period of time where it wasn't a daily thought. My last year of law school I bought myself a rebel xti as a graduation gift to me and I've been learning/loving digital photography since (May 2008). I think I am more addicted now than ever before.

3. Is it flat out now? If yes, how long did it take before it flat out?

Nope, not yet.


4. Are you into shooting everything as long as it involves photography?
Not really. I only want to photograph things I think are beautiful. And I have my own preferences and biases just like anyone else. I do mostly architecture and nature/landscape for my personal life, but I do really enjoy portrait work for hire.


5. What are you enjoying shooting most?
Probably portrait work because it is a bigger challenge. I could fill the ocean with all the things I don't know about taking pictures of people.

6. What is other/s type of shooting do you want to get into?
I'd like to learn how to do more night photography.

7. Are you also a Gear Head beside loving photography?
No. I'm not techy at all. If I want to do something and I can't figure out how to do it with the gear I have, I figure out what I need and add it to the list to buy. But I use gear to fill the gap between what I want to accomplish and what I can accomplish, I don't just buy stuff because it is cool.


8. Are you just shooting as a hobby or as a Pro. (Accepting others money to shoot them)?
I guess technically a pro now, although I'm as green as they come. I've been charging for a year for portrait work. Second shooting weddings for about 15 months and just booked my first solo wedding for the spring.