A thought... Do we compose or do we experience?...

here's the rainbow

I think that could be true if all you see the world through is a viewfinder. I seldom go out with the intention of just shooting. I like to hike, got to games, anything that is a diversion for me. Heck, I see my work as a diversion from my play. Photographs are just a small part of my day to day living and an even smaller part of my overall life. Maybe I am not as serious about it as I should/could be, but I think my best photos are those that just happened, not those that I was looking for.

I find that shooting a scene helps me to appreciate it. For me, shooting is a way of interacting with the view. It's as if I use a separate pair of eyes when I'm shooting than when I'm just looking. I only get stressed about it when I think I need to record an event and the pics aren't coming to me for whatever reason.

The downside of my hobby is that I can't just enjoy a photo. I'm always critiquing it.

I shoot photojournal for paper sometime and i shoot for self too. I think Photographer part of experience but don't see photographer. I shoot common life so must dispassion from scene. Peopel know i there but not participator. I took picture of baby born, but I not take part. I am only photographer. I take part? NO!

Shoot artistic, you have luxorie for time. You take slow pace and think.

Shoot people doing, you react, shoot honest. What come you take.

Isn't at not just seeing what is there with your eyes, but being a part of what is happening- frequently I take a camera to parties so that I have something to do and don't have to talk to strangers- I am busy- they may talk to me, but I can handle that- other times I have my camera at a party and realize all I've done is take pictures- not talked to my friends....

Or I rake pictures of an event at church and miss the event- all I have are pictures, no memories that aren't visual.

I can stop shooting, so I don't feel I miss anything.