What got you into photography?

My family!

I got into photography about a year ago. At least with a slr. My first was a Canon T50 that I bought used from a yard sale. My reason was my divorce. My son is growing so fast and it is nice to keep him young some how. It is strange how fast a child grows when you only see them every other weekend. I am still an amateur but I hope to improve.

Back when I was a kid in the '50s, my parents got me a Kodak box camera -- a Brownie, maybe?? And, I had fun with that camera, looking for interesting shots and playing with things like double exposures and whatnot. I bout a little darkroom set, but I don't remember really using it, though. As I got into adolescence in the '60s me photographic interests waned...

until the '90s, when nifty automatic/zoom cameras came out -- I got a Pentax 105mm Zoom camera and began taking pictures again, a lot of scenic/landscape stuff from my travels...and then I got my first scanner, and a color inkjet printer, through my work in the early '90s, which opened up a whole new realm (I worked for the HP printing division) of digital imaging...

Until '02, when I got my first digitial cam, an advanced 8x zoom camera that included fully Manual mode, and I took off running -- the early internet had "News" that consisted of an ever-growing bunch of discussion groups, including a photography group, and I spent many hours learning about photography using several of these advance P&S shooters...

Until I got my first DSLR, the 30D, in '06 and have been having fun in getting more and more shots, along with more and more gear, ever since!

My name's Tony, and I'm a photoholic...

Well, I started using my dad's old nikon (yikes!) for a middleschool photography class. Learned how to develop b/w fim, make prints in the darkroom.

Took another photo class in highschool, and helped run the photo club in college. Actually got a film Rebel back then.

Finally got a full timejob and then discovered digital SLRs......man the computer sure beats a cramped dimly lit room!!!!

Grimes wrote in post #6177317
Well, I started using my dad's old nikon (yikes!) for a middleschool photography class. Learned how to develop b/w fim, make prints in the darkroom.

Took another photo class in highschool, and helped run the photo club in college. Actually got a film Rebel back then.

Finally got a full timejob and then discovered digital SLRs......man the computer sure beats a cramped dimly lit room!!!!

Whats wrong with Nikon?? I was a Nikon user from 1975 until 2000 when the newspaper I worked for went digital buying 12 Canon D2000 kits,, total junk.. If the newspaper stayed with Nikon I'd be shooting Nikon today..

http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=jjJvkrK0r9g

Back when I was a kid Bob Cummings played the part of a photographer on a TV show. At the beginning of the show he said "hold it, I think you're going to like this picture" snaps the shutter and they show the photo coming up in a tray of developer.
I've been hooked ever since...

B/A photography
Part time pro since 1978.
Full time pro since 1986

I was in Okinawa in 1975 and picked up a Canon TX and a 50 1.4 FD lens. I've been addicted ever since.

what level your at, pro, amatuer etc etc.
non-professional.

your first SLR
Canon AE-1

Age of first interest
14

things that kept you motivated
and most importantly, what got you into photography.
I learned a lot about photography with manual gear as a youth but dropped it in HS and college as I had other pursuits.

What got me back into it:

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I started shooting when I was 12 with a 16mm Minolta. I shot in B&W and developed the film, and made prints at an Air Force Base hobby shop. I even got in trouble for laying at the end of the flight line and taking pictures. I was innocent and surprised when the MP's showed up! That was in 1964.

^Jeffery's post will be hard to beat.....

what level your at, pro, amatuer etc etc.
I consider myself a Pro - I am a wedding photographer-who shoots sports out of wedding season.

your first SLR
Minolta in my avatar

Age of first interest
Young age-- my grandfather furthered my interest in it- gave me my first slr and inspired me.

things that kept you motivated
What pushed me into paid work was selling a few landscape shots. That pushed me to do more work which eventually led to weddings. Now I am fortunate to shoot for many great couples and then sports teams and events. I love photography, it is lots of work but enjoyable stuff that allows you to reflect on documented results. It is a forgiving industry that allows creativity and growth.

what got you into photography
Creative release and inspiration to document people and places.

Semi Pro, My customers say I'm their pro.
I liked photography since I was about 15 and had a 110 camera.
When I got married and returned from our honeymoon I was disappointed in the photos so I went and bought an AE-1. The more I read about photography the more critical I became of my own photos which drove me to improve more.
Today I shoot with a 40D and most of my business is HS sports for 2 schools . It's funny but when I was in HS, I had zero interest in sports, probably because I can't even throw a ball straight, or catch one. And I don't watch pro sports except when I take my kid to a game. I have learned that HS sports are truly SPORTS, Pro sports are a BUSINESS.
I'm expanding into portraits.

I got into photography when I was 14. My dad was a Pro Photojournalist with a newspaper and had his own studio. He shot everything under the sun and did all of my sports teams pictures. He shot all medium format and bought me my first Canon Rebel 35mm, then my Canon A2E. I was my High School's Newspaper and Yearbook head photographer and had aspirations to go to Brooks Institute. When $$$ was not there I decided that I would attempt to be a photographer in the Army. Well, that didn't go as planned and I ended up taking a different Army job. Casually took pictures through my 7 years in the Army and I have just recently become a part-time pro with a non-photog job that pays the bills and helps supplement my photo business. I take gigs when I have the time and shoot stock for Alamy. The wife has the understanding that any photography earnings that I make go directly into my photo business and are not for the general fund. I'm doing all kinds of photography, but sports is my passion. I would love to make that a full time gig...but I realize that is not an easily reached goal. However, if I never shoot a pro event again, I will never forget sitting on the floor of a Washington Bullets vs. Boston Celics game, shooting the game with my A2E, when I was 16 years old. Thanks dad for being able to get me the press pass.

thanks for your replies everyone, some very interesting stories.

Very cute baby jeffery

keep them coming guys.

yogestee wrote in post #6177432
Whats wrong with Nikon?? I was a Nikon user from 1975 until 2000 when the newspaper I worked for went digital buying 12 Canon D2000 kits,, total junk.. If the newspaper stayed with Nikon I'd be shooting Nikon today..

Nothing wrong with Nikon. I was just trying to be funny b/c there are a lot on this board that are very brand loyal. It wasn't a serious comment

What level you're at, pro, amateur etc etc.
Amateur mainly because I would consider myself a pro only if I were making a living at it. (A whole 'nother discussion).

Your first SLR
Pentax K1000 with 50mm lens - Christmas present from my folks in 1981. Still have it, still works great (or it did a couple years ago when I last ran a roll of film through it). Interestingly, my second and only other SLR is my 300D which I still have and love.

Age of first interest
6 or 7. I used to carry around a Kodak 124 (?) camera to school on occasions, taking pictures of my friends on the playground. I have a photo album around somewhere with those pics still in it (circa 1967-1969).

Things that kept you motivated
Picking up the developed prints (earlier). Remember when you'd drop them off and they'd come back several days later? Such anticipation. After college, my kids kept me motivated. We ran more than 200 rolls of film through the Pentax between when our kids were born and when they were teens (switched to digital).

And most importantly, what got you into photography.
Hard to say. My father was a semi-pro when I was very little, but doubt that had much influence. When my Mom remarried, my step-father was an aspiring hobbyist photographer. I guess he pushed it as a hobby for me, usually purchasing cameras whenever I'd show an interest. I still remember flipping through old Popular Photography magazines over the years.