What got you into photography?

Photography / assistance / PP is my source of income, so I guess that makes me pro.

First SLR: Practica LTL3, with 35, 50 and 135mm. Bought it from my brother in law.
First images I took with my fathers Kodak Brownie at about 10 (I'm not thàt old, but it's the only camera my parents have up till today)

What keeps me motivated?
The un-suspected things that sometimes can happen during a shoot, the complete control you have technically. Seeing others get passionate about photography. The difference between my "work" (advertising, sorry, site is overdue for an update big time..) and my "other work"(music photograpy).

I got into photography first while studying Electronics. Room mate of mine took images at a student association.
The student association I was with also had a photo commission, which I joined around 1991.
The head of this commission quit after half a year or so, and I was stupid enough to volunteer

That was probably the start of the end of my studies

I became a volunteer at Atak in 1992, and started photographing bands.

I later quit my studies, started studying photography, and got a job as an assistant.

Self employed now.

I am an Amateur
First camera - Canon 300D
Age 20 - when I first got interested in photography
The things that keep me motivated are of course the joy of photography, having a hobby that defines me. And learning, viewing a lot of different styles of work.

The reason I got into photography. To be completely honest. It was a great way for me to forget about a break-up with the girlfriend. Which is pretty lame, but photography is a way I can sort of re-discover my individuality.

Great thread idea !

Mediation wrote in post #6257644
The reason I got into photography. To be completely honest. It was a great way for me to forget about a break-up with the girlfriend. Which is pretty lame, but photography is a way I can sort of re-discover my individuality.

I don't think it's lame at all. Photography helps me to express my individuality as well. I've been married for 30 years, have three grown children, 2 8/9thsgrandchildren (one is due any day now), and sometimes the only time I get time to myself away from work and the family is when I have a shoot or I got out with my cameras. Not that family time isn't important, but sometimes I just need some alone time and photography gives me a great excuse.

Looking at pictures of naked women

Seriously .. motor racing back in the early '70s. I used to shoot a lot of Rallycross back in the UK.
Did some studio work for a few years, but now mostly scenery and wildlife here in the Rockies (it gets me out and about)

what level your at, pro, amatuer etc etc.: Pro level in past, not currently deriving any income from photography
your first SLR: Beseler Topcon Auto 100
Age of first interest: about 11
things that kept you motivated: natural curiosity and challenge of mastering more new things
and most importantly, what got you into photography: had an uncle who was into it, and it rubbed off

What level your at?

• Serious amateur I'd currently say. Slowly learning though as being student

• 50D with the 50 1.8 Mk II

• At the age of 18, which I currently still am

• Everything. The joy, the people you meet, the stories you hear, the things you capture. It is worth all the time I've spend in to it and am looking forward on spending a lot, lot more time to it.

• I had to make the choice for my previous school. Go to Berlin or Rome, or run a 3 day internship at something you can pick. I chose becoming an intern with a freelance photographer I knew, who taught me pretty much the basics in those 3 days. Those 3 days were the spark which started my interest. After that I've been the assistant photographer so to say to another local photographer I know. Her pictures too, keep me motivated a lot.

NicD wrote in post #6171965
Hey all,

I though it would be interesting to hear the reasons that people got into photography, and what kept them motivated.

Before you start, mention:
what level your at, pro, amatuer etc etc.
your first SLR
Age of first interest
things that kept you motivated
and most importantly, what got you into photography.

• Level: Advanced amateur making a little (very little) money as a freelance photojournalist, but major income derived from pensions.
  
• First SLR: A Miranda GT, ca. 1966... (Not this one, but one identical to it.)

• Age of first interest: Eighteen...
  
• Things that kept me motivated: Really too many to list...
  
• What got me into photography: Spending my high school years in Ansel Adams' home town, (Carmel, CA) and being exposed to his work at every turn. And the fact my mother was a serious amateur photographer didn't hurt...

I wanted to be rich and get chicks - LOL.

I describe myself as an amatuer (and more of a lurker than a poster). I got my first, and current, dSLR a little over 1 year ago-a Nikon D40X. It was actually a gift I had asked for for my 32nd birthday. What got me into it? Well, I have a son with severe Cerebral Palsy (not his official diagnosis-nobody knows his diagnosis, but that is what it most closely mimics). I would get so frustrated taking him into studios to get pictures of him as they would take about 5 shots, and rarely were any of them good. I know it is difficult to get good shots of him with the various facial expressions he makes and he doesn't tend to stay in poses. Yet I knew good shots could be had. During one of these times, I realized that the standard kid photography studios might not have the time or patience to get the shots I hoped for-but I did. That is what sparked this amazing hobby in me.
As for what keeps me motivated-I would have to say it is when you get that shot that just makes you sit back and say "wow!" Classes help too-they help to keep pushing me to develop this talent in new ways.

what level your at, pro, amatuer etc etc.
Serious amateur (1.5 year)

your first SLR
XTi <-- still have it. Recently bought a Sigma 30mm 1.4 - thats my street combo

Age of first interest
16.

things that kept you motivated
First, my friends, second - i am extremely idealistic person.

what got you into photography
I have 2 wonderful friends, that first introduced me to it. I only had my old Sony Ericson K750i which i used as my main camera for quite some time (2 years i think). IT was a very very nice little gadget which made my feel the joy of photography.
Later i became more and more serious about it and finally bought my first DLSR (my mother almost killed me for spending so much money on a camera - but she's eating her words now ). For half a year i was stunned. Now i can say that most of the time i get what i want and the only limiting factor is the speed of the camera, the sound that it makes and my own reflexes

I'm somewhere between amateur and semi-pro with my first DSLR being a 500D. I first got interested when I was between 8 and 10 with wanting to capture colors, atmosphere and beauty in my photos. I can't say exactly what got me into photography but there are a few events that I believe contributed to it. Otherwise people have mentioned over and over to me that they definitely see photography as a passion of mine.

what level your at, pro, amatuer etc etc.
Amateur, just getting into everything

your first SLR
Canon Rebel T1i

Age of first interest
19 is when I really realized I wanted to try this photography thing out

Things that kept you motivated
different types of art, especially graphic design

What got you into photography?
I've always liked views since I was small
something just attracted me to them
I also grew up always trying to be creative in different ways & photography was just another way I wanted to show my creativity
but I never had a slr camera until november of last year

what level your at, pro, amatuer etc: amatuer for sure
your first SLR: I had a Pentax Mz-5 when it was all about film but to be honest I didn't really learn how to use it and it spent most of the time in auto mode. My first digital SLR is a Nikon D5000
Age of first interest: About 16 years old, then completely forgot about it and have revisited it all at age 30
things that kept you motivated: Seeing other peoples amazing photographs inspires me to keep learning. I've also started a blog in the hope that it will keep me from coping out when it all gets too overwhelming.
and most importantly, what got you into photography: I've always loved photography. I love graphic design, art and most forms of creative expression. I also love to travel so I find the two combine well. But I guess I can thank technology for reaching a price point where I could get into the digital world. Being able to experiment and learn without the cost of film involved inspired me to have a go.

I don't remember ever not being interested in photography. I do have a very early childhood memory of being fascinated when my father showed me how a simple lens produced an upside down image on a piece of paper. I received a build-it-yourself kit for a camera from Santa some time after that, which I almost ruined. I built a darkroom under my basement stairs, but couldn't afford an enlarger. My first experience with an SLR was when I joined my college newspaper staff and encountered a Nikormat. The first SLR of my very own was a 35mm (yes) Mamiya-Sekor for which I paid $100 in Macy's. I couldn't afford a Nikormat. I bought my first Canon, the fondly remembered match-needle metering FTb, with money that I earned in grad school from volunteering as a medical research subject because my wife at the time didn't think it a worthwhile expense. My children's childhood photos were taken with that camera. I think it proved its worth. I gave those photos to them this year in digital photo frames as a Christmas present.

Oh, level? Serious amateur, by the definition. Some sales, some awards, but mostly do pro bono work as a volunteer.

I'm a beginner in DSLR's. My little girl is what brought me into photography, I was tired of missing shots because my point and shoot couldn't keep up with her. Since then, I've realized the potential of DSLR's and have explored other areas of photography. I've had my DSLR since October and rarely a day goes by that I don't use it.