Why do You Take photographs

[andydo]

geoffwessex i have to agree with you in the north east youve got the northumberland coastline with its castles along the route, hadrians wall, kielder reservoir with the forest that surrounds it being the largest manmade in europe, lindisfarne island, the gardens of alnwick castle, the victorian house of cragside oh nd not to forget the tyne bridges....hmmm sounds like im trying to sell the north east to you lot lol

[GeoffWessex]

No, you're right - I could have mentioned the North East before (though I'm not very knowledgeable about it). I could also mention the South Downs of Sussex, the Valleys of Dorset, the Weald of Kent, the moors of Devon, Cornwall and Somerset....... There's beautiful land and history in every single county in England, Wales and Scotland. Even Essex!

If it's not dramatic countryside it's gentle, rolling hills, or interesting villages, castles, cathedrals..... some of the reasons I'm moving back to the UK next year. No other country of similar size can compare.

[andydo]

then theres the gloucestershire cotswolds, the derbyshire ruggedness of the peak district which has the history of the dam busters, the plague and robin hood, yorkshire dales and moors lol we could go on and on

[Reinardina]

I've seen this thread several times, but was always too busy to add my simple story, as typing a longer story takes time. And I don't know how to tell it in a few words.

In the past, I used to have a semi automatic Minolta, which took good quality shots. I never did much more than take holiday, party or family photos; the usual thing. They were a 'log of my life' and an aid to preserve memories.

Then I lost my sight and in a matter of weeks, I was left with just peripheral vision. Enough to see my surroundings, but I could not read, write, cross the road, or recognise people as my central vision had totally gone.

I was assured my sight might return, however, and thank goodness, most of it did, after a very long time. In one eye anyway, but with blind spots, one of which partially overlaps my central vision. As I could no longer focus my camera, that put the end to photography. Two decades in the wilderness, as far as photography was concerned.

Then digital photography arrived, and I discovered that I could see the LCD screen, so I gave it a try. I was hooked from the word go!

First I photographed mainly flowers, family and friends; the same things I did all those years ago. Then I discovered the POTY competition in 2005, I believe it was and I ended up on this site.

It's only in the last year or two, that I have become more active and more interested in the art of photography. I have been trying to improve ever since, helped by friends here on the site, and by reading about photography.

Still a very long way to go and it can be a slow process, as I still can't see properly, so certain things will probably always be beyond me.

The last few months, I have become passionate about the whole thing, so I hope this passion will be translated in a better understanding of the whole process.

I now mainly take pictures for the sake of the pictures themselves, not necessarily a 'log of my life,' more a log of my surroundings. Still part of my life of course!

I don't stick them in albums anymore, but occasionally hang them on the wall and the rest sits (un)happily on several hard drives!

I have had help from friends here on the site, and one 'Friend with a capital F,' in particular, has been very kind, supportive and helpful, for which I am very grateful.

Where it will lead? Who knows?

[jet_kit]

I too have seen this thread many times and meant to respond, but somehow never got round to it.
When I was 12 I was given a second-hand Kodak Brownie 127 camera. Looking back I took some pretty awful pictures with the thing, but I can't blame the camera, just the idiot behind it. At school I dabbled in the photographic process in the Camera Club, but didn't get enthralled until I left school and bought a second-hand 35mm Voigtlander. Being short of cash I bought a developing tank and did my own (and friends) developing. As time moved on I bought an enlarger and started colour processing etc.
In my mid-20's I bought my first Nikon F and a Rolleiflex which I used for weddings etc. I later swapped this for a Hasselblad, then a Mamiya 45.
Kids arrived and it all went except the faithfull Nikon which then only got dusted off for the first trip to the seaside, the first prom, the weddings etc.
I went 'digital' shortly after the last one left home and I had more time (and space) to do what I wanted to do. That was 10 years ago and I'm now retired, spent the kids inheritence on another Nikon (still got the first one!) and a collection of glass and gadgetry and am beginning to enjoy my twilight taking pictures that appeal to me.
I don't much care if anyone else likes them, they just for my enjoyment.
If anyone cares I have a collection on http://www.flickr.com/photos/55211328@N03/
Chris

[jools-elliott]

In the beginning, I took photos to please myself but then I started getting better so I wanted to do something more.

Now, there are times when I might be looking to take photos for a specific library that I'm with, for a magazine article or still just for pleasure.

I love being out in the countryside away from the noise of the town. It's one of the reasons I decided to get out and do this to earn money as I wanted out of the office. Ironically though, doing it as a job means that I have my own "office" work to do in the form or organising images for libraries etc.

At the moment, I'm spending my time sorting out everything I have that is worthwhile out to libraries.

[SnapShot]

I just like the way a photograph looks, I don't single out anyone particular genre, if I like it I like it.
I got into it when my dad let me have a go with his camera, and I've been taking photos ever since. Mostly I take them for myself, I just love being out with my camera, walking around country or city, looking for something I think will make a great picture. But as someone else said on here, once you are better at taking pictures you hope that there is someone else out there that likes what you are doing.
I think it's a question that will keep getting asked.

Why is it that only some people like being creative and others don't?

http://www.wide-angle-vision.co.uk/

http://www.thebigimage.wordpress.com/

[GeoffWessex]

Originally Posted by SnapShot

Why is it that only some people like being creative and others don't?

I think that almost everybody has some kind of creative capability (and desire).... it's just a matter of find what it is and going for it. Doesn't have to be 'art', though - maybe it's a handicraft or skill, or music, acting or dance.... there's a lot to be said for studying the roles of education vs creativity.... So many kids are told they're useless at everything - that's bolleaux! Give a kid the opportunities and eventually something will turn up that he/she is good at and wants to master.

I think school is too much about sticking to the curriculum - the Maths, English, Science. Great if a kid is good at it and enjoys it (which usually go hand in hand) but they always take precedence over sport, art, crafts, music.... maybe even gardening, cooking.

Photography is more popular than ever because we live in a very graphic age - kids all have camera phones now and, at some point, they would consider making better photographs, matching some of those graphics they see all the time.... so then they get a compact camera and their desire to carry on improving eventually takes them through to a DSLR, maybe joining a photo club, competing and exhibiting.... all about desire to improve their creativity.

[thefonz78]

I think school is too much about sticking to the curriculum - the Maths, English, Science. Great if a kid is good at it and enjoys it (which usually go hand in hand) but they always take precedence over sport, art, crafts, music.... maybe even gardening, cooking.

I agree with you Geoff the schooling system is gone backward. They set up the comprehensive so everyone would have equal opportunity. Which sounds great in principle but it does not work andl the kids are suffering. We need academic and vocational schooling. Academics can get on without disrupted lessons. The vocational kids can learn a skill which will help them in a line of work they are interested in or good at. Apprenticeships are few and far between nowadays. We can not relay in business to train the kids this need to be done in there school days. Kids need to be encouraged in what they are good at building there confidence not make them feel think because they a no good at trigonometry which is completely irrelevant in 99% of peoples lives . I feel very passionate about this. I have dyslexia (i'm sure you probably can tell with my grammar and spelling) and was made to feel stupid in school which sticks with you for life. All the most successful people i know if you measure success by how much money you earn are plumbers and spark's not the academics solicitors. Besides who's gonna have the money to go to uni anymore!!

[donoreo]

Creatively, other than photos, I suck at any type of art. Generally speaking a lot of left handed people like myself are more artistic. I am not. I never had any interest in art and did not take it past grade 8. Photos were always the exception. I prefer landscapes, maybe because I have not traveled much and it gives me a sense of being there.